The best "Mensa Select🇺🇸" winners and nominees 2023

Looking for a good game that won or was nominated for the "Mensa Select" award? Then we have just the thing for you: A list with the best "Mensa Select" winners and games that were on the nomination list.

What is the "Mensa Select" game award?

The "Mensa Select" is an award for dice, card & board games. The award originates from 🇺🇸USA, was created in 1990 and is chosen by a jury.

Every year since 1990, the American Mensa selects several (usually 5) games to recommend as part of its Mind Games competition. These games are called Mensa Select.

From 1990-1995, the Mind Games judges were selected by the American Mensa branch. Since 1996, all members of American Mensa have been eligible to participate in Mind Games as judges, although an entry fee is required.

Mensa Select Categories

The Mensa Select award is presented each year in the following categories:

  • Mensa Recommended
  • Mensa Select

More info can be found on the official Mensa Select homepage or the Wikipedia contribution of Mensa Select.

Other game awards from around the world.

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

List of best Mensa Select winners & nominees 2023:

This list was last updated on July 10, 2023. We compared 154 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Azul

    All details for the board game Azul and similar games

    Nominated for 29 awards and won 19.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2018

    More details for Azul
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!35€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Azul

    • YouTube Review for the game "Azul" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  2. Time's Up!

    All details for the board game Time's Up! and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 2.

    More details for Time's Up!
    • 4 - 18 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  3. 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
  4. 6 nimmt!

    All details for the board game 6 nimmt! and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 3.

    More details for 6 nimmt!
    • 2 - 10 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  5. Wits & Wagers

    All details for the board game Wits & Wagers and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 3.

    More details for Wits & Wagers
    • 3 - 7 Players
    • 25 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  6. Qwixx

    All details for the board game Qwixx and similar games

    Nominated for 9 awards and won 3.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2013

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2013

    More details for Qwixx
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  7. Akropolis

    All details for the board game Akropolis and similar games

    Nominated for 10 awards and won 4.

    More details for Akropolis
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  8. Imagine

    All details for the board game Imagine and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.

    More details for Imagine
    • 3 - 8 Players
    • 15 - 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  9. Trekking Through History

    All details for the board game Trekking Through History and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Trekking Through History
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  10. Dominion

    All details for the board game Dominion and similar games

    Nominated for 32 awards and won 17.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2009

    More details for Dominion
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  11. Gizmos

    All details for the board game Gizmos and similar games

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.

    More details for Gizmos
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 40 - 50 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  12. 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
  13. Anomia

    All details for the board game Anomia and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 3.

    More details for Anomia
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  14. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle

    All details for the board game Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 1.

    More details for Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 11+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!38€ atAmazon.de
  15. Lanterns: The Harvest Festival

    All details for the board game Lanterns: The Harvest Festival and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for Lanterns: The Harvest Festival
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Lanterns: The Harvest Festival

    • YouTube Review for the game "Lanterns: The Harvest Festival" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  16. Snake Oil

    All details for the board game Snake Oil and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Snake Oil
    • 3 - 10 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  17. Ingenious

    All details for the board game Ingenious and similar games

    Nominated for 14 awards and won 7.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2004

    More details for Ingenious
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  18. 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!65€ 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
  19. TransAmerica

    All details for the board game TransAmerica and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 2.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2002

    More details for TransAmerica
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  20. Qwirkle

    All details for the board game Qwirkle and similar games

    Nominated for 12 awards and won 2.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2011

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2011

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2011

    More details for Qwirkle
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  21. Marrakech

    All details for the board game Marrakech and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 3.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2008

    More details for Marrakech
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  22. Hive

    All details for the board game Hive and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 2.

    🔥 Deal: 14% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Hive
    • 2 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    🔥 Great price!25€ atAmazon.de
  23. The Great Dalmuti

    All details for the board game The Great Dalmuti and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for The Great Dalmuti
    • 4 - 8 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!8€ atAmazon.de
  24. Forbidden Desert

    All details for the board game Forbidden Desert and similar games

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 4.

    More details for Forbidden Desert
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Forbidden Desert

    • YouTube Review for the game "Forbidden Desert" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  25. Blokus

    All details for the board game Blokus and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 4.

    More details for Blokus
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!28€ atAmazon.de
  26. YINSH

    All details for the board game YINSH and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.

    More details for YINSH
    • 2 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  27. Castles of Mad King Ludwig

    All details for the board game Castles of Mad King Ludwig and similar games

    Nominated for 14 awards and won 4.

    More details for Castles of Mad King Ludwig
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  28. Forbidden Island

    All details for the board game Forbidden Island and similar games

    Nominated for 13 awards and won 5.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2011

    More details for Forbidden Island
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Forbidden Island

    • YouTube Review for the game "Forbidden Island" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  29. Dragonwood

    All details for the board game Dragonwood and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 2.

    More details for Dragonwood
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!15€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Dragonwood

    • YouTube Review for the game "Dragonwood" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  30. World's Fair 1893

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

    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

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: