The best "Origins Awards" winners & nominees 2025
The Origins Awards are one of the most important US game awards. They have been awarded since 1975 in sometimes changing categories. The prize is awarded annually for the best newly published board games, card games, game magazines, but also computer games, for example. As with the "Game of the Year," not only are the winners honored, but the nominees are also published.
Originally, the Origins Awards emerged from the Charles S. Roberts Awards - this has been awarded separately again since 1987.
More game awards from all over the world
At the bottom of this page we have listed for you the best game awards spread across the globe: Game Awards from around the world.
List of the best Origins Awards games 2025
In this list you will find the best board games that won or were nominated for one of the Origins Awards. Additionally we made sure that they can be bought 2025:
SCOUT
SCOUT is an innovative card game that blends elements of hand management and ladder-climbing mechanics. The unique twist in this game is the dual-indexed cards and the restriction on rearranging your hand, creating a challenging and strategic gameplay experience.
Nominated for 8 awards and won 4.
⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2022
More details for SCOUT- 2 - 5 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 9+ years old
- Immediately playable
The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth
A dark rumor arises from Mordor, and the time has come for the Fellowship to unite once more. Players can choose to defend the free peoples as the Fellowship of the Ring or pursue Frodo and Sam as Sauron, deploying their hordes at enemy city gates. The fate of Middle-earth rests in your hands as you navigate the three chapters of the game, strengthening your skills and gathering resources to achieve one of the victory conditions.
Nominated for 7 awards and won 1.
More details for The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth- 2 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Telestrations
Telestrations is a light-hearted and entertaining party game that blends drawing and word-guessing in a hilarious and often unpredictable way. The game is based on the classic concept of "telephone" but adds a visual twist.
Nominated for 9 awards and won 7.
⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2013
More details for Telestrations- 4 - 8 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Telestrations
Sky Team
Players take on the roles of a pilot and a co-pilot in a cooperative game for two. The objective is to work together to land your airplane at various airports around the world. Successful landing requires silently coordinating dice placement in your cockpit to balance the aircraft, control speed, deploy flaps, and even brew coffee to enhance focus. Each airport presents unique challenges, so stay alert for turbulence—it could be a bumpy ride!
Nominated for 13 awards and won 8.
⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2024
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More details for Sky Team- 2 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Trio
Trio is a card game where players search for triplets. The deck consists of 36 cards, numbered from 1 to 12 three times. Players sort their hands from low to high and take turns revealing cards, aiming to collect sets of three matching cards.
Nominated for 8 awards and won 2.
More details for Trio- 3 - 6 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 6+ years old
- Immediately playable
Azul
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.
Nominated for 30 awards and won 19.
⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2018
More details for Azul- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Azul
Codenames: Duet
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!
Nominated for 9 awards and won 4.
More details for Codenames: Duet- 2 Players
- 15 - 30 Minutes
- 11+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Codenames: Duet
Love Letter
In Love Letter, you must compete with other suitors to deliver a romantic letter to Princess Annette, who has secluded herself in the palace.
Nominated for 15 awards and won 7.
More details for Love Letter- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Love Letter
Quacks
Become a cunning charlatan or a quack doctor in the whimsical world of The Quacks of Quedlinburg. In this quirky board game, each player concocts their own secret brew, one ingredient at a time. But beware, for a careless addition could spoil the entire mixture!
Nominated for 17 awards and won 12.
⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2018
More details for Quacks- 2 - 4 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Quacks
Flip 7
- 3 - 18 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Point Salad
Point Salad is a dynamic and engaging card drafting game that is suitable for players of all ages. It stands out for its simplicity and the vast array of scoring strategies it offers.
Nominated for 13 awards and won 3.
More details for Point Salad- 2 - 6 Players
- 15 - 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Point Salad
Sushi Go!
Sushi Go! is a dynamic, fast-paced card game set in a sushi restaurant. Players aim to grab the best sushi combinations as they come around. It's all about strategy, from picking the perfect sushi rolls to collecting sashimi sets. Boost your scores with wasabi-flavored nigiri, and don't forget to load up on pudding by the end!
Nominated for 9 awards and won 2.
More details for Sushi Go!- 2 - 5 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Bomb Busters
- 2 - 5 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Draftosaurus
Draftosaurus is a charming and quick drafting game where players aim to build the most attractive dinosaur park. The game stands out for its use of dino meeples and unique placement restrictions, making it an engaging experience for all ages.
Nominated for 9 awards and won 2.
More details for Draftosaurus- 2 - 5 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Draftosaurus
Castle Combo
Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.
More details for Castle Combo- 2 - 5 Players
- 10 - 25 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Star Realms
Star Realms is a fast-paced, deck-building card game set in the vastness of space. Designed by renowned game creators, it combines the excitement of deck-building with the strategic depth of combat trading card games.
Nominated for 10 awards and won 3.
More details for Star Realms- 2 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game
A cooperative card game spans eighteen chapters that guide players through the events of The Fellowship of the Ring. Each player assumes a different character, such as Frodo, Gandalf, or Pippin, each with specific goals to achieve in order to progress through the chapters. The game features a set of 37 cards, and as players advance, new characters, items, and challenges are introduced.
Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.
More details for The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game- 1 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Splendor
Splendor beckons you into the vibrant world of Renaissance merchants, where the pursuit of gem mines, modes of transportation, and opulent shops is the path to acquiring prestigious points. In this strategic game of chip-collecting and card development, your goal is to amass wealth and influence that will make you the most renowned merchant of the era. Perhaps, if fortune smiles upon you, nobility may even grace your endeavors, further enhancing your prestige.
Nominated for 21 awards and won 12.
⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2014
More details for Splendor- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Splendor
The Gang
Nominated for 8 awards.
More details for The Gang- 3 - 6 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Wilmot's Warehouse
Nominated for 5 awards.
More details for Wilmot's Warehouse- 2 - 6 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Captain Flip
Ahoy, Captain! Raise your flag, recruit a crew, and fill your coffers with shiny gold coins. The game is simple and can be explained faster than a cannon shot. On your turn, draw a tile from the bag; if you like it, keep it, and if not, flip it over. Place it on your board to build your crew. With nine characters and four boards featuring different tactics, it offers an engaging and fun experience.
Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.
⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2024
More details for Captain Flip- 2 - 5 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Santorini
Santorini is a beautifully re-imagined strategy game that combines abstract elements with accessible gameplay, suitable for a wide range of players.
Nominated for 7 awards.
More details for Santorini- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Air, Land, & Sea
Air, Land, & Sea is a strategic two-player game where you take on the role of a Supreme Commander, deploying military forces across three theaters of war: Air, Land, and Sea. The game is a delicate balance of power and cunning, requiring players to outmaneuver their opponent to control the majority of the theaters or compel them to withdraw.
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Air, Land, & Sea- 2 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
Hero Realms
Hero Realms is a captivating, fantasy-themed deck-building game that builds on the mechanics of the highly acclaimed Star Realms. It offers a versatile gaming experience suitable for different player formats and styles.
Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.
More details for Hero Realms- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
Faraway
Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.
⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2025
More details for Faraway- 2 - 6 Players
- 15 - 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ticket to Ride
Ticket to Ride offers a delightful and accessible gaming experience that can be grasped in under 15 minutes, making it perfect for both newcomers and seasoned gamers. Designed by the renowned Alan R. Moon, this board game revolves around a railway adventure across North America.
Nominated for 18 awards and won 12.
⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2004
More details for Ticket to Ride- 2 - 5 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Ticket to Ride
Sagrada
Sagrada is a visually striking board game where players draft dice to create beautiful stained glass windows, combining strategy and aesthetics.
Nominated for 13 awards.
More details for Sagrada- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
5-Minute Dungeon
5-Minute Dungeon is a fast-paced, cooperative, real-time card game that challenges players to escape a dungeon within a five-minute time limit. The game is characterized by its intense pace and the need for quick thinking and effective teamwork.
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for 5-Minute Dungeon- 2 - 5 Players
- 5 - 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
PARKS
PARKS is a visually stunning board game that celebrates the beauty and splendor of U.S. National Parks. With artwork from Fifty-Nine Parks, this game offers players a unique blend of strategy and adventure as they embark on a journey through nature.
Nominated for 10 awards and won 2.
More details for PARKS- 1 - 5 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
The Mind
The Mind is a unique card game that combines elements of cooperation, intuition, and silent communication. It is as much an experiment in group dynamics as it is a game.
Nominated for 21 awards and won 9.
⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2018
More details for The Mind- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Planet Unknown
Planet Unknown is a competitive and strategic game for 1-6 players set in a future where Earth's resources are depleted. Players are tasked with developing the most efficient and habitable planet among a series of newfound worlds. Using polyomino-shaped tiles, each representing vital infrastructure, players work to efficiently cover their planets and build an effective support system for life.
Nominated for 11 awards and won 4.
⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2023
More details for Planet Unknown- 1 - 6 Players
- 60 - 80 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Watergate
Watergate thrusts players into the historical tug-of-war between the Nixon Administration and a determined journalist from the Washington Post. This game recreates the infamous political scandal, requiring strategic card play and keen decision-making.
Nominated for 9 awards and won 4.
More details for Watergate- 2 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Watergate
When I Dream
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.
Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.
More details for When I Dream- 4 - 10 Players
- 20 - 40 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for When I Dream
Downforce
Downforce is a fast-paced and exhilarating board game that captures the intense world of motor racing. Combining elements of card-driven gameplay, bidding, and betting, it offers a thrilling race experience for 2-6 players.
Nominated for 3 awards.
More details for Downforce- 2 - 6 Players
- 20 - 40 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Space Base
Space Base is a dynamic and fast-paced dice game that blends strategy and luck, where players take on the roles of Commodores commanding a fleet of ships.
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for Space Base- 2 - 5 Players
- 60 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Space Base
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