The best games by Franz-Benno Delonge 👨 2026

TransAmerica is a straightforward and engaging railway-themed board game where players work to connect a set of cities across the United States using rail lines. The game emphasizes strategic planning and efficient use of shared networks, offering a blend of individual strategy and interactive play.

Explore a breathtaking landscape that even a Viking would admire. Players lay down hexagonal tiles to create a game board, then traverse the landscape from their starting longhouses to claim as much land as possible. The winner is the player who has conquered the most territory through clever placements and strategic planning.

Two simple railway games are included, using the same rules but played on different maps, leading to varied player experiences. Players start each round with a secret set of five cities to connect via rail. They place tracks that must connect to their starting station or build upon existing networks, aiming to connect all their cities first to score points and win the game. Special cards add variety by modifying rules for all players during a round.

Fjords is a strategic board game that transports players back to the era between the 8th and 11th centuries, a time when Viking clans were vigorously exploring and settling new lands. This game pits two clan leaders against each other as they vie for the most advantageous plots of land along Norway's picturesque coast. The objective is to establish villages in strategic locations to secure territory and resources, employing tactical acumen to outmaneuver the opponent.

Manila is an engaging and speculative board game for 3-5 players, centered around the bustling world of maritime trade. Players take on the role of investors, speculating on and betting against a variety of goods shipments – jade, ginseng, silk, and nutmeg – as they make their precarious journey along sea routes to Manila. The game is a blend of strategy, risk, and luck, with the fate of each shipment ultimately being decided by dice rolls.

Players build a city using wonderful plastic components. They acquire cards in eight different neighborhoods to construct buildings ranging from one to three spaces. Points are earned based on the building's base score, plus bonuses from surrounding structures. A unique feature is the Town Hall, where some players must engage without collecting points, allowing others to place structures beyond simple residences and shops.

Container returns in a Jumbo edition to celebrate its 10th anniversary. With large ships and realistic containers, building or destroying your vibrant economy is even more enjoyable. Players must manage factories and warehouses, ship goods, and navigate a player-driven market while focusing on maximizing profits and adapting strategies as needed.

In the land of ancient Greece, known as Hellas, people fought for control over valuable islands. Warriors faced each other on land and at sea, battling with sails and swords. They often sought the favor of the gods to aid them in their struggles.

Container is an economic strategy game where players simultaneously take on the roles of producers and shippers in a dynamic market. Each player must decide what products to produce and then choose which of their competitors' goods they will transport to a remote island. This dual role creates a complex economic interplay where players set prices and strategize to maximize their profits.

Seehausen am See attracts more visitors each year for its annual summer festival, where local breweries and beer gardens earn more than the rest of the year combined. Players become savvy businesspeople, investing in these establishments to maximize profits during the festival. Ultimately, success is measured by the wealth accumulated, rather than the size or control of the beer gardens.

Players move their workers on a game board made of variable groups of hex tiles and build houses along the shores of two rivers. Each round, certain fields along the river yield resources, either money for building houses or wood for constructing dams. The first to build all five buildings (four houses and one hacienda) or a hacienda and three houses all on one riverbank wins.