The best "Spiel der Spiele๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡น" board games 2026

The "Spiel der Spiele" is an Austrian ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡น games award, which was created in 2001 by the Vienna Games Academy (registered association).

The game prize from Austria

The Vienna Games Academy awards the main prize "Spiel der Spiele" to one game each year in June. It also nominates between 1 and 4 games in each of the following categories:

  • Spiel der Spiele - Hit for Experts
  • Spiel der Spiele - Hit for families
  • Spiel der Spiele - Hit for children
  • Spiel der Spiele - Hit with friends
  • Spiel der Spiele - Hit for many (only from 2001-2007)
  • Game of games - Hit for two (only from 2001-2007)
  • Spiel der Spiele - Griffin Scroll (only from 2014-2016 - for fantasy and science fiction games)
  • Spiel der Spiele Special Award (for special achievements)

Spiel der Spiele is also a critics' award

The jury is composed of five experts appointed by the Academy. So, just like the German Spiel des Jahres Award, the Austrian Spiel der Spiele Award is awarded by a fixed jury.

Other game awards from all over the world

At the bottom of this page we have listed for you the best game awards spread across the globe: Game Awards from around the world.

List with the best winners and nominees for "Spiel der Spiele" 2026 ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡น

Attached now is the list with all winners and nominees from all categories of the "Spiel der Spiele" award:

This list was last updated on June 15, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. Codenames

    Codenames

    Codenames is a captivating and popular party game that involves clever wordplay and deduction. Two teams compete, each led by a spymaster who knows the secret identities of 25 agents, represented by cards bearing single-word codenames like "disease," "Germany," or even "carrot." The objective is for each team to be the first to correctly identify all their agents based on clues given by their spymaster, while avoiding the dangerous assassin.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“8 15 min 10+ Immediately playable
    + 2 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    17 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  2. MicroMacro: Crime City

    MicroMacro: Crime City

    MicroMacro: Crime City is a unique detective game that immerses players into a detailed and expansive cityscape to solve intriguing crimes. The game centers around a large, detailed map of a city where various crimes have occurred. Players become detectives tasked with unraveling these mysteries using the clues scattered across the city.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“4 15โ€“45 min 12+ Immediately playable
    + 1 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    16 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  3. Patchwork

    Patchwork

    Patchwork is a two-player game where you compete to create the most beautiful and high-scoring patchwork quilt on your personal 9x9 game board.

    All details & rating
    2 15โ€“30 min 8+ Easy to learn
    Video reviews 1
  4. Azul

    Azul

    Azul is a tile-laying game inspired by Portuguese azulejos: as artisans, players draft colored tiles from suppliers and place them in patterns to decorate the walls of the Royal Palace of Evora, scoring points for clever arrangements.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 30โ€“45 min 8+ Easy to learn
    Video reviews 1
  5. Dixit

    Dixit

    Dixit is a beautifully imaginative and simple card game that emphasizes creativity and interpretation. Each turn, a player becomes the storyteller, selecting a card from their hand and giving a sentence or phrase inspired by the cardโ€™s image. The other players then choose cards from their hands that they feel best match the storyteller's sentence.

    All details & rating
    3โ€“6 30 min 8+ Immediately playable
    + 1 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    28 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  6. Smart10

    Smart10

    Smart10 is a quiz game where players quickly take their turns. Each question has ten possible answers, and everyone must respond. Players earn answer markers for correct answers, but they risk losing them if they hesitate. It works well in teams, adding to the excitement of decision-making.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“8 20โ€“120 min 10+ Immediately playable
  7. The Quack of Quedlinburg

    The Quack of Quedlinburg

    Become a cunning charlatan or a quack doctor in the whimsical world of The Quacks of Quedlinburg. In this quirky board game, each player concocts their own secret brew, one ingredient at a time. But beware, for a careless addition could spoil the entire mixture!

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 45 min 10+ Easy to learn
    + 5 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    33 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  8. The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine

    The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine

    The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine is a cooperative trick-taking game that takes players on an adventurous space journey, filled with challenges and strategic gameplay.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“5 20 min 10+ Easy to learn
    + 2 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    11 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  9. Men at Work

    Men at Work

    Men At Work is a dexterity game that challenges players to become the most skilled and careful construction workers on the job site. The goal is to build a towering structure of steel girders and wooden beams, placing workers and bricks with precision to avoid any disastrous collapses. Players must balance risk-taking with cautious strategy to outmaneuver their opponents and impress Rita, the tough-as-nails boss, in hopes of being named Employee of the Month.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“5 30โ€“45 min 8+ Immediately playable
    Video reviews 1
  10. Silver & Gold

    Silver & Gold

    Silver & Gold is a board game that offers players the thrill of discovering distant islands filled with golden treasures.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 20 min 8+ Immediately playable
    + 3 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    13 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  11. Coconuts

    Coconuts

    Coconuts is a lively dexterity game inspired by the "Monkey King" character from Chinese mythology. In this engaging and playful game, players take turns launching coconuts towards cups positioned in the center of the play area. Successfully landing a coconut in a cup allows you to stack it on your board. Even more strategically, if you land a coconut in an opponent's cup, you can claim it and move it to your board. The game also features "Monkey King Magic" cards, which add a twist by allowing players to disrupt their opponents' shots in various ways. The first player to build a pyramid of six cups on their board is the winner.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 20 min 6+ Immediately playable
    Video reviews 1
  12. Incan Gold

    Incan Gold

    The board game known as Diamant or Incan Gold unfolds as an exhilarating press-your-luck experience, offering players a quick and enjoyable journey into mine shafts and jungle paths. As participants flip cards from a deck, the gems discovered are evenly distributed, creating a shared bounty. However, the decision to venture deeper comes with the risk of encountering hazards like scorpions, snakes, poison gas, explosions, and rockfalls.

    All details & rating
    3โ€“8 20โ€“40 min 8+ Immediately playable
  13. Spicy

    Spicy

    Spicy is a vibrant bluffing card game that captures the fiery competition among three big cats who, tired of their constant battling for supremacy, decide to engage in a spicy hot eating contest. This setup serves as a backdrop for a game filled with deceit, strategy, and quick thinking, designed for 2-6 players. The game's core mechanic revolves around players announcing their card plays without revealing them, allowing for a high degree of bluffing as cards are played face down.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“6 15โ€“20 min 10+ Immediately playable
    + 2 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    15 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  14. 5-Minute Dungeon

    5-Minute Dungeon

    5-Minute Dungeon is a fast-paced, cooperative, real-time card game that challenges players to escape a dungeon within a five-minute time limit. The game is characterized by its intense pace and the need for quick thinking and effective teamwork.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“5 5โ€“30 min 8+ Immediately playable
    + 1 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    21 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  15. ICECOOL

    ICECOOL

    ICECOOL is an energetic and playful flicking game set in a penguin school, where players assume the roles of rascally penguins trying to snatch fish and the vigilant Hall Monitor trying to maintain order.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 30 min 6+ Immediately playable
    + 1 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    21 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  16. Bรคrenpark

    Bรคrenpark

    Bรคrenpark is a charming and strategic board game that invites players to delve into the world of bear parks. Your task is to construct a visually appealing and efficiently designed bear park.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 30โ€“45 min 8+ Easy to learn
  17. Carcassonne

    Carcassonne

    Carcassonne is a renowned tile-placement game set in the picturesque landscape of Southern France. This game is beloved for its simplicity, depth, and the beautiful mosaic players create on the table.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“5 30โ€“45 min 7+ Easy to learn
    + 7 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    29 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
    Video reviews 1
  18. Quacks & Co.

    Quacks & Co.

    It's race day in Quedlinburg, and with the right mix of food and luck, you ride your mount to victory and win the golden cauldron. Players build their own bag of tiles throughout the game, drawing them to advance on the race track. They will collect resources, gain bonuses, and strategize until someone crosses the finish line first.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 25 min 6+ Immediately playable
  19. Loony Quest

    Loony Quest

    Loony Quest is a vibrant and imaginative drawing game set in the fantastical land of Arkadia, where players embark on an adventurous quest to win a royal tournament and claim the throne of an heirless king. The game stands out with its unique blend of drawing challenges and video game-inspired mechanics, making it a delightful experience for players of all ages.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“5 20โ€“30 min 8+ Immediately playable
    Video reviews 1
  20. Century: Spice Road

    Century: Spice Road

    Century: Spice Road is the first game in a series that delves into the rich and vibrant history of spice trading. Set against the backdrop of the legendary Silk Road, players take on the roles of caravan leaders, journeying across continents to trade spices and achieve fame and glory. This game combines elements of strategy and resource management, making it an engaging experience for players who enjoy economic and trading games.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“5 30โ€“45 min 8+ Easy to learn
    Video reviews 1
  21. NMBR 9

    NMBR 9

    NMBR 9 presents a unique puzzle game where numbers take on significance only when they rise above the ground level. The game encompasses twenty cards numbered 0-9, each appearing twice, and eighty tiles numbered 0-9, each composed of squares arranged in different configurations. Players embark on a captivating journey where they draw cards, select number tiles, and strategically build their own tile arrangement. The goal is to maximize points by constructing multi-level structures and showcasing their numerical prowess.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“4 20 min 8+ Immediately playable
    + 7 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    22 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
    Video reviews 1
  22. Pictomania

    Pictomania

    Pictomania turns the conventional drawing game on its head by combining drawing and guessing into simultaneous, frenetic action. This game, perfect for those who pride themselves on either their quick sketching or sharp guessing skills, ensures a level playing field and promises high energy from start to finish. Over five rounds, players are challenged to draw a word or phrase indicated by randomly assigned cards while also guessing what their opponents are drawing to earn points. Missteps can lead to becoming the round's "black sheep," affecting scores negatively, making each stroke and guess a calculated risk.

    All details & rating
    3โ€“6 25 min 9+ Easy to learn
    + 17 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    30 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  23. Linko

    Linko

    Linko! is a dynamic card game, also known as Abluxxen, that combines strategy and luck. The objective is to play your cards wisely to score points while using your turns to disrupt your opponents' plans.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“5 20 min 10+ Immediately playable
  24. 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*
  25. Viva Topo!

    Viva Topo!

    Players guide their mice from the starting point to various goals, with farther goals offering more cheese as points. A cat chases the mice, removing them from the game if caught. Movement is determined by a die, with the added twist that rolls of "1" also move the cat, creating a risk-reward balance as players try to outpace the feline and gather cheese.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 20โ€“30 min 4+ Immediately playable
    + 2 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    25 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  26. Concept

    Concept

    In Concept, the challenge is to convey words using a network of icons. A pair of players, seated as neighbors, collaborate to select a word or phrase that others must deduce. Working in tandem, they strategically place markers on the available icons on the game board.

    All details & rating
    4โ€“12 40 min 10+ Immediately playable
    + 10 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    35 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  27. Takenoko

    Takenoko

    Takenoko is a charming board game set in the Japanese Imperial court, revolving around the care of a giant panda gifted by the Chinese Emperor. Players, as court members, are tasked with managing a bamboo garden for the panda.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 45 min 8+ Easy to learn
    + 7 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    40 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
    Video reviews 1
  28. 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
  29. TransAmerica

    TransAmerica

    TransAmerica is a straightforward and engaging railway-themed board game where players work to connect a set of cities across the United States using rail lines. The game emphasizes strategic planning and efficient use of shared networks, offering a blend of individual strategy and interactive play.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“6 30 min 13+ Immediately playable
  30. Hey, That's My Fish!

    Hey, That's My Fish!

    Embark on a frigid escapade with Hey, That's My Fish! as players compete to secure the most fish using their waddle of penguins. Each turn unfolds a strategic journey as players guide their penguins in a straight line across hex-shaped ice tiles, each adorned with 1, 2, or 3 fish.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 20 min 8+ Immediately playable
    Video reviews 1
  31. Fabled Fruit

    Fabled Fruit

    Fabled Fruit is a unique and evolving board game set in a vibrant forest teeming with delectable fruits. Players find themselves in a race to gather and mix these fruits into the most delicious juices. As part of the innovative Fable game series, Fabled Fruit offers a dynamic gameplay experience that changes and evolves with each play, yet unlike legacy games, it can be reset and replayed from scratch without permanent alterations.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“5 20โ€“30 min 8+ Easy to learn
    Video reviews 1
  32. Jungle Speed

    Jungle Speed

    Jungle Speed is a lively and fast-paced game that tests players' observation skills and quick reflexes. It's a game filled with excitement and often leads to bursts of laughter due to its frantic and fun nature.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“10 10 min 7+ Immediately playable
  33. Marrakech

    Marrakech

    Marrakech is a strategic board game where players take on the roles of competing rug salespeople in the vibrant and bustling market of Marrakech. The aim is to outsmart your competitors through careful placement of carpets and savvy financial decisions.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 30 min 6+ Immediately playable
  34. Purzelbaum

    Purzelbaum

    Players engage in a dexterity and memory game featuring a three-dimensional wooden tree that offers squirrels numerous nuts to bury and retrieve. During the autumn phase, players take turns dropping nuts into holes in the ground to earn leaf rewards. As winter arrives, they must remember the best locations to dig for the nuts, with the player collecting the most leaves and nuts ultimately winning the game.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 15โ€“20 min 4+ Immediately playable
    17 % cheaper than at other retailers
    15 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  35. Pandemic

    Pandemic

    Pandemic is a highly acclaimed cooperative board game where players take on the roles of disease-fighting specialists. Their mission is to contain and cure four deadly diseases that have broken out across the globe. The game is set on a board depicting major world population centers and requires players to strategize and work together to manage the outbreaks and develop cures before the diseases spiral out of control.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 45 min 8+ Easy to learn
    10 โ‚ฌ below the next retailer
    30 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  36. Treasure, Ready, Go!

    Treasure, Ready, Go!

    The objective is to collect the most treasures, awarded by completing tasks. Players turn the hourglass and reveal a treasure card on each turn, completing various tasks before time runs out, such as pantomiming animals or matching cards. They can choose to flip over another card for a chance at more treasures, but if time expires, they lose all accumulated treasure cards.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 15 min 5+ Immediately playable
  37. Cacao

    Cacao

    Cacao is a tile-placement game set in the vibrant and lush world of cacao cultivation. Players take on the roles of tribe chiefs, leading their people to prosperity by strategically harvesting and trading cacao.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 45 min 8+ Easy to learn
    Video reviews 1
  38. Ingenious

    Ingenious

    Ingenious, also known as Einfach Genial, is a strategic tile-placement game that challenges players to think tactically about color scoring. It's a game that balances individual progress with the need to perform well across different areas.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“4 30โ€“45 min 8+ Easy to learn
    + 7 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    23 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  39. Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King

    Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King

    Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King is a strategic tile-laying board game set in the stunning landscape of Isle of Skye. In this game, 2 to 5 players take on the roles of chieftains from different clans, each aspiring to expand their territories and build their kingdoms to gain the most points.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“5 30โ€“50 min 8+ Easy to learn
  40. Age of War

    Age of War

    Risiko Express is a fast-paced conquest game where players face off to capture territories represented by disks. Each disk displays the countries and required symbols for conquest, categorized into battle lines. Players roll dice to conquer these lines, aiming to secure points by claiming cards, with additional bonuses for controlling entire continents. When the last card is claimed, players tally their points to determine the winner.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“6 15โ€“30 min 8+ Immediately playable
  41. Istanbul: The Dice Game

    Istanbul: The Dice Game

    Istanbul: The Dice Game is a vibrant standalone dice game set in the bustling bazaar of Istanbul, where players vie to collect rubies as a symbol of their prosperity and victory. Utilizing dice as the core mechanic, participants must strategically acquire money and goods through the roll of the dice. These resources are then cleverly traded for the coveted rubies. The game encapsulates the essence of the Istanbul bazaar's lively trade and commerce atmosphere, demanding clever strategy and a bit of luck from its players to navigate the market's opportunities and secure the precious jewels that signify triumph.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 20โ€“40 min 8+ Easy to learn
    + 3 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    24 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  42. Butterfly Garden

    Butterfly Garden

    Indigo is a captivating tile-laying game that combines strategy with a touch of competition, as players maneuver to guide precious gemstones to their goals. This game, reminiscent of classics like Metro, Tsuro, and Linie 1, challenges players to construct pathways on a shared board, where the twist lies in moving gems towards objectives for points, rather than simply building the longest route.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 30 min 8+ Immediately playable
  43. 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
    + 19 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    49 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  44. Leo

    Leo

    The lion's mane is far too long, risking his respect among the other animals. Players help the lion reach the barber before closing time, creating a path from his bed to the salon. They use cards to move the lion along the path, but must be careful as different colored tiles affect the time. If players manage to get Leo to the barber within five days, they win the game.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“5 30 min 6+ Immediately playable
    11 % cheaper than at other retailers
    16 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  45. Nacht der Magier

    Nacht der Magier

    The premise is simple: a board rests on a platform filled with wooden discs, trees, and other objects. In the center lies a ring of light covered by a cardboard disc and a flickering flame, with the cauldrons circling around it. Players aim to push their cauldron towards the ring of light by pressing pieces on the board, but the twist is that the game is played in complete darkness, making everything except the glowing elements invisible.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 10โ€“20 min 5+ Immediately playable
  46. Stone Age

    Stone Age

    Stone Age catapults players into the challenging era of our ancestors, a time when survival hinged on the relentless pursuit of progress. In roles as hunters, collectors, farmers, and toolmakers, players will experience the hardships and triumphs of this prehistoric age. Here's an overview of the game:

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 60โ€“90 min 10+ Easy to learn
    + 1 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    37 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
    Video reviews 1
  47. Tiny Towns

    Tiny Towns

    Tiny Towns is a charming and strategic board game where players take on the role of mayors building their own tiny towns in a forest. The game challenges players to manage resources wisely and plan their towns carefully to maximize prosperity.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“6 45โ€“60 min 14+ Easy to learn
  48. Flyin' Goblin

    Flyin' Goblin

    Attack! Catapult your goblin soldiers and plunder the treasures of the castle. Gold and diamonds reward the best shots, but each room is full of surprises, not all of which are pleasant. Spend your earnings each round to buy additional troops or build your totem, then return to battle. Keep your totem intact to earn more diamonds!

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 30 min 8+ Immediately playable
    + 22 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    37 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*
  49. Dream Home

    Dream Home

    Dream Home is all about unleashing your inner designer to create the perfect abode. Imagine deciding every detail of your house, from a luxurious bedroom with a canopy bed to a lavish living room with a grand piano. This family-friendly game turns you and your fellow players into architects and interior decorators, competing to build the most impressive home.

    All details & rating
    2โ€“4 30 min 7+ Easy to learn
  50. Ubongo

    Ubongo

    Ubongo is a fast-paced, puzzle-solving board game where players race against time and each other to complete individual puzzles and collect precious gems.

    All details & rating
    1โ€“4 25 min 8+ Immediately playable
    + 35 โ‚ฌ above the best price
    67 โ‚ฌ at Amazon*

Frequently asked questions

Which game ranks first on this list?

Codenames (Spiel des Jahres 2016 winner) 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 4 years. Each game carries its own age rating.

How long does a game take?

A typical game takes about 25 to 30 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.

Didn't find the game you were looking for?

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