Last Updated on November 15, 2022
The Spiel des Jahres is probably the most important prize for board games in the world. Every year, game designers, artists, and publishers eagerly await the results of the committee.
What is the Spiel des Jahres?
The Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) title has been awarded since 1979 and is such an important award that it is sometimes referred to as the “Oscar for board games”.
What are the Awards?
The Spiel des Jahres awards are threefold. They include the Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) winner, the Kennerspiel des Jahres (Connoisseur’s Game of the Year) award, and the Kinderspiel des Jahres (Children’s Game of the Year) award.
Kennerspiel des Jahres
Some of the Kennerspiel des Jahres winners include: 7 Wonders: Duel, The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine, Quacks of Quedlinburg, Living Forest, Terraforming Mars, Paleo, Wingspan, Fantasy Realms, Clank! A Deck-Building Adventure, Captain Sonar, 7 Wonders, Targi, Lost Ruins of Arnak, The King’s Dilemma, Concordia, Raiders of the North Sea, Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King, Aeon’s End, Res Arcana, Blood Rage, Architects of the West Kingdom, The Grizzled, Ark Nova, Istanbul, Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion, Orléans, Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game, and Dune: Imperium.
Kinderspiel des Jahres
Some of the Kinderspiel des Jahres winners include: Zombie Kidz Evolution, Rhino Hero: Super Battle, Outfoxed!, Ice Cool, Animal Upon Animal, Dragomino, The Magic Labyrinth, Ghost Fightin’ Treasure Hunters, Concept Kids: Animals, Sleeping Queens, and My First Stone Age
MORE SPIEL DES JAHRES INFO: 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018
Spiel des Jahres Winners by Year
2022 Winner: Cascadia
ABOUT CASCADIA: 1-4 Players | 30-45 minutes | 10+
Cascadia was nominated for 5 awards and won 3. Read our full CASCADIA REVIEW here!
2021 Winner: MicroMacro: Crime City
ABOUT MICROMACRO: 1-4 Players | 15-45 minutes | 12+
MicroMacro: Crime City was nominated for 13 awards and won 7.
2020 Winner: Pictures
ABOUT PICTURES: 3-5 Players | 20-30 Minutes | 8+
Pictures was nominated for 4 awards and won 2.
2019 Winner: Just One
ABOUT JUST ONE: 3-7 Players | 20 minutes | 8+
Just One was nominated for 14 awards and won 3.
2018 Winner: Azul
ABOUT AZUL: 2-4 Players | 30-45 minutes | 8+
Azul was nominated for 29 awards and won 19. Read our full AZUL REVIEW here!
2017 Winner: Kingdomino
ABOUT KINGDOMINO: 2-4 Players | 15-25 minutes | 8+
Kingdomino was nominated for 17 awards and won 7. Read our full KINGDOMINO REVIEW here.
2016 Winner: Codenames
ABOUT CODENAMES: 2-8 Players | 15 minutes | 14+
Codenames was nominated for 27 awards and won 15. Read our full CODENAMES REVIEW here.
2015 Winner: Colt Express
ABOUT COLT EXPRESS: 2-6 Players | 40 Minutes | 10+
Colt Express was nominated for 18 awards and won 8.
2014 Winner: Camel Up
ABOUT CAMEL UP: 2-8 Players | 20-30 Minutes | 8+
Camel Up was nominated for 13 awards and won 2. Read our full CAMEL UP REVIEW here.
2013 Winner: Hanabi
ABOUT HANABI: 2-5 Players | 25 Minutes | 8+
Hanabi was nominated for 7 awards and won 3. Read our full HANABI REVIEW here.
2012 Winner: Kingdom Builder
ABOUT KINGDOM BUILDER: 2-4 Players | 45 Minutes | 8+
Kingdom Builder was nominated for 12 awards and won 2.
2011 Winner: Qwirkle
ABOUT QWIRKLE: 2-4 Players | 45 Minutes | 6+
Qwirkle was nominated for 12 awards and won 2. Read our full QWIRKLE REVIEW here.
2010 Winner: Dixit
ABOUT DIXIT: 3-6 Players | 30 minutes | 8+
Dixit was nominated for 21 awards and won 10. Read our full DIXIT REVIEW here.
2009 Winner: Dominion
ABOUT DOMINION: 2-4 Players | 30 minutes | 13+
Dominion was nominated for 32 awards and won 17. Read our full DOMINION REVIEW here and check out all of the BEST DOMINION EXPANSIONS here.
2008 Winner: Keltis
ABOUT KELTIS: 2-4 Players | 30 Minutes | 10+
Keltis was nominated for 6 awards and won 1.
We hope you enjoyed our list of the Spiel des Jahres winners by year back to 2008! Have you tried any of the games on this list? Which are your favorites? Drop a comment below and let us know what you think! We’d love to hear from you.
