All "Spiel des Jahres🇩🇪 2016" game award winners & nominees in comparison 2026

Codenames 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.

7 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.

Pandemic 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:

Karuba is a tile-laying race game that combines strategy with a touch of luck, as players navigate their explorers through a dense jungle to reach temples and collect treasures. Each player's decision-making skills are put to the test as they create paths and vie to be the first to explore the riches of Karuba.

Players create imaginative words using letter tiles and then guess which of the created words could be a name for a newly discovered planet. Each player has a secret task to develop a unique word, and at the end, the best guesser and wordsmith wins the game. It's a hilarious party game with a twist!

Spyfall immerses players in a unique party game experience where they step into the intriguing roles of spies, navigating through various scenarios to decipher their surroundings. In this engaging game, participants aim to uncover the spy in their midst while the spy endeavors to blend in and discern the secret location.

Players give hints for their teammates to guess a word or phrase in a lively gameplay format. What sets this version apart is the use of cards featuring only images, with no text. The game consists of two rounds using the same set of cards; players can describe them in the first round and mimic the hints in the second round to accumulate points.

Qwinto offers a refreshing twist on the roll-and-write genre, engaging players in a simultaneous play experience where quick thinking and strategic number placement are key to victory. In this game, players race to fill out their scoresheets with ascending numbers in three colorful rows, while navigating the constraints of overlapping columns and avoiding duplicates to maximize their scores.

Join Jonon and Jada, two children from the Stone Age, on a journey to rediscover how the first humans settled the world around them. In this children's version of the classic family game, players collect resources and build their own settlement.

Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King is a strategic tile-laying board game set in the stunning landscape of Isle of Skye. In this game, 2 to 5 players take on the roles of chieftains from different clans, each aspiring to expand their territories and build their kingdoms to gain the most points.

The lion's mane is far too long, risking his respect among the other animals. Players help the lion reach the barber before closing time, creating a path from his bed to the salon. They use cards to move the lion along the path, but must be careful as different colored tiles affect the time. If players manage to get Leo to the barber within five days, they win the game.

In the midst of Ragnarök, the cataclysmic end of the world, seize your opportunity for glory in Blood Rage. Each player commands a Viking clan, complete with fearless warriors, a formidable leader, and a mighty ship. As the world crumbles, it's the Vikings' last chance to seek Valhalla, to be forever remembered at Odin's side. In this epic battle, there are myriad paths to honor, from plundering the land and crushing opponents to fulfilling quests, enhancing your clan's strength, or embracing a glorious demise.

Imhotep invites players into the ancient world of Egypt, where they compete as builders trying to leave their mark on history by constructing notable monuments.

Players play a card showing one or two gangsters in front of them. They must announce the current number in sequence, starting from one up to seven and then back down. If there are two gangsters, both numbers must be called, and the next player is skipped. If a gangster is looking at a weapon, no announcement is made, but a cough is required if a cellphone is held. Mistakes result in the player taking the card stack. The goal is to be the first to get rid of all your cards.

Players use their plastic grasshoppers to skillfully knock down tall rectangular blades of grass. To make the grasshopper jump, simply press on its tail and watch it soar. The objective is to topple not only your own blades but also the valuable red blade of the king.

All the castle residents are sound asleep, unaware that a quick burglar is sneaking around the walls. Only the twelve guardians of the legendary castle treasure remain awake— or are they only pretending? Catching the two guards in Sleepy Castle allows players to steal the treasures they guard, but clever management is essential to succeed.

Players take on the role of dwarves who have discovered a cave filled with treasures. They take turns distributing their finds among four treasure chambers, but the growing stacks make them increasingly anxious. Dwarves must decide when to secure their share and leave, all while keeping an eye on greedy companions and the lurking cave orc.

T.I.M.E Stories is a unique narrative-driven board game that blends elements of role-playing, exploration, and puzzle-solving. It offers an immersive experience as players take on the role of temporal agents sent on missions to prevent disruptions in the space-time continuum.

Animals on Board is an accessible and clever game featuring a two-tier cardboard tray that holds each player's animal tiles. Players draw three animal tiles at the start, choose one to place face down on their ark, and form a collective of remaining tiles in the center.

A little dragon is on a big treasure hunt and wants to collect as many treasures as possible, while players eagerly try to help. When the dragon lands in the right spot, it glows with joy and rewards the player who brought it there. However, treasures are hidden in new locations with each adventure in the mysterious dragon cave. Be sure to remember where they are, as the first player to collect six treasures wins.

Players take on the role of mice trying to feast on the Smith family's pantry while avoiding the lurking black cat. It's a cooperative game suitable for young children, featuring special rules for players aged 5 and up, ensuring fun for everyone!

Animals rush down the river at night in the Jungle Party, and players must remember where they all are. Which animal is swimming in the river? Who can discover each creature and recall where they are hidden? Moving the correct animal cards along the right arm of the river will help ensure a swift journey.

Hurry to the old stone castle! An exciting race for the Magical Trophy begins at Castle Flatterstein. Players use a catapult to launch fabric bats onto the game board, moving 1-2 spaces based on where the bats land. If they land in the ditch, players must draw a ghost card that can either help or hinder their progress. The first player to reach the top of the castle wins the game and claims the golden bat trophy!

Mombasa is a deep and strategic Euro-style board game set in 18th century Africa, revolving around economic expansion and investment in trading companies. Players work to spread their influence across the continent by investing in companies based in key African cities and engaging in various trade activities.