The best games presented at the Spiel 2012 game fair in Essen, Germany 2024

Dixit 3: Journey expands the enchanting world of Dixit with 84 new cards, each adorned with evocative and surreal artwork that stirs the imagination and fuels storytelling. As an expansion to the beloved Dixit game, it enhances the experience by offering a fresh array of visually stunning cards that players can use to inspire their tales, adding depth and variety to the game's creative narrative play.

In Love Letter, you must compete with other suitors to deliver a romantic letter to Princess Annette, who has secluded herself in the palace.

In King of Tokyo: Power Up!, an expansion for King of Tokyo, introduces the new character, Pandakai, a giant panda bear. This expansion enhances your game by allowing each player to craft a unique deck from eight Evolution cards associated with their monster.

The Resistance: Avalon is a standalone game set in the legendary world of King Arthur, combining the mechanics of secret identities and deduction found in The Resistance with a thematic backdrop of Arthurian legend and the struggle between good and evil.

Cockroach Poker Royal (Kakerlakenpoker Royal) elevates the art of bluffing to a royally entertaining level. This game, a twist on the original Kakerlakenpoker, swaps the traditional poker deck for one festooned with critters like cockroaches, rats, and stink bugs, emphasizing bluffing over traditional poker hands.

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.

Qwixx is a fast-paced and engaging dice game that involves all players actively, regardless of whose turn it is. It combines simple mechanics with a need for strategic decision-making, making it a fun and interactive game for all involved.

Coup is a strategic bluffing game set in an Italian city-state. Players, as heads of rival families, seek to outmaneuver and eliminate others to be the last one standing. Influence is key, represented by face-down character cards, each offering unique powers.

7 Wonders: Cities is the second expansion for the critically acclaimed game 7 Wonders. It introduces new elements and mechanics that add depth and aggression to the gameplay, enhancing interaction between players.

Escape: The Curse of the Temple is a cooperative, real-time board game that offers an exhilarating and unique gaming experience. The game's theme centers around players working together to escape a cursed temple before it collapses.

Concordia is a peaceful yet strategic board game set in Roman times, focusing on economic development and expansion. It is designed for 2-5 players aged 13 and up.

Hanabi, named after the Japanese word for "fireworks," invites players to collaboratively create the perfect fireworks display. In this cooperative game, the goal is to arrange cards on the table in the correct order to achieve a stunning pyrotechnic spectacle. However, there's a catch - players must hold their cards so that they are visible only to their teammates. To succeed, you'll need to provide hints to your fellow players about the numbers and colors of their cards, working together to avoid mistakes and complete the fireworks show before running out of cards.

Carcassonne: Winter Edition wraps the classic tile-placement game in a picturesque blanket of snow, offering a seasonal twist on the beloved mechanics of Carcassonne. This edition captures the essence of winter with beautifully illustrated tiles that transform the familiar French countryside into a serene snowy landscape. Players continue to strategically place tiles and deploy their meeples as knights, farmers, and highwaymen, endeavoring to dominate this frosty version of the medieval terrain.

Dominion: Dark Ages is the seventh expansion for the highly acclaimed deck-building game Dominion. This expansion takes players to a grittier era, one filled with struggles and decline, as reflected in its theme and mechanics. It's important to note that Dark Ages is not a standalone game and requires the base game of Dominion or another expansion to play.

Tokaido is a beautifully designed board game where players embark on a journey across the "East sea road", one of Japan's most scenic routes. The essence of the game lies in experiencing the journey itself, with players encountering various events and collecting diverse items along the way.

Turn the Tide is a clever card game that combines strategy, prediction, and a bit of luck. Players start with a hand of 12 cards from a deck numbered 1-60, with the remainder set aside for the entire game. Each round involves choosing a card secretly and then revealing them simultaneously. Scoring involves collecting cards from a separate deck, with the highest card played taking the lower scoring card and the second-highest taking the other. A unique aspect is the rotation of hands, as players pass their entire hand to the next player after each round, challenging them to score well with the same cards their neighbor previously used.

Stick 'Em, initially released as Sticheln, is a captivating trick-taking card game that turns traditional card game objectives on their head. Players aim to score points by collecting as many cards as possible, except in one chosen color—referred to as their "pain" color—which they seek to avoid. The game involves both strategic depth and a twist of predicting opponents' moves to avoid pitfalls.

In Libertalia, players delve into a world of piracy, vying to become the most cunning pirate of all. This game is about outsmarting your rivals through strategic use of crew member cards and seizing the opportunity to thwart their plans.

Suburbia is a tile-laying strategy board game where players take on the role of city planners, tasked with transforming small towns into bustling metropolises. Players strategically use hexagonal building tiles to construct residential, commercial, civic, and industrial areas, along with unique points of interest that harness the resources of nearby towns. The goal is not just to expand but to effectively manage the economic and reputation aspects of their growing cities.

Taluva is a strategic board game set on an emerging South Sea island, where players compete to settle the land amidst the constant threat of volcanic eruptions. Each player must skillfully navigate the dynamic landscape, strategically placing tiles and buildings to expand their settlements while contending with the volatile natural environment.

Kemet is a strategy board game set in ancient Egypt, where players command Egyptian tribes and harness the powers of gods to earn victory points through battles and territorial control.

Heimlich & Co. is a clever and secretive board game where players maneuver a group of spies around a track to earn points, all while keeping their true identity hidden. The game's unique twist lies in the mystery of each player's color, only revealed at the end, making deduction and misdirection key elements of play. With a simple roll of the dice, players decide how to advance the spies, influencing the scoring but trying to conceal their motives.

Ascension: Storm of Souls embarks players on an epic journey in the aftermath of Samael's fall, where chaos reigns supreme across Vigil. This expansion for the renowned deck-building game Ascension introduces players to a world grappling with the unleashed forces of Samael's demise, offering new challenges and opportunities to explore.

Spartacus: A Game of Blood & Treachery is a board game that captures the intrigue, strategies, and violent conflicts depicted in the STARZ Original series. Players take on the roles of Dominus, heads of powerful houses in ancient Rome, vying for influence and power in the city of Capua. The game is known for its blend of political maneuvering, economic strategy, and gladiatorial combat.

Welcome to the universe of Among the Stars, a galaxy scarred by war but now united in the face of an imminent danger. In this captivating board game, players find themselves as leaders of various alien races, tasked with the monumental mission of constructing space stations. These stations serve as hubs for trade, diplomacy, and defense, essential for the survival of all.

Trains is a strategic deck-building board game that combines railway development with elements of capitalist competition. Set against the backdrop of the industrial revolution and the subsequent railway boom, players take on the roles of capitalists managing private railway companies in Japan. The game offers a fascinating blend of historical railway development and modern strategic gameplay.

Seasons is a captivating card and dice game that transports players to the mystical Argos forest, the venue for the legendary tournament of the 12 seasons. Aspiring sorcerers compete in this three-year contest to become the next archmage of the kingdom of Xidit. Players must skillfully draft cards, manage resources, and adapt to the changing seasons to emerge victorious.

Samurai Sword transports the classic Bang! gameplay into the intriguing setting of feudal Japan, offering a refreshing twist on the beloved formula.

Guildhall is a unique and competitive card game where players aim to progress from the Dark Ages by building a guildhall that attracts professionals from across Europe. The goal is to achieve economic stability and outmaneuver your competitors by gathering like-minded individuals into chapters and utilizing their collective skills to earn victory points (VP).

Room 25 is a suspenseful and strategic board game set in a mysterious prison-like facility. Each player is trapped in this labyrinth, where every room has four doors but seemingly no way out. The ultimate goal is to find Room 25, believed to be the escape from this nightmare. However, the twist lies in the fact that not all players may be keen on escaping; some might be guardians of the prison, secretly plotting against the others.

Keyflower is a strategic board game designed for 2-6 players that spans over four rounds, each representing a different season: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The game combines elements of auction, tile placement, and resource management set in a medieval world. Players start with a "home" tile and a team of workers, using them to bid for new tiles, gather resources, and build their village.

Ginkgopolis is a futuristic city-building board game that blends strategic tile placement, resource management, and card drafting into an engaging and environmentally-themed experience.

Smash Up is a unique and engaging "shufflebuilding" game where players combine two distinct factions, each with a 20-card deck, into a single 40-card deck. The game is known for its quirky and diverse factions, each with its own unique mechanics and gameplay style.

Village is a board game that captures the essence of life in a medieval village, where each player manages a family's journey through generations, seeking fame and glory in various ways. The game is renowned for its innovative handling of the passage of time and the inevitability of death, making it a unique and tactically rich experience.

Eclipse: Rise of the Ancients expands the universe of Eclipse with new factions, technologies, and challenges. As galactic conflict widens, players must form uneasy alliances to combat the threat of the Ancients, advanced beings with powerful technologies who refuse to negotiate. This expansion introduces Rare Technologies, Developments, Alliances, Ancient Homeworlds, and Warp Portals, alongside three new player boards and four alien species, enhancing gameplay and strategic possibilities. Designed for up to nine players, Eclipse: Rise of the Ancients offers modular additions for customized play experiences, challenging players to adapt and overcome to emerge victorious in the face of a rising ancient threat.

River Dragons is a dynamic and strategic board game where players aim to cross a river by building a network of planks over foundational stones. The challenge comes from the fact that each player plans their moves secretly and simultaneously, leading to unexpected outcomes and interactions as players' paths cross and plans collide.

Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar is a unique board game that introduces a dynamic worker placement mechanism set against the backdrop of the ancient Mayan civilization.

Fleet is a strategic card game set in the picturesque backdrop of Ridback Bay in Nunavut, Canada. As the bay becomes accessible, it attracts the world's finest fishermen to its abundant sea life. Players step into the roles of entrepreneurs vying to build the most formidable fishing fleet in this newly discovered fishing haven.

Welcome to the diverse and captivating land of Terra Mystica, where 14 distinct peoples inhabit seven unique landscapes. In this strategic board game, each group is intrinsically tied to its own home environment, and to expand and flourish, they must transform neighboring terrains into their native habitats, all while competing against rival factions.

Mage Knight Board Game: The Lost Legion Expansion continues the epic saga introduced in the acclaimed Mage Knight Board Game. This expansion brings a blend of fear and hope to the world of Atlantea with the reemergence of General Volkare and his Lost Legion, introducing a new dynamic to the game with both a new Mage Knight — Wolfhawk — and a formidable foe, General Volkare himself. Designed by Vlaada Chvátil and presented by WizKids, this expansion enriches the Mage Knight universe with additional tiles, cards, and scenarios, enhancing the gameplay experience and introducing rules for up to five players.

The Palaces of Carrara takes players to the renowned marble-producing region of Italy, where they compete to acquire marble at the best prices and use it to construct buildings. The game's strategic depth lies in balancing the cost of marble with its potential value in building construction. Players must be savvy in their purchases, as any decrease in marble prices can also benefit their opponents. The decision of when to buy marble becomes crucial, especially when considering the fluctuating values of buildings in the town. The Palaces of Carrara includes two levels of play – beginner and advanced – making it accessible to new players while offering depth for experienced gamers. Wolfgang Kramer, the co-designer, emphasizes the importance of starting with the beginner version to fully grasp the game's mechanics and how they interact.

Legends of Andor is a cooperative adventure board game that immerses two to four players in the role of heroes defending a fantasy realm. Designed with a strong narrative focus, the game challenges players to balance strategic decision-making with immersive storytelling.

Kolejka, also known as Queue, is a board game that vividly recreates the experience of shopping in Poland during the late Communist era. This game challenges players to acquire all the items on their shopping list by navigating their family members through queues at various stores, despite the scarcity of goods.

Ogre is a classic of tactical ground combat gaming, catapulting players into the year 2085 where warfare has evolved with the times. This game pits hovercraft, tanks, and infantry against each other in a fast-paced, deadly conflict where tactical nuclear devices are just another tool in the arsenal. Above all these, the OGRE, a massive cybernetic tank, stands as the pinnacle of warfare, a single unit that can match the force of an entire enemy battalion.

Zombie Fluxx is a dynamic and thematic variation of the classic card game Fluxx, featuring an exciting zombie uprising theme. In this version, players navigate an ever-changing set of rules along with the addition of a new card type: the Ungoal card, introducing conditions where all players could lose the game.

Power Grid: Northern Europe/United Kingdom & Ireland expansion introduces two distinct regions to the Power Grid landscape, each bringing unique strategic challenges and gameplay mechanics. Here’s a brief overview: