The best games presented at the Spiel 2017 game fair in Essen, Germany 2024

Azul invites you to step into the captivating world of Portuguese artistry and craftsmanship. This board game draws inspiration from the introduction of azulejos, originally white and blue ceramic tiles, by the Moors. The tiles found a new home in Portugal when King Manuel I, during a visit to the Alhambra palace in Southern Spain, was enchanted by the exquisite Moorish decorative tiles adorning its interior. Filled with awe and inspiration, the king promptly ordered the embellishment of his own palace in Portugal with similar decorative tiles. As a skilled tile-laying artist, you are tasked with the prestigious mission of adorning the walls of the Royal Palace of Evora.

Sushi Go Party! is an expanded version of the popular card game Sushi Go!, offering more variety and accommodating more players for a larger, more dynamic game experience.

Embark on a noble quest to expand your kingdom in Kingdomino. As a lord, your mission is to explore vast lands filled with wheat fields, serene lakes, and towering mountains. Competing with fellow lords, you must identify the choicest plots to claim as your own.

Embark on a collaborative journey of espionage in Codenames Duet, where the familiar elements of Codenames persist – providing one-word clues to unveil your agents among those on the table. This time, however, you and your teammate work together to uncover all your agents, adding a thrilling cooperative dimension to the challenge. The mystery of not knowing your agents from the outset adds an intriguing layer to the mission, raising questions that even Congressional investigators might ponder later!

Engage in the riveting team-based challenge of Decrypto, where players strive to correctly interpret coded messages from their teammates while unraveling the intercepted codes of the opposing team.

No Thanks! is a straightforward and captivating card game that offers a blend of strategy and luck. The game's simplicity makes it appealing and accessible to a wide range of players.

Flamme Rouge: Peloton is the exciting first expansion to the popular cycling race game Flamme Rouge. This expansion introduces a new set of pink and white rouleur and sprinter riders, increasing the maximum player count to six. It also adds new gameplay tiles and rules to enhance the race dynamics, including breakaway and supply zone tiles that can be used at any player count. The iconic cobblestone tracks, narrower and more challenging, bring a classic element to your tabletop race.

Carcassonne Big Box 6 is a comprehensive edition of the beloved tile-laying game Carcassonne, combining the base game with its two major expansions and several mini-expansions into one grand package. Players build the landscape of a medieval fortress city one tile at a time, placing their followers on roads, cities, cloisters, and fields to gather points. This edition not only includes the core game that has captivated millions worldwide but also enriches the experience with expansions that introduce new tiles, mechanics, and strategies.

Hanamikoji is a strategic card game set in the historical context of Geisha culture in Japan. The game immerses players in the role of patrons who are competing to gain the favor of seven renowned Geishas by collecting items related to their art and performances.

Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure is an exciting board game where players become daring thieves, sneaking into a dragon's lair to steal artifacts while avoiding making noise to prevent waking the dragon.

Lovecraft Letter transports you into the eerie world of H.P. Lovecraft in the 1920s. This card game, a unique take on the Love Letter system, blends mystery with an "insanity" mechanic that adds depth and intrigue to the gameplay.

When I Dream is a whimsical and imaginative board game that delves into the world of dreams, blending elements of storytelling, deduction, and teamwork in a playful setting.

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.

Ethnos is a fantasy-themed board game where players harness the powers of various mythical tribes to gain control of the land. The game is a blend of strategy and area control mechanics, set in a vibrant mythical world.

Valeria: Card Kingdoms is a tableau-building game set in the fantastical land of Valeria, besieged by monstrous hordes. Players take on the roles of Dukes, tasked with fortifying their kingdoms, recruiting citizens, and fighting off the encroaching enemies.

Embark on a heroic journey in Dice Forge, where the gods extend an invitation to heaven for the hero who can conquer their rivals. Your courage and wit will be crucial as you harness divine dice to collect resources on the path to victory.

Istanbul: The Dice Game is a vibrant standalone dice game set in the bustling bazaar of Istanbul, where players vie to collect rubies as a symbol of their prosperity and victory. Utilizing dice as the core mechanic, participants must strategically acquire money and goods through the roll of the dice. These resources are then cleverly traded for the coveted rubies. The game encapsulates the essence of the Istanbul bazaar's lively trade and commerce atmosphere, demanding clever strategy and a bit of luck from its players to navigate the market's opportunities and secure the precious jewels that signify triumph.

Bunny Kingdom is a charming and strategic board game where players lead clans of rabbits to establish their dominance over a vast kingdom. The game combines elements of drafting, resource management, and area control to create a dynamic and engaging experience.

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.

Claim is a captivating card game set in a realm thrown into chaos by the sudden death of its king. Players compete to win the support of five factions and claim the throne for themselves. The game is played in two phases: first, recruiting followers, and then using those followers to win over the factions. Each faction possesses unique powers that can influence the game, and these powers may vary between the phases. The goal is to secure the majority of followers in at least three of the five factions to win the game and ascend to the throne.

Queendomino is a standalone board game that builds upon the concepts introduced in Kingdomino. It offers a more complex and strategic experience, allowing players to create their kingdoms with an added layer of depth.

The Lost Expedition is a gripping survival game that takes you on a perilous journey through the Amazon jungle, following in the footsteps of the legendary explorer Percy Fawcett. The goal is not only to trace Fawcett's path but more importantly, to emerge alive with the ultimate treasure: your life.

Majesty: For the Realm is a strategic board game set in the Middle Ages, where players vie for the crown by building the most prosperous domain. The game revolves around recruiting a variety of characters from the medieval society, each contributing to the growth and wealth of your kingdom in different ways. Players must make tactical decisions to assemble the most effective combination of subjects to outmaneuver their rivals and claim supremacy.

Dragon Castle is a captivating game that draws inspiration from the classic Mahjong Solitaire. Imagine yourself in the role of a lord tasked with constructing a grand castle in your own realm. The central "castle," known as the Dragon Castle, holds a wealth of identical tiles waiting to be used in your architectural endeavors. As you build, you'll need to make strategic decisions, consolidate tiles, construct shrines, and harness the powers of spirit cards—all while keeping an eye on the ever-changing dragon card. Only the player who skillfully designs their castle and accumulates the most points will become the lord of the new Dragon Castle and claim victory.

Cities of Splendor enriches the Splendor base game with four distinct expansions, each offering a unique twist to the original gameplay. These expansions are designed to be used one at a time, adding variety and strategic depth to the classic gem-collecting game.

Pandemic Legacy: Season 2 is an epic, cooperative board game that continues the narrative and innovative gameplay of its predecessor. This game is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity struggles to survive after a devastating plague. It offers a unique gaming experience, where players' decisions and actions have long-lasting consequences, making each playthrough distinct.

Exit: The Game – The Sunken Treasure immerses players in the captivating world of puzzle-solving and adventure, akin to the thrilling experience of an escape room. This installment, part of the acclaimed Exit series, introduces players to the mysteries of a sunken treasure, offering a gateway to the series with a beginner-level difficulty.

Rajas of the Ganges is a strategy board game set in 16th century India, during the rise of the Great Mogul Empire. Players take on the roles of influential nobles, striving to transform their estates into prosperous provinces.

Hellapagos is a game of survival and treachery, aptly termed a "co-opetition," where players must cooperate to some extent but ultimately look out for themselves. Stranded on a desert island with limited resources, up to twelve players must negotiate and strategize to gather supplies, build a raft, and escape before a looming hurricane destroys everything. However, not all players may make it off the island due to the scarce availability of food and water.

Kodama: The Tree Spirits is a charming and strategic board game where players assume the role of caretakers for Kodama, the enchanting tree spirits. The game is set in a rapidly growing forest, and your goal is to create a healthy and thriving home for these whimsical creatures. Designed by the creator of Kigi, this game offers a unique and engaging way to play.

The Godfather: Corleone's Empire is a standalone big box board game designed by Eric Lang, renowned for his "dudes on a map" games. In Lang's words, this game can be described as "thugs on a map." It delivers a streamlined, confrontational worker placement experience filled with intrigue and criminal activities. Players assume the roles of rival mafia families, competing for economic control over the organized crime networks of New York City. Deploy your thugs, don, wife, and heir on the board, extort businesses, and engage in turf wars to establish dominance.

Nations: The Dice Game is a fast-paced, dice-driven game that captures the essence of civilization-building. Designed for 1-4 players, it condenses the expansive experience of the original Nations board game into a more streamlined and quicker format, ideal for players looking for a shorter playtime without sacrificing strategic depth.

The Castles of Burgundy: The Dice Game is a streamlined, dice-driven version of the acclaimed strategy game The Castles of Burgundy. This adaptation retains the essence of expanding territorial estates through strategic decisions but transitions the gameplay into a fast-paced, roll-and-write format.

Nusfjord is a captivating strategy board game set in the serene fishing village of Nusfjord in the Lofoten archipelago of Norway. Players take on the roles of fishing company owners during a time when the industry was thriving, aiming to develop the harbor and the surrounding area.

Pandemic: Rising Tide is a thematic and cooperative board game that immerses players in the historical context of the Netherlands during the Industrial Age. The game challenges players to manage and mitigate flooding from the North Sea using innovative hydraulic technologies, strategic planning, and teamwork.

London (Second Edition) is a refined version of a classic board game that caters to players who enjoy strategic planning and city-building. Set in the aftermath of the Great Fire of London, players are tasked with the ambitious goal of reconstructing the city. This game challenges players to balance the complexities of urban development, financial management, and social responsibility.

Exit: The Game – Dead Man on the Orient Express is a captivating addition to the popular "Exit: The Game" series, which simulates the escape room experience in a board game format. This particular edition draws inspiration from the classic mystery setting of the Orient Express, offering players a challenging and immersive puzzle-solving adventure.

Photosynthesis is a green strategy board game where players engage in the growth and development of a forest. The game revolves around the central theme of photosynthesis, the process by which trees and plants use sunlight to produce energy.

Embark on a captivating journey to 19th-century Scotland in Clans of Caledonia, where the winds of change sweep across the Scottish landscape. As the country transitions from agriculture to industrialization, historic clans play a pivotal role in shaping its destiny. Against this backdrop, players take on the mantle of clan leaders, each with unique abilities, competing to thrive in this era of economic transformation. The game unfolds as a strategic dance of production, trade, and export, with the coveted Scottish whisky at the center of economic endeavors. Now, let's delve into the intricacies of gameplay that define this immersive economic board game.

13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis is a tense, strategic two-player game set during the critical moments of the Cuban Missile Crisis. It captures the high-stakes Cold War atmosphere, offering a rich thematic experience in just 45 minutes. The game challenges players to navigate complex dilemmas, such as choosing between gaining prestige or risking global nuclear war, and strategically managing their hand of cards to outmaneuver their opponent.

Lorenzo il Magnifico is a strategic board game set in the Italian Renaissance, where players embody heads of noble families vying for prestige and fame. This game is a blend of resource management, strategic planning, and careful maneuvering.

Unearth is a dice placement and set collection game that invites players to explore ancient ruins and rebuild a lost civilization. Suitable for 2-4 players and taking less than an hour to play, it's a blend of strategy and luck, accessible to gamers of various skill levels.

In Yokohama, set during the Meiji era's transformative period, you step into the role of a merchant in the rapidly modernizing city of Yokohama. As the city evolves from a quaint fishing village into a bustling trade hub, you are at the forefront, capitalizing on this economic boom.

Manhattan is a strategic board game where players engage in the construction of a skyline of skyscrapers on Manhattan Island. The game blends area control mechanics with spatial strategy, as players aim to dominate the skyline by building the tallest structures in various districts of Manhattan.

Vikings Gone Wild is a dynamic deck-building and resource management game that challenges players to master both strategy and bluffing. Drawing inspiration from its online real-time strategy game origins, players engage in a thrilling race to build up their Viking villages, amass powerful decks, and launch daring raids on opponents. Victory hinges on cunning attacks and shrewd defenses, making every move a test of nerve and skill.

Hostage Negotiator is a gripping solo board game where you take on the role of a law enforcement agent tasked with negotiating the release of hostages from a dangerous hostage-taker. The game immerses you in high-stakes crisis negotiation, demanding strategic thinking and decision-making under pressure.

Carcassonne für 2 tailors the classic Carcassonne experience for a duel between two players, maintaining the beloved mechanics of tile placement and strategic meeple deployment within the picturesque Southern French landscape. This edition simplifies the setup for more intimate and rapid gameplay sessions without sacrificing the depth and decision-making the series is known for. Packaged in a convenient metal box, it includes 48 tiles and 12 meeples, offering a compact yet complete version of the game designed specifically for two players.

This War Of Mine: The Board Game is a profound tabletop adaptation of the acclaimed video game, capturing the harrowing experiences of civilians in a war-torn city. It's a game that delves deep into the survival narrative, emphasizing the human aspect of war and the tough decisions that come with it.

Ex Libris is a strategic board game that immerses players in the role of book collectors in a bustling gnomish village, all vying for the coveted position of Grand Librarian. This game combines elements of resource management, worker placement, and collection building, set in a whimsical fantasy world where players compete to create the most impressive personal library.

Caverna: Cave vs. Cave is a strategic two-player game set in the world of Caverna. Players start as dwarf tribes living in a small mountain excavation, and over eight rounds, they expand their dwellings, increase their workforce, and seek to build the most prosperous subterranean domain. This game focuses on efficient resource management and strategic planning within a confined space and timeframe.

Masmorra: Dungeons of Arcadia invites players into an action-packed adventure set within the vibrant universe of Arcadia Quest. As a dungeon crawl board game that emphasizes speed and strategy, Masmorra offers a unique blend of exploration, combat, and competition, making it a standout title for those who love dynamic and engaging gameplay.

Santa Maria is a medium complexity Eurogame that immerses players in the development of their own colonies. This strategic game combines elements of dice drafting and engine building, with a focus on minimal luck and no direct destructive player interaction. The components are designed to be language independent, making the game accessible to a wide audience.