The best games nominated for the "Spiel des Jahres" game award 2023

In addition to the card & board games that win the German "Spiel des Jahres" Award award, since 1999 the other games in the selection are also awarded with "Nominated for Game of the Year". We have compared all the games that have been nominated for Game of the Year and picked out the best ones for you.

All "Spiel des Jahres" years listed individually

The Spiel des Jahres has been awarded since 1979. We have therefore created separate lists for you for all years, all award types (Spiel des Jahres, Kennerspiel, Kinderspiel) and all nominees:

Other game awards from all over the world

There are many more game awards from around the world, you can find a list at the bottom of this page.

List with the best game of the year nominees

Attached is our list of the best Game of the Year nominees that you can buy 2023:

This list was last updated on June 1, 2023. We compared 535 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. KLASK

    All details for the board game KLASK and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 3.

    More details for KLASK
    • 2 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  2. SCOUT

    All details for the board game SCOUT and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2022

    More details for SCOUT
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    🔥 Great price!16€ atAmazon.de
  3. So Clover!

    All details for the board game So Clover! and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 2.

    More details for So Clover!
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!18€ atAmazon.de
  4. 7 Wonders Duel

    All details for the board game 7 Wonders Duel and similar games

    Nominated for 16 awards and won 9.

    More details for 7 Wonders Duel
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!20€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for 7 Wonders Duel

    • YouTube Review for the game "7 Wonders Duel" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  5. Patchwork

    All details for the board game Patchwork and similar games

    Nominated for 11 awards and won 3.

    More details for Patchwork
    • 2 Players
    • 15 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!20€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Patchwork

    • YouTube Review for the game "Patchwork" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Patchwork" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  6. Jaipur

    All details for the board game Jaipur and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 3.

    More details for Jaipur
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!16€ atAmazon.de
  7. Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

    All details for the board game Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 and similar games

    Nominated for 21 awards and won 12.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2016

    More details for Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!61€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 1" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 1" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 1" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 1" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  8. Love Letter

    All details for the board game Love Letter and similar games

    Nominated for 14 awards and won 7.

    More details for Love Letter
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!10€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Love Letter

    • YouTube Review for the game "Love Letter" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  9. Skull

    All details for the board game Skull and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for Skull
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 15 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Skull

    • YouTube Review for the game "Skull" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Skull" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  10. Zombie Kidz Evolution

    All details for the board game Zombie Kidz Evolution and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 3.

    More details for Zombie Kidz Evolution
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 5 - 15 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  11. Point Salad

    All details for the board game Point Salad and similar games

    Nominated for 11 awards and won 3.

    More details for Point Salad
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 15 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!10€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Point Salad

    • YouTube Review for the game "Point Salad" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Point Salad" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  12. Top Ten

    All details for the board game Top Ten and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2022

    More details for Top Ten
    • 4 - 9 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  13. No Thanks!

    All details for the board game No Thanks! and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2005

    More details for No Thanks!
    • 3 - 7 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  14. Rhino Hero: Super Battle

    All details for the board game Rhino Hero: Super Battle and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 3.

    More details for Rhino Hero: Super Battle
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 10 - 20 Minutes
    • 5+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!22€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Rhino Hero: Super Battle

    • YouTube Review for the game "Rhino Hero: Super Battle" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  15. Las Vegas

    All details for the board game Las Vegas and similar games

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2012

    More details for Las Vegas
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    🔥 Great price!130€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Las Vegas

    • YouTube Review for the game "Las Vegas" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  16. Cartographers

    All details for the board game Cartographers and similar games

    Nominated for 9 awards.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2020

    More details for Cartographers
    • 1 - 100 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!17€ atAmazon.de
  17. The Quest for El Dorado

    All details for the board game The Quest for El Dorado and similar games

    Nominated for 13 awards and won 6.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2017

    More details for The Quest for El Dorado
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for The Quest for El Dorado

    • YouTube Review for the game "The Quest for El Dorado" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  18. That's Pretty Clever!

    All details for the board game That's Pretty Clever! and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2018

    More details for That's Pretty Clever!
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!10€ atAmazon.de
  19. Draftosaurus

    All details for the board game Draftosaurus and similar games

    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

    • YouTube Review for the game "Draftosaurus" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  20. HITSTER

    All details for the board game HITSTER and similar games
    • 2 - 10 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 16+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  21. Outfoxed!

    All details for the board game Outfoxed! and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Outfoxed!
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 5+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  22. Werewords

    All details for the board game Werewords and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2019

    More details for Werewords
    • 4 - 10 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  23. Fantasy Realms

    All details for the board game Fantasy Realms and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2021

    More details for Fantasy Realms
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!16€ atAmazon.de
  24. Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure

    All details for the board game Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure and similar games

    Nominated for 11 awards and won 3.

    More details for Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  25. Splendor

    All details for the board game Splendor and similar games

    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

    • YouTube Review for the game "Splendor" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  26. Santorini

    All details for the board game Santorini and similar games

    Nominated for 7 awards.

    More details for Santorini
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  27. 6 nimmt!

    All details for the board game 6 nimmt! and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 3.

    More details for 6 nimmt!
    • 2 - 10 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!6€ atAmazon.de
  28. My First Adventure: Finding the Dragon

    All details for the board game My First Adventure: Finding the Dragon and similar games
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 10 - 20 Minutes
    • 4+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    🔥 Great price!18€ atAmazon.de
  29. Dune: Imperium

    All details for the board game Dune: Imperium and similar games

    Nominated for 17 awards and won 5.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2022

    More details for Dune: Imperium
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    🔥 Great price!40€ atAmazon.de
  30. 5-Minute Dungeon

    All details for the board game 5-Minute Dungeon and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for 5-Minute Dungeon
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 5 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

Didn't find the game you were looking for?

We're positive that you'll find it in one of our other lists! To make the search easier for you, we split our website into different categories. The following board game categories will help you find the right list: