Best games released at SPIEL 2010 in Essen 2026

Dive into the world of artistic storytelling with Dixit: Quest, an expansion that elevates the captivating gameplay of Dixit to new heights. In this imaginative game, players use beautifully illustrated cards to spin enchanting tales and embark on a journey of creative discovery.

Dominion: Prosperity is the fourth expansion in the acclaimed Dominion series, released in 2010. This expansion enriches the Dominion universe by focusing on the theme of wealth and prosperity.

King of Tokyo is a game where players take on the roles of mutant monsters, robots, and aliens, all competing to become the sole King of Tokyo.

Perudo, also known as Liar's Dice, Bluff, or Dudo, is a classic South American dice game that combines elements of luck, skill, and bluffing. It's a game where players attempt to outwit each other through bold claims and challenges.

Survive: Escape from Atlantis! is a thrilling and competitive board game where players aim to evacuate their pieces from a sinking island. The game is known for its intense gameplay and strategic decisions.

The Resistance is a dynamic party game focused on social deduction, set against the backdrop of a dystopian empire. It's designed for five to ten players and offers a thrilling experience of intrigue and deception.

All the animals are thirsty after an adventurous day in the savanna, so they've all wandered to the watering holes. Each animal wants to drink first, but beware! The elephant frightens the lion, the lion scares the zebra, and the zebra startles the antelope. Anything can happen, as even the antelope can scare the elephant. The player who scares away the most animals wins.

Biblios is a strategic and competitive board game that immerses players in the role of abbots at a medieval monastery. The primary goal is to build the most impressive library of sacred texts, balancing resource management, strategic planning, and a bit of luck.

Ghost Blitz is a fast-paced and exciting game that tests your reflexes and ability to recognize shapes and colors. The game revolves around Balduin, the house ghost, who has accidentally created a set of puzzling photographs with his enchanted camera, leading to a spirited game of quick thinking and fast grabbing.

In 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.

Spot it!, also known as Dobble, is a fast-paced, fun-filled pattern recognition game. It's a simple yet engaging game where players race to find matching symbols between two cards.

The Castles of Burgundy is set in the medieval Burgundy region of France, where players assume the roles of aristocrats seeking to expand their princedoms. The game revolves around building settlements, constructing castles, engaging in river trade, mining for silver, and utilizing travelers' knowledge.

Takenoko is a charming board game set in the Japanese Imperial court, revolving around the care of a giant panda gifted by the Chinese Emperor. Players, as court members, are tasked with managing a bamboo garden for the panda.

Four players enter the stage together and improvise a scene based on a unique situation known only to them. Each player knows their own rank, from 1 to 4, but not the ranks of others. Players must act in a way that makes their rank clear to the audience, and no acting experience is required to enjoy the game.

Small World: Be Not Afraid... is an exciting expansion to the popular board game Small World, known for its humorous and strategic conquest of a too-small world. This expansion introduces five new races and special powers, adding more depth and variety to the game.

Players take 12 cards and a timer camera, preferably on a tripod. They read a card describing an action to perform in front of the lens and then take the photo. Points are counted based on the photos, and the player with the most points wins.

Hive is a highly strategic two-player game that stands out for its versatility and unique gameplay mechanics, involving a variety of insect-themed pieces.

Forbidden Island is a visually captivating cooperative board game that sets itself apart from traditional competitive games. In this thrilling adventure, players must join forces and collaborate to achieve victory instead of competing against each other. The goal is clear: work together as a team to secure a win.

The Memoir '44: Winter Wars expansion takes players to the heart of WWII's most chilling battles, offering a wealth of materials to simulate warfare in snow-covered terrains. This expansion is packed with everything needed for engaging in the strategic combat of the cold war environment, particularly focusing on the Battle of the Bulge during the harsh winter of 1944.

Long live the king! This is a bluffing and deduction game for 3-6 players aged 8 and up. The weary monarch Vladimir Miritiro is eyeing his subjects to choose a successor, and players assist by advising their favorites in the quest for the throne. With the king's retirement announcement, all subjects from cobblers to duchesses gather, but clever maneuvering and selective positioning are needed to reach the crown.

Set in the Late Bronze Age, this print-and-play expansion introduces new rules and a note sheet. It adds four developments—preservation, forging, shipping, and trade—while modifying the costs and rewards of five others. Player trade has become a fundamental rule, and completing the shipping development allows players to build ships for resource conversion.

Players collect ingredients to prepare the best possible sandwiches, or at least the least unappetizing ones. Each player starts with nine face-down ingredient cards, which include both traditional and unusual options. After selecting ingredients and creating sandwiches to share with neighbors, players taste each other's creations and score them based on their appeal. The player with the most points after three rounds wins.

Shadow Hunters is an intriguing survival board game set in a mysterious forest filled with devils and supernatural beings. Players find themselves as members of one of three factions: Shadows, supernatural creatures of the night; Hunters, humans intent on destroying these beings; and Neutrals, civilians inadvertently caught in this age-old conflict. The game revolves around identity concealment, strategic alliances, and survival.