The best games from Vlaada Chvátil 🇨🇿👨 2026
Looking for a really good game from game designer Vlaada Chvátil 👨? Then we have just the thing: the list with the best Vlaada Chvátil games 2026.
Who is Vlaada Chvátil anyway?
Vlaada Chvátil has been designing dice, card & board games since 1997. The game designer hails from Jihlava, Kraj Vysočina, Tschechien🇨🇿, was born in 1971 and currently lives in Brünn/Brno, Jihomoravský kraj, Tschechien🇨🇿. He is also known as Vladimír Chvátil.
Chvátil's first game "Arena: Morituri te salutant" he developed in 1997 at the age of 26 - so he has been designing games for over 29 years. Famous Chvátil games are for example Codenames, Galaxy Trucker & Mage Knight Board Game.
In 2019, Chvátil was inducted into the Origins Award Hall of Fame.
First studied computer science & computer game developer.
Chvátil moved to Brno/Brno in his youth and also studied computer science there. His final thesis was about "Tactical and strategic computer games". Afterwards he first worked as a developer and project manager at a computer game company.
Second game only 5 years later
Chvátil's first game "Arena: Morituri te salutant" he developed in 1997 at the age of 26 - so he has been designing games for over 29 years. His second game "Prophecy" followed only five years later in 2002. The breakthrough came with Galaxy Trucker in 2007, which, among many other awards, also landed on the Recommended Game of the Year 2008 list.
The most famous Chvátil games are Codenames, Galaxy Trucker & Mage Knight - The Board Game.
Founding of own publishing house for Czech & Slovak authors
Then, in the period of late 2006 early 2007, together with other designers from the region (Petr Murmak, Filip Murmak and Ladislav Smejkal) he founded the publishing house Czech Games Edition (CGE). The first two titles were Galaxy Trucker by Vlaada Chvátil and League of Six by Vladimír Suchý. Since the beginning, the publishing house has focused on publishing games by Czech and Slovak authors.
Rule explanation always spiced with humor
Chvátil is known for its unique style of instructions. You have to like this style, you love it or you hate it. The rules are often divided into several "learning scenarios", chapters of which introduce more rules.... until the full game is explained. The instructions are often punctuated with a lot of humor.
How good are "Vlaada Chvátil" games?
There are 13 games by Vlaada Chvátil in our Top1000 games list, making Chvátil the #10 best game designer out of a total of 708 designers in our database.
More information about Chvátil
More information about Chvátil can be found on:
- Chvátil's BGG profile
- Chvátil's Twitter feed
- Vlaada Chvátil's Facebook page
- english Wikipedia entry for Vlaada Chvátil
- german Wikipedia entry for Chvátil
List of best games by Vlaada Chvátil 2026
In this list we have listed the best board games that Vlaada Chvátil either designed himself - or was involved in designing.
Unfortunately, not all of Vlaada Chvátil's games are currently available. In the following list you can find all dice, board & card games by Vlaada Chvátil that you can buy 2026:
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Codenames
All details & ratingCodenames is a captivating and popular party game that involves clever wordplay and deduction. Two teams compete, each led by a spymaster who knows the secret identities of 25 agents, represented by cards bearing single-word codenames like "disease," "Germany," or even "carrot." The objective is for each team to be the first to correctly identify all their agents based on clues given by their spymaster, while avoiding the dangerous assassin.
2–8 15 min 10+ Immediately playable+ 2 € above the best price17 € at Amazon* -
Codenames: Duet
All details & ratingEmbark 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!
2 15–30 min 11+ Immediately playable+ 3 € above the best price22 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
Codenames: Pictures
All details & ratingUncover the mystery behind peculiar symbols on the map in Codenames: Pictures, where these enigmatic codes signify locations where spies connect with secret agents. In this clandestine world, two rival spymasters possess knowledge of the agents in each location, communicating coded messages to guide their field operatives to discreet meetings. Operatives must navigate these visual puzzles with utmost precision, as a decoding misstep might lead to an unfortunate encounter with an enemy agent – or worse, an encounter with the deadly assassin! The race is on for both teams to contact all their agents, but only one can emerge victorious.
2–8 15 min 10+ Immediately playable+ 1 € above the best price20 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
Pictomania
All details & ratingPictomania turns the conventional drawing game on its head by combining drawing and guessing into simultaneous, frenetic action. This game, perfect for those who pride themselves on either their quick sketching or sharp guessing skills, ensures a level playing field and promises high energy from start to finish. Over five rounds, players are challenged to draw a word or phrase indicated by randomly assigned cards while also guessing what their opponents are drawing to earn points. Missteps can lead to becoming the round's "black sheep," affecting scores negatively, making each stroke and guess a calculated risk.
3–6 25 min 9+ Easy to learn+ 17 € above the best price30 € at Amazon* -
Codenames: Disney – Family Edition
All details & ratingCodenames: Disney – Family Edition brings the magic of Disney to the popular social word game Codenames, offering a delightful twist that Disney and Pixar fans of all ages will adore. This edition blends the strategic and cooperative elements of the original game with the enchanting worlds and characters of Disney and Pixar, making it an ideal choice for family game nights and gatherings of Disney enthusiasts.
2–8 15 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Galaxy Trucker
All details & ratingGalaxy Trucker is a fast-paced, tile-laying board game that combines space adventure with ship construction and navigation challenges.
2–4 60 min 10+ Easy to learn+ 58 € above the best price90 € at Amazon* -
Codenames: Deep Undercover
All details & ratingCodenames: Deep Undercover is a standalone or combinable expansion to the hit game Codenames, introducing an adult twist to the classic word association gameplay. In this version, players still split into two teams, with each team's spymaster knowing the identities of their secret agents, represented by codenames on the table. The goal remains to contact all your agents first through clever one-word clues that can link multiple codenames, while avoiding the deadly assassin and the opposing team's agents. This game adds an edgier set of words and phrases, making it suited for a more mature audience.
4–8 15 min 18+ Immediately playableVideo reviews 1 -
Galaxy Trucker
Second Edition
All details & ratingGalaxy Trucker (Second Edition) is a lively, family-friendly game where players race against time to build spaceships from scavenged parts and then navigate them through perilous space adventures. The game combines real-time strategy, tile placement, and a bit of chaos as players grab components from a shared pool to construct their vessels before launching into space for a series of hazardous journeys.
2–4 20–30 min 8+ Easy to learn+ 5 € above the best price37 € at Amazon* -
Codenames: Marvel
All details & ratingCodenames: Marvel combines the popular social word game Codenames with characters and locations from the Marvel Universe, including Spider-Man, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Avengers, and Doctor Strange. Two teams, S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra, compete to identify all their agents hidden in a 5x5 grid, while avoiding neutral words and an assassin that can instantly lose the game. A spymaster gives one-word clues to help teammates guess the right agents while steering clear of the opposing team's agents.
2–8 15 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Sneaks & Snitches
All details & ratingPlayers take on the role of the boss of cunning thieves, seeking prestige rather than money. They must strategically choose which type of items to pursue and predict their rivals' moves. With elements of information theft and competition, it's essential to outsmart opponents while sending a team to unexpected locations for the ultimate recognition in the criminal world.
2–5 20 min 9+ Immediately playable -
Codenames: Harry Potter
All details & ratingCodenames: Harry Potter features gameplay from Codenames Duet, where players work together to uncover all the correct cards before time runs out or a dark wizard like Lord Voldemort is summoned. The cards players must guess have a word or phrase on one side and an image on the other.
2 15 min 11+ Easy to learn -
That's a Question!
All details & ratingThe party game features a format where players challenge others with questions and vote on their expected responses. Each player has a sheet with hexagonal cards containing words or phrases in three color-coded blocks. Players pose a question to someone with a token, select two cards from their hand, and add the appropriately colored sections to the question. After everyone votes, the tokens are revealed, and players move forward based on correct guesses, aiming to have the most points after a set number of rounds.
3–6 30 min 15+ Immediately playable -
Space Alert
All details & ratingSpace Alert is a thrilling cooperative game where players become crew members of a spaceship navigating dangerous parts of the galaxy. Unique for its real-time gameplay, each mission in Space Alert is a frantic race against time, lasting precisely 10 minutes. The game stands out for its use of a soundtrack that not only enhances the thematic experience but also functions as a timer for the game.
1–5 30 min 12+ Medium complexity -
Mage Knight: Ultimate Edition
All details & ratingMage Knight: Ultimate Edition is an expansive and immersive board game that blends elements of role-playing games (RPGs), deck-building, and traditional board games. This edition is a comprehensive package that includes the base game of Mage Knight along with several expansions, offering an enriched and complete experience for players as they delve into the Mage Knight universe.
1–5 150 min 14+ For experts -
Travel Blog
All details & ratingSome people love to travel, while others enjoy reading about it. Imagine an online magazine that brings these individuals together, inviting players to join the ranks of travel bloggers.
2–6 25 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Bunny Bunny Moose Moose
All details & ratingPlayers take on the roles of rabbits and moose while a hunter strolls through the forest. They must try to look like animals that the hunter won't shoot at. By wearing makeshift rabbit ears or moose antlers, both players and spectators enjoy the lively competition.
3–6 20 min 9+ Easy to learn -
Tash-Kalar: Arena of Legends
All details & ratingTash-Kalar: Arena of Legends is a captivating game of magical strategy and tactics, where two to four players assume the roles of summoners in an epic arena battle. Each summoner, either working alone or in teams, demonstrates their mastery of magic by deploying minions to create complex patterns, summoning powerful beings, and outmaneuvering their opponents.
2–4 30 min 13+ Medium complexity+ 118 € above the best price153 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
All details & ratingThrough the Ages: A New Story of Civilization is a revised edition of the classic civilization-building game Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization. This edition features several updates and changes, particularly to the game's military system and card dynamics across three ages.
2–4 120 min 14+ For connoisseurs8 € below the next retailer48 € at Amazon* -
Dungeon Lords
All details & ratingDungeon Lords puts players in the shoes of evil dungeon lords competing to build the most formidable and efficient dungeon. This game is about strategic management, where you construct a dungeon, hire monsters, set traps, and thwart the noble heroes intent on your downfall.
2–4 90 min 12+ For connoisseurs+ 11 € above the best price38 € at Amazon* -
Dungeon Petz
All details & ratingDungeon Petz immerses you in a unique blend of strategy and whimsy, where you lead an imp family in the curious business of breeding and selling magical petz to Dungeon Lords. This game is a delightful mix of unpredictable pet behavior and strategic planning.
2–4 90 min 13+ For connoisseurs2 € below the next retailer36 € at Amazon* -
Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization
All details & ratingThrough the Ages: A Story of Civilization is a complex and engaging civilization-building board game. Players guide their civilizations through different ages, focusing on resource management, technology development, leadership, military strength, and building wonders.
2–4 120 min 12+ For connoisseurs28 % cheaper than at other retailers40 € at Amazon* -
Graenaland
All details & ratingIn 982, a Viking Jarl named Erik the Red sailed from the west coast of Iceland and discovered a new land he called Grænaland. Players take on the role of one of the Jarls leading their clans to settle this new territory, negotiating resource distribution without fighting, as conflicts are resolved through voting. Dwellings do not produce resources; instead, the terrain tiles do, creating unique player interactions and encouraging cooperation over competition. Trust among players becomes crucial as they balance efficiency with fairness while managing their positions and resources.
3–5 90 min 12+ Medium complexity -
Star Trek: Frontiers
All details & ratingA controversial region of space, accessible through a well-known wormhole, has attracted the attention of powerful factions across the galaxy. Both the Federation and the Klingon Empire, which are entering a delicate alliance, have recently established outposts in the area, but reports of serious troubles have prompted them to investigate immediately.
1–4 60–240 min 14+ For connoisseurs
Frequently asked questions
Which game ranks first on this list?
Codenames (Spiel des Jahres 2016 winner) currently tops our list. The ranking is derived from player community ratings and is recalculated continuously.
How many players do the games on this list support?
Most games on this list support 2 to 5 players. The exact player count is listed with each game.
What age are these games suitable for?
Publisher age recommendations on this list start at 8 years. Each game carries its own age rating.
How long does a game take?
A typical game takes about 25 to 30 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.
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