The best games from Wolfgang Kramer 🇩🇪👨 2026

Looking for a really good game from game designer Wolfgang Kramer 👨? Then we have just the thing: the list with the best Wolfgang Kramer games 2026.

Who is Wolfgang Kramer anyway?

Wolfgang Kramer has been designing dice, card & board games since 1974. The game designer hails from Stuttgart, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany🇩🇪, was born in 1942 and currently lives in Stuttgart, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany 🇩🇪. He is also known as "The old Fox".

Kramer's first game Tempo he developed in 1974 at the age of 32 - so he has been designing games for over 52 years. Famous Kramer games are for example El Grande, 6 nimmt! or Tikal.

Parallel to his studies in economics, Kramer began to develop a racing game. This was not to use dice to move the racing cars. Then, while working as an operations manager and computer scientist, he developed his new motion system into an abstract game called Tempo and published it in 1974, later modifying Tempo into a car racing game called Formula One. While continuing to work full-time, he designed and published several more games, two of which won the Spiel des Jahres award. Kramer is also the author of mystery novels, including, for example, "The Palace of Riddles" or "The Riddles of the Pyramid".

Full-time game designer since 1989

Kramer became a full-time game designer in 1989 - the first one in Germany. He has now designed over 200 games, many of which have been nominated for or won Game of the Year. He has frequently collaborated with other designers, most notably Michael Kiesling and Richard Ulrich.

The Kramer Bar

In 1984, Kramer invented a player scoring bar for his game Heimlich & Co. that went around the edge of the board. This type of scoring bar became a feature of German-style board games and is called the Kramerleiste in his honor.

How good are "Wolfgang Kramer" games?

There are 14 games by Wolfgang Kramer in our Top1000 games list, making Kramer the #8 best game designer out of a total of 708 designers in our database.

More information about Kramer

More information about Kramer can be found on:

List of best games by Wolfgang Kramer 2026

In this list we have listed the best board games that Wolfgang Kramer either designed himself - or was involved in designing.

Unfortunately, not all of Wolfgang Kramer's games are currently available. In the following list you can find all dice, board & card games by Wolfgang Kramer that you can buy 2026:

This list was last updated on June 13, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. Take 5

    Take 5

    1994 Edition

    6 nimmt!, also known as Take 5, Category 5 and other names, is a card game focused on scoring as few points as possible. It combines elements of strategy, prediction, and a bit of luck.

    All details & rating
    2–10 45 min 8+ Immediately playable
  2. 6 nimmt! 25 Jahre

    6 nimmt! 25 Jahre

    Players aim to collect as few points as possible in the game. After shuffling the 104 number cards and laying out four to start the rows, each player receives ten cards. Players simultaneously choose and reveal a card, adding it to a row based on its number, and if the sixth card is added to a row, the player takes the previous five cards.

    All details & rating
    2–10 45 min 8+ Immediately playable
  3. Wandering Towers

    Wandering Towers

    Players aim to bring all their wizards home to the Raven Castle before their opponents. The game board is set up in a circle with towers placed in a specific order, and each player starts with a certain number of wizards and movement cards. Players move their wizards or towers based on their played cards, capture opponents' wizards to fill their potion bottles, and ultimately try to place their last wizard in the Raven Castle to win. The game can also be played in teams with a variant that adds various spells.

    All details & rating
    1–6 30 min 8+ Easy to learn
    + 16 € above the best price
    33 € at Amazon*
  4. Downforce

    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.

    All details & rating
    2–6 20–40 min 10+ Easy to learn
  5. Gulo Gulo

    Gulo Gulo

    Gulo Gulo is an innovative and family-friendly board game that challenges players with a unique and tactile experience. In this game, players take on the roles of wolverines (Gulos) on a daring mission to rescue a baby Gulo from the clutches of a swamp vulture. However, the rescue mission is not straightforward, as the adult Gulos are tempted by the delicious eggs of the swamp vulture, leading to a series of precarious attempts to steal the eggs without triggering an alarm.

    All details & rating
    2–6 15–20 min 5+ Immediately playable
  6. Linko

    Linko

    Linko! is a dynamic card game, also known as Abluxxen, that combines strategy and luck. The objective is to play your cards wisely to score points while using your turns to disrupt your opponents' plans.

    All details & rating
    2–5 20 min 10+ Immediately playable
  7. 6 nimmt! Baron Oxx
    2–10 30 min 8+ Immediately playable
    + 2 € above the best price
    8 € at Amazon*
  8. El Grande Big Box

    El Grande Big Box

    El Grande Big Box is the definitive edition of the classic area control game El Grande, celebrating its 20th anniversary with a comprehensive collection that includes the base game and all its expansions. In this strategic board game, players assume the roles of Grandes in medieval Spain, competing to exert their dominance over the various regions as the king's power wanes. Through cunning deployment of caballeros (knights represented by meeples), players seek to secure majorities in Spain's diverse territories, leveraging power cards for turn order and action cards for strategic moves.

    All details & rating
    2–5 90 min 12+ Medium complexity
  9. Vampire Queen

    Vampire Queen

    The gray morning has arrived, and the vampires of the old clans must quickly return to their graves. While the powerful can do this easily, weaker vampires need to band together for strength. As a vampire lord, consider playing several low-value characters together to avoid being outmatched, but beware of the persistent vampire hunter lurking around!

    All details & rating
    3–12 30 min 8+ Immediately playable
  10. X nimmt!

    X nimmt!

    It's time to run away from the bullheaded ones in this exciting card game. Players start with eight cards and a personal X-row. In each turn, they simultaneously reveal a card, which is then placed in one of three rows, and if a row is full, the player who completed it takes all the cards, receiving negative points for the bullheaded cards. The game ends when a player runs out of cards, and the player with the fewest negative points after two rounds wins.

    All details & rating
    2–4 25 min 8+ Immediately playable
    + 2 € above the best price
    8 € at Amazon*
    Video reviews 1
  11. That's Life!

    That's Life!

    That's Life! (also known as Verflixxt!) revitalizes the traditional roll-and-move game genre with elements that give players more strategic control. In this game, players navigate a path laid out with tiles, aiming to collect as many positive tiles as possible while avoiding negative ones. The addition of guards and clovers introduces strategic depth, turning what could be a game of chance into one of tactical decision-making.

    All details & rating
    2–6 30 min 8+ Immediately playable
    + 10 € above the best price
    27 € at Amazon*
  12. Pharaoh's Gulo Gulo

    Pharaoh's Gulo Gulo

    Raiders once looted the tomb of Pharaoh Anopheles, stealing all the valuable scarab beetles. Since then, his restless mummy haunts the pyramids, driving away anyone who dares to enter. Brave heroes can only break the mummy's curse by crawling through dark tunnels, collecting precious scarabs, and avoiding the fearsome mummy.

    All details & rating
    2–6 20 min 7+ Immediately playable
  13. Savannah Park

    Savannah Park

    Players manage their own wildlife parks with the goal of grouping animals by species. Each begins with the same set of 33 unique animal tiles placed randomly in their park, while certain spaces remain unoccupied throughout the game. Players take turns choosing tiles to place in their parks, and the game ends when all tiles are moved, leading to a scoring round based on the size of animal herds and proximity to water holes, with various game modes to enhance replayability.

    All details & rating
    1–4 20–40 min 8+ Easy to learn
    + 5 € above the best price
    20 € at Amazon*
  14. Up or Down?
    2–6 30 min 8+ Immediately playable
  15. Col-Or-Form

    Col-Or-Form

    Colors and shapes are arranged in a 3x3 card layout. Players use their symbol cards to change the layout, aiming to match the specified tasks related to colors or shapes. The player who collects the most symbols from the task cards wins, but the simultaneous play creates a colorful challenge as task cards can be flipped in players' minds.

    All details & rating
    2–4 20 min 10+ Immediately playable
  16. Escape from the Hidden Castle

    Escape from the Hidden Castle

    Players control party guests, with the number of guests depending on the number of players. Each turn, players roll a special die to determine Hugo's movement, who starts in the basement and moves through the gallery to catch guests. The game involves strategic placement and adjustment as players try to minimize their "scare points" while avoiding capture by Hugo.

    All details & rating
    2–8 30 min 8+ Immediately playable
  17. Formel 1 Nürburgring

    Formel 1 Nürburgring

    This is the second game in Kramer's Formula 1 racing series. It features a different game board based on the actual Nürburgring track in Germany. Players auction cars and then race, maintaining the core mechanics of earlier games, while also including the infamous "White 10," which was considered too unbalanced for use.

    All details & rating
    2–6 60 min 10+ Immediately playable
  18. 11 nimmt!

    11 nimmt!

    Players take on the role of competitors in a game where cards are numbered from 1 to 100, each featuring a certain number of bullheads. Starting with ten cards, players aim to play their cards to win rounds; the player who discards all cards scores zero points, while others lose points based on the bullheads on their remaining cards. Instead of multiple rows, cards are played onto a single stack, needing to be within ten points of the top card; failing to do so means picking up the stack, thereby increasing the number of stacks as the game progresses.

    All details & rating
    2–7 30 min 8+ Immediately playable
  19. Take 5!

    Take 5!

    1998 Edition

    Players rely on strategies to manage numbered cards from 1 to 98, featuring green cards for positive points and red cards for negative points. In this game, players create sets of cards, but the fifth card played takes the entire set. Players take turns, playing one to three cards from their hand during their turn.

    All details & rating
    2–6 60 min 10+ Immediately playable
    + 1 € above the best price
    8 € at Amazon*
  20. Haste Worte?

    Haste Worte?

    Haste Worte is a party word game by Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling. Players have 30 seconds each round to write down as many answers as possible for the given category or question. After that, they bid on how many unique answers they have, revealing bids simultaneously and reading answers in order, with players receiving points for successful answers.

    All details & rating
    3–8 30 min 8+ Immediately playable
  21. Kniffel Master

    Kniffel Master

    Players roll dice to form specific combinations in a race to win in Kniffel Master. Each player has a personal game board and four tokens. On their turn, they roll up to three times and record their results to earn stars based on various combinations. The first player to collect fifteen stars finishes the game, and the player with the most stars wins.

    All details & rating
    2–4 25 min 8+ Immediately playable
  22. Heimlich & Co.

    Heimlich & Co.

    Heimlich & Co. is a clever and secretive board game where players maneuver a group of spies around a track to earn points, all while keeping their true identity hidden. The game's unique twist lies in the mystery of each player's color, only revealed at the end, making deduction and misdirection key elements of play. With a simple roll of the dice, players decide how to advance the spies, influencing the scoring but trying to conceal their motives.

    All details & rating
    2–7 30 min 8+ Immediately playable
    + 3 € above the best price
    18 € at Amazon*
  23. Adventure Land

    Adventure Land

    King Agamis rules from his castle in a land filled with rich cities, expansive forests, and rugged mountain ranges. Beneath the mist, dangers lurk, challenging only the bravest adventurers. Players must move strategically and bravely confront eerie creatures to earn the king's favor, with three adventure scenarios available based on player age and experience.

    All details & rating
    2–4 45 min 10+ Easy to learn
    Video reviews 1
  24. 6 nimmt! Brettspiel

    6 nimmt! Brettspiel

    Players reveal a card from their hand simultaneously, adding these cards to a central display where misplacement can lead to penalties. The game includes stones numbered 1-100, with each player managing twelve stones, aiming to place them strategically on the board based on their values. Points are gained or lost depending on where the stones land, and the game concludes when players have placed all their stones, with the highest score winning.

    All details & rating
    2–6 25 min 8+ Immediately playable
    + 2 € above the best price
    14 € at Amazon*
  25. Das GROSSE und das kleine A

    Das GROSSE und das kleine A

    Players aim to be the first to exit or avoid getting stuck with too many high-value cards. The deck consists of two traditional card sets, including jokers, and features two special cards marked as a large "A" and a small "A." The game includes twists and improvements reminiscent of career poker and The Great Dalmuti.

    All details & rating
    3–9 45 min 10+ Immediately playable
  26. Dance of Ibexes

    Dance of Ibexes

    A board game version of the card game 6 nimmt!, it presents a unique experience while building on the original concept. Players aim to place their cow tokens on grassy fields while avoiding bullhead spaces. The game includes various enhancements like double play spaces and happy cow fields, significantly boosting its dynamics and appeal.

    All details & rating
    2–8 30 min 8+ Immediately playable
  27. The 15 Greatest Board Games in the World

    The 15 Greatest Board Games in the World

    Fifteen amazing games were selected for being easy to learn, rewarding multiple plays, and appealing to a wide range of players. They also received positive feedback from children at El Carmelo Elementary.

    All details & rating
    1–5 7+ Immediately playable
  28. Caldera Park

    Caldera Park

    Welcome to the wilderness of North America! Breathtaking mountain views and spectacular geysers await, with vast forests and prairies providing habitat for native animals. Your task is to group animals of the same type into large families while ensuring they have access to water sources and avoiding bad weather.

    All details & rating
    1–4 30–40 min 10+ Easy to learn
  29. Don Carlo

    Don Carlo

    Players assume the role of consiglieres for established families in Absurdistan and its neighboring countries. The goal is to gain the most influence by sending agents through card combinations that represent numbers. The total of those numbers determines the destination for the agents, and players earn points based on their presence in those locations. The player who cleverly combines their cards will ultimately score the highest.

    All details & rating
    2–4 30 min 8+ Immediately playable
  30. Verflixxt! kompakt

    Verflixxt! kompakt

    Verflixxt kompakt is a smaller version of the original game with smaller pieces and fewer path tiles. It is designed for up to four players, each controlling two pawns in games with three or four players. The game features a new variant called Wurminator, where a large worm alters the number of negative game pieces when it lands on a player's pawn.

    All details & rating
    2–4 20 min 8+ Immediately playable

Frequently asked questions

Which game ranks first on this list?

Take 5 (1994 Edition) 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 6 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 5 years. Each game carries its own age rating.

How long does a game take?

A typical game takes about 30 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.

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