The best games presented at the Spiel 2000 game fair in Essen, Germany 2025

Are you looking for a good new game? We have compared all the games presented at the game fair "Spiel 2000" in Essen and listed the top100.

Game fair in the German city of Essen

The International Game Days "SPIEL", often called the Essen Game Fair or Essen 2000 after the city where it is held, is an annual four-day board game fair that is also open to the public. Many new games are released at the fair each year, especially (but not exclusively) European-style board games.

More info about game fair "Spiel" is available on official game website.

Did we forget a game that was presented at Spiel'00?

If we have forgotten a game that was presented at Spiel 2000.... please write us at tibi+brettspiele@cephea.de. Then we will add it to the list.

Spiel-Messe Essen from other years

The Essen Game Fair has been held since 1983, we have listed for you both across all game years and listed separately by year at the bottom of the page.

list with the top100 new releases of Spiel'00:

This list was last updated on March 19, 2025. We compared 94 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Carcassonne

    All details for the board game Carcassonne and similar games

    Carcassonne is a renowned tile-placement game set in the picturesque landscape of Southern France. This game is beloved for its simplicity, depth, and the beautiful mosaic players create on the table.

    Nominated for 9 awards and won 6.

    โญ๏ธ Spiel des Jahres 2001

    More details for Carcassonne
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Carcassonne

    • YouTube Review for the game "Carcassonne" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  2. Hamster Roll

    All details for the board game Hamster Roll and similar games

    Imagine a hamster's training wheel divided into multiple segments, separated by low fences. Players each receive seven wooden pieces to place into the wheel, one per person per turn, without any pieces falling out. Discarded pieces result in penalties, and the first player to rid themselves of all their pieces wins.

    More details for Hamster Roll
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 40 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  3. Monza

    All details for the board game Monza and similar games

    Monza is a car racing game designed for children. Players roll six identical dice, moving their cars based on the colors shown on the dice. The game encourages tactical thinking and color recognition, making it suitable for children aged 5 and up, though younger kids can also join in the fun.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Monza
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 10 - 15 Minutes
    • 5+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Monza

    • YouTube Review for the game "Monza" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  4. Blokus

    All details for the board game Blokus and similar games

    Blokus is an abstract strategy game known for its simple rules and deep strategic gameplay. It features colorful Tetris-shaped pieces that players aim to place on the board.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 4.

    More details for Blokus
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  5. Cartagena

    All details for the board game Cartagena and similar games

    Cartagena is a thematic board game based on the historical 1672 pirate jailbreak from the fortress of Cartagena. It blends strategy and tactical movement with a strong pirate theme.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    โญ๏ธ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2014

    More details for Cartagena
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  6. Orchard

    All details for the board game Orchard and similar games

    Obstgarten is a cooperative game for two or more players aged 3 and up. Players must quickly harvest the trees filled with crunchy cherries, juicy apples, sweet pears, and wonderful plums to prevent the greedy raven from stealing the fruit. Everyone collaborates to gather the harvest.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Orchard
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 3+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  7. Nightmare Productions

    All details for the board game Nightmare Productions and similar games

    Nightmare Productions, designed by Reiner Knizia, is a unique auction-based board game centered around the theme of producing movies, with a special twist in its Nightmare Productions edition that brings a horror and fantasy element to the filmmaking process. The game is structured around bidding for various components necessary to complete a movie, with a focus on strategic bidding and resource management.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Nightmare Productions
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  8. Trendy

    All details for the board game Trendy and similar games

    Players play cards representing different fashion designers. Each turn involves placing a card face up on the table and drawing a new one. When enough cards for a designer have been revealed, that designer achieves a "breakthrough," and players with those cards keep them for final scoring. There are special cards that can either double the value of a breakthrough or remove all revealed cards of a designer. The game continues until a player scores over 100 points.

    More details for Trendy
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  9. Ivanhoe

    All details for the board game Ivanhoe and similar games

    Players take on the role of knights participating in prestigious tournaments at the king's court. They use cards to win duels, fighting with swords, axes, or maces. Strategic use of action cards can change the dynamics of ongoing tournaments, impacting weapon choices and combat outcomes. The first player to win four or five different tournaments becomes the overall champion. There's more strategy involved than it may seem at first glance.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Ivanhoe
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 20 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  10. Anno Domini: Sport

    All details for the board game Anno Domini: Sport and similar games

    The "Anno Domini - Sport" set features historical events related to the world of sports. It can be played as a standalone game or combined with other sets for an enhanced experience.

    More details for Anno Domini: Sport
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  11. Zitternix

    All details for the board game Zitternix and similar games

    Twenty-seven wooden sticks of varying thickness (small, medium, and large) and colors (yellow, red, and blue) are placed in a wooden ring and twisted to balance on the table. Players roll a colored die to determine which peg to remove from the ring. Each peg has a point value of 1, and the player with the most points when the structure collapses wins.

    More details for Zitternix
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Zitternix

    • YouTube Review for the game "Zitternix" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  12. River Dragons

    All details for the board game River Dragons and similar games

    River Dragons is a dynamic and strategic board game where players aim to cross a river by building a network of planks over foundational stones. The challenge comes from the fact that each player plans their moves secretly and simultaneously, leading to unexpected outcomes and interactions as players' paths cross and plans collide.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for River Dragons
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for River Dragons

    • YouTube Review for the game "River Dragons" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  13. RoboRally: Crash and Burn

    All details for the board game RoboRally: Crash and Burn and similar games

    Crash and Burn is the second RoboRally expansion, featuring two new game boards and three new game elements. A new version of the factory manual might help extend the robots' limited existence, but itโ€™s only a matter of time before they crash and burn.

    More details for RoboRally: Crash and Burn
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  14. Klondike

    All details for the board game Klondike and similar games

    Players take turns drawing three wooden balls from a bag. Black and gray balls represent gravel, while yellow balls signify gold nuggets. Players place the balls on a round aluminum plate and try to "shake" the gold, with others betting on the outcomes, adding a bluffing element to the game. Basic and advanced rules are also available.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    โญ๏ธ Kinderspiel des Jahres 2001

    More details for Klondike
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  15. Animal Poker

    All details for the board game Animal Poker and similar games

    Players are given a job at the company Crazy & Co., where positions frequently change. Suddenly, a junior employee might find themselves in charge, while the last one remaining on the cards ends up with the dirty work as the dishwasher.

    More details for Animal Poker
    • 4 - 8 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  16. Bus

    All details for the board game Bus and similar games

    Bus is a pioneering strategy game by Splotter Spellen, emerging from Essen 1999 as a standout creation by a group of students. This game challenges players to efficiently manage a public transportation system to deliver as many passengers to their destinations as possible. The game combines route planning, passenger distribution, and timing to create a deeply strategic and competitive experience.

    More details for Bus
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  17. Tally Ho!

    All details for the board game Tally Ho! and similar games

    Tally Ho! turns the tables on the traditional hunter-prey narrative, offering a two-player game where one participant controls hunters and lumberjacks, and the other manages foxes and bears. The game begins with a serene forest, represented by face-down tiles. As the game progresses, these tiles are flipped and moved, simulating the chaotic disruption of hunting.

    More details for Tally Ho!
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  18. Zapp Zerapp

    All details for the board game Zapp Zerapp and similar games

    This is a modern version of classic games like Parcheesi or Sorry. Players aim to move their pawns from their starting position to a safe zone around the board. Instead of rolling dice, players shake small containers filled with balls, trying to select the one with the highest number that does not exceed the results of two rolled dice.

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 2.

    โญ๏ธ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2001

    More details for Zapp Zerapp
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  19. Lord of the Fries

    All details for the board game Lord of the Fries and similar games

    Players choose their orders from the colorful menu at Friedey's and try to fulfill them with cards from their hands. Some orders are simple, while others are more challenging, like the Chickabunga Conga, which requires multiple ingredients. The game features different combinations and quirky dishes, providing a fun culinary experience.

    More details for Lord of the Fries
    • 3 - 8 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  20. Meuterer

    All details for the board game Meuterer and similar games

    Meuterer is a compelling role selection and card game where players navigate the treacherous waters of mutiny aboard a merchant ship. Each player assumes the role of a crew member, each with their own agenda and goods to sell. The game unfolds over several rounds, with players revealing goods they wish to sell. However, as the ship visits ports that specialize in only one type of good, the captain's role becomes crucial as only they can decide the ship's course.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Meuterer
    • 3 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  21. Kill Doctor Lucky

    All details for the board game Kill Doctor Lucky and similar games

    Kill Doctor Lucky puts a unique spin on the classic mystery genre. In this darkly humorous game, players scheme to off the ill-fated Doctor Lucky. He's the guy everyone loves to hate โ€“ maybe he snubbed you in his will, or perhaps he's responsible for your pet rock's untimely demise. Whatever the reason, you're out for revenge, but so is everyone else! The catch? You've got to do the deed secretly, without witnesses, or it's back to square one.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Kill Doctor Lucky
    • 3 - 8 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  22. Bongo!

    All details for the board game Bongo! and similar games

    Roll the dice and quickly identify the correct animal! First, check the two yellow dice for the right number. Then, look at the animal dice and find that many animals among all of them. Call out the correct animal to collect a token, but be careful not to call the wrong one, or you'll lose all your tokens for that animal. The first player to collect two tokens for each animal wins.

    More details for Bongo!
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  23. Im Mรคrchenwald

    All details for the board game Im Mรคrchenwald and similar games

    Players navigate a fairy tale forest made up of a 7x7 grid of cards. The goal is to rescue a sick princess while avoiding obstacles like goblins, witches, and crows. The game also supports solo play.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    โญ๏ธ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2001

    More details for Im Mรคrchenwald
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 5+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  24. Turbo Taxi

    All details for the board game Turbo Taxi and similar games

    Turbo Taxi is a competitive puzzle game reminiscent of Ricochet Robot. Each player has 12 identical pieces representing a network of city streets, and they must rearrange their pieces to connect designated markers on a 3x3 grid while complying with certain routes for yellow and black taxis. The game can also be played solo, challenging players to complete the grid in the shortest time possible.

    More details for Turbo Taxi
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  25. High Bohn

    All details for the board game High Bohn and similar games

    High Bohn is the first expansion of the Bohnanza series printed by Lookout Games. Each type of bean corresponds to a building type, granting players special abilities for trading, planting, and harvesting beans. The value of the buildings a player constructs is added to their score at the end, with bonus points awarded for completing different building types.

    More details for High Bohn
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  26. The Lord of the Rings

    All details for the board game The Lord of the Rings and similar games

    The Lord of the Rings is a cooperative board game that immerses players in the epic journey of the Fellowship as they strive to destroy the One Ring and thwart the dark powers of Sauron. Each player assumes the role of a Hobbit from the Fellowship, each with unique abilities that contribute to the team's success.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    โญ๏ธ Spiel des Jahres 2001

    More details for The Lord of the Rings
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for The Lord of the Rings

    • YouTube Review for the game "The Lord of the Rings" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  27. Ebbe & Flut

    All details for the board game Ebbe & Flut and similar games

    Players build cascades of moving cards across the board to advance their cards to the end goal in the opposite corner. Strategy and planning are key to successfully navigating the challenges presented by the game.

    More details for Ebbe & Flut
    • 1 - 2 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  28. MotorChamp

    All details for the board game MotorChamp and similar games

    Experience a racing game from the creators of TurfMaster, featuring high production quality. It includes three double-sided boards for 12 different tracks, eight teams with two Formula 1 cars each, and eight sets of colored dice matching the teams. Movement is determined by the dice, with the number rolled depending on the car's position on the track, all presented with stunning board designs and top-tier racing cars.

    More details for MotorChamp
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  29. Babel

    All details for the board game Babel and similar games

    Babel is a competitive game where you leverage the strengths of ancient tribes to build temples, outmaneuver your opponent, and ultimately construct the tallest structures for victory. Set against the backdrop of five ancient civilizationsโ€”Medes, Sumerians, Hittites, Persians, and Assyriansโ€”you're dealt cards representing each tribe, using them to strategically move, build, or disrupt your opponent's progress on a compact board adorned with regions of these civilizations.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Babel
    • 2 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  30. Knights

    All details for the board game Knights and similar games

    Players aim to conquer cards to meet victory conditions in this dice game. To win, they can capture four castles, overthrow the king after taking three castles, or conquer two castles while winning three tournaments. Each card displays a dice combination that must be defeated, with special cards adding excitement by providing extra rolls or dice for battles, and assisting in defense or attacking castles.

    More details for Knights
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 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: