Best games released at SPIEL 2018 in Essen

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.

Terraforming Mars: Prelude offers an expansion to the core game, setting the stage for the terraforming process and enhancing your corporation's journey with new strategic options.

Players enjoy a surprising and enchanting game that captures the imagination. The 10th Anniversary expansion features artwork from illustrators of previous expansions, creating a rich tapestry of stories and myths from around the world. Dive into the magic of Dixit and embark on a remarkable journey beyond your imagination.

ICECOOL2 is both a standalone game and an expansion for ICECOOL. It introduces tasks on 1-point cards, fish movement power on 2-point cards, and an optional tournament scoring. Combining both ICECOOL sets allows for new layouts, a new game mode called "The Race," play for up to eight players, and the ability to create custom layouts.

Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition is a captivating multiplayer puzzle game that combines strategy and luck to create a unique gaming experience.

Sagrada is a visually striking board game where players draft dice to create beautiful stained glass windows, combining strategy and aesthetics.

Railroad Ink: Blazing Red Edition is a dynamic and engaging multiplayer puzzle game where players aim to build the most efficient transportation network. The game revolves around connecting as many exits as possible on individual erasable boards using routes determined by dice rolls. Strategic planning is key, as players must balance the desire to expand their network with the risk of leaving routes incomplete.

Embark on a thrilling cooperative adventure with Chronicles of Crime, a unique blend of crime investigation, board game excitement, and a touch of Virtual Reality. Picture yourself at the heart of criminal investigations, where the seamless integration of an app with physical components creates an immersive experience.

Heckmeck Deluxe includes both the base game and the expansion. Players engage in a fun-filled experience with new challenges and twists. Enjoy the unique gameplay that comes with this deluxe edition.

Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra is a visually striking and strategic board game designed by Michael Kiesling. It offers a unique twist on tile drafting, focusing on creating beautiful stained glass windows.

Kingdomino: Age of Giants is an expansion for the popular board games Kingdomino and Queendomino, introducing new elements and challenges that enrich the gameplay experience. This expansion integrates seamlessly with either base game, adding components for a fifth player, new domino tiles featuring giants, and innovative game mechanics that add both strategic depth and interactive play.

Welcome To... is a unique, dice-less roll-and-write game where players take on the role of 1950s American architects, aiming to design and construct the most prosperous suburban neighborhood.

Scythe: The Rise of Fenris transports players to a Europe on the brink of a new era, following the ebb and flow of empires after the Great War. As the economy thrives, morale soars, and defenses stand strong, strange reports of soldiers with glowing eyes in the countryside surface, yet they appear distant and seemingly harmless.

Just 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.

Spirits of the Forest is a visually stunning and strategically engaging board game that invites players into a mystical world where the veil between the spirit realm and our own is momentarily lifted. In this enchanting setting, players embody seraphs of the elements, competing to collect the spirits of the forest and add them to their ethereal menagerie.

The Second World War is coming to an end in the Soviet Union. Players work as a team of field cooks, using scarce ingredients to create meals from whatever is found at the front, even if it looks inedible. The goal is to mix colors to match orders while avoiding toxic ingredients that could harm guests.

Players strive to form a row of four or five cards while facing placement restrictions. The game features four decks, each containing 18 cards with values from 1 to 9. Players create a 6x6 grid, placing cards either next to existing ones or on top of them, as long as the top card has a higher point value. The first to achieve a row of four or five cards in their color wins the round and removes the highest card to start a new round. The player who wins two rounds first takes the game. In a two-player game, players combine their stacks but can only form rows of one color. In a three-player game, each player randomly receives six cards of an unused color to use as blockers.

Meeple Circus is a vibrant and engaging dexterity board game where players become circus directors, aiming to create the most spectacular show and wow the audience. It's a game where physical skill meets strategic planning, and each action is a performance in itself.

Engage in a sneaky competition of covert communication. Signal with a wink that you have a delivery for another spy, and wait for their eye shift to indicate the meeting point. Be discreet; if someone intercepts you, the mission is blown!

Players collect numbers that are close to their existing totals without being identical. Each player has a scoring sheet and rolls five colored dice in a round. They combine numbers from their dice, recording the sums on their scoring sheets while following specific rules to earn points, with the game concluding after 25 rounds. The player with the most points at the end wins.

Word Slam Family features the same gameplay as the original version in a compact format. It includes 100 word cards and 100 answer cards divided into seven categories, providing a total of 600 response terms. Two teams compete simultaneously, with players using only the explanation cards to help their teammates guess a hidden word or phrase without speaking or acting. An app replaces the dice and timer, and the game's two halves act as screens for answering cards. Word Slam Family can be played as an expansion or as a standalone game.

In Architects of the West Kingdom, set against the backdrop of the late Carolingian Empire around 850 AD, players step into the roles of royal architects. Tasked with constructing important buildings and advancing the construction of the Archbishop's cathedral, this game uniquely combines resource management, worker placement, and moral choices into a rich strategic tableau. Players vie for the King's favor and maintain their noble status in a world where virtue and vice coexist.

Claim 2 is a standalone expansion with five new factions that can be played alone or in combination with the original game.

Players create ice characters to compete in a race to the finish line. The winner is either the first to cross the finish line or the last player with an ice figure remaining, while others have melted. Throughout the game, players can attack each other using salt, water, or other methods to raise the temperature of opponents’ characters, but if the defending player counters the attack with the same card, the attack will backfire.

Players work together to help a monster understand its emotions. They take turns rolling a die to move the monster on the board. When the monster lands on a space with an emotion token, the player picks it up and tries to find the corresponding glass from the hidden options. To keep a token, players must share a memory related to that emotion. The game can end in defeat if the monster gets too confused, but they win by successfully sorting all the emotions into the correct glasses.

Players receive five colorful cups and aim to complete the tasks shown on the cards as quickly as possible. Speed and keen observation are essential, as the cards indicate whether the cups should be stacked or placed side by side. The fastest player to ring the bell after correctly arranging the cups will win.

Planet is a unique, hands-on board game where players get the chance to create their own planet. Each player starts with a blank planet core and strategically places terrain tiles – mountains, ice, forests, deserts – to cultivate environments that can support life. The goal is to cleverly arrange these habitats to attract various animal species and create the most thriving planet.

Players engage in a dice game that transforms a classic communication game. The dice determine the category for players to find the correct words, but caution is necessary! Competing players can challenge your chosen terms, so careful thinking and attention to others are essential to score points and win.

In Carpe Diem, players step into the roles of wealthy patricians in ancient Rome, striving to build prosperous city districts and accumulate prestigious points. Designed by the accomplished game designer Stefan Feld, this board game offers a unique and engaging gaming experience.

Get your brain back on track! In Brain Connect, players must quickly arrange and connect their thoughts, then execute the correct action first to win. These sliding puzzles feature sixteen different start and stop points, making each challenge of creating a clear thought process a fresh experience.

Explorers of the North Sea plunges players into the Viking Age's waning days, tasking them as sea captains on a quest to discover and claim new lands. The goal is to transport crews, capture livestock, and build outposts across newly found islands. With a longship and a Viking crew at your disposal, the seas are ripe for exploration and conquest.

Welcome to H.P. Lovecraft's Arkham in the 1920s. Players will encounter many puzzles in this storytelling game filled with Lovecraftian horror. Using a newspaper, a list of allies, the directory of Arkham residents, and a map, you must follow clues, identify suspects, uncover secrets, and answer questions at the end of each scenario.

Imhotep: The Duel transports players back to the rich historical setting of ancient Egypt, where they engage in a strategic contest as two of Egypt’s most renowned figures, Nefertiti and Akhenaten. This two-player game is a standalone sequel to the acclaimed board game Imhotep, known for its deep strategy and engaging gameplay. Imhotep: The Duel focuses on the competitive dynamics between two players, offering a nuanced and tightly contested battle of wits and strategy.

Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game immerses players in the role of true detectives, blending traditional board game elements with modern technology and storytelling. This game offers a unique and interactive experience, as players solve interconnected cases using both physical game components and an online database.

Gloomhaven is a Euro-inspired tactical combat game set in a persistent and evolving world. Players assume the roles of adventurers, each with unique skills and motives, as they explore dungeons, ruins, and engage in cooperative battles against automated monsters.

Feel like taking a ride on the haunted roller coaster at the fair? What if that ride suddenly stops and you find yourself trapped? Work together with your fellow passengers to escape this eerie place as quickly as possible. This version of Exit is particularly suitable for newcomers to escape room puzzles. Like other titles in the series, it includes components that can be folded, written on, or torn, making it a one-time play experience.

Players control a fleet of five sailboats that navigate from lighthouse to lighthouse along the coast. With only three workers to man six lighthouses and a storm approaching, strategic decisions become crucial. Each player uses a stack of fourteen identical cards to determine boat movements and which lighthouses are illuminated, with the game ending once the storm reaches the harbor after twelve rounds. Points are awarded based on how far boats travel before the storm catches them, and the player with the highest score wins.

Put on your captain's hat and navigate the 3D pirate ship in this unique cooperative real-time game. Players aim to be crowned Admiral of the Black by completing various dangerous scenarios quickly. An innovative feature allows players to use their own 30-second sand timer as their character, placing it on the ship to perform actions while managing time effectively.

Players compete to battle powerful dragons and reach fairy-tale castles in a race against time. Each round begins with an adventure card revealing dragon and castle locations. Players then aim to place their tiles on their boards to travel to all the castles, with the first to find the correct solution winning the round. After winning, players must continue to face the dragon and visit all castles in subsequent rounds. The first to win three rounds claims victory.

The Norwegians expansion for A Feast for Odin significantly enriches the base game with an array of new content and strategic possibilities, emphasizing the historical Viking theme and offering players fresh challenges and pathways to victory.

Centuries ago, legendary smiths forged the "Crown of Command," a magical artifact of immense power that grants its wearer control over the land. A powerful wizard sealed it away to prevent evil forces from taking it, only allowing those with the legendary Talismans to access the portal leading to the crown.

In the Tuco expansion, Tuco has unresolved issues with the Marshal, his former friend. His "Fire and Shot" ability can affect various targets, including Belle. Players can swap positions with the Marshal or lead him away, earning rewards when they bring him to Tuco's location. Every Colt Express: Bandits expansion allows players to compete against the game itself, creating unique stories and objectives with each playthrough.

Players start with seven cards and try to get rid of them as quickly as possible. When a player discards all their cards, the remaining players count the points in their hands, and the player with the lowest score wins if someone reaches the agreed maximum score.

Welcome to the captivating world of Spirit Island, where the distant echoes of magic still hold sway. In this immersive cooperative board game, players are entrusted with the crucial task of defending their island paradise from the relentless onslaught of colonizing Invaders. The spirits of the land, each possessing unique elemental powers, unite to thwart the advance of those who seek to conquer and despoil. As the colonial empires expand, the islanders and the very earth itself rise in defense. Harness the power of the spirits, strategize with your fellow players, and fight back against the encroaching Invaders to protect the island's mystical heart.

Players attempt to place falling blocks into their grids to score the most points, reminiscent of tabletop Tetris. Each player starts by drawing a quadromino and then rolls a colored d6 and a numbered d4 to determine the quadromino that must be placed. Players can collect energy points and utilize bombs to manipulate or destroy blocks, while points are earned by completing lines in their grid. The game ends when players can no longer place quadrominos, and points are tallied based on completed lines and additional bonuses.

Jump Drive propels players into the vast expanse of the Race for the Galaxy universe through a swift and engaging card game. In this game of galactic expansion, players harness the power of the Jump Drive to explore new worlds, develop advanced technologies, and establish a dominant space empire. Players aim to find potent card combinations that propel their civilizations to prosperity and victory. As a standalone game, Jump Drive offers a more streamlined and quicker gameplay experience compared to its predecessor, Race for the Galaxy, making it accessible to newcomers while still challenging seasoned players with its strategic depth.

Engage in battle against opponents on a hexagonal board. Prepare your armies and surprise your enemy with a selection of special abilities!

Players, along with up to three additional agents, are handcuffed and must test their spy skills. The goal is to escape the handcuffs faster than anyone else to score the most points. The game features twelve unique mazes with three difficulty levels, where players must use a pick to free themselves by moving it up and down and turning it side to side.

Players are a group of researchers seeking the legendary golden city deep in the forest. While flying home, a statue's head strikes the plane, forcing them to parachute into an unknown area. Alone and unprepared, they must use limited resources to survive dangers and uncover the mystery of Eldorado.

Mage Knight: Ultimate Edition is an expansive and immersive board game that blends elements of role-playing games (RPGs), deck-building, and traditional board games. This edition is a comprehensive package that includes the base game of Mage Knight along with several expansions, offering an enriched and complete experience for players as they delve into the Mage Knight universe.

"Secret Agent" is an expansion that immerses players in the new nation of Zekestan, which poses a significant threat to the world with its ominous display of power and mysterious secret weapon. Players must work with a team of specialists to find a way to stop the new president, whose rise to power hints at sinister intentions. If caught, all ties to your government will be denied, leaving you alone to face the dire consequences for traitors in Zekestan.

Players travel to distant places in "Lost Cities: Rivals," but they may run out of money for their desired expeditions. The game involves collecting colored expedition cards and placing them in ascending order in personal expeditions. Players must win auctions to place cards in their expeditions, which adds a strategic element to gameplay as they manage their bids and resources.