All International Gamers Award Winners and Nominees 2026
The International Gamers Award celebrates outstanding board games. This collection features all winners and nominees of this prestigious gaming award.
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Just One
All details & ratingJust One is a cooperative party game that combines elements of mystery and creativity. Players work together to guess as many words as possible, using unique clues provided by their teammates.
3–7 20–60 min 8+ Immediately playable+ 5 € above the best price21 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
Codenames
All details & ratingCodenames is a captivating and popular party game that involves clever wordplay and deduction. Two teams compete, each led by a spymaster who knows the secret identities of 25 agents, represented by cards bearing single-word codenames like "disease," "Germany," or even "carrot." The objective is for each team to be the first to correctly identify all their agents based on clues given by their spymaster, while avoiding the dangerous assassin.
2–8 15 min 10+ Immediately playable+ 2 € above the best price17 € at Amazon* -
MicroMacro: Crime City
All details & ratingMicroMacro: 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.
1–4 15–45 min 12+ Immediately playable+ 1 € above the best price16 € at Amazon* -
Cascadia
All details & ratingCascadia is a tile-laying and token-drafting board game that features the rich habitats and diverse wildlife of the Pacific Northwest. It combines strategic tile placement with wildlife conservation themes.
1–4 30–45 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Jaipur
All details & ratingIn the bustling city of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, you find yourself in a fierce competition as one of the two most powerful traders. However, being a prominent trader isn't enough; the ultimate goal is to earn two coveted "seals of excellence" to secure an invitation to the Maharaja's prestigious court. To outshine your direct competitor, you'll need to demonstrate superior trading skills by buying, exchanging, and selling goods at advantageous prices, all while carefully managing your valuable camel herds.
2 30 min 10+ Immediately playable -
Codenames: Duet
All details & ratingEmbark on a collaborative journey of espionage in Codenames Duet, where the familiar elements of Codenames persist – providing one-word clues to unveil your agents among those on the table. This time, however, you and your teammate work together to uncover all your agents, adding a thrilling cooperative dimension to the challenge. The mystery of not knowing your agents from the outset adds an intriguing layer to the mission, raising questions that even Congressional investigators might ponder later!
2 15–30 min 11+ Immediately playable+ 3 € above the best price19 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
Azul
All details & ratingAzul is a tile-laying game inspired by Portuguese azulejos: as artisans, players draft colored tiles from suppliers and place them in patterns to decorate the walls of the Royal Palace of Evora, scoring points for clever arrangements.
2–4 30–45 min 8+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 1 -
7 Wonders Duel
All details & rating7 Wonders Duel takes the essence of the classic 7 Wonders and refines it for an intense two-player experience. It retains the thematic elements of building a civilization through acquiring various types of cards, but it introduces unique mechanics suited for a duel.
2 30 min 10+ Easy to learn+ 2 € above the best price23 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
Decrypto
All details & ratingEngage in the riveting team-based challenge of Decrypto, where players strive to correctly interpret coded messages from their teammates while unraveling the intercepted codes of the opposing team.
3–8 15–45 min 12+ Easy to learn+ 1 € above the best price20 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
All details & ratingThe Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine is a cooperative trick-taking game that takes players on an adventurous space journey, filled with challenges and strategic gameplay.
2–5 20 min 10+ Easy to learn+ 2 € above the best price11 € at Amazon* -
Heat: Pedal to the Metal
All details & ratingHeat: Pedal to the Metal is a dynamic and strategic racing board game that simulates the thrill and intricacies of car racing. It offers players a chance to experience the excitement of racing while managing crucial elements like speed, car upgrades, and varying track conditions.
1–6 30–60 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Splendor Duel
All details & ratingSplendor Duel is an intriguing two-player game that builds upon the foundation of its predecessor, Splendor, enhancing it with new layers of strategy and competitiveness. Designed specifically for two players, this standalone game maintains the core elements of Splendor while introducing novel twists and mechanics, making it more dynamic and interactive.
2 30 min 10+ Easy to learn+ 8 € above the best price25 € at Amazon* -
Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
All details & ratingPandemic Legacy: Season 1 offers an extraordinary gaming experience as a cooperative campaign game, immersing players in an overarching story-arc that unfolds over 12-24 gripping sessions. The duration depends on your group's performance and the fate of the world. Here's an overview of this thrilling journey:
2–4 60 min 13+ Medium complexity -
Lost Cities
All details & ratingLost Cities is a two-player card game focused on building profitable archaeological expeditions. Part of the Kosmos two-player series, it features a deck with cards ranked 2–10 in various colors, including a new sixth color added in 2019. The game also employs "handshake" cards as multipliers for scoring.
2 30 min 10+ Immediately playable -
Coloretto
All details & ratingEngage in the colorful and strategic gameplay of Coloretto, where simplicity meets tactical decision-making. The game revolves around drawing cards to play into rows or claiming entire rows to expand your collection. As the rounds progress, players aim to create extensive sets, but there's a catch – exceeding three colors incurs penalties, adding a layer of strategic depth.
2–5 30 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Incan Gold
All details & ratingThe board game known as Diamant or Incan Gold unfolds as an exhilarating press-your-luck experience, offering players a quick and enjoyable journey into mine shafts and jungle paths. As participants flip cards from a deck, the gems discovered are evenly distributed, creating a shared bounty. However, the decision to venture deeper comes with the risk of encountering hazards like scorpions, snakes, poison gas, explosions, and rockfalls.
3–8 20–40 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Ticket to Ride: Europe
All details & ratingTicket to Ride: Europe invites you to embark on an exhilarating train adventure through the heart of Europe. From the historic streets of Edinburgh to the vibrant city of Constantinople, and from the sunny shores of Lisbon to the grandeur of Moscow, you'll traverse the great cities of turn-of-the-century Europe. Whether you're a seasoned gamer or a family looking for a fun challenge, this game, like the original Ticket to Ride, offers an elegantly simple gameplay experience that can be mastered in just five minutes.
2–5 30–60 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Wingspan
All details & ratingWingspan is a captivating, competitive board game from Stonemaier Games, masterfully designed by Elizabeth Hargrave. It's a medium-weight, card-driven, engine-building game that stands out with its unique theme and stunning artwork, featuring over 170 bird illustrations by artists Beth Sobel, Natalia Rojas, and Ana Maria Martinez.
1–5 40–70 min 10+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 1 -
Santorini
All details & ratingSantorini is a beautifully re-imagined strategy game that combines abstract elements with accessible gameplay, suitable for a wide range of players.
2–4 20 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Schotten Totten
All details & ratingSchotten Totten is a strategic card game that combines elements of poker with a battle for territory. Players compete to capture boundary stones by creating powerful card formations, with a clever twist on using logic to claim victory.
2 20 min 8+ Easy to learn -
My City
All details & ratingMy City is a groundbreaking competitive legacy game where players develop their own city across multiple epochs. This game uniquely blends city-building with the evolving challenges and narratives of a legacy format.
2–4 30 min 10+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 1 -
Azul: Summer Pavilion
All details & ratingAzul: Summer Pavilion takes players back to Portugal to embark on an artistic challenge of crafting a summer pavilion, a task assigned by King Manuel I. As master artisans, players must use their skills to construct the pavilion using the finest materials while efficiently managing their resources.
2–4 30–45 min 8+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 2 -
Century: Spice Road
All details & ratingCentury: Spice Road is the first game in a series that delves into the rich and vibrant history of spice trading. Set against the backdrop of the legendary Silk Road, players take on the roles of caravan leaders, journeying across continents to trade spices and achieve fame and glory. This game combines elements of strategy and resource management, making it an engaging experience for players who enjoy economic and trading games.
2–5 30–45 min 8+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 1 -
Dune: Imperium
All details & ratingDune: Imperium is a strategic deck-building game inspired by the iconic Dune universe, incorporating elements from both the recent film adaptation and the classic novels. Players lead one of the Great Houses in the interstellar political landscape of the Landsraad.
1–4 60–120 min 14+ Medium complexity1 € below the next retailer37 € at Amazon* -
Planet Unknown
All details & ratingPlanet Unknown is a competitive and strategic game for 1-6 players set in a future where Earth's resources are depleted. Players are tasked with developing the most efficient and habitable planet among a series of newfound worlds. Using polyomino-shaped tiles, each representing vital infrastructure, players work to efficiently cover their planets and build an effective support system for life.
1–6 60–80 min 10+ Easy to learn -
7 Wonders
All details & ratingIn 7 Wonders, you step into the role of a leader of one of the seven great cities of the Ancient World. Your objective is to gather resources, establish commercial routes, and assert your military might. The game is not just about managing resources but also about building an architectural wonder that will stand the test of time.
2–7 30 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Nidavellir
All details & ratingNidavellir is a strategic bidding and set collection game set in a mythical dwarf kingdom. Players take on the roles of Elvalands, noble leaders tasked with assembling a powerful army to defend the kingdom against the dragon Fafnir.
2–5 45 min 10+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 1 -
Linko
All details & ratingLinko! is a dynamic card game, also known as Abluxxen, that combines strategy and luck. The objective is to play your cards wisely to score points while using your turns to disrupt your opponents' plans.
2–5 20 min 10+ Immediately playable -
Botanik
All details & ratingDevelop the most effective network of Mecha-Botanik, a blend of plants and science. The game features a simple mechanic with one action per turn and an intricate exchange system involving tiles of different groups and colors. Earn points by creating groups of three or more matching tiles and by having flowers on your tiles.
2 30 min 12+ Easy to learn
Frequently asked questions
Which game ranks first on this list?
Just One (Spiel des Jahres 2019 winner) 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 2 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 8 years. Each game carries its own age rating.
How long does a game take?
A typical game takes about 30 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.
Didn't find the game you were looking for?
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