The best games presented at the Spiel 2001 game fair in Essen, Germany 2024

Are you looking for a good new game? We have compared all the games presented at the game fair "Spiel 2001" 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 2001 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'01?

If we have forgotten a game that was presented at Spiel 2001.... 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'01:

This list was last updated on November 6, 2024. We compared 44 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Pick Picknic

    All details for the board game Pick Picknic and similar games

    Pick Picknic is a delightful board game that combines strategy and chance with a charming farmyard theme. Designed by Stefan Dorra, this game invites players to help their flock of hungry chickens, geese, and ducks feed on as much corn as possible while avoiding the cunning foxes looking for a feathered feast. A remake of Dorra's earlier game Razzia, Pick Picknic integrates fun poultry antics with tactical gameplay suitable for both children and adults.

    More details for Pick Picknic
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  2. Villa Paletti

    All details for the board game Villa Paletti and similar games

    Villa Paletti is an engaging and whimsical game designed for 2 to 4 players, aged 8 and up, that challenges budding architects to construct a towering structure. Set in a land of blooming lemons, players follow in the footsteps of the sage "Paletti" who sought to complete his grandfather's unfinished castle in the sky. The twist in Paletti's plan is to reuse old columns from the lower levels of the castle to build higher floors, creating a daring and precarious architectural marvel – the Villa Paletti.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2002

    More details for Villa Paletti
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  3. Stick 'Em

    All details for the board game Stick 'Em and similar games

    Stick 'Em, initially released as Sticheln, is a captivating trick-taking card game that turns traditional card game objectives on their head. Players aim to score points by collecting as many cards as possible, except in one chosen colorβ€”referred to as their "pain" colorβ€”which they seek to avoid. The game involves both strategic depth and a twist of predicting opponents' moves to avoid pitfalls.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Stick 'Em
    • 3 - 8 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Stick 'Em

    • YouTube Review for the game "Stick 'Em" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  4. Kupferkessel Co.

    All details for the board game Kupferkessel Co. and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Kupferkessel Co.
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  5. Heimlich & Co.

    All details for the board game Heimlich & Co. and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 1986

    More details for Heimlich & Co.
    • 2 - 7 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  6. Ka-Ching!

    All details for the board game Ka-Ching! and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  7. Eynsteyn

    All details for the board game Eynsteyn and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Eynsteyn
    • 2 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  8. 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
  9. Atlantic Star

    All details for the board game Atlantic Star and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  10. Vabanque

    All details for the board game Vabanque and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Vabanque
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  11. Schuss und Tor

    All details for the board game Schuss und Tor and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  12. High Bohn

    All details for the board game High Bohn and similar games
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  13. Starship Catan

    All details for the board game Starship Catan and similar games

    Starship Catan takes you on an interstellar adventure for two players, blending the thematic elements of Starfarers of Catan with a unique gameplay experience. This card-based game focuses on exploration, strategy, and resource management. Players explore shuffled decks to find new colonies, engage in trade, assist planets, and face off against pirates. The game's depth comes from upgrading your starship's various systems - weapons for combating pirates, thrusters for deeper space exploration, scanners to foresee upcoming challenges, and more. Victory is achieved by earning points through colonies, upgraded systems, friendship, and heroism, with the goal to reach 10 VP first.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Starship Catan
    • 2 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  14. A House Divided: War Between the States 1861-65

    All details for the board game A House Divided: War Between the States 1861-65 and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 240 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  15. Save Doctor Lucky

    All details for the board game Save Doctor Lucky and similar games
    • 3 - 7 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  16. Shark

    All details for the board game Shark and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  17. The Great Brain Robbery

    All details for the board game The Great Brain Robbery and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for The Great Brain Robbery
    • 3 - 7 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  18. The Gnumies

    All details for the board game The Gnumies and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  19. Gargon

    All details for the board game Gargon and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Gargon
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  20. Draco & Co

    All details for the board game Draco & Co and similar games
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  21. Ein Arsch kommt selten allein

    All details for the board game Ein Arsch kommt selten allein and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  22. Industrial Waste

    All details for the board game Industrial Waste and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Industrial Waste
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  23. Auweier

    All details for the board game Auweier and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  24. Ben Hurt

    All details for the board game Ben Hurt and similar games
    • 4 - 8 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  25. LibertΓ©

    All details for the board game LibertΓ© and similar games

    LibertΓ© is a strategic board game that immerses players in the turbulent period of the French Revolution, from 1789 to the rise of Bonaparte in 1799. Players navigate the political upheavals of the era by aligning with one of three factions: the Radicals (red), the Moderates (blue), and the Royalists (white). The game challenges players to exert influence, control factions, and manipulate political outcomes through elections and battles.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for LibertΓ©
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for LibertΓ©

    • YouTube Review for the game "LibertΓ©" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  26. Der Herr der Ringe: Die GefΓ€hrten – Das Kartenspiel

    All details for the board game Der Herr der Ringe: Die GefΓ€hrten – Das Kartenspiel and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  27. Urland

    All details for the board game Urland and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Urland
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  28. The Yeti Slalom

    All details for the board game The Yeti Slalom and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for The Yeti Slalom
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  29. FrachtExpress

    All details for the board game FrachtExpress and similar games
    • 3 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  30. Funkenschlag

    All details for the board game Funkenschlag and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Funkenschlag
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 180 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Hard to learn

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: