The best "Jogoeu User's Game (J.U.G.)๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น" winners and nominees 2026

Looking for a good game that won or was nominated for the "Jogoeu User's Game (J.U.G.)" award? Then we have just the thing for you: a list of the best "Jogoeu User's Game (J.U.G.)" winners and games that were on the nomination list.

What is the "Jogoeu User's Game (J.U.G.)" game award?

The "Jogoeu User's Game (J.U.G.)" is an award for dice, card & board games. The award originates from ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡นPortugal, was created in 2008 and is voted by an audience.

J.U.G. means Jogoeu User's Game. This is the prize of a Portuguese game blog. The J.U.G. prize is voted by all the users of the blog, not only the Portuguese community, but also the international community.

Jogoeu User's Game (J.U.G.) Categories

The J.U.G. Award is given every year in the following categories:

  • Adult Game of the Year.
  • "JUGuinho" Families Game of the Year (Family Game of the Year)

For more info, visit the official J.U.G. Award homepage.

Other game awards from around the world

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

List of best J.U.G. Award winners & nominees 2026

This list was last updated on June 20, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. Heat: Pedal to the Metal

    Heat: Pedal to the Metal

    Heat: Pedal to the Metal is a dynamic and strategic racing board game that simulates the thrill and intricacies of car racing. It offers players a chance to experience the excitement of racing while managing crucial elements like speed, car upgrades, and varying track conditions.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“6 30โ€“60 min 10+ Easy to learn
    + 10 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    54 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  2. Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

    Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

    Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 offers an extraordinary gaming experience as a cooperative campaign game, immersing players in an overarching story-arc that unfolds over 12-24 gripping sessions. The duration depends on your group's performance and the fate of the world. Here's an overview of this thrilling journey:

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 60 min 13+ Medium complexity
  3. Wingspan

    Wingspan

    Wingspan is a captivating, competitive board game from Stonemaier Games, masterfully designed by Elizabeth Hargrave. It's a medium-weight, card-driven, engine-building game that stands out with its unique theme and stunning artwork, featuring over 170 bird illustrations by artists Beth Sobel, Natalia Rojas, and Ana Maria Martinez.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“5 40โ€“70 min 10+ Easy to learn
    Video reviews 1
  4. Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure

    Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure

    Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure is an exciting board game where players become daring thieves, sneaking into a dragon's lair to steal artifacts while avoiding making noise to prevent waking the dragon.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 30โ€“60 min 12+ Easy to learn
  5. Planet Unknown

    Planet Unknown

    Planet Unknown is a competitive and strategic game for 1-6 players set in a future where Earth's resources are depleted. Players are tasked with developing the most efficient and habitable planet among a series of newfound worlds. Using polyomino-shaped tiles, each representing vital infrastructure, players work to efficiently cover their planets and build an effective support system for life.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“6 60โ€“80 min 10+ Easy to learn
  6. Dominion

    Dominion

    In Dominion, you step into the shoes of a monarch, much like your ancestors, ruling over a small, picturesque kingdom. However, your ambitions stretch far beyond the peaceful realm you've inherited. Your goal is to expand your territory, transforming these modest lands into a vast dominion filled with diverse landscapes and resources.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 30 min 13+ Easy to learn
    + 2 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    37 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  7. It's a Wonderful World

    It's a Wonderful World

    It's a Wonderful World is a strategic card drafting and engine-building game, where players take on the role of leaders of expanding empires. The game is designed for 1 to 5 players and offers a compelling blend of careful planning and resource management.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“5 45 min 14+ Easy to learn
    + 3 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    39 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  8. Colt Express

    Colt Express

    Colt Express is a fast-paced, action-packed board game set in the Wild West, where players take on the roles of bandits attempting to rob a moving train.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“6 40 min 10+ Easy to learn
    + 8 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    23 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  9. Lost Ruins of Arnak

    Lost Ruins of Arnak

    Lost Ruins of Arnak is an adventurous board game that blends deck-building with worker placement, set on an unexplored island filled with remnants of an ancient civilization.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“4 30โ€“120 min 12+ Medium complexity
    + 14 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    55 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  10. Terraforming Mars

    Terraforming Mars

    Terraforming Mars is a strategic board game set in the 2400s, where players, representing giant corporations, embark on the colossal task of terraforming Mars. Sponsored by the World Government on Earth, each corporation competes to contribute most effectively to raising the planet's temperature, oxygen level, and ocean coverage to make Mars habitable. While players work together in the terraforming process, they also compete for victory points awarded for their contributions to terraforming, advancing human infrastructure throughout the solar system, and other notable achievements.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“5 120 min 12+ Medium complexity
    Video reviews 1
  11. Concordia

    Concordia

    Concordia is a peaceful yet strategic board game set in Roman times, focusing on economic development and expansion. It is designed for 2-5 players aged 13 and up.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“5 100 min 13+ Medium complexity
    + 1 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    34 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
    Video reviews 1
  12. Orlรฉans

    Orlรฉans

    Orlรฉans is a strategic board game set in medieval France, where players compete to gain supremacy through trade, construction, and science by assembling a diverse following of characters like farmers, merchants, knights, and monks.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“5 90 min 12+ Medium complexity
    + 22 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    49 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  13. Hadara

    Hadara

    Hadara is a strategic board game that takes players on a journey through the evolution of civilizations. Over the course of three epochs, players transform their small settlements into flourishing high cultures, populating their world with diverse individuals from various cultures, continents, and eras. The goal is to skillfully choose people and achievements to bring glory and honor, while balancing the development of agriculture, culture, and military power to outshine competitors.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“5 45โ€“60 min 10+ Easy to learn
    + 11 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    36 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
    Video reviews 1
  14. Five Tribes: The Djinns of Naqala

    Five Tribes: The Djinns of Naqala

    Five Tribes: The Djinns of Naqala is a strategy board game set in the mystical land of Naqala. Designed by Bruno Cathala, it puts a unique spin on the traditional German-style worker placement games.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 40โ€“80 min 13+ Medium complexity
  15. Istanbul

    Istanbul

    Istanbul is a strategic board game set in the bustling environment of Istanbul's grand bazaar, where players compete as merchants trying to outmaneuver their rivals to collect precious rubies.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“5 40โ€“60 min 10+ Medium complexity
    Video reviews 1
  16. Ark Nova

    Ark Nova

    Ark Nova is a strategic board game where players take on the role of zoo planners, aiming to build and manage the most successful modern zoo.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“4 90โ€“150 min 14+ For connoisseurs
    + 7 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    47 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  17. Black Fleet

    Black Fleet

    Black Fleet sets you in the bustling Caribbean, captaining merchant ships, pirate vessels, and even Navy ships, each with their own quest for glory and fortune. This tactical card-driven game mixes strategy with a dash of luck as you navigate different ship types to achieve your goals.

    All details & rating
    3โ€“4 60 min 14+ Easy to learn
  18. The Taverns of Tiefenthal

    The Taverns of Tiefenthal

    The Taverns of Tiefenthal is a strategic and immersive board game that transports players to a bustling village tavern, where they must attract guests and manage resources to become the most successful establishment in Tiefenthal.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 60 min 12+ Medium complexity
    1 โ‚ฌ below the next retailer
    30 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  19. Carpe Diem

    Carpe Diem

    In Carpe Diem, players step into the roles of wealthy patricians in ancient Rome, striving to build prosperous city districts and accumulate prestigious points. Designed by the accomplished game designer Stefan Feld, this board game offers a unique and engaging gaming experience.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 45โ€“75 min 10+ Medium complexity
    40 % cheaper than at other retailers
    34 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  20. Grand Austria Hotel

    Grand Austria Hotel

    Step into the bustling Viennese modern age, where prestigious cafรฉs vie for customers in the midst of inspiring artists, influential politicians, and global tourists. In Grand Austria Hotel, your task is to elevate your modest cafรฉ into a world-renowned hotel. Hire a dedicated staff, cater to your guests' desires, and secure the favor of the emperor to transform your establishment into the illustrious Grand Austria Hotel.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 60โ€“120 min 12+ Medium complexity
    Video reviews 1
  21. Scythe

    Scythe

    In the turbulent 1920s Europa, a period overshadowed by the aftermath of the first great war, a city-state known as "The Factory" stands at the center of attention. This capitalistic powerhouse, renowned for its heavily armored mechs that fueled the war, has mysteriously closed its doors, leaving neighboring nations vying for its secrets.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“5 115 min 14+ Medium complexity
    + 6 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    67 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
    Video reviews 1
  22. T.I.M.E Stories

    T.I.M.E Stories

    T.I.M.E Stories is a unique narrative-driven board game that blends elements of role-playing, exploration, and puzzle-solving. It offers an immersive experience as players take on the role of temporal agents sent on missions to prevent disruptions in the space-time continuum.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 90 min 12+ Medium complexity
    Video reviews 1
  23. Suburbia

    Suburbia

    Suburbia is a tile-laying strategy board game where players take on the role of city planners, tasked with transforming small towns into bustling metropolises. Players strategically use hexagonal building tiles to construct residential, commercial, civic, and industrial areas, along with unique points of interest that harness the resources of nearby towns. The goal is not just to expand but to effectively manage the economic and reputation aspects of their growing cities.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“4 60โ€“90 min 8+ Medium complexity
    + 64 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    114 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  24. The Voyages of Marco Polo

    The Voyages of Marco Polo

    The Voyages of Marco Polo is a captivating board game that allows players to relive the epic journey of Marco Polo. Set in 1271, players follow Marco Poloโ€™s path from Venice to Kublai Khanโ€™s court in China, navigating through ancient cities and traversing the famed Silk Road.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 40โ€“100 min 12+ Medium complexity
    Video reviews 1
  25. Bruges

    Bruges

    Bruges is a strategic board game set in the bustling 15th-century city of Bruges, known for its thriving culture and commerce. The game revolves around the theme of merchant competition and maintaining influence in this wealthy Belgian Hanseatic city.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 60 min 13+ Medium complexity
  26. Great Western Trail

    Great Western Trail

    Great Western Trail is a strategic board game set in 19th-century America, where players take on the roles of ranchers herding cattle from Texas to Kansas City.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 75โ€“150 min 12+ For connoisseurs
  27. Revive

    Revive

    Revive is a post-apocalyptic strategy game set 5000 years after civilization's collapse. Players lead tribes to explore a frozen Earth, harness resources, recruit survivors, build factories, and relearn ancient technologies. Designed for 1-4 players, Revive stands out with its asymmetric player powers, highly variable setup, and a focus on strategy and rebuilding over conflict.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“4 90โ€“120 min 14+ Medium complexity
    + 3 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    44 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  28. Coal Baron

    Coal Baron

    "Coal Baron," also known as "Glรผck Auf" in German, is a strategic and immersive board game that plunges players into the world of coal mining. In this game, players become managers of their own coal mines, sending workers underground to dig tunnels and extract coal of varying quality to fulfill contracts.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 60โ€“75 min 10+ Medium complexity
    Video reviews 1
  29. Android: Netrunner

    Android: Netrunner

    Android: Netrunner is an asymmetrical Living Card Game for two players, set in a cyberpunk future. It involves strategic card play, where one player controls a megacorporation and the other plays as a lone runner.

    All details & rating
    2 45 min 14+ Medium complexity
  30. Imperial Settlers

    Imperial Settlers

    Imperial Settlers is a dynamic card game where players lead one of four distinct factions - Romans, Barbarians, Egyptians, and Japanese - to build and expand their empires. It's a game of strategy and resource management, set in a newly discovered land ripe for exploration and conflict.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“4 45โ€“90 min 10+ Medium complexity
    1 โ‚ฌ below the next retailer
    23 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*

Frequently asked questions

Which game ranks first on this list?

Heat: Pedal to the Metal currently tops our list. The ranking is derived from player community ratings and is recalculated continuously.

How many players do the games on this list support?

Most games on this list support 2 to 4 players. The exact player count is listed with each game.

What age are these games suitable for?

Publisher age recommendations on this list start at 8 years. Each game carries its own age rating.

How long does a game take?

A typical game takes about 60 to 75 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.

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: