All "Spiel des Jahres🇩🇪 2008" game award winners & nominees in comparison 2026

In the swashbuckling world of 1675 Jamaica, Captain Henry Morgan, after a notorious career in piracy, becomes the Governor of Jamaica. In a surprising turn of events, he invites his former pirate comrades to join him in retirement, celebrating their plundered treasures in the annual Great Challenge – a thrilling race around the island. The cunning Captain with the most gold at the end of the race claims the title of Grand Winner. Jamaica is a pirate-themed tactical race game that combines strategic ship movement, treasure hunting, and player interaction.

Marrakech is a strategic board game where players take on the roles of competing rug salespeople in the vibrant and bustling market of Marrakech. The aim is to outsmart your competitors through careful placement of carpets and savvy financial decisions.

Stone Age catapults players into the challenging era of our ancestors, a time when survival hinged on the relentless pursuit of progress. In roles as hunters, collectors, farmers, and toolmakers, players will experience the hardships and triumphs of this prehistoric age. Here's an overview of the game:

Galaxy Trucker is a fast-paced, tile-laying board game that combines space adventure with ship construction and navigation challenges.

Linq combines bluffing elements with associative gameplay. Players aged 10 and up, in groups of 4 to 8, seek to find their constantly changing partners by associating freely with their LINQ words. The game includes 58 pairs of cards with nearly 700 words, 4 question marks, wooden pieces for scoring, a 12-sided die, and the rulebook.

Players must find the magical ring stolen from the wise king by an evil sorcerer. Racing against the clock, they move their tokens through various rooms on the board to gather clues about who took the precious gemstone. Talking animals assist players by providing hints through a treasure chest, which players must unlock by feeding the animals. Cooperation is essential, as everyone works together to reclaim the stolen ring and either win or lose as a group based on their success in completing assigned tasks.

Witch's Brew is a captivating card game that introduces players to a world of magic, potions, and strategic role selection. As the fourth installment in the Alea medium box series, this game by Andreas Pelikan challenges players to assume constantly changing roles, from the wise druid Drax to the diligent assistant Gemalher, navigating a dynamic play environment where timing and strategy are key.

TZAAR is a compelling abstract strategy game that emphasizes the delicate balance of weakening your opponent versus strengthening your own position. With 30 pieces each, divided among Tzaars, Tzarras, and Totts, players navigate a game of tactical decisions where every move counts. The core challenge lies in managing these three distinct types of pieces, each essential to the game's strategy, as players aim to either deplete one type of the opponent's pieces or trap them in a position where they can't capture anymore.

Cockroach Salad is a fast-paced card game where players work together to create a salad but not always truthfully. With 128 cards representing different vegetables and the dreaded "taboo" vegetables with cockroaches, the aim is to deceive your way to victory. The game becomes a test of quick thinking and deception as you navigate through the rules of when to tell the truth and when to lie about the vegetables you're adding to the salad.

A set of half eggs is placed on the table. Players must simultaneously try to match the correct halves that feature the same bird. After all combinations are made, players check their matches. If correct, they can place their game piece with that bird. The first player to successfully discard all their pieces wins. This game is part of the chicken family from Zoch.

Inside the castle, one of twelve ghosts floats from window to window. Identifying the ghost is challenging, as players can only discern them by tiny details. The player who recognizes the ghost fastest moves their token along the park path, and the player who advances the furthest by the end of the game becomes the master ghost hunter.

A quick game with simple rules and plenty of depth. Players use five different colored pieces to race along a track made of colored discs toward the "Hit Podium." Throughout the race, they collect these discs, and at the end of the game, their gathered discs will determine their score based on the positions of their pieces on the podium.

Players take on the role of farmers who constantly forget where they have stored their belongings. The game is set up with seven theme cards featuring different colored backgrounds, and a deck of 49 farm cards corresponding to these themes. During their turn, players reveal a farm card and must quickly name a card of the same color; the player with the most cards at the end wins.

Keltis is a multi-player board game that evolves from the principles of Lost Cities, with some unique rule changes and elements. It was later published with Reiner Knizia's original rules and theme as Lost Cities: The Board Game. Keltis invites players to embark on a journey along mystical stone paths by strategically playing cards, managing risks, and earning points.

Metropolys is an engaging strategy game where players take on the roles of ambitious urban planners competing to leave their mark on a developing cityscape. The game combines elements of bidding, spatial strategy, and secret objectives. Players vie to construct their buildings in prestigious locations to gain the most prestige and win the game.

Players command a flying broomstick, mastering it with courage and skill. The goal is to win the race by being the first to cross the finish line while navigating different combinations based on colors, using special cards filled with spells and tricks. Memory, bravery, and cunning will be the key strategies to achieve victory.

Who will be the first player to get rid of the dangerous rattlesnake eggs? This simple and fun game challenges children of all ages with strategy and skill. Players compete to be the first to place all their "snake eggs" on the board, but making the wrong move can cause them to collide and require the player to pick them all up again!

The Hanging Gardens were one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but did they really exist? Players take on the role of landscape architects trying to restore the beauty and splendor of these legendary gardens. They design based on their own preferences, acquiring construction cards to create magnificent buildings, sparkling fountains, and exotic plants, ultimately vying for the queen's favor to win the game.

Loaded with sparkling jewels and gems, the Vikings have just returned from their latest raid. Amidst the cheering, they begin to distribute the treasure, but players must be patient, as the most valuable pieces may arrive later.

The card game consists of 54 cards, each representing one of six animals and a combination of two colors. Players secretly decide which color cards they hope to win by the end of the round. They take turns bidding by placing a token on the table, and the last player remaining collects cards of their chosen color. The game ends when all cards have been claimed, and players score points for the animals they have the majority of.

Agricola is a strategic board game where players become farmers aiming to build thriving homesteads. Manage resources, expand your home, and feed your family to win.

Capt'n Sharky and his crew search for jewels on a treasure island. Players must quickly find items on the board, collecting treasures if they spot jewels, but risk going home empty-handed if they encounter a pirate. The game features a small "centrifuge," a type of magnet, and a 3-D pirate ship, combining memory, skill, and fast reaction for the whole family.

Get your forklift ready! Players use strategy and a bit of luck with cards to build the most valuable towers. The game unfolds in four phases, and the player with the most victory points at the end wins.

The little bear wants to get dressed and knows what he wants to wear, such as green pants with a blue and red shirt and a pirate bandana. Players can help him find these items or compete to discover his favorite clothes. The game promotes memory, flexibility, and recognition skills in young players.

A river winds through a deep gorge, filled with about a liter of water before play begins. Players take on the role of wild river dragons trying to steal jewels from the king's sailboat. Success requires not only breath control but also skill and a bit of luck, making it a fun experience for both kids and adults.

What happened here? Everything is in disarray and nothing is where it should be. Players must quickly tidy up with the help of Pino, the clever little gnome, who will assist them in organizing everything. Soon, the sweater will be in the closet, the stamp on the desk, and the shoe back on the shelf. From now on, tidying up will be done with enthusiasm, and parents will be pleased.

Rain clouds appear over the meadow, and droplets from an earlier shower are scattered on the slide, sandbox, and climbing tree. Children roll a colored die to decide which area they want to dry out, then draw a card that indicates with which finger and hand they will move the droplets. The game encourages cooperation and gives players tips while increasing the difficulty by requiring them to switch fingers and hands.