All awards

Friedhelm Merz Verlag / spielbox

Deutscher Spielepreis

A players' choice award since 1990, tallied from votes by retailers and gamers – traditionally favouring more strategic titles. Annual Top-10 list.

since 1990

Winner gallery

🥇 2024
Forest Shuffle

Forest Shuffle

★ 7.5 · 👥 2–5 · 60 min · $25

🥇 2023
Planet Unknown

Planet Unknown

★ 7.4 · 👥 1–6 · 80 min · $72

🥇 2022
Ark Nova

Ark Nova

★ 8.4 · 👥 1–4 · 150 min

🥇 2021
Lost Ruins of Arnak

Lost Ruins of Arnak

★ 7.9 · 👥 1–4 · 120 min

🥇 2020
The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine

The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine

★ 7.6 · 👥 2–5 · 20 min · $15

🥇 2019
Wingspan

Wingspan

★ 7.8 · 👥 1–5 · 70 min

🥇 2018
Azul

Azul

★ 7.6 · 👥 2–4 · 45 min · $32

🥇 2017
Terraforming Mars

Terraforming Mars

★ 8.2 · 👥 1–5 · 120 min · $64

🥇 2016
Mombasa

Mombasa

★ 7.5 · 👥 2–4 · 150 min

🥇 2015
The Voyages of Marco Polo

The Voyages of Marco Polo

★ 7.5 · 👥 2–4 · 100 min

🥇 2014
Russian Railroads

Russian Railroads

★ 7.5 · 👥 2–4 · 120 min

🥇 2013
Terra Mystica

Terra Mystica

★ 7.9 · 👥 2–5 · 150 min · $100

🥇 2012
Village

Village

★ 7.3 · 👥 2–4 · 90 min · $70

🥇 2011
7 Wonders

7 Wonders

★ 7.5 · 👥 2–7 · 30 min · $60

🥇 2010
Fresco

Fresco

★ 7.0 · 👥 2–4 · 60 min · $147

🥇 2009
Dominion

Dominion

★ 7.5 · 👥 2–4 · 30 min

🥇 2008
Agricola

Agricola

★ 7.7 · 👥 1–5 · 150 min

🥇 2007
The Pillars of the Earth

The Pillars of the Earth

★ 7.0 · 👥 2–4 · 120 min · $35

🥇 2006
Caylus

Caylus

★ 7.5 · 👥 2–5 · 150 min · $110

🥇 2005
Louis XIV

Louis XIV

★ 6.6 · 👥 2–4 · 100 min

🥇 2004
Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg

★ 7.0 · 👥 2–4 · 60 min

🥇 2003
Amun-Re

Amun-Re

★ 6.9 · 👥 3–5 · 90 min

🥇 2002
Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

★ 7.8 · 👥 3–5 · 150 min

🥇 2001
Carcassonne

Carcassonne

★ 7.3 · 👥 2–5 · 45 min · $32

🥇 2000
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

★ 6.8 · 👥 2–5 · 90 min

🥇 1999
Tikal

Tikal

★ 7.1 · 👥 2–4 · 90 min

🥇 1998
Tigris & Euphrates

Tigris & Euphrates

★ 7.5 · 👥 2–4 · 120 min

🥇 1997
Löwenherz

Löwenherz

★ 6.3 · 👥 2–4 · 90 min

🥇 1996
El Grande

El Grande

★ 7.6 · 👥 2–5 · 120 min · $44

🥇 1995
Catan

Catan

★ 6.9 · 👥 3–4 · 120 min · $40

🥇 1994
6 Nimmt!

6 Nimmt!

★ 6.9 · 👥 2–10 · 45 min

🥇 1993
Modern Art

Modern Art

★ 7.3 · 👥 3–5 · 45 min · $39

🥇 1992
Der Fliegende Holländer

Der Fliegende Holländer

★ 5.6 · 👥 3–6 · 60 min

🥇 1991
Master Labyrinth

Master Labyrinth

★ 5.9 · 👥 2–4 · 30 min

🥇 1990
Hoity Toity

Hoity Toity

★ 6.2 · 👥 2–5 · 45 min

Jump to:2020s2010s2000s1990s
2025
2024
🥇 Winner
MischwaldKosch

Grow a forest of trees and animals whose synergies bloom

  1. 2.Sky Team
  2. 3.Die weiße Burg
  3. 4.Darwin’s Journey
  4. 5.Too Many Bones
  5. 6.Revive
  6. 7.Harmonies
  7. 8.Obsession
  8. 9.Helden müssen draußen bleiben
  9. 10.Nukleum
2023
2022
2021
2020
🥇 Winner
Die CrewThomas Sing

Cooperative trick-taking with no talking — fifty missions await.

  1. 2.Der Kartograph
  2. 3.Maracaibo
  3. 4.Wasserkraft
  4. 5.Cooper Island
  5. 6.Glen More II
  6. 7.Crystal Palace
  7. 8.Parks
  8. 9.Marco Polo II
  9. 10.Paladine des Westfrankenreichs
2019
2018
2017
2016
🥇 Winner
MombasaAlexander Pfister

Build trading empires across Africa through investments and influence

  1. 2.Codenames
  2. 3.T.I.M.E Stories
  3. 4.Pandemic Legacy
  4. 5.Mysterium
  5. 6.Karuba
  6. 7.Isle of Skye
  7. 8.Imhotep
  8. 9.7 Wonders: Duel
  9. 10.Nippon
2015
🥇 Winner
Auf den Spuren von Marco PoloDaniele Tascini, Simone Luciani

Travel the Silk Road using dice as your workers — uniquely clever.

  1. 2.Orléans
  2. 3.Colt Express
  3. 4.Murano
  4. 5.Arler Erde
  5. 6.Five Tribes
  6. 7.Cacao
  7. 8.Machi Koro
  8. 9.Aquasphere
  9. 10.Patchwork
2014
🥇 Winner
Russian RailroadsHelmut Ohley, Leonhard Orgler

Build Russia's railways across an ever-escalating web of scoring tracks

  1. 2.Istanbul
  2. 3.Concordia
  3. 4.Love Letter
  4. 5.Camel Up
  5. 6.Caverna
  6. 7.Lewis & Clark
  7. 8.Rokoko
  8. 9.Die Glasstraße
  9. 10.Splendor
2013
🥇 Winner
Terra MysticaHelge Ostertag, Jens Drögemüller

14 unique factions, one tense landscape — strategy at its finest.

  1. 2.Tzolk’in
  2. 3.Brügge
  3. 4.Bora Bora
  4. 5.Die Legenden von Andor
  5. 6.Hanabi
  6. 7.Yedo
  7. 8.Keyflower
  8. 9.Rialto
  9. 10.Augustus
2012
🥇 Winner
VillageInka Brand, Markus Brand

Manage a village across generations where death is a strategy

  1. 2.Trajan
  2. 3.Hawaii
  3. 4.Ora et Labora
  4. 5.Helvetia
  5. 6.Targi
  6. 7.Kingdom Builder
  7. 8.Las Vegas
  8. 9.Africana
  9. 10.Santa Cruz
2011
🥇 Winner
7 WondersAntoine Bauza

Draft civilization cards simultaneously — seven players, thirty minutes.

  1. 2.Die Burgen von Burgund
  2. 3.Troyes
  3. 4.Navegador
  4. 5.Asara
  5. 6.Mondo
  6. 7.Pantheon
  7. 8.Lancaster
  8. 9.Luna
  9. 10.Strasbourg
2010
🥇 Winner
FreskoMarco Ruskowski, Marcel Süßelbeck

Wake your apprentices early for the best paints, or let them sleep in. Restore a Renaissance fresco either way.

  1. 2.Vasco da Gama
  2. 3.Die Tore der Welt
  3. 4.Tobago
  4. 5.Hansa Teutonica
  5. 6.Magister Navis
  6. 7.Egizia
  7. 8.Macao
  8. 9.Dungeon Lords
  9. 10.Machtspiele
2009
🥇 Winner
DominionDonald Vaccarino

The original deck-builder — build your engine, outpace your rivals.

  1. 2.Le Havre
  2. 3.Pandemie
  3. 4.Finca
  4. 5.Small World
  5. 6.Valdora
  6. 7.Diamonds Club
  7. 8.Im Wandel der Zeiten
  8. 9.Sherwood Forest
  9. 10.Fauna
2008
🥇 Winner
AgricolaUwe Rosenberg

Feed your family, grow your farm — and try not to starve.

  1. 2.Stone Age
  2. 3.Cuba
  3. 4.Im Jahr des Drachen
  4. 5.Tribun
  5. 6.Hamburgum
  6. 7.Galaxy Trucker
  7. 8.Keltis
  8. 9.Wie verhext!
  9. 10.Metropolys
2007
2006
🥇 Winner
CaylusWilliam Attia

The classic that defined worker placement — still sharp after 20 years.

  1. 2.Thurn und Taxis
  2. 3.Antike
  3. 4.Blue Moon City
  4. 5.Mesopotamien
  5. 6.Elasund
  6. 7.Mauerbauer
  7. 8.Hazienda
  8. 9.Augsburg 1520
  9. 10.Um Ru(h)m & Ehre
2005
🥇 Winner
Louis XIVRüdiger Dorn

Win majorities on the courtiers you need, one carefully placed influence marker at a time.

  1. 2.Niagara
  2. 3.Manila
  3. 4.Ubongo
  4. 5.Himalaya
  5. 6.In 80 Tagen um die Welt
  6. 7.Schatten über Camelot
  7. 8.Jambo
  8. 9.Das Zepter von Zavandor
  9. 10.Verflixxt!
2004
🥇 Winner
Sankt PetersburgMichael Tummelhofer

Buy workers, build palaces, and time the Russian economy perfectly

  1. 2.San Juan
  2. 3.Goa
  3. 4.Attika
  4. 5.Einfach Genial
  5. 6.Zug um Zug
  6. 7.Raja
  7. 8.Finstere Flure
  8. 9.Hansa
  9. 10.Die Brücken von Shangrila
2003
🥇 Winner
Amun-ReReiner Knizia

Auction Egyptian provinces, farm the Nile, and build pyramids that score across two kingdoms.

  1. 2.Alhambra
  2. 3.Clans
  3. 4.Paris Paris
  4. 5.Löwenherz
  5. 6.Fische Fluppen Frikadellen
  6. 7.Mare Nostrum
  7. 8.New England
  8. 9.Coloretto
  9. 10.Edel, Stein & Reich
2002
🥇 Winner
Puerto RicoAndreas Seyfarth

Choose your role, build your colony, ship your goods — elegantly.

  1. 2.Trans America
  2. 3.Dschunke
  3. 4.Villa Paletti
  4. 5.Mexica
  5. 6.Nautilus
  6. 7.Goldland
  7. 8.Pueblo
  8. 9.Piratenbucht
  9. 10.Magellan
2001
🥇 Winner
CarcassonneKlaus-Jürgen Wrede

Build medieval France one tile at a time — place your meeple wisely.

  1. 2.Medina
  2. 3.Die Händler von Genua
  3. 4.Evo
  4. 5.Capitol
  5. 6.Cartagena
  6. 7.San Marco
  7. 8.Babel
  8. 9.Java
  9. 10.Das Amulett
2000
🥇 Winner
Tadsch MahalReiner Knizia

Bid for influence across Indian provinces. Knowing when to withdraw is the real skill.

  1. 2.Torres
  2. 3.Die Fürsten von Florenz
  3. 4.La Città
  4. 5.Vinci
  5. 6.Ohne Furcht und Adel
  6. 7.Carolus Magnus
  7. 8.Kardinal & König
  8. 9.Morgenland
  9. 10.Zoff im Zoo
1999
🥇 Winner
TikalWolfgang Kramer, Michael Kiesling

Explore Mayan ruins, excavate temples, and claim the greatest treasures

  1. 2.Ra
  2. 3.Union Pacific
  3. 4.Samurai
  4. 5.Die Händler
  5. 6.Giganten
  6. 7.Verräter
  7. 8.Mamma Mia!
  8. 9.Chinatown
  9. 10.Pfeffersäcke
1998
🥇 Winner
Euphrat & TigrisReiner Knizia

Build civilizations along ancient rivers — then watch them clash

  1. 2.Ursuppe
  2. 3.Elfenland
  3. 4.Durch die Wüste
  4. 5.Canyon
  5. 6.Basari
  6. 7.Tycoon
  7. 8.Caesar & Cleopatra
  8. 9.Die Macher
  9. 10.Freibeuter
1997
🥇 Winner
LöwenherzKlaus Teuber

Fence off a medieval kingdom while three rivals fight you for the same three actions.

  1. 2.Die Siedler von Catan – Das Kartenspiel
  2. 3.Showmanager
  3. 4.Mississippi Queen
  4. 5.Bohnanza
  5. 6.Serenissima
  6. 7.Der zerstreute Pharao
  7. 8.Expedition
  8. 9.Beim Zeus
  9. 10.Manitou
1996
🥇 Winner
El GrandeWolfgang Kramer, Richard Ulrich

Command caballeros across Spain in the king of area control

  1. 2.Entdecker
  2. 3.Carabande
  3. 4.
  4. 5.Reibach & Co
  5. 6.Marracash
  6. 7.Yucata'
  7. 8.Campanile
  8. 9.Ab die Post!
  9. 10.Top Race
1995
🥇 Winner
Die Siedler von CatanKlaus Teuber

Settle, trade, and build — the game that brought millions to the table.

  1. 2.Linie 1
  2. 3.Sternenhimmel
  3. 4.Die Maulwurf-Company
  4. 5.Medici
  5. 6.Galopp Royal
  6. 7.Buzzle
  7. 8.Hattrick
  8. 9.Set
  9. 10.High Society
1994
🥇 Winner
6 nimmt!Wolfgang Kramer

Play cards simultaneously and pray you're not the sixth — or take the penalties.

  1. 2.Capone
  2. 3.Manhattan
  3. 4.Intrige
  4. 5.Rette sich wer kann
  5. 6.Was sticht?
  6. 7.Auf Heller und Pfennig
  7. 8.Knock Out
  8. 9.Take it easy
  9. 10.Billabong
1993
🥇 Winner
Modern ArtReiner Knizia

Buy low, sell high, and manipulate the art market

  1. 2.Tutanchamun
  2. 3.Vernissage
  3. 4.Bluff
  4. 5.Acquire
  5. 6.Rheingold
  6. 7.Spiel der Türme
  7. 8.Sticheln
  8. 9.Empire
  9. 10.Pfusch
1992
🥇 Winner
Der fliegende HolländerKlaus Teuber

Hold secret shares in merchant ships and pray the ghost ship doesn't find yours.

  1. 2.Um Reifenbreite
  2. 3.Quo Vadis?
  3. 4.Tal der Könige
  4. 5.Schraumeln
  5. 6.Cosmic Encounter
  6. 7.Minos
  7. 8.Extrablatt
  8. 9.Razzia
  9. 10.Neolithibum
1991
🥇 Winner
Das Labyrinth der MeisterMax J. Kobbert

Shove the maze around to snatch twenty-one ingredients in strict numerical order.

  1. 2.Bauernschlau
  2. 3.Drunter & Drüber
  3. 4.Jagd der Vampire
  4. 5.Casablanca
  5. 6.Girl Talk
  6. 7.Chamäleon
  7. 8.Duftende Spuren
  8. 9.Flußpiraten
  9. 10.Columbus
1990
🥇 Winner
Adel verpflichtetKlaus Teuber

A satirical art-collecting showdown where guessing the number everyone else will not play decides who gets the prize.

  1. 2.à la carte
  2. 3.Ein solches Ding
  3. 4.Favoriten
  4. 5.Goldrausch
  5. 6.Holiday AG
  6. 7.Römer
  7. 8.Wind & Wetter
  8. 9.Timberland
  9. 10.Dicke Kartoffeln

How the awards work

Winner:
Chosen by the jury as the year's best game (Deutscher Spielepreis: #1 of the public vote).
Nominated:
A finalist — one of three games on the jury's official shortlist.
Recommended:
Additionally recommended by the jury — excellent, but not in the final three.
Rank 2–10:
Public ranking: retailers and avid gamers vote (Deutscher Spielepreis, À la carte).

Spiel des Jahres, Kennerspiel and Kinderspiel are awarded by an independent critics jury (Spiel des Jahres e.V.). The Deutscher Spielepreis is a public vote, À la carte is run by Fairplay magazine, Graf Ludo honours game artwork.