The best games from Michael Schacht 🇩🇪👨 2025

Looking for a really good game from game designer Michael Schacht 👨? Then we have just the thing: the list with the best Michael Schacht games 2025.

Who is Michael Schacht anyway?

Michael Schacht has been designing dice, card & board games since 1992. The game designer hails from Wiesbaden, Hessen, Deutschland🇩🇪, was born in 1964 and currently lives in Frankfurt, Hessen, Deutschland🇩🇪.

Schacht's first game "Taxi" he developed in 1992 at the age of 28 - so he has been designing games for over 33 years, since 2005 full-time. Famous Schacht games are for example Coloretto, Zooloretto & Hansa. He now has over 200 game publications with various publishers.

15 years with advertising agencies

Schacht studied graphic design at the FH Darmstadt. For about 15 years he worked as an art director in various advertising agencies. Among others, he designed for Heinz, Coca-Cola and Kellogg's. In 2005 he left the industry and became one of the few full-time board game designers in Germany.

Board game design competition

Game development began for him with a submission to a board game design competition. His first publication was then in 1992 the game "Taxi" in the magazine "Spielerei". His biggest success to date was his 2007 game Zooloretto, which was named Spiel des Jahres in Germany.

How good are "Michael Schacht" games?

There are 5 games by Michael Schacht in our Top1000 games list, making Schacht the #51 best game author out of a total of 708 authors in our database.

More information about Schacht

More information about Schacht can be found on:

List of best games by Michael Schacht 2025

In this list we have listed the best board games that Michael Schacht either designed himself - or was involved in designing.

Unfortunately, not all of Michael Schacht's games are currently available. In the following list you can find all dice, board & card games by Michael Schacht that you can buy 2025:

This list was last updated on March 19, 2025. We compared 126 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Coloretto

    All details for the board game Coloretto and similar games

    Engage 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.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 3.

    More details for Coloretto
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  2. Spirits of the Forest

    All details for the board game Spirits of the Forest and similar games

    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.

    More details for Spirits of the Forest
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Spirits of the Forest

    • YouTube Review for the game "Spirits of the Forest" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Spirits of the Forest" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  3. Smile

    All details for the board game Smile and similar games

    Night falls and your tamed creatures have escaped their enclosure. Venture into the forest and lure them back with juicy fireflies in a game about collecting cute critters for three to five players.

    More details for Smile
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  4. Lucky Numbers

    All details for the board game Lucky Numbers and similar games

    In Lucky Numbers, your challenge is to be the first to fill your grid with tiles, but there's a twist – you never know which tiles you'll have to work with! Each player receives a set of tiles numbered 1-20, which are shuffled face down. Players then strategically place these tiles in a 4x4 grid, adhering to specific rules to ensure success.

    More details for Lucky Numbers
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  5. Zooloretto

    All details for the board game Zooloretto and similar games

    Zooloretto is a charming and strategic board game where players become zoo managers, tasked with building and managing their own zoos. The goal is to attract the most visitors by creating a diverse and well-organized collection of animals.

    Nominated for 9 awards and won 5.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2007

    More details for Zooloretto
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  6. Zooloretto: The Dice Game

    All details for the board game Zooloretto: The Dice Game and similar games

    Zooloretto: The Dice Game adapts the basic Zooloretto Coloretto mechanics, replacing cards with dice that introduce uncertainty in which animals can be taken. Players keep track of scores for their zoo, accommodating five animal types, and can collect coins and barns for overflow animals. Each turn, players either draw two dice and assign them to transport wagons or take all dice from a wagon, scoring based on the animal coins shown. The game concludes when a player's animal boxes are filled, with scoring based on collected animals and bonuses, while penalties apply for overflow barns. The player with the highest score wins.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2012

    More details for Zooloretto: The Dice Game
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  7. Web of Power

    All details for the board game Web of Power and similar games

    Web of Power is a strategic board game that immerses players in the quest for dominance over various European regions during the medieval period. The game cleverly combines area control with a simple yet profound placement mechanic, emphasizing monasteries and advisors as the primary tools for influence. The dual-layer strategy involves securing majorities in regions through monasteries and strategically placing advisors, whose presence is capped by the leading player's monastic influence in each region. This dynamic creates a tense and competitive atmosphere as players vie for control while navigating the limitations imposed by their opponents' monastery placements.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Web of Power
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 50 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  8. Drive

    All details for the board game Drive and similar games

    In Crazy Chicken, players strive to collect as many different types of chickens as possible. Each round, they draw two cards from different decks and either discard a card or lay down a set. The round ends when a player has six types of chickens, all types are laid out, or only one discard pile remains. Points are awarded based on the types of chickens collected, with the player earning the most points after four rounds declared the winner.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Drive
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Drive

    • YouTube Review for the game "Drive" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  9. Zooloretto Junior

    All details for the board game Zooloretto Junior and similar games

    Players assume the role of zoo directors managing small zoos in Zooloretto Mini, the simplified version of the award-winning Zooloretto. They must acquire new animals and arrange landscape tiles, earning points at the end of the game. This standalone title features easier rules, a shorter playtime, and fewer components.

    More details for Zooloretto Junior
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  10. Shanghaien

    All details for the board game Shanghaien and similar games

    At the beginning of each round, six cards are arranged between players, each corresponding to the numbers 1-6 on a die. The cards display sailors of different nationalities or special actions that allow players to influence the die results or expand their crew. Players take turns rolling the dice and assigning one to a card until someone decides to exit and initiate Shanghaiing, at which point the cards are distributed to the player with more dice on their side. At the end of the game, the stronger nationality earns victory points equal to the value of the weaker team, while a player with a monopoly receives the value of their own team.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Shanghaien
    • 2 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  11. Chef Alfredo

    All details for the board game Chef Alfredo and similar games

    Chefkoch Alfredo is in despair because he can't remember which soup is cooking in which pot. Players must help him distribute carrots, garlic, beans, and tomatoes into the right pots while ensuring their opponents do the same.

    More details for Chef Alfredo
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 5+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  12. Iwari

    All details for the board game Iwari and similar games

    The world of Iwari is inhabited by five Titans who embody the spirit of the land. In this abstract Eurogame, players represent various tribes traveling through distant lands in search of identity while expanding their settlements across five regions on the board. Players use cards for actions like establishing tents and building nature totems, aiming to score points through majorities in territories and forming connections with the Titans.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Iwari
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  13. Aquaretto

    All details for the board game Aquaretto and similar games

    Players manage the planning and selection of animals for their water-themed zoo to earn the most victory points. They expand their water park and earn points by collecting a diverse range of animals. A key challenge is to place animals in a way that respects their need for space, preventing different species from being placed next to each other.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Kinderspiel des Jahres 2008

    More details for Aquaretto
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  14. China

    All details for the board game China and similar games

    China is an engaging game of political influence, set in the backdrop of historical Chinese regional rulers vying for power. Players strategically use cards to place Houses or Emissaries across nine regions of the board. Scoring is based on achieving majorities in houses within regions and for emissaries across adjacent regions, as well as for creating uninterrupted sequences of houses along the game's roads. Distinct from its predecessor, Web of Power, China introduces changes such as no mid-game scoring, more options for card drawing, and expanded emissary scoring opportunities. The game is known for its tactical depth, simple rules, and quick gameplay, along with a special variant that includes fortifications.

    More details for China
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for China

    • YouTube Review for the game "China" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  15. Lucky Sock Dip: The Card Game

    All details for the board game Lucky Sock Dip: The Card Game and similar games

    A chaos has erupted in the closet, thanks to the little sock monster! Players must be attentive and quick to find matching pairs of socks. Once a player collects five pairs, they must capture the sock monster to receive a clothespin. The first player to collect three clothespins wins.

    More details for Lucky Sock Dip: The Card Game
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 4+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  16. Magellan: Elcano

    All details for the board game Magellan: Elcano and similar games

    On September 20, 1519, preparations are underway as sailors rush to load supplies onto five ships. Players take on the role of captains journeying around the world, aiming to collect as many goods as possible. Each player starts with a set of cards, competing to build stacks in different colors and claim ocean cards based on their card combinations. The game continues until all players have played their cards, and the player with the highest total of claimed ocean cards wins.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Magellan: Elcano
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 15 - 30 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  17. Call to Glory

    All details for the board game Call to Glory and similar games

    Call to Glory is a fast and entertaining card game packaged in a medium-sized tin. Players aim to collect Japanese characters of varying values and can play cards to score at the end of the round. If an opponent lays more cards of the same type, previously played cards are discarded. The game has two variants: "Imperial Tasks" for completing bonus objectives and "The Power of the Ninja," which increases the strength of Ninja cards. It accommodates 2 to 4 players.

    More details for Call to Glory
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  18. Rat Hot

    All details for the board game Rat Hot and similar games

    Two spice traders share a warehouse filled with hungry rats that they need to manage. Players must stack boxes and keep their spices organized while covering the rats. The game features strategic placement of pieces and scoring based on grouped spices, while also avoiding exposing their own rats.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Rat Hot
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  19. Tip Tap

    All details for the board game Tip Tap and similar games

    Players compete to grab the correct items on the table in TohuWabohu, also known as Tip Tap. After placing all the colorful and oddly shaped cardboard pieces on the table, one player acts as the director and flips over a card showing one or more pieces. Players rush to place a finger on the items shown; once claimed, the items cannot be moved. If a card reveals a previously claimed item, the owner must secure it with a finger or risk having it stolen by other players. The round ends when a player collects seven or eight items, and the game concludes after a set number of rounds, with points awarded for collected items.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Tip Tap
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Tip Tap

    • YouTube Review for the game "Tip Tap" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  20. Blindes Huhn extrem

    All details for the board game Blindes Huhn extrem and similar games

    Players do their best to avoid taking home blind chickens in this card game. The game features fifty number cards (0-49), seven penalty cards, and three reward cards. Players arrange their cards at the start, and during each round, the player with the highest card wins the trick, with penalties for taking multiple chickens and rewards for catching a pig. At the end, players tally points based on the cards they have, and the one with the highest score after several rounds wins.

    More details for Blindes Huhn extrem
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Blindes Huhn extrem

    • YouTube Review for the game "Blindes Huhn extrem" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  21. Affenraffen

    All details for the board game Affenraffen and similar games

    Players desperately search for pairs among the hidden game pieces on the table. Both the color (gold, green, or blue) and the animal (monkey, zebra, lion, penguin, or flamingo) must match to qualify as a pair. The goal is to fulfill the conditions on one of four gate tiles, such as collecting three pairs of animals in different colors, while using only one hand and not looking at the collected pairs.

    More details for Affenraffen
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  22. Hansa

    All details for the board game Hansa and similar games

    Hansa is a strategic board game where players assume the roles of merchants in the Hanseatic League, a powerful economic and trading alliance during the Middle Ages. The game involves navigating a ship around a simplified map of Scandinavia, engaging in buying, selling, and expanding trading posts. The goal is to accumulate sets of goods to trade for victory points, while also expanding market presence to increase revenue.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Hansa
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  23. Quietville

    All details for the board game Quietville and similar games

    A new mayor is needed for Quietville, a city plagued by frequent disasters, including an erupting volcano, alien invasions, and a mutated dinosaur. Candidates must demonstrate their leadership by managing parts of the city while avoiding damage from these calamities. The player who can build and protect the wealthiest neighborhood will be elected as the new mayor.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Quietville
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  24. Mondo

    All details for the board game Mondo and similar games

    Players compete against each other and the clock in this game. Each player has a small world map with empty spaces, selecting tiles representing various animals and environments to create complete areas on their map. When time runs out, players earn points for completed environments and lose points for mismatched tiles and empty spaces. The game features three difficulty levels along with additional goals for earning and losing bonus points, as well as rules for solo play.

    Nominated for 11 awards and won 3.

    More details for Mondo
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  25. Gold!

    All details for the board game Gold! and similar games

    Gold! is a card game with 60 cards in six colors, featuring valuable gold cards worth 3-8 and some donkeys worth -2. Players start with a differently colored donkey and must perform one of three actions each turn, including taking the lowest displayed card or trading cards. When players collect three cards of the same color, they score points, while also having the chance to steal a card from an opponent. The game ends when the last set of five cards is revealed, and players sum their points to determine the winner.

    More details for Gold!
    • 2 - 3 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  26. Patrician

    All details for the board game Patrician and similar games

    Set in the Middle Ages, wealthy men were inspired to build grand towers to showcase their prosperity. Players act as builders, seeking to profit from these vanity-driven families by constructing towers and earning glory for their work.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Patrician
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 50 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  27. Mogul

    All details for the board game Mogul and similar games

    In the 1920s, the US stock market experienced unprecedented growth, turning many into overnight millionaires. Players buy and sell railroad stocks, trying to outsmart both their opponents and the market. The game ends when a crash card is revealed, at which point players tally their wealth based on their depots and remaining shares, aiming for the highest total.

    More details for Mogul
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  28. Das Vermächtnis des Maharaja

    All details for the board game Das Vermächtnis des Maharaja and similar games

    Players collect antiques in the game while needing to prove that these pieces form a coherent collection rather than just a heap of old junk.

    More details for Das Vermächtnis des Maharaja
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  29. Africana

    All details for the board game Africana and similar games

    Players travel through Africa, participate in expeditions, and strive to reach various destinations first. They can buy adventure cards with the money earned, which bring valuable antiques. The game features a board divided along the equator, with different cities marking purchase locations for adventure cards. Each player has an explorer token and can take one of three actions per turn, including drawing travel cards or purchasing adventure cards. The game ends when all expedition cards are used, and players score points based on completed expeditions, sets of adventure cards, and currency on hand. The player with the most points wins.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for Africana
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  30. Richelieu

    All details for the board game Richelieu and similar games

    The theme centers around the "journée des dupes" in 1630, when Maria de' Medici sought to have Cardinal Richelieu dismissed by the young Louis XIII. All cards are placed face-up on the table in four rows. Players can take one or two cards from the ends of the rows, aiming to collect the majority of cards in each color and some symbols.

    More details for Richelieu
    • 2 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn

Didn't find the game you were looking for?

We're positive that you'll find it in one of our other lists! To make the search easier for you, we split our website into different categories. The following board game categories will help you find the right list: