The best games presented at the Spiel 2016 game fair in Essen, Germany 2025

Dixit: Revelations invites players to look beyond the surface and discover hidden meanings. Featuring artwork by French illustrator Marina Coudray, this expansion brings a unique aesthetic influenced by early 20th-century design. It adds 84 new cards to the game, where players become storytellers, choosing a card and sharing a related story, while others submit cards from their hands to guess the original. Points are awarded based on correct votes, and the player with the most points at the end wins.

Embark on a noble quest to expand your kingdom in Kingdomino. As a lord, your mission is to explore vast lands filled with wheat fields, serene lakes, and towering mountains. Competing with fellow lords, you must identify the choicest plots to claim as your own.

In Junk Art, creativity knows no bounds as players transform a pile of junk into stunning works of art. With more than ten engaging game modes and over sixty vibrant wooden or plastic components, this game invites you to explore your artistic talents like never before.

7 Wonders Duel: Pantheon is an expansion to the popular strategy game 7 Wonders Duel, introducing a dynamic element of ancient deities from various civilizations, each offering unique powers and strategies.

You have finally reached the Temple of Secrets, filled with immense gold treasures. However, you must navigate the treacherous Temple Guardians who hide among the adventurers, seeking to mislead you to protect their riches. It's a fast-paced bluffing game where trust is uncertain, and danger lurks behind every chamber.

King of Tokyo is a game where players take on the roles of mutant monsters, robots, and aliens, all competing to become the sole King of Tokyo.

Encore! (originally published as Noch mal!) is a dice-based board game that challenges players with strategic choices and a touch of luck. In this game, players use dice to determine the colors and the number of spaces they can mark off on their playing sheets.

Mansions of Madness: Second Edition is a cooperative, app-enhanced board game that combines elements of horror and mystery. It's set in the same universe as Eldritch Horror and Elder Sign, offering an immersive narrative experience.

Raiders of the North Sea is a vibrant board game set during the Viking Age, where players embody Viking warriors vying for the Chieftain's recognition through strategic raiding and resource management.

Players split into two teams and compete simultaneously in a communication game. In each round, one player from each team attempts to get their teammates to guess a hidden word or phrase using only the 105 explanation cards provided. Speaking and acting is strictly prohibited; players must rely solely on the cards, each featuring a single word. The team with the most points at the end wins.

Fuji Flush is an energetic and engaging card game that combines simple rules with strategic depth, making it perfect for both casual gamers and those looking for a quick, entertaining play session. The game's objective is straightforward: be the first to get rid of all your cards. However, achieving this goal requires savvy hand management, timely collaboration with others, and knowing when to strike out on your own.

Dr. Eureka is a fast-paced, dexterity-based board game that challenges players to become the quickest and most precise scientist in the laboratory. Designed for players with a keen sense of logic and a steady hand, this game puts your problem-solving and fine motor skills to the test.

Arboretum invites 2-4 players, aged 10 and up, to embark on a strategic journey of set collection, tile-laying, and hand management, creating picturesque garden paths within a concise 25-minute playtime.

Mission: Red Planet (Second Edition) is a strategic board game set in a Victorian-era Earth, where players head mining corporations competing to exploit Mars' newfound resources.

Dominion: Empires expands the universe of Dominion into grander and more expansive territories, elevating players from monarchs to emperors ruling over vast domains. This tenth expansion to the critically acclaimed deck-building game Dominion introduces new mechanics and elements that challenge players to navigate the complexities of imperial governance and conquest.

Players assume the roles of corrupt politicians aiming to steal as much money as possible. One player distributes money from the treasury, and after intense negotiations, players vote on the proposed distribution. If the majority opposes it, the current president must resign, and a new president is elected from among the players. Additionally, players can blackmail and bribe each other.

Star Wars: Rebellion is a grand strategy board game set in the Star Wars universe, offering an epic conflict between the Galactic Empire and Rebel Alliance for two to four players.

In the fast-paced card game, players must think quickly! The active player places a card from their hand on one of three discard piles and calls out the most frequently occurring attribute in the center: animal type, color, zero, or Dodelido. It sounds easier than it is, especially with the slow turtle and the fast crocodile adding challenges. Play flawlessly to win, as any mistake can cost you!

Mystic Vale is a unique and innovative card game that blends deck-building mechanics with a distinct "Card Crafting System." It's set in a mystical world where players take on the roles of druidic clans aiming to restore a cursed land. The game is known for its engaging gameplay and the novel way it allows players to customize their cards.

Orléans: Trade & Intrigue is the exciting second expansion for the acclaimed Orléans game. It enriches the base game by introducing fresh gameplay elements and strategic depth. This expansion doesn’t just add new content; it transforms the game with new layers of strategy and player interaction through its four distinct modules. Each addition, from new place tiles to intriguing cards, invites players to explore new strategies and engage with the game in novel ways.

Port Royal Unterwegs is a standalone, streamlined sequel to the card game Port Royal, introducing new characters that can also be used as an expansion for the original game.

World's Fair 1893 is a board game where players become organizers of the iconic Chicago World's Fair, aiming to boost their influence and secure notable exhibits to win the best reputation by the fair's start.

The expansion for visitors of the vineyard bog, designed by renowned designer Uwe Rosenberg and the Viticulture designers Jamey Stegmaier and Alan Stone, introduces 40 new visitors for each version of the vineyard game. It also includes corrected reprints of the promoter and harvest machine cards.

Arkham Horror: The Card Game is a Lovecraftian horror card game that blends role-playing and card game elements. Set in the eerie town of Arkham, players face mysterious, monstrous, and maddening challenges.

Cottage Garden is a charming and strategic board game where players delve into the art of gardening. Designed by Uwe Rosenberg, renowned for his skill in creating engaging board games, Cottage Garden invites players to carefully plan and cultivate their own garden beds with a variety of flowers. The game combines elements of tile placement and point accumulation, set against the serene backdrop of garden landscapes.

Ticket to Ride: Rails & Sails expands the classic Ticket to Ride gameplay to a global scale, introducing an innovative twist by incorporating boats into the well-loved train route-building formula. Players are tasked with navigating both land and water, using trains and ships to connect distant cities and fulfill their ticket objectives.

51st State: Master Set is a comprehensive and rebalanced card game set in a post-apocalyptic world where players vie for control over the remnants of the United States. As leaders of one of four powers, players work to build and establish their new country amidst the ruins. The game is renowned for its strategic depth, offering multiple ways to use each card, and it includes content from the original game as well as from the New Era and Winter expansions.

A Feast for Odin is a rich and complex board game that takes players on a journey through the life and times of the Vikings. This game combines elements of exploration, resource management, and strategic planning, offering a deep and engaging experience.

First Class: Unterwegs im Orient Express, also known as First Class: All Aboard the Orient Express!, is a card-driven board game where players compete to build the most prestigious rail network, luxurious train cars, and cater to affluent passengers to earn fame points.

In the jungle of Costa Rica, players take on the role of explorers collecting rare and exotic animals to protect them from poachers while navigating diverse terrains and the constant threat of mosquitoes. Collecting as many specimens of one species is valuable, but having one of each species can also be advantageous. Each turn, players must decide whether to leave the expedition to gather encountered animals or to stay with the group for the chance to collect more later.

Escape Room: The Game brings the thrill of escape room challenges right into your living room. It includes four unique 60-minute puzzles that test various problem-solving skills. Players work together to decipher clues ranging from images to maps, under the pressure of a ticking timer. The game's centerpiece, the Chrono Decoder, adds a real sense of urgency with its countdown and sound effects. Whether you're defusing a bomb or escaping prison, the game provides a mix of tension and teamwork.

Players adapt their species to thrive in a dynamic ecosystem with scarce food and lurking predators. Traits like flight and horns offer protection against carnivores, while a long neck helps access hard-to-reach food. With hundreds of ways to evolve, each game unfolds uniquely, providing a fast-paced and strategic experience for two players.

A demon ship sent by the Witch King Morda approaches the Aventurian coast, carrying a dark diamond that serves as a breeding ground for demons and undead. Players must stop the Ship of Lost Souls before it lands and unleashes its horrifying creatures. This is the second expansion for the card game Aventuria, featuring a three-act adventure and introducing a new heroine, Tjalva Garheltdottir, a Thorvalian warrior who uses her strength and combat skills to defeat enemies.

Fields of Green is a strategy board game set in the latter half of the 20th century where players immerse themselves as farm owners. The objective is to expand your farm by strategically drafting cards to add fields, livestock, and buildings, creating a productive economic engine. Inspired by Among the Stars, this game spans four rounds, representing years, during which players grow their farms and prepare for the harvest season. Success in managing resources during harvest allows for further expansion and accumulation of wealth, ultimately converted into victory points.

La Granja: No Siesta is a standalone dice game that follows the board game. Players collect resources to mark off points on their score sheet and aim for the highest score. They can hire helpers for special effects, build a barn to store goods, and occasionally take a short break for a siesta.

Players take on the role of iconic heroes from "The Lord of the Rings," such as Frodo, Gandalf, and Aragorn, battling against the dark powers of Sauron. Starting with a basic ten-card deck, they draw five cards each round to purchase stronger cards from a central stack, aiming to build an optimized deck. The objective is to accumulate the most victory points by the end of the game, with each card contributing to the total, particularly the formidable "Arch-Enemy" cards.

Control the crowns to rule Europe in this exciting medieval conquest game. Players assume the role of a medieval king, building castles, taxing subjects, expanding territories, and engaging in battles. With four separate armies and seven unique starting kingdoms, each with distinct strengths and abilities, strategy and diplomacy play crucial roles as players vie for control of seven crowns to win the game.

Nakhala has become a prosperous place, but gaining the favor of various tribes hasn’t been easy. Some tribes have allied themselves with your rivals, led by influential leaders hired to oppose you. The expansion "Five Tribes: The Thieves of Nakhala" introduces six thief cards and a new djinn, adding a challenging element to the base game. At the start of the game, one thief card is revealed, and players can acquire it for the same price as a djinn. Each thief is linked to a tribe, allowing players to activate them for strategic advantage.

Knowledge is a powerful weapon in the quest for the Iron Throne. Players can test their trivia skills about the first four seasons of the HBO hit series, answering questions to conquer important locations in Westeros. Control of the Seven Kingdoms goes to the player who manages to claim the most sites, all while navigating alliances and utilizing resources to gain favor with iconic characters.

Lead a team of history's greatest minds to fame and glory in this game, where 2-5 players each guide a group of four inventors. They work to bring their knowledge to life by creating useful objects that enhance the world, competing against rival teams to patent inventions and improve their inventors' skills. The game spans three ages, with each age representing a different period of technological advancement, and players work to complete inventions while strategizing how best to utilize their inventors' unique abilities.

Building more in the Colosseum Masters makes it easier to win, but acquiring the materials won't be simple. The pace of construction determines the game's duration, so planning ahead is crucial.

Trickerion: Legends of Illusion is a competitive, Euro-style strategy board game set in a late 19th-century world infused with supernatural elements. The game revolves around rival stage illusionists vying for fame, fortune, and magical supremacy.

Railroad Revolution is a strategic board game that immerses players in the competitive and industrious period of the 19th-century American railroad expansion. This game combines elements of worker placement, network building, and strategic planning, offering a rich, thematic experience that mirrors the ambitious endeavors of historical railroad tycoons.

Doom: The Boardgame transports players into the iconic universe of the DOOM computer game, set within the Union Aerospace Corporation’s Mars base that has been invaded by demonic forces. In this intense and action-packed game, up to three players take on the roles of heavily armed marines, while one player controls the horde of demonic invaders. The game is designed for 2 to 4 players, aged 12 and up, and offers an immersive experience lasting 1 to 2 hours.

Players assume the role of leaders of an extraordinary ancient civilization: Egypt. They must expand their dynasty and establish dominance over neighboring lands. This first expansion adds 96 building cards—16 for each development area—which can replace the base game's deck or swap selected groups of cards. Each group introduces new rules and strategies.

Players control base stations represented by small wooden cubes to establish economic centers on the moons of seven planets in an alien system. After moving their pieces to a planet, they select one using a unique device similar to a blind draw bag. The game features an innovative trading system for collecting cards related to the planets, where careful trading and strategic risk assessment mitigate luck.

Imagine a world where technological advancements have led to powerful diesel-driven machines of the early 20th century. In 1948, the world as we know it has ceased to exist, and players gather resources, expand their bases, and weaken opponents through attacks and raids. The goal is to plunder the contested Ark for Paragon and be the first to reach a set amount to win the game.

Players develop their own London district based on their home tile using large hexagonal location tiles, which provide victory points and generate resources. The game unfolds over four epochs, with new location tiles available for bidding in each era, featuring resource-generating tiles and building blocks. Players choose from five actions on their turn, including bidding, resource generation, and expansion, and the game concludes when the last boat sets sail at the end of the fourth epoch, with the highest-scoring player winning.

In this strategy game for 2-5 players, each participant aims to become the new Jarl. Players are brave warriors, clever traders, and bold explorers, but only one will rise to rule in Odin's name. Throughout the game, players use action cards to build new structures in their villages, gather companions, recruit famous Vikings, and construct longships to achieve glory and honor.