The best games presented at the Spiel 2011 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 2011" 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 2011 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'11?

If we have forgotten a game that was presented at Spiel 2011.... 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'11:

This list was last updated on August 20, 2024. We compared 276 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Can't Stop

    All details for the board game Can't Stop and similar games

    Can't Stop is a classic dice game designed by Sid Sackson, renowned for its blend of luck, risk-taking, and tactical decision-making. It's a game that challenges players to wisely balance their boldness and caution as they aim to complete columns on the game board.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Can't Stop
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  2. Pictomania

    All details for the board game Pictomania and similar games

    Pictomania turns the conventional drawing game on its head by combining drawing and guessing into simultaneous, frenetic action. This game, perfect for those who pride themselves on either their quick sketching or sharp guessing skills, ensures a level playing field and promises high energy from start to finish. Over five rounds, players are challenged to draw a word or phrase indicated by randomly assigned cards while also guessing what their opponents are drawing to earn points. Missteps can lead to becoming the round's "black sheep," affecting scores negatively, making each stroke and guess a calculated risk.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Pictomania
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 25 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  3. The Castles of Burgundy

    All details for the board game The Castles of Burgundy and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 2.

    More details for The Castles of Burgundy
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for The Castles of Burgundy

    • YouTube Review for the game "The Castles of Burgundy" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  4. Dominion: Hinterlands

    All details for the board game Dominion: Hinterlands and similar games

    Dominion: Hinterlands is the sixth expansion to the popular deck-building game Dominion. This expansion invites players to explore new territories and broaden their dominions with a variety of new Kingdom cards. It brings fresh strategies and dynamics to the game, focusing on cards that trigger immediate effects upon purchase or acquisition.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Dominion: Hinterlands
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  5. Takenoko

    All details for the board game Takenoko and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 17 awards and won 7.

    More details for Takenoko
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Takenoko

    • YouTube Review for the game "Takenoko" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  6. Terror in Meeple City

    All details for the board game Terror in Meeple City and similar games

    In Terror in Meeple City (formerly known as Rampage), players step into the roles of colossal monsters, hungry for destruction and chaos in the heart of Meeple City. The objective is simple: create mayhem by demolishing buildings and devouring innocent meeples, all in a race to become the most fearsome monster of them all.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 1.

    More details for Terror in Meeple City
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  7. Dominion: Cornucopia

    All details for the board game Dominion: Cornucopia and similar games

    Dominion: Cornucopia is the fifth expansion to the acclaimed deck-building game Dominion. It brings the theme of abundance and variety to the forefront, introducing 13 new Kingdom cards and 5 unique cards. This expansion emphasizes diversity in your deck, rewarding players for having a wide range of cards in their hand, deck, and in play. It's a celebration of strategic variety, enhancing the gameplay experience of Dominion.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Dominion: Cornucopia
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  8. Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan

    All details for the board game Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan and similar games

    Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan is a strategic war game for two players, allowing them to relive the pivotal battle of Sekigahara in 1600, which unified Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate for over 250 years. Players take on the roles of either Ishida Mitsunari, defending the rightful heir, or Tokugawa Ieyasu, the most powerful daimyo, as they gather armies from their allies, all the while questioning their loyalty. With no use of dice, the game emphasizes strategy and loyalty through card mechanics, where cards are essential for motivating armies to fight. Loyalty is a fluctuating resource, represented by hand size, and battles involve deploying hidden units based on loyalty, with the potential for defections. The game aims to provide a historically accurate experience within a concise and intuitive set of rules, focusing on strategic deployment and the significance of loyalty without relying on luck to determine outcomes.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 2.

    More details for Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan
    • 2 Players
    • 180 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  9. Frigiti

    All details for the board game Frigiti and similar games
    • 4 - 6 Players
    • 40 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  10. Blood Bowl: Team Manager โ€“ The Card Game

    All details for the board game Blood Bowl: Team Manager โ€“ The Card Game and similar games

    Blood Bowl: Team Manager - The Card Game offers a thrilling and competitive card game experience, combining elements of fantasy, sports, and strategic gameplay. It's an action-packed game where players manage teams in a brutal, fantastical sports league.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Blood Bowl: Team Manager โ€“ The Card Game
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  11. Flash Point: Fire Rescue

    All details for the board game Flash Point: Fire Rescue and similar games

    Flash Point: Fire Rescue immerses players in the high-stakes role of firefighters, tasked with rescuing victims from a blazing building. This cooperative board game challenges players to strategize, take risks, and work as a unified team to avert disaster.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for Flash Point: Fire Rescue
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Flash Point: Fire Rescue

    • YouTube Review for the game "Flash Point: Fire Rescue" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  12. Friday

    All details for the board game Friday and similar games

    Friday, part of Friedemann Friese's Freitag-Project Series, unfolds the tale of Robinson Crusoe and his loyal partner, Friday. Stepping into Friday's shoes, players navigate the challenges of Robinson's arrival on the island, disrupting your peaceful existence. The objective is clear: assist Robinson in surviving the island and prepare him for a showdown with incoming pirates.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Friday
    • 1 Players
    • 25 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  13. Discworld: Ankh-Morpork

    All details for the board game Discworld: Ankh-Morpork and similar games

    Discworld: Ankh-Morpork is a board game designed by Martin Wallace and Treefrog Games, set in the imaginative universe of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, specifically in its largest city-state, Ankh-Morpork. The game captures the essence of the Discworld novels with its thematic elements and diverse characters.

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.

    More details for Discworld: Ankh-Morpork
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 11+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  14. Summoner Wars: Master Set

    All details for the board game Summoner Wars: Master Set and similar games

    Summoner Wars: Master Set is a tactical card game that combines elements of strategy and fantasy. Players take on the roles of powerful Summoners, each harnessing the power of mysterious stones to lead their factions to victory in the war-torn world of Itharia.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Summoner Wars: Master Set
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  15. Schnappt Hubi!

    All details for the board game Schnappt Hubi! and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    โญ๏ธ Kinderspiel des Jahres 2012

    More details for Schnappt Hubi!
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 5+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    ๐Ÿ‘ Good price!Check for best price now atAmazon*
  16. Dungeon Fighter

    All details for the board game Dungeon Fighter and similar games

    Dungeon Fighter is a whimsical and cooperative board game where players embark on an adventurous journey into a fantasy dungeon filled with danger and humor. As heroes, they delve into a multi-tiered dungeon, facing various monsters, including classic mythical creatures like Medusa, the Minotaur, and dragons, while searching for treasure and acquiring magical items.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Dungeon Fighter
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  17. Panic on Wall Street!

    All details for the board game Panic on Wall Street! and similar games
    • 3 - 11 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  18. Lupus in Tabula: Lady Werewolf's Revenge

    All details for the board game Lupus in Tabula: Lady Werewolf's Revenge and similar games
    • 4 - 30 Players
    • 15 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  19. The Red Dragon Inn 3

    All details for the board game The Red Dragon Inn 3 and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  20. Cyclades: Hades

    All details for the board game Cyclades: Hades and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  21. The Dwarf King

    All details for the board game The Dwarf King and similar games
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 40 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  22. Risk Legacy

    All details for the board game Risk Legacy and similar games

    Risk Legacy is a revolutionary approach to the classic board game Risk, introducing the concept of a "campaigning" board game. What sets Risk Legacy apart is its evolving nature; the game changes over time, influenced by the outcomes of each session and the decisions made by players. This version of Risk creates a unique and persistent world that is shaped by the players' actions, resulting in a customized gaming experience.

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.

    More details for Risk Legacy
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Risk Legacy

    • YouTube Review for the game "Risk Legacy" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  23. Ultimate Werewolf: Artifacts

    All details for the board game Ultimate Werewolf: Artifacts and similar games
    • 5 - 40 Players
    • 30 - 90 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Ultimate Werewolf: Artifacts

    • YouTube Review for the game "Ultimate Werewolf: Artifacts" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Ultimate Werewolf: Artifacts" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  24. Gary Gouda

    All details for the board game Gary Gouda and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 4+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  25. Rumble in the House

    All details for the board game Rumble in the House and similar games
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  26. The Adventurers: The Pyramid of Horus

    All details for the board game The Adventurers: The Pyramid of Horus and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  27. Quarriors!

    All details for the board game Quarriors! and similar games

    Quarriors! is a dynamic and innovative dice-rolling game where players become mystical warriors known as Quarriors, battling for supremacy and glory. This game blends the excitement of dice battles with a unique deckbuilding twist, offering a fresh take on strategy and resource management.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 1.

    More details for Quarriors!
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  28. Claustrophobia: De Profundis

    All details for the board game Claustrophobia: De Profundis and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  29. The City

    All details for the board game The City and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for The City
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for The City

    • YouTube Review for the game "The City" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "The City" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  30. Elder Sign

    All details for the board game Elder Sign and similar games

    Elder Sign is a cooperative dice game set in the universe of H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, specifically the year 1926. Players assume the roles of investigators in a museum filled with occult artifacts and eldritch symbols. Their mission is to prevent the arrival of an Ancient One, a powerful entity from another dimension poised to wreak havoc on Earth.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Elder Sign
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 13+ 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: