All "Deutscher Spielepreis🇩🇪 2021" game award winners & nominees in comparison 2026

We have clearly compared and listed all winners and nominees of the audience award "Deutscher Spielepreis🇩🇪 2021".

Audience Award instead of Critics Award

In contrast to the Spiel des Jahres, the "Deutscher Spielepreis🇩🇪" is not awarded by critics but by a professional audience (individual players, retailers, game circles, journalists). It is also called the "player" award - by players for players.

All games between "Essen" & "Nürnberg" are nominated

All games published between the SPIEL in Essen of the previous year and the Nuremberg Toy Fair of the same year are included in the nomination list for the "Deutscher Spielepreis" (german for "German Game Award").

Anyone can participate

In addition to trade magazines and retailers, everyone (since 2001) may vote online. All participants choose what they think are the 5 best games of the vintage - first place gets 5 points, second 4, third 3, fourth 2 and fifth 1 point. Each participant is weighted exactly the same and their points are added up.

List of the 10 best games of the year

Finally, the 10 games with the highest total score are published. The game with the highest score is then the winner of the "German Game Award".

Since 1992 also "Deutscher Kinderspielpreis" (German Children's Game Award)

In addition to the 5 best games, each participant may also select a children's game. The one with the most votes then becomes the winner of the "Deutscher Kinderspielpreis" for the respective year.

All other "Deutscher Spielepreis" years

The German Game Prize is awarded since 1990, we have listed for you both across all years, all Children's Game Prize winners and separated by year you can find at the bottom of the page.

More info can be found on the official website of the "German Games Award".

List with all Deutscher Spielepreis🇩🇪 2021 winners and nominees:

This list was last updated on June 12, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. MicroMacro: Crime City

    MicroMacro: Crime City

    MicroMacro: Crime City is a unique detective game that immerses players into a detailed and expansive cityscape to solve intriguing crimes. The game centers around a large, detailed map of a city where various crimes have occurred. Players become detectives tasked with unraveling these mysteries using the clues scattered across the city.

    All details & rating
    1–4 15–45 min 12+ Immediately playable
    + 1 € above the best price
    16 € at Amazon*
  2. Fantasy Realms

    Fantasy Realms

    Fantasy Realms immerses players in the role of rulers striving to build the most powerful realm. This card game is all about strategic combinations and choices, with every decision shaping the strength and nature of your realm.

    All details & rating
    2–6 20 min 14+ Easy to learn
    + 6 € above the best price
    20 € at Amazon*
  3. The Adventures of Robin Hood

    The Adventures of Robin Hood

    The Adventures of Robin Hood offers a refreshing and innovative approach to board gaming, immersing players in the legendary tales of Robin Hood and his merry band in 1193 England. This game distinguishes itself with a dynamic game board that evolves and changes, reflecting the players' actions and choices throughout their quest against the tyranny of Prince John and his minions. With a unique movement mechanism and a story-driven gameplay that forgoes traditional cards for a narrative-driven hardcover book, players will find themselves deeply engaged in the forests and villages of Nottinghamshire.

    All details & rating
    2–4 60 min 10+ Easy to learn
  4. Lost Ruins of Arnak

    Lost Ruins of Arnak

    Lost Ruins of Arnak is an adventurous board game that blends deck-building with worker placement, set on an unexplored island filled with remnants of an ancient civilization.

    All details & rating
    1–4 30–120 min 12+ Medium complexity
    + 14 € above the best price
    55 € at Amazon*
  5. Everdell

    Everdell

    Everdell invites players to immerse themselves in the enchanting valley of Everdell, where a thriving civilization of forest critters seeks to expand their territories and establish new cities beneath towering trees, meandering streams, and mossy hollows. As the leader of a group of ambitious critters, you have a busy year ahead, filled with construction, character encounters, and hosting events. Can you ensure that the sun shines brightest on your city before the winter moon rises?

    All details & rating
    1–4 40–80 min 10+ Medium complexity
    + 11 € above the best price
    58 € at Amazon*
    Video reviews 1
  6. Aeon's End

    Aeon's End

    In the concealed underground city of Gravehold, survivors of a distant invasion find solace. Here, amidst the remnants of a desperate society, they unearth a revelation: the energy emanating from breaches, the very conduits exploited by hostile beings, can be harnessed. Various gems allow them to transmute malevolent energies into beneficial spells and weapons, becoming the last bastion of defense—the breach mages.

    All details & rating
    1–4 60 min 14+ Medium complexity
    Video reviews 1
  7. Dodo

    Dodo

    Players must act quickly in a cooperative challenge to save a Dodo egg that has fallen from its nest on a mountain peak. Through teamwork, gather materials, collect tools, and build bridges to safely guide the rolling egg to the foot of the mountain. If they successfully direct the egg into the rescue boat, everyone wins together.

    All details & rating
    2–4 10 min 6+ Immediately playable
  8. Paleo

    Paleo

    Paleo is a cooperative adventure game set in the Stone Age, where players work together to ensure the survival of their human characters while completing various missions. The ultimate goal? To paint a woolly mammoth on a wall, leaving a mark of your existence (or just because it looks cool).

    All details & rating
    2–4 45–60 min 10+ Medium complexity
    + 3 € above the best price
    35 € at Amazon*
  9. Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion

    Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion

    Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion is a standalone adventure game that serves as a prequel to the highly acclaimed Gloomhaven. It's designed to be more accessible to a broader audience, with streamlined rules and an integrated tutorial.

    All details & rating
    1–4 30–120 min 14+ For connoisseurs
    + 8 € above the best price
    50 € at Amazon*
  10. Anno 1800

    Anno 1800

    Anno 1800: The Board Game is an immersive game that captures the essence of the popular Ubisoft PC game, Anno 1800. Players are tasked with developing their home island by building a robust industry, engaging in trade, and meeting the evolving needs of their population. The game emphasizes strategic planning and resource management, set against the backdrop of the 19th-century industrial revolution.

    All details & rating
    2–4 120 min 12+ Medium complexity
    + 2 € above the best price
    37 € at Amazon*
  11. Praga Caput Regni

    Praga Caput Regni

    Praga Caput Regni immerses players in the era of Charles IV, King of Bohemia, focusing on the construction and expansion of Prague during medieval times. Players act as influential citizens contributing to the city's development, seeking to gain the king's favor through strategic project management and resource allocation.

    All details & rating
    1–4 45–150 min 14+ For connoisseurs
    + 2 € above the best price
    55 € at Amazon*

Frequently asked questions

Which game ranks first on this list?

MicroMacro: Crime City currently tops our list. The ranking is derived from player community ratings and is recalculated continuously.

How many players do the games on this list support?

Most games on this list support 1 to 4 players. The exact player count is listed with each game.

What age are these games suitable for?

Publisher age recommendations on this list start at 6 years. Each game carries its own age rating.

How long does a game take?

A typical game takes about 40 to 60 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.

Didn't find the game you were looking for?

We're positive that you'll find it in one of our other lists! To make the search easier for you, we split our website into different categories. The following board game categories will help you find the right list: