The best "Spiel des Jahres🇩🇪" board games 2023
We compare all games of the german board game award "Spiel des Jahres"🇩🇪. We list only the best nominated and awarded board games which you can buy in 2023.
What is "Spiel des Jahres"?
The German🇩🇪 critics' prize "Spiel des Jahres" (Game of the Year), which has been awarded since 1979, is probably the most important prize for board games. The prize is highly acclaimed worldwide, which is why it is also known as the "Oscar for board games".
Separate Awards for Families, Connoisseur's & Children
Since 2001, the Kinderspiel des Jahres (Children's Game of the Year) and since 2011 the Kennerspiel des Jahres (Connoisseur's Game of the Year) have also been awarded. Furthermore, in 1999, it was introduced to award not only a single game with the Kinderspiel/Kennerspiel/Game of the Year per prize, but to additionally honor the other board games in the selection with Nominated for Game of the Year. In addition, sometimes a special prize is awarded for special board games, such as recently for Pandemic Legacy - Season 2.
But of course, the best of the best can also be compared to each other. Here now our recommendations among all Spiel des Jahres card & board games since 1979.
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:
- all Spiel des Jahres years individually
- the best of all "Spiel des Jahres" nominations
- all "Kennerspiel des Jahres" winners
- all "Kinderspiel des Jahres" winners
List with the best Spiel des Jahres🇩🇪 winners and nominees:
Attached is our list of the best "Game of the Year" games to buy 2023:
Just One
- 3 - 7 Players
- 20 - 60 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Just One
MicroMacro: Crime City
- 1 - 4 Players
- 15 - 45 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Immediately playable
Codenames
- 2 - 8 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Immediately playable
Cascadia
- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Azul
Nominated for 29 awards and won 19.
⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2018
🔥 Deal: 26% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!
More details for Azul- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
🔥 Great price!25€ at
.deVideo reviews for Azul
Kingdomino
- 2 - 4 Players
- 15 - 25 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Kingdomino
The Quacks of Quedlinburg
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
The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
Nominated for 25 awards and won 13.
⭐️ 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
Dixit
- 3 - 8 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Wingspan
- 1 - 5 Players
- 40 - 70 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Wingspan
Pictures
- 3 - 5 Players
- 20 - 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Pictures
Ticket to Ride
- 2 - 5 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Ticket to Ride
Dorfromantik: The Board Game
Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.
⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2023
More details for Dorfromantik: The Board Game- 1 - 6 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Carcassonne
- 2 - 5 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Carcassonne
ICECOOL
- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 6+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for ICECOOL
7 Wonders
- 2 - 7 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Perudo
- 2 - 6 Players
- 15 - 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Camel Up
- 2 - 8 Players
- 20 - 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Dragomino
- 2 - 4 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 5+ years old
- Immediately playable
Dominion
- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Hanabi
- 2 - 5 Players
- 25 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Colt Express
- 2 - 6 Players
- 40 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ghost Fightin' Treasure Hunters
Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.
⭐️ Kinderspiel des Jahres 2014
More details for Ghost Fightin' Treasure Hunters- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Ghost Fightin' Treasure Hunters
Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King
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
My First Stone Age
- 2 - 4 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 5+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for My First Stone Age
Magic Mountain
- 1 - 6 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 5+ years old
- Immediately playable
👍 Good price!23€ at.dePaleo
- 1 - 4 Players
- 45 - 60 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Medium difficulty
👍 Good price!34€ at.deIstanbul
- 2 - 5 Players
- 40 - 60 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Video reviews for Istanbul
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases
Nominated for 4 awards and won 3.
⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 1985
More details for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases- 1 - 8 Players
- 60 - 120 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Medium difficulty
👍 Good price!50€ at.deVideo reviews for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases
Qwirkle
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
Dragon's Breath
- 2 - 4 Players
- 15 - 20 Minutes
- 5+ years old
- Immediately playable
Challengers!
- 1 - 8 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
The Enchanted Tower
Nominated for 7 awards and won 3.
⭐️ Kinderspiel des Jahres 2013
⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2013
More details for The Enchanted Tower- 2 - 4 Players
- 15 - 25 Minutes
- 5+ years old
- Immediately playable
👍 Good price!25€ at.deVilla Paletti
- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
👍 Good price!29€ at.deAlhambra
- 2 - 6 Players
- 45 - 60 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Living Forest
- 1 - 4 Players
- 40 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Exit: The Game – The Abandoned Cabin
Nominated for 2 awards and won 2.
⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2017
More details for Exit: The Game – The Abandoned Cabin- 1 - 6 Players
- 60 - 120 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
El Grande
- 2 - 5 Players
- 60 - 120 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Hedgehog Roll
- 1 - 4 Players
- 20 - 25 Minutes
- 4+ years old
- Immediately playable
Kingdom Builder
- 2 - 4 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Zooloretto
- 2 - 5 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Spinderella
- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 6+ years old
- Immediately playable
🔥 Great price!23€ at.deThurn and Taxis
- 2 - 4 Players
- 60 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
CATAN
- 3 - 4 Players
- 60 - 120 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Valley of the Vikings
Nominated for 6 awards and won 3.
⭐️ Kinderspiel des Jahres 2019
More details for Valley of the Vikings- 2 - 4 Players
- 15 - 20 Minutes
- 6+ years old
- Immediately playable
Broom Service
- 2 - 5 Players
- 30 - 75 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Heimlich & Co.
- 2 - 7 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Tikal
- 2 - 4 Players
- 90 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Manhattan
- 2 - 4 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Mysterium Kids: Captain Echo's Treasure
Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.
⭐️ Kinderspiel des Jahres 2023
More details for Mysterium Kids: Captain Echo's Treasure- 2 - 6 Players
- 21 Minutes
- 6+ years old
- Immediately playable
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: