The best "Kennerspiel des Jahres" game award winners and nominees 2023

We have picked the best out of the winners of the german board game Award "Kennerspiel des Jahres". The price pays special attention to the fact that they are games for board game connoisseurs.

What is the "Kennerspiel des Jahres" Award?

Since 2011, the Spiel des Jahres has had an extra prize: Kennerspiel des Jahres - similar to the Kinderspiel des Jahres. Unlike the Spiel des Jahres award, the Kennerspiel des Jahres does not focus on family games. The prize is aimed more at people who have a long board game experience and are looking for new, unusual challenges. Thus, the prize is not explicitly aimed at experts. Those looking for more complex expert games are more likely to consider the German Games Prize.

In addition to the winners of the Kennerspiel des Jahres, we have also included the nominations in the list. Here, too, there are real board game highlights.

All "Spiel des Jahres" years listed individually

The Spiel des Jahres has been awarded since 1979. We have therefore created separate lists for all years, all award types (Spiel des Jahres, Kennerspiel, Kinderspiel) and all nominees:

List with the best Kennerspiel des Jahres games

Enclosed now the list with the best "Kennerspiel des Jahres" board games you can buy 2023:

This list was last updated on June 1, 2023. We compared 78 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. 7 Wonders Duel

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

    Nominated for 16 awards and won 9.

    More details for 7 Wonders Duel
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!20€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for 7 Wonders Duel

    • YouTube Review for the game "7 Wonders Duel" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  2. Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

    All details for the board game Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 and similar games

    Nominated for 21 awards and won 12.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2016

    More details for Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!61€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 1" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 1" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 1" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 1" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  3. The Quacks of Quedlinburg

    All details for the board game The Quacks of Quedlinburg and similar games

    Nominated for 15 awards and won 10.

    ⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2018

    More details for The Quacks of Quedlinburg
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for The Quacks of Quedlinburg

    • YouTube Review for the game "The Quacks of Quedlinburg" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  4. The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine

    All details for the board game The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine and similar games

    Nominated for 24 awards and won 12.

    ⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2020

    More details for The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!8€ atAmazon.de
  5. Wingspan

    All details for the board game Wingspan and similar games

    Nominated for 25 awards and won 16.

    ⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2019

    More details for Wingspan
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 40 - 70 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!42€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Wingspan

    • YouTube Review for the game "Wingspan" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  6. Cartographers

    All details for the board game Cartographers and similar games

    Nominated for 9 awards.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2020

    More details for Cartographers
    • 1 - 100 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!17€ atAmazon.de
  7. That's Pretty Clever!

    All details for the board game That's Pretty Clever! and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2018

    More details for That's Pretty Clever!
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!10€ atAmazon.de
  8. Fantasy Realms

    All details for the board game Fantasy Realms and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2021

    More details for Fantasy Realms
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!16€ atAmazon.de
  9. Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure

    All details for the board game Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure and similar games

    Nominated for 11 awards and won 3.

    More details for Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  10. Dune: Imperium

    All details for the board game Dune: Imperium and similar games

    Nominated for 17 awards and won 5.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2022

    More details for Dune: Imperium
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    🔥 Great price!40€ atAmazon.de
  11. 7 Wonders

    All details for the board game 7 Wonders and similar games

    Nominated for 33 awards and won 19.

    ⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2011

    More details for 7 Wonders
    • 2 - 7 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  12. Mindbug: First Contact

    All details for the board game Mindbug: First Contact and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 15 - 25 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  13. Terraforming Mars

    All details for the board game Terraforming Mars and similar games

    Nominated for 27 awards and won 14.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2017

    More details for Terraforming Mars
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Terraforming Mars

    • YouTube Review for the game "Terraforming Mars" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  14. Lost Ruins of Arnak

    All details for the board game Lost Ruins of Arnak and similar games

    Nominated for 26 awards and won 10.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2021

    More details for Lost Ruins of Arnak
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!50€ atAmazon.de
  15. The King's Dilemma

    All details for the board game The King's Dilemma and similar games

    Nominated for 7 awards.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2020

    More details for The King's Dilemma
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for The King's Dilemma

    • YouTube Review for the game "The King's Dilemma" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "The King's Dilemma" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  16. Captain Sonar

    All details for the board game Captain Sonar and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 3.

    More details for Captain Sonar
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    🔥 Great price!31€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Captain Sonar

    • YouTube Review for the game "Captain Sonar" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Captain Sonar" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  17. Targi

    All details for the board game Targi and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2012

    More details for Targi
    • 2 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Targi

    • YouTube Review for the game "Targi" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  18. Concordia

    All details for the board game Concordia and similar games

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2014

    More details for Concordia
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 100 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Concordia

    • YouTube Review for the game "Concordia" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Concordia" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  19. Raiders of the North Sea

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

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 3.

    ⭐️ 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
  20. Blood Rage

    All details for the board game Blood Rage and similar games

    Nominated for 14 awards and won 2.

    More details for Blood Rage
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!65€ atAmazon.de
  21. Orléans

    All details for the board game Orléans and similar games

    Nominated for 12 awards and won 4.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2015

    More details for Orléans
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  22. Aeon's End

    All details for the board game Aeon's End and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards.

    More details for Aeon's End
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Aeon's End

    • YouTube Review for the game "Aeon's End" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  23. Cryptid

    All details for the board game Cryptid and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2022

    More details for Cryptid
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 50 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  24. Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King

    All details for the board game Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King and similar games

    Nominated for 13 awards and won 5.

    ⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2016

    More details for Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 50 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  25. Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion

    All details for the board game Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion and similar games

    Nominated for 13 awards and won 5.

    More details for Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  26. Architects of the West Kingdom

    All details for the board game Architects of the West Kingdom and similar games

    Nominated for 17 awards and won 5.

    More details for Architects of the West Kingdom
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 60 - 80 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!68€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Architects of the West Kingdom

    • YouTube Review for the game "Architects of the West Kingdom" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  27. Ark Nova

    All details for the board game Ark Nova and similar games

    Nominated for 16 awards and won 7.

    🔥 Deal: 8% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Ark Nova
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 90 - 150 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
    🔥 Great price!46€ atAmazon.de
  28. Res Arcana

    All details for the board game Res Arcana and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 2.

    More details for Res Arcana
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!30€ atAmazon.de
  29. The Grizzled

    All details for the board game The Grizzled and similar games

    Nominated for 9 awards and won 2.

    More details for The Grizzled
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  30. Paleo

    All details for the board game Paleo and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 2.

    ⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2021

    More details for Paleo
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!33€ atAmazon.de

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