The best games presented at the Spiel 2003 game fair in Essen, Germany 2024

Are you looking for a good new game? We have compared all the games presented at the game fair "Spiel 2003" in Essen and listed the top100.

Game fair in the German city of Essen

The International Game Days "SPIEL", often called the Essen Game Fair or Essen 2003 after the city where it is held, is an annual four-day board game fair that is also open to the public. Many new games are released at the fair each year, especially (but not exclusively) European-style board games.

More info about game fair "Spiel" is available on official game website.

Did we forget a game that was presented at Spiel'03?

If we have forgotten a game that was presented at the Spiel 2003... please write us at tibi+brettspiele@cephea.de. Then we will add it to the list.

Spiel-Messe Essen from other years

The Essen Game Fair has been held since 1983, we have listed for you both across all game years and listed separately by year at the bottom of the page.

List with the top100 new releases of Spiel'03:

This list was last updated on October 8, 2024. We compared 103 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. PitchCar

    All details for the board game PitchCar and similar games

    PitchCar and its earlier version Carabande are dexterity-based board games that create a fun and competitive racing experience. Players use finger flicks to propel small discs (representing cars) around a track constructed from wooden pieces.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 3.

    โญ๏ธ Spiel des Jahres 1996

    More details for PitchCar
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  2. High Society

    All details for the board game High Society and similar games

    High Society is a competitive auction-style card game designed by Reiner Knizia, where players vie to acquire wealth and status while avoiding financial pitfalls. The game focuses on strategic bidding and careful money management.

    More details for High Society
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 15 - 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  3. Hey, That's My Fish!

    All details for the board game Hey, That's My Fish! and similar games

    Embark on a frigid escapade with Hey, That's My Fish! as players compete to secure the most fish using their waddle of penguins. Each turn unfolds a strategic journey as players guide their penguins in a straight line across hex-shaped ice tiles, each adorned with 1, 2, or 3 fish.

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 1.

    More details for Hey, That's My Fish!
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Hey, That's My Fish!

    • YouTube Review for the game "Hey, That's My Fish!" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  4. YINSH

    All details for the board game YINSH and similar games

    YINSH is a strategic abstract game that is part of the renowned GIPF series of games. It involves a clever combination of movement and flipping of markers on the board, with players aiming to align five markers of their own color. The unique aspect of YINSH is its balance between advancing towards victory and simultaneously weakening your position.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.

    More details for YINSH
    • 2 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  5. Coyote

    All details for the board game Coyote and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for Coyote
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  6. Carcassonne: The Castle

    All details for the board game Carcassonne: The Castle and similar games

    Carcassonne: The Castle is a standalone board game inspired by the popular Carcassonne series, but uniquely tailored for two players. Set within the city walls of Carcassonne, this game retains the familiar tile-placement mechanics but introduces new strategies and components specific to this version. The theme revolves around the development of the city, focusing on strategic construction and area control within the confined space of the city walls.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Carcassonne: The Castle
    • 2 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Carcassonne: The Castle

    • YouTube Review for the game "Carcassonne: The Castle" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  7. Schatz der Drachen

    All details for the board game Schatz der Drachen and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    โญ๏ธ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2004

    More details for Schatz der Drachen
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 5+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  8. King Up!

    All details for the board game King Up! and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for King Up!
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  9. Igloo Pop

    All details for the board game Igloo Pop and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    โญ๏ธ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2004

    More details for Igloo Pop
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 15 - 20 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  10. Attribute

    All details for the board game Attribute and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Attribute
    • 3 - 8 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  11. BANG! High Noon

    All details for the board game BANG! High Noon and similar games
    • 4 - 7 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  12. Fearsome Floors

    All details for the board game Fearsome Floors and similar games

    Fearsome Floors (also known as Finstere Flure), designed by Friedemann Friese, is a race game with a thrilling twist. Set in a treacherous dungeon, players must navigate their way to safety within a limited number of turns, all while avoiding a monstrous creature that roams the corridors in search of its next victim.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    โญ๏ธ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2004

    More details for Fearsome Floors
    • 2 - 7 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  13. Sluff Off!

    All details for the board game Sluff Off! and similar games
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  14. Hossa!

    All details for the board game Hossa! and similar games
    • 3 - 8 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  15. The Bottle Imp

    All details for the board game The Bottle Imp and similar games

    The Bottle Imp is a unique trick-taking card game inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's short story. The game blends traditional trick-taking mechanics with a novel twist on how trump cards are determined, creating a dynamic and strategic experience. Played over several hands aiming for a set point total, usually 200 points, the game involves cards numbered 1-37 in three colors, representing different ranges of numerical value. The game's objective is to score the most points, but with the catch that the player left holding the "bottle" scores negative points for that hand.

    More details for The Bottle Imp
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  16. Viele Dinge

    All details for the board game Viele Dinge and similar games
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 3+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  17. Santiago

    All details for the board game Santiago and similar games

    Santiago is a strategic board game centered around the cultivation and irrigation of fields. Players engage in auctioning plantation tiles, each representing different types of crops. The game involves careful planning and negotiation, as players vie to effectively water their plantations and maximize their yields.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Santiago
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 75 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  18. Mรผcke mit Tรผcke

    All details for the board game Mรผcke mit Tรผcke and similar games
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  19. Carcassonne: King & Scout

    All details for the board game Carcassonne: King & Scout and similar games

    Carcassonne: King & Scout is a compact expansion bundle designed to enhance the classic tile-laying game Carcassonne and its standalone variant, Carcassonne: Hunters & Gatherers. It introduces new tiles that add depth and variety to both games.

    More details for Carcassonne: King & Scout
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Carcassonne: King & Scout

    • YouTube Review for the game "Carcassonne: King & Scout" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  20. Attika

    All details for the board game Attika and similar games

    Attika is a strategic board game set in ancient Greece, where players compete as the leaders of prominent Greek city-states like Athens, Sparta, Corinth, and Thebes. The game involves carefully planning and constructing a city-state, balancing the use of resources and strategic placement to outmaneuver opponents.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Attika
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  21. Scotland Yard

    All details for the board game Scotland Yard and similar games

    Scotland Yard is a classic board game of cat-and-mouse, where players engage in a thrilling chase across London. The game involves strategy, teamwork, and a bit of bluffing, making it an engaging experience for players of various ages.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    โญ๏ธ Spiel des Jahres 1983

    More details for Scotland Yard
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  22. Top Speed

    All details for the board game Top Speed and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  23. Pirate's Cove

    All details for the board game Pirate's Cove and similar games

    Pirate's Cove is a thrilling board game of adventure and piracy on the high seas. Players take on the roles of daring pirates, each striving to become the most famous and feared buccaneer in the world. The game is a blend of strategic navigation, fierce combat, and treasure hunting, set against the backdrop of a legendary pirate haven.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Pirate's Cove
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  24. Emil und die Detektive

    All details for the board game Emil und die Detektive and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    โญ๏ธ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2004

    More details for Emil und die Detektive
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  25. Formula Dรฉ Mini

    All details for the board game Formula Dรฉ Mini and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  26. O Zoo le Mio

    All details for the board game O Zoo le Mio and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards.

    โญ๏ธ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2004

    More details for O Zoo le Mio
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  27. Schrille Stille

    All details for the board game Schrille Stille and similar games
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  28. Maka Bana

    All details for the board game Maka Bana and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Maka Bana
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  29. Fantasy Pub

    All details for the board game Fantasy Pub and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  30. Save Doctor Lucky

    All details for the board game Save Doctor Lucky and similar games
    • 3 - 7 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable

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: