Spiel des Jahres
The Spiel des Jahres (German for Game of the Year) is an award for board and card games, created in 1978 with the stated purpose of rewarding excellence in game design, and promoting top-quality games in the German market.[1][dead link] It is thought that the existence and popularity of the award is one of the major drivers of the quality of games coming out of Germany. A Spiel des Jahres nomination can increase the typical sales of a game from 500-3000 copies to around 10,000; and the winner can usually expect to sell 300,000 to 500,000 copies.[2][dead link]
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[edit] Award criteria
The award is given by a jury of German-speaking board game critics (from Germany, Austria, Switzerland),[1] who review games released in Germany in the preceding twelve months. The games considered for the award are family-style games; war games, role-playing games, collectible card games, and other complicated, highly-competitive, or hobbyist games are outside the scope of the award. Since 1989, there has been a separate award for children's games.
On occasion, the jury has awarded a special prize for more complex games, such as Agricola in 2008 or World Without End in 2010. Prior to 2011, this award was an exceptional award, not necessarily awarded annually. In 2011, however, this practice was formalized when the jury created a new category for more complex games entitled "Kennerspiel des Jahres". Along with the nominations, the jury also gives a list of recommended games, and occasionally gives out special prizes for games which will not be considered for the main award.
The criteria on which a game is evaluated are,[3]:
- game concept (originality, playability, game value)
- rule structure (composition, clearness, comprehensibility)
- layout (box, board, rules),
- design (functionality, workmanship)
[edit] 2011 awards
The nominations for the 2011 award were released on 23 May 2011. The three games nominated were
- Qwirkle - Susan McKinley Ross, Mindware Spiele
- Asara - Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling - Ravensburger
- Forbidden Island - Matt Leacock - Schmidt Spiele
Qwirkle was announced as the winner on June 27, 2011.
This year, an additional category "Kennerspiel des Jahres" (roughly "Connoisseur-Enthusiast Game of the Year") was also introduced for more complex games. The three nominated games for this category were
- 7 Wonders - Antoine Bauza - Repos Production
- Strasbourg - Stefan Feld - Pegasus Spiele
- Lancaster - Matthias Cramer - Queen Games
7 Wonders was announced as the winner on June 27, 2011.
[edit] 2010 awards
The nominations for the 2010 award were released on 31 May 2010. The five games nominated were:
- Dixit - Jean-Louis Roubira, Libellud
- Identik - William P. Jacobson and Amanda A. Kohout - Asmodee
- A la Carte - Karl-Heinz Schmiel - Moskito/Heidelberger
- Roll Through the Ages: The Bronze Age - Matt Leacock - Pegasus Spiele
- Fresco - Marco Ruskowski and Marcel Süßelbeck - Queen Games
Dixit was announced as the winner on June 28, 2010.
[edit] 2009 awards
The nominations for the 2009 award were released on 24 May 2009. The five games nominated were:
- FITS - Reiner Knizia, Ravensburger
- Dominion - Donald X. Vaccarino, Hans im Glück
- Finca - Ralf zur Linde, Wolfgang Sentker, Hans im Glück
- Fauna - Friedemann Friese, HUCH & Friends
- Pandemic - Matt Leacock, Pegasus Spiele
Dominion was announced as winner on 29 June 2009.
Along with the nominations, the jury also awarded two special prizes:
- Party game: GiftTRAP - Nick Kellet, GiftTRAP Enterprises
- New Game Worlds: Space Alert - Vlaada Chvatil, Czech Games Edition
[edit] 2008 awards
The nominations for the 2008 award were released on 25 May 2008. The five games nominated were:
- Stone Age - Michael Tummelhofer, Hans im Glück
- Keltis - Reiner Knizia, Kosmos
- Witch's Brew - Andreas Pelikan, alea/Ravensburger
- Blox - Wolfgang Kramer, Jürgen P.K. Grunau, Hans Raggan, Ravensburger
- Suleika - Dominique Ehrhard, Zoch Spiele
Keltis was announced as winner on 30 June 2008.
Along with the nominations, the jury also awarded a special prize:
- Complex game: Agricola - Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games
[edit] 2007 awards
The nominations for the 2007 award were released on 20 May 2007. The five games nominated were:
- The Thief of Baghdad - Thorsten Gimmler, Queen Games
- Zooloretto - Michael Schacht, Abacus Spiele
- Jenseits von Theben - Peter Prinz, Queen Games
- Arkadia - Rüdiger Dorn, Ravensburger
- Yspahan - Sébastien Pauchon, Ẏstari Games
Zooloretto was announced as winner on 25 June 2007.
[edit] 2006 awards
The nominations for the 2006 award were released on 28 May, 2006. The five games nominated were:
- Seeräuber - Stefan Dorra, Queen Games
- Aqua Romana - Martin Schlegel, Queen Games
- Just 4 Fun - Jürgen P.K. Grunau, Kosmos
- Thurn and Taxis - Karen & Andreas Seyfarth, Hans im Glück
- Blue Moon City - Reiner Knizia, Kosmos
Thurn and Taxis was announced as winner on 17 July 2006.
Along with the nominations, the jury also assigned two special prizes for games which it felt were too demanding to count as 'family style' games.[4]
- Fantasy game: Shadows over Camelot - Serge Laget and Bruno Cathala, Days of Wonder
- Complex game: Caylus - William Attia, Ẏstari Games
[edit] 2005 awards
The nominations for the 2005 award were released on 8 May, 2005. The five games nominated were:
- Niagara - Thomas Liesching, Zoch Verlag
- Verflixxt - Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling, Ravensburger
- Around the World in 80 Days - Michael Rieneck, Kosmos
- Jambo - Rüdiger Dorn, Kosmos
- Himalaya - Régis Bonnessée, Tilsit Editions
Niagara was announced to be the winner on 27 June 2005.
[edit] Previous winners
[edit] Game of the year
[edit] Connoisseurs' game of the year
| Year | Winner | Designer | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 7 Wonders | Antoine Bauza | Repos Production |
[edit] Children's game of the year
[edit] Special awards
| Year | Prize | Winner | Designer | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Game Of The Year plus | World Without End | Michael Rieneck and Stefan Stadler | Kosmos |
| 2009 | Party game | Gift Trap | Nick Kellet | GiftTRAP Enterprises |
| New game worlds | Space Alert | Vlaada Chvátil | Czech Games Edition | |
| 2008 | Complex game | Agricola | Uwe Rosenberg | Lookout Games |
| 2007 | no special prizes awarded | |||
| 2006 | Complex game | Caylus | William Attia | Ẏstari Games |
| Fantasy game | Shadows Over Camelot | Serge Laget and Bruno Cathala | Days of Wonder | |
| 2005 | no special prizes awarded | |||
| 2004 | no special prizes awarded | |||
| 2003 | no special prizes awarded | |||
| 2002 | no special prizes awarded | |||
| 2001 | Historical game | Troia | Thomas Fackler | Zeitstein Spiele |
| Literary game | Lord of the Rings | Reiner Knizia | Kosmos | |
| 2000 | no special prizes awarded | |||
| 1999 | no special prizes awarded | |||
| 1998 | no special prizes awarded | |||
| 1997 | Dexterity game | Husarengolf | Torsten Marold | Abacus |
| Beautiful game | Aztec | Niek Neuwahl | Zoch Spiele | |
| 1996 | Dexterity game | Carabande | Jean du Poel | Goldsieber |
| Beautiful game | Venice Connection | Alex Randolph | Drei Magier Spiele | |
| 1995 | Puzzle | 3D Krimi-Puzzle | no specific designer | Milton Bradley |
| Beautiful game | Tri-Ba-Lance | Michael Sohre | Theta Promotions | |
| 1994 | Beautiful game | Doctor Faust | Reinhold Wittig | Blatz Spiele |
| 1993 | Beautiful game | Kula Kula | Reinhold Wittig | Blatz Spiele |
| 1992 | no special prizes awarded | |||
| 1991 | Beautiful game | Master Labyrinth | Max Kobbert | Ravensburger |
| 1990 | Beautiful game | Life Style | no specific designer | Ravensburger |
| 1989 | Beautiful game | Henne Berta | Geni Wyss | Habermaaß |
| 1988 | Cooperative family game | Sauerbaum | Johannes Tranelis | Herder |
| Beautiful game | Inkognito | Alex Randolph and Leo Colovini | Milton Bradley | |
| 1987 | Beautiful game | Tatort Nachtexpress | Jeff Smets | Jumbo |
| 1986 | Beautiful game | Müller & Sohn | Reinhold Wittig | Kosmos |
| 1985 | Beautiful game | Die drei Magier | Johann Rüttinger | Drei Magier Spiele |
| 1984 | Beautiful game | Uisge | Roland Siegers | Hexagames |
| 1983 | Beautiful game | Wir füttern die kleinen Nilpferde | Reinhold Wittig | Edition Perlhuhn |
| 1982 | Beautiful game | Skript | Henri Sala | Jumbo |
| 1981 | Beautiful game | Ra | Marco Donadoni | International Team |
| 1980 | Solitaire | Rubik's cube | Ernő Rubik | Arxon |
| Beautiful game | Spiel | Reinhold Wittig | Edition Perlhuhn | |
| 1979 | Beautiful game | Seti | no specific designer | Bütehorn |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Dale Yu. "Interview with Tom Werneck, Spiel des Jahres jury member - Part 1 of 3". Boardgame News. http://www.boardgamenews.com/index.php/boardgamenews/comments/dale_yu_interview_with_tom_werneck_spiel_des_jahres_jury_member_part_1_of_3/. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
- ^ Scott Tepper. "SDJ By The Numbers". Boardgame News. http://www.boardgamenews.com/index.php/boardgamenews/comments/scott_tepper_sdj_by_the_numbers/. Retrieved 2007-05-30.
- ^ http://www.spiel-des-jahres.com/cms/front_content.php?idcat=123&changelang=4
- ^ "Boardgame News article". http://www.boardgamenews.com/index.php/boardgamenews/comments/spiel_des_jahres_nominees/. Retrieved 2006-05-30.
[edit] External links
- Spiel des Jahres official website
- Spiel des Jahres winners and Kinderspiel des Jahres winners at BoardGameGeek
