The best games by Karl-Heinz Schmiel 🇩🇪👨 2026

Saint Petersburg (Second Edition) revitalizes the classic game of economic strategy and development set in the historical backdrop of the city's construction under the reign of Czar Peter the Great. This edition not only enhances the gameplay with updated mechanics and components but also introduces a variety of new modules that expand the strategic possibilities and replayability of the game.

Cardcassonne offers a unique twist on the beloved Carcassonne tile-laying game, translating its core mechanics into a card-based format. Players strategically place cards in various rows, representing different elements such as fields, cities, roads, and abbeys, to maximize their points while competing against opponents. The essence of Carcassonne's strategic planning is preserved, with players faced with the dilemma of whether to claim a series of cards for points now or risk waiting for the row to grow at the potential cost of another player seizing the opportunity.

Players assume the roles of editors who select various stories, such as politics, sports, and entertainment, for their newspapers. The value of a story is influenced by its timing and size. Later stories can earn more points, but only the largest story under a particular headline can score.

Die Macher is a political strategy game for 3 to 5 players. You lead a national party through seven regional elections across Germany, and the party with the most victory points wins.

Players fight for control over the Bavarian people in 1705, with three factions vying for power: the imperial Austrian army, the prince's soldiers, and the rebellious peasants, along with intervening monks. Each player competes for influence within these factions each round, acquiring colored tokens to lead their chosen side and gather points. Points are earned by conquering key cities, which provide funds to maintain troops, and battles are resolved using maneuver cards and dice. The player with the most points at the end wins.