The best games presented at the Spiel 2016 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 2016" 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 2016 after the city where it is held, is an annual four-day board game fair that is also open to the public. In 2016, the Spiel'16 game fair was held from October 13 to 16 (Thursday to the following Sunday) at the Messe Essen exhibition center in Essen, Germany. Many new games are released at the fair every year, especially (but not exclusively) European-style board games.

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

SPIEL'16 - the biggest game fair in the world

The first time the fair took place was in 1983 at the Volkshochschule Essen. In 2016, Spiel'16 was once again the world's largest trade fair for board games, with 1,021 exhibitors from 51 nations, nearly 1,200 new launches and 174,000 game-loving visitors.

Did we forget a game that was presented at Spiel'16?

If we have forgotten a game that was presented at Spiel 2016? Then write to us at tibi+brettspiele@cephea.de.

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.

If you are generally looking for the always best game new releases, then we have another always top current list for you: The Best New Game Releases 2024.

List with the top100 new releases of Spiel'16:

This list was last updated on February 25, 2024. We compared 49 board games for this list and selected the top 48. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Dixit: Revelations

    All details for the board game Dixit: Revelations and similar games
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    ๐Ÿ‘ Good price!19โ‚ฌ atAmazon.de*
  2. Kingdomino

    All details for the board game Kingdomino and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 17 awards and won 7.

    โญ๏ธ Spiel des Jahres 2017

    More details for Kingdomino
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 15 - 25 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Kingdomino

    • YouTube Review for the game "Kingdomino" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  3. Junk Art

    All details for the board game Junk Art and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Junk Art
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  4. 7 Wonders Duel: Pantheon

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

    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.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for 7 Wonders Duel: Pantheon
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for 7 Wonders Duel: Pantheon

    • YouTube Review for the game "7 Wonders Duel: Pantheon" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  5. King of Tokyo

    All details for the board game King of Tokyo and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 19 awards and won 7.

    More details for King of Tokyo
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    ๐Ÿ”ฅ Great price!27โ‚ฌ atAmazon.de*
  6. Tempel des Schreckens

    All details for the board game Tempel des Schreckens and similar games
    • 3 - 10 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Tempel des Schreckens

    • YouTube Review for the game "Tempel des Schreckens" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  7. Encore!

    All details for the board game Encore! and similar games

    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.

    ๐Ÿ”ฅ Deal: 7% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Encore!
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    ๐Ÿ”ฅ Great price!9โ‚ฌ atAmazon.de*

    Video reviews for Encore!

    • YouTube Review for the game "Encore!" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  8. Mansions of Madness: Second Edition

    All details for the board game Mansions of Madness: Second Edition and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 9 awards.

    More details for Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 120 - 180 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  9. Raiders of the North Sea

    All details for the board game Raiders of the North Sea and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 3.

    โญ๏ธ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2017

    More details for Raiders of the North Sea
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 80 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  10. Word Slam

    All details for the board game Word Slam and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 3.

    More details for Word Slam
    • 3 - 99 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Word Slam

    • YouTube Review for the game "Word Slam" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  11. Fuji Flush

    All details for the board game Fuji Flush and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Fuji Flush
    • 3 - 8 Players
    • 10 - 20 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Fuji Flush

    • YouTube Review for the game "Fuji Flush" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  12. Dr. Eureka

    All details for the board game Dr. Eureka and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.

    More details for Dr. Eureka
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  13. Arboretum

    All details for the board game Arboretum and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.

    More details for Arboretum
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Arboretum

    • YouTube Review for the game "Arboretum" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  14. Dominion: Empires

    All details for the board game Dominion: Empires and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  15. Mission: Red Planet (Second Edition)

    All details for the board game Mission: Red Planet (Second Edition) and similar games

    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.

    More details for Mission: Red Planet (Second Edition)
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  16. Tiefe Taschen

    All details for the board game Tiefe Taschen and similar games
    • 4 - 8 Players
    • 20 - 50 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Tiefe Taschen

    • YouTube Review for the game "Tiefe Taschen" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  17. Star Wars: Rebellion

    All details for the board game Star Wars: Rebellion and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 15 awards and won 4.

    More details for Star Wars: Rebellion
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 180 - 240 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn

    Video reviews for Star Wars: Rebellion

    • YouTube Review for the game "Star Wars: Rebellion" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  18. Mystic Vale

    All details for the board game Mystic Vale and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 1.

    More details for Mystic Vale
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Mystic Vale

    • YouTube Review for the game "Mystic Vale" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  19. Viticulture: Moor Visitors Expansion

    All details for the board game Viticulture: Moor Visitors Expansion and similar games
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  20. Do De Li Do

    All details for the board game Do De Li Do and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 10 - 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    ๐Ÿ‘ Good price!9โ‚ฌ atAmazon.de*
  21. Orlรฉans: Trade & Intrigue

    All details for the board game Orlรฉans: Trade & Intrigue and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  22. World's Fair 1893

    All details for the board game World's Fair 1893 and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for World's Fair 1893
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 35 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  23. Port Royal: Unterwegs!

    All details for the board game Port Royal: Unterwegs! and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 15 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Port Royal: Unterwegs!

    • YouTube Review for the game "Port Royal: Unterwegs!" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  24. Arkham Horror: The Card Game

    All details for the board game Arkham Horror: The Card Game and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 13 awards and won 4.

    More details for Arkham Horror: The Card Game
    • 1 - 2 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn

    Video reviews for Arkham Horror: The Card Game

    • YouTube Review for the game "Arkham Horror: The Card Game" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  25. Cottage Garden

    All details for the board game Cottage Garden and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Cottage Garden
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Cottage Garden

    • YouTube Review for the game "Cottage Garden" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  26. Ticket to Ride: Rails & Sails

    All details for the board game Ticket to Ride: Rails & Sails and similar games

    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.

    More details for Ticket to Ride: Rails & Sails
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    ๐Ÿ‘ Good price!65โ‚ฌ atAmazon.de*

    Video reviews for Ticket to Ride: Rails & Sails

    • YouTube Review for the game "Ticket to Ride: Rails & Sails" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  27. 51st State: Master Set

    All details for the board game 51st State: Master Set and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for 51st State: Master Set
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  28. A Feast for Odin

    All details for the board game A Feast for Odin and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 1.

    More details for A Feast for Odin
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Hard to learn
    ๐Ÿ‘ Good price!65โ‚ฌ atAmazon.de*

    Video reviews for A Feast for Odin

    • YouTube Review for the game "A Feast for Odin" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "A Feast for Odin" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  29. First Class: All Aboard the Orient Express!

    All details for the board game First Class: All Aboard the Orient Express! and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 5 awards.

    More details for First Class: All Aboard the Orient Express!
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 40 - 80 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  30. Escape Room: The Game

    All details for the board game Escape Room: The Game and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.

    More details for Escape Room: The Game
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 16+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  31. Costa Rica

    All details for the board game Costa Rica and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  32. Evolution: The Beginning

    All details for the board game Evolution: The Beginning and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Evolution: The Beginning
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  33. Fields of Green

    All details for the board game Fields of Green and similar games

    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.

    More details for Fields of Green
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Fields of Green

    • YouTube Review for the game "Fields of Green" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Fields of Green" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  34. La Granja: No Siesta

    All details for the board game La Granja: No Siesta and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for La Granja: No Siesta

    • YouTube Review for the game "La Granja: No Siesta" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  35. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Deck-Building Game

    All details for the board game The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Deck-Building Game and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 15+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  36. Aventuria: Ship of Lost Souls

    All details for the board game Aventuria: Ship of Lost Souls and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 180 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  37. Risk: Europe

    All details for the board game Risk: Europe and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 180 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  38. Five Tribes: The Thieves of Naqala

    All details for the board game Five Tribes: The Thieves of Naqala and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 40 - 80 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  39. Game of Thrones: The Trivia Game

    All details for the board game Game of Thrones: The Trivia Game and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 18+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Game of Thrones: The Trivia Game

    • YouTube Review for the game "Game of Thrones: The Trivia Game" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  40. Legendary Inventors

    All details for the board game Legendary Inventors and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 40 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  41. Trickerion: Legends of Illusion

    All details for the board game Trickerion: Legends of Illusion and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for Trickerion: Legends of Illusion
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 180 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  42. Railroad Revolution

    All details for the board game Railroad Revolution and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    ๐Ÿ”ฅ Deal: 13% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Railroad Revolution
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    ๐Ÿ”ฅ Great price!55โ‚ฌ atAmazon.de*

    Video reviews for Railroad Revolution

    • YouTube Review for the game "Railroad Revolution" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  43. Deus: Egypt

    All details for the board game Deus: Egypt and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Deus: Egypt
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Deus: Egypt

    • YouTube Review for the game "Deus: Egypt" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  44. The Architects of the Colosseum

    All details for the board game The Architects of the Colosseum and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for The Architects of the Colosseum

    • YouTube Review for the game "The Architects of the Colosseum" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  45. Doom: The Boardgame

    All details for the board game Doom: The Boardgame and similar games

    Doom: The Boardgame transports players into the iconic universe of the DOOM computer game, set within the Union Aerospace Corporationโ€™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.

    More details for Doom: The Boardgame
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 180 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Doom: The Boardgame

    • YouTube Review for the game "Doom: The Boardgame" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  46. Key to the City: London

    All details for the board game Key to the City: London and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    ๐Ÿ”ฅ Great price!13โ‚ฌ atAmazon.de*

    Video reviews for Key to the City: London

    • YouTube Review for the game "Key to the City: London" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  47. Xibalba

    All details for the board game Xibalba and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  48. In the Name of Odin

    All details for the board game In the Name of Odin and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for In the Name of Odin

    • YouTube Review for the game "In the Name of Odin" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English

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