# Spiel des Jahres

The Spiel des Jahres (German:, 'Game of the Year') is an award for board and card games, created in 1978 with the purpose of rewarding family-friendly game design, and promoting excellent games in the German market. It is thought that the existence and popularity of the award was one of the major drivers of the quality of games coming out of Germany, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s. A Spiel des Jahres nomination can increase the typical sales of a game from 500–3,000 copies to around 10,000, and the winner can usually expect to sell as many as 500,000 copies.

## Award criteria

The award is given by a jury of German-speaking board game critics from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, 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. The jury is not subject to public scrutiny and members of the public are not offered the opportunity to influence the voting.
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 which was not necessarily awarded annually. In 2011, however, this practice was formalized when the jury created a new category for more complex games called 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:
* game concept (originality, playability, game value)
* rule structure (composition, clearness, comprehensibility)
* layout (box, board, rules),
* design (functionality, workmanship)
The jury does not release its scoring system or provide insight into how the categories are weighted.

## Awards and nominees
### 1979 awards

The games receiving recognition at the 1979 awards were:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Hare and Tortoise | David Parlett | Rio Grande Games | Won |
Special Award :
| Game | Designer(s) | Publisher | Category |
| Seti | Andreas Steiner and Hartmut Witt | Hexagames | Beautiful Game |

### 1980 awards

The games receiving recognition at the 1980 awards were:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Rummikub | Ephraim Hertzano | Pressman Toy Corp. | Won |
Special Award :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Category |
| Spiel | Reinhold Wittig | ABC Toys | Beautiful Game |
| Rubik's Cube | Erno Rubik | Ideal Toy Corp | Best Solitaire Game |

### 1981 awards

The games receiving recognition at the 1981 awards were:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Focus | Sid Sackson | Whitman | Won |
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Category |
| Ra: Strategy Among Hexagons | Marco Donadoni | International Team | Beautiful Game |

### 1982 awards

The games receiving recognition at the 1981 awards were:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Enchanted Forest | Alex Randolph and Michael Matschoss | Ravensburger | Won |
Special Award :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Category |
| Skript | Henri Sala | Jumbo | Beautiful Game |

### 1983 awards

The games receiving recognition at the 1983 awards were:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Scotland Yard | Manfred Burggraf and others | Ravensburger | Won |
Special Award :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Category |
| Wir füttern die kleinen Nilpferde | Reinhold Wittig | Fagus | Beautiful Game |

### 1984 awards

The games receiving recognition at the 1984 awards were:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Railway Rivals | David Watts | Games Workshop | Won |
Special Award :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Uisge | Roland Siegers | Hexagames | Won |

### 1985 awards

The games receiving recognition at the 1985 awards were:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective | Raymond Edwards, Suzanne Goldberg and Gary Grady | Space Cowboys | Won |
Special Award :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Category |
| Die Magier | Johann Rüttinger | Noris Spiele | Beautiful Game |

### 1998 awards

The games receiving recognition at the 1998 awards were:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result | Ref |
| Elfenland | Alan R. Moon | Amigo | Won | |
Special Award :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Category | Result | Ref |
| Zicke Zacke Hühnerkacke (Chicken Cha Cha Cha) | Klaus Zoch | Zoch Verlag | Children's Game of the Year | Won | |

### 1999 awards

The games receiving recognition at the 1999 awards were:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Tikal | Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling | Ravensburger | Won |
| Giganten | Wilko Manz | Kosmos | Nominated |
| Union Pacific [de] | Alan R. Moon | Amigo | Nominated |
Special Award :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Category | Result | Ref |
| Kayanak | Peter-Paul Joopen | HABA and Nabita World | Children's Game of the Year | Won | |

### 2000 awards

Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Torres | Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling | F.X. Schmid | Won |
| Carolus Magnus | Leo Colovini | Rio Grande Games | Nominated |
| Ohne Furcht und Adel (Citadels) | Bruno Faidutti | Hans im Glück | Nominated |
Special Award :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Category | Result |
| Arbos | Armin Müller, Martin Arnold | M+A Spiele | Children's Game of the Year | Won |

### 2001 awards

This was the first year the Children's Game of the Year award was given, an award for more simple games:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Carcassonne | Klaus-Jürgen Wrede | Hans im Glück | Won |
| Das Amulett | Alan R. Moon and Aaron Weissblum | Goldsieber Spiele | Nominated |
| Zapp Zerapp | Heinz Meister and Klaus Zoch | Zoch Verlag | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Klondike | Stefanie Rohner, Christian Wolf | HABA | Won |
| Rüsselbande (The Piggyback Brigade) | Alex Randolph | Drei Magier | Nominated |
| Im Märchenwald | Markus Nikisch | Adlung Spiele | Nominated |
Special Award :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Category | Result |
| Troia | Thomas Fackler | Zeitstein Spiele | Historical Game | Won |
| Der Herr der Ringe (Lord of the Rings) | Reiner Knizia | Kosmos | Literary Game | Won |

### 2002 awards

Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Villa Paletti | Bill Payne | Zoch Verlag | Won |
| Puerto Rico | Andreas Seyfarth | Alea | Nominated |
| TransAmerica | Franz-Benno Delonge | Winning Moves Germany | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Maskenball der Käfer | Peter-Paul Joopen | Selecta | Won |
| Höchst verdächtig (Highly Suspect) | Manfred Ludwig | HABA | Nominated |
| Bärenstark | Heinz Meister | Goldsieber Spiele | Nominated |

### 2003 awards

Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Der Palast von Alhambra (Alhambra) | Dirk Henn | Queen Games | Won |
| Clans | Leo Colovini | Venice Connection | Nominated |
| Die Dracheninsel | Tom Schoeps | Amigo | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Viva Topo! | Manfred Ludwig | Selecta | Won |
| Robbys Rutschpartie | Wolfgang Kramer, Jürgen P.K. Grunau, Hans Raggan | Kosmos | Nominated |
| Lauras Sternenspiel | Kai Haferkamp, Rüdiger Husmeier | Amigo | Nominated |

### 2004 awards

Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Zug um Zug (Ticket to Ride) | Alan R. Moon | Days of Wonder | Won |
| Dicke Luft in der Gruft (Dawn Under) | Norbert Proena | Zoch Verlag | Nominated |
| Ingenious | Reiner Knizia | Kosmos | Nominated |
| Raja: Palastbau in Indien (Maharaja: The Game of Palace Building in India) | Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling | Phalanx Games | Nominated |
| Sankt Petersburg (Saint Petersburg) | Michael Tummelhofer | Hans im Glück | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Geistertreppe (Spooky Stairs) | Michelle Schanen | Drei Magier | Won |
| Schnelle Welle (Treasure Hunt) | Dirk Hanneforth, Hajo Bücken | Ravensburger | Nominated |
| Schatz der Drachen | Reiner Knizia | Winning Moves | Nominated |
| Mare Polare | Roberto Fraga | Selecta | Nominated |
| Macius: Achtung, fertig los! | Wolfgang Kramer, Jürgen P.K. Grunau, Hans Raggan | Kosmos | Nominated |

### 2005 awards

The nominations for the 2005 award were announced on May 8, 2005, and the winner on June 27, 2005:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Niagara | Thomas Liesching | Zoch Verlag | Won |
| Verflixxt! (That's Life!) | Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling | Ravensburger | Nominated |
| In 80 Tagen um die Welt (Around the World in 80 Days) | Michael Rieneck | Kosmos | Nominated |
| Jambo | Rüdiger Dorn | Kosmos | Nominated |
| Himalaya | Régis Bonnessée | Tilsit | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Das kleine Gespenst | Kai Haferkamp | Kosmos | Won |
| Schildkrötenrennen (Ribbit) | Reiner Knizia | Winning Moves | Nominated |
| Schildi Schildkröte | Ronald Hofstätter | HABA | Nominated |
| Mago Magino | Reiner Knizia | Selecta | Nominated |
| Daddy Cool | Heinz Meister | Huch! | Nominated |

### 2006 awards

The nominations for the 2006 award were announced on May 28, 2006, and the winner on July 17, 2006:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Thurn and Taxis | Karen & Andreas Seyfarth | Hans im Glück | Won |
| Seeräuber (Buccaneer) | Stefan Dorra | Queen Games | Nominated |
| Aqua Romana | Martin Schlegel | Queen Games | Nominated |
| Just 4 Fun | Jürgen P.K. Grunau | Kosmos | Nominated |
| Blue Moon City | Reiner Knizia | Kosmos | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Der schwarze Pirat | Guido Hoffmann | HABA | Won |
| Piratissimo | Manfred Ludwig | Selecta | Nominated |
| Nacht der Magier | Kirsten Becker, Jens-Peter Schliemann | Drei Magier | Nominated |
| Los Mampfos | Maja Dorn, Rüdiger Dorn | Zoch Verlag | Nominated |
| Giro Galoppo | Jürgen P.K. Grunau | Selecta | Nominated |
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:
Special Prizes :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Category | Result |
| Schatten über Camelot (Shadows over Camelot) | Serge Laget and Bruno Cathala | Days of Wonder | Fantasy Game | Won |
| Caylus | William Attia | Ẏstari Games | Complex Game | Won |

### 2007 awards

The nominations for the 2007 award were announced on May 20, 2007, and the winner on June 25, 2007:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Zooloretto | Michael Schacht | Abacus Spiele | Won |
| Der Dieb von Bagdad (The Thief of Baghdad) | Thorsten Gimmler | Queen Games | Nominated |
| Jenseits von Theben (Thebes) | Peter Prinz | Queen Games | Nominated |
| Die Baumeister von Arkadia (Arkadia) | Rüdiger Dorn | Ravensburger | Nominated |
| Yspahan | Sébastien Pauchon | Ẏstari Games | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Beppo der Bock | Peter Schackert, Klaus Zoch | Oberschwäbische Magnetspiele | Won |
| Rettet den Märchenschatz! (Save the Treasure of Fairy Tales) | Kai Haferkamp | Selecta | Nominated |
| Hüpf hüpf, Hurra! (Hop Hop Hooray!) | Heinz Meister | Ravensburger | Nominated |
| Gesagt – getan! | Roberto Fraga | HABA | Nominated |
| Burg-Ritter (Castle Knights) | Christian Tiggemann | HABA | Nominated |

### 2008 awards

The nominations for the 2008 award were announced on May 25, 2008, and the winner on June 30, 2008:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Keltis | Reiner Knizia | Kosmos | Won |
| Stone Age | Michael Tummelhofer | Hans im Glück | Nominated |
| Wie verhext! (Witch's Brew) | Andreas Pelikan | Alea/Ravensburger | Nominated |
| Blox | Wolfgang Kramer, Jürgen P.K. Grunau, Hans Raggan | Ravensburger | Nominated |
| Suleika | Dominique Ehrhard | Zoch Verlag | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Wer war's? (Whoowasit?) | Reiner Knizia | Ravensburger | Won |
| Geisterjäger (Ghost Hunters) | Andreas, Ueli und Lukas Frei | HABA | Nominated |
| Fluss der Drachen | Inka and Markus Brand | Kosmos | Nominated |
| Didi Dotter | Ariel Laden | Zoch Verlag | Nominated |
| Capt'n Sharky: Abenteuer auf der Schatzinsel | Kai Haferkamp | Die Spiegelburg | Nominated |
Special Prize :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Category | Result |
| Agricola | Uwe Rosenberg | Lookout Games | Complex Game | Won |

### 2009 awards

The nominations for the 2009 award were announced on May 24, 2009 and the winner on June 29, 2009:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Dominion | Donald X. Vaccarino | Rio Grande Games | Won |
| FITS | Reiner Knizia | Ravensburger | Nominated |
| Finca | Ralf zur Linde, Wolfgang Sentker | Hans im Glück | Nominated |
| Fauna | Friedemann Friese | HUCH & Friends | Nominated |
| Pandemie (Pandemic) | Matt Leacock | Pegasus Spiele | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Das magische Labyrinth (The Magic Labyrinth) | Dirk Baumann | Drei Magier | Won |
| Curli Kuller | Marco Teubner | Selecta | Nominated |
| Zoowaboo | Carlo A. Rossi | Selecta | Nominated |
| Nicht zu fassen (Hide the Kids!) | Fréderic Moyersoen | Zoch Verlag | Nominated |
| Land in Sicht (Tonga Island) | Stefan Dorra | Ravensburger | Nominated |
Special Prizes :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Category | Result |
| Gift Trap | Nick Kellet | Heidelberger Spieleverlag | Party Game | Won |
| Space Alert | Vlaada Chvátil | Heidelberger Spieleverlag | New Game Worlds | Won |

### 2010 awards

The nominations for the 2010 award were announced on May 31, 2010, and the winner on June 28, 2010:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Dixit | Jean-Louis Roubira | Libellud | Won |
| Identik | William P. Jacobson and Amanda A. Kohout | Asmodee | Nominated |
| A la Carte | Karl-Heinz Schmiel | Moskito/Heidelberger | Nominated |
| Im Wandel der Zeiten: Das Würfelspiel – Bronzezeit (Roll Through the Ages: The Bronze Age) | Matt Leacock | Pegasus Spiele | Nominated |
| Fresko (Fresco) | Marco Ruskowski and Marcel Süßelbeck | Queen Games | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Diego Drachenzahn | Manfred Ludwig | HABA | Won |
| Panic Tower! | Andrew Lawson, Jack Lawson | Goliath | Nominated |
| Vampire der Nacht (Vampires of the Night) | Kirsten Becker, Jens-Peter Schliemann | Drei Magier | Nominated |
| Turi-Tour | Alessandro Zucchini | Selecta | Nominated |
| Kraken-Alarm | Oliver Igelhaut | Kosmos | Nominated |
Special Prizes :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Category | Result |
| Die Tore der Welt (World Without End) | Michael Rieneck, Stefan Stadler | Kosmos | Game of the Year Plus | Won |

### 2011 awards

The nominations for the 2011 awards were announced on May 23, 2011, and the winners on June 27, 2011. This was the first year the Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year award was given, an award for more complex games:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Qwirkle | Susan McKinley Ross | Mindware Spiele | Won |
| Asara | Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling | Ravensburger | Nominated |
| Die verbotene Insel (Forbidden Island) | Matt Leacock | Schmidt Games | Nominated |
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| 7 Wonders | Antoine Bauza | Repos Production | Won |
| Strasbourg | Stefan Feld | Pegasus Spiele | Nominated |
| Lancaster | Matthias Cramer | Queen Games | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Da ist der Wurm drin | Carmen Kleinert | Zoch Verlag | Won |
| Die kleinen Zauberlehrlinge (Magician's Kitchen) | Thomas Daum, Violetta Leitner | Drei Magier | Nominated |
| Monster-Falle (Monster Trap) | Inka and Markus Brand | Kosmos | Nominated |

### 2012 awards

The nominations for the 2012 awards were announced on May 21, 2012, and the winners on July 9, 2012:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Kingdom Builder | Donald X. Vaccarino | Queen Games | Won |
| Las Vegas | Rüdiger Dorn | Alea/Ravensburger | Nominated |
| Eselsbrücke | Stefan Dorra and Ralf zur Linde | Schmidt Spiele | Nominated |
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Village | Inka Brand and Markus Brand | Pegasus Spiele | Won |
| K2 | Adam Kałuża | rebel.pl | Nominated |
| Targi | Andreas Steiger | Kosmos | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Schnappt Hubi! | Steffen Bogen | Ravensburger | Won |
| Spinnengift und Krötenschleim | Klaus Teuber | Kosmos | Nominated |
| Die kleinen Drachenritter | Marco Teubner | HUCH! & friends | Nominated |

### 2013 awards

The nominations for the 2013 awards were announced on May 21, 2013, and the Spiel and Kennerspiel winners were announced on July 8, 2013. The Kinderspiel (Children's) Game of the Year was announced on June 12, 2013:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Hanabi | Antoine Bauza | Asmodée Éditions | Won |
| Augustus | Paolo Mori | Hurrican | Nominated |
| Qwixx | Steffan Benndorf | GameFactory | Nominated |
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Die Legenden von Andor (Legends of Andor) | Michael Menzel | Kosmos | Won |
| Brügge (Bruges) | Stefan Feld | Hans im Glück | Nominated |
| Die Paläste von Carrara (The Palaces of Carrara) | Michael Kiesling and Wolfgang Kramer | Hans im Glück | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Der verzauberte Turm (The Enchanted Tower) | Inka and Markus Brand | Schmidt Games | Won |
| Gold am Orinoko | Bernhard Weber | HABA | Nominated |
| Mucca Pazza | Iris Rossbach | Zoch Verlag | Nominated |

### 2014 awards

The nominations for the 2014 awards were announced on May 19, 2014. The Children's Game of the Year was announced on June 23, and the Game of the Year and Connoisseur's Game of the Year were announced on July 14:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Camel Up | Steffen Bogen | Pegasus Spiele | Won |
| Concept | Gaëtan Beaujannot and Alain Rivollet | Repos Production | Nominated |
| Splendor | Marc André | Space Cowboys | Nominated |
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Istanbul | Rüdiger Dorn | Pegasus Spiele | Won |
| Rokoko (Rococo) | Matthias Cramer, Louis Malt and Stefan Malz | Eggertspiele | Nominated |
| Concordia | Mac Gerdts | PD-Verlag | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Geister, Geister, Schatzsuchmeister! (Ghost Fightin' Treasure Hunters) | Brian Yu | Mattel Games | Won |
| Flizz & Miez | Klemens Franz, Hanno Girke, Dale Yu | Stadlbauer | Nominated |
| Richard Ritterschlag (Brandon the Brave) | Johannes Zirm | HABA | Nominated |

### 2015 awards

The nominations for the 2015 awards were announced on May 18, 2015. The Kinderspiel des Jahres winner were announced on Monday, June 8, 2015, and the Spiel and Kennerspiel winners were announced on Monday, July 6, 2015:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Colt Express | Christophe Raimbault | Ludonaute | Won |
| Machi Koro | Masao Suganuma | Kosmos | Nominated |
| The Game | Steffen Benndorf | Nürnberger Spielkarten Verlag | Nominated |
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Broom Service | Andreas Pelikan and Alexander Pfister | Ravensburger | Won |
| Elysium | Brett J. Gilbert and Matthew Dunstan | Space Cowboys | Nominated |
| Orléans | Reiner Stockhausen | dlp games | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Spinderella | Roberto Fraga | Zoch Verlag | Won |
| Push a Monster | Wolfgang Dirscherl, Manfred Reindl | Queen Games | Nominated |
| Schatz-Rabatz | Karin Hetling | Noris-Spiele | Nominated |

### 2016 awards

The nominations for the 2016 awards were announced on May 23, 2016, and the winners on Monday July 18, 2016:
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Codenames | Vladimír Chvátil | Czech Games Edition | Won |
| Imhotep | Phil Walker-Harding | Kosmos | Nominated |
| Karuba | Rüdiger Dorn | HABA | Nominated |
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Isle of Skye: Vom Häuptling zum König (Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King) | Andreas Pelikan and Alexander Pfister | Lookout Games | Won |
| Pandemic Legacy - Season 1 | Matt Leacock and Rob Daviau | Z-Man Games | Nominated |
| T.I.M.E Stories | Manuel Rozoy | Space Cowboys | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Stone Age Junior (My First Stone Age) | Marco Teubner | Hans im Glück | Won |
| Mmm! | Reiner Knizia | Pegasus Spiele | Nominated |
| Leo muss zum Friseur (Leo Goes to the Barber) | Leo Colovini | Abacus Spiele | Nominated |

### 2017 awards

The nominations for the 2017 award were announced on May 22, 2017. The winner for Children's Game of the Year was announced on June 19, 2017. The winners for Game of the Year and Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year were announced on July 17, 2017.
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Kingdomino | Bruno Cathala | Pegasus Spiele | Won |
| Magic Maze | Kasper Lapp | Pegasus Spiele | Nominated |
| Wettlauf nach El Dorado (The Quest for El Dorado) | Reiner Knizia | Ravensburger | Nominated |
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| EXIT: Das Spiel (Exit: The Game) | Inka Brand and Markus Brand | Kosmos | Won |
| Räuber der Nordsee (Raiders of the North Sea) | Shem Phillips | Schwerkraft (Oberhausen) | Nominated |
| Terraforming Mars | Jakob Fryxelius | Schwerkraft (Oberhausen) | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| ICECOOL | Brian Gomez | Amigo | Won |
| Captain Silver | Wolfgang Dirscherl and Manfred Reindl | Queen Games | Nominated |
| Der Mysteriöse Wald (The Mysterious Forest) | Carlo A. Rossi | Iello (Heillecourt) | Nominated |

### 2018 awards

The nominations and the special prize for the 2018 award were announced on May 14, 2018. The winner for Children's Game of the Year was announced on June 11, 2018. The winners for Game of the Year and Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year were announced on July 23, 2018.
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Azul | Michael Kiesling | Next Move/Plan B Games | Won |
| Luxor | Rüdiger Dorn | Queen Games | Nominated |
| The Mind | Wolfgang Warsch | Nürnberger-Spielkarten-Verlag | Nominated |
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Die Quacksalber von Quedlinburg (The Quacks of Quedlinburg) | Wolfgang Warsch | Schmidt Games | Won |
| Ganz Schön Clever | Wolfgang Warsch | Schmidt Games | Nominated |
| Heaven & Ale | Michael Kiesling and Andreas Schmidt | Eggertspiele | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Funkelschatz (Dragon's Breath) | Lena und Günter Burkhardt | HABA | Won |
| Emojito! | Urtis Šulinskas | Huch! & friends | Nominated |
| Panic Mansion | Asger Harding Granerud and Daniel Skjold Pedersen | Blue Orange | Nominated |
Special Prize :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Category | Result |
| Pandemic Legacy: Season 2 | Matt Leacock and Rob Daviau | Z-Man Games | Special Prize | Won |

### 2019 awards

The nominations for the 2019 award were announced on May 20, 2019. The winner for Children's Game of the Year was announced on June 24, 2019
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Just One | Ludovic Roudy and Bruno Sautter | Repos Production | Won |
| L.A.M.A. (L.L.A.M.A.) | Reiner Knizia | Amigo | Nominated |
| Werwörter (Werewords) | Ted Alspach | Ravensburger | Nominated |
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Flügelschlag (Wingspan) | Elizabeth Hargrave | Stonemaier Games | Won |
| Carpe Diem | Stefan Feld | Alea/Ravensburger | Nominated |
| Detective: Ein Krimi-Brettspiel (Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game) | Ignacy Trzewiczek, Przemysław Rymer and Jakub Łapot | Portal Games and Pegasus Spiele | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Tal der Wikinger (Valley of the Vikings) | Marie and Wilfried Fort | HABA | Won |
| Fabulantica | Marco Teubner | Pegasus Spiele | Nominated |
| Go Gecko Go! | Jürgen Adams | Zoch Verlag | Nominated |

### 2020 awards

The nominations for the 2020 award were announced on May 18, 2020. The award for Children's Game of the Year was announced on June 15, 2020. The winners were announced on July 20, 2020.
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Pictures | Daniela and Christian Stöhr | PD-Verlag | Won |
| My City | Reiner Knizia | Kosmos | Nominated |
| Nova Luna | Uwe Rosenberg and Corné van Moorsel | Edition Spielwiese and Pegasus Spiele | Nominated |
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Die Crew: Reist gemeinsam zum 9. Planeten (The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine) | Thomas Sing | Kosmos | Won |
| Der Kartograph (Cartographers) | Jordy Adan | Pegasus Spiele | Nominated |
| The King's Dilemma | Lorenzo Silva, Hjalmar Hach and Carlo Burelli | Horrible Guild and HeidelBÄR Games | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Speedy Roll (Hedgehog Roll) | Urtis Šulinskas | Piatnik | Won |
| Foto Fish | Michael Kallauch | Logis | Nominated |
| Wir sind die Roboter (Robots) | Reinhard Staupe | NSV | Nominated |

### 2021 awards

The nominations for the 2021 award were announced on May 18, 2021. The award for Children's Game of the Year was announced on June 14, 2021. The winners were announced on July 19, 2021.
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| MicroMacro: Crime City | Johannes Sich | Edition Spielwiese and Pegasus Spiele | Won |
| Die Abenteuer des Robin Hood (The Adventures of Robin Hood) | Michael Menzel | Kosmos | Nominated |
| Zombie Teenz Evolution | Annick Lobet | Scorpion Masqué | Nominated |
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Paleo | Peter Rustemeyer | Hans im Glück | Won |
| Die verlorenen Ruinen von Arnak (Lost Ruins of Arnak) | Michaela Štachová and Michal Štach | CGE | Nominated |
| Fantastische Reiche (Fantasy Realms) | Bruce Glassco | Strohmann Games and WizKids | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Dragomino | Bruno Cathala, Marie Fort and Wilfried Fort | Pegasus Spiele and Blue Orange | Won |
| Fabelwelten (Storytailors) | Wilfried Fort and Marie Fort | Lifestyle Boardgames | Nominated |
| Mia London | Antoine Bauza and Corentin Lebrat | Scorpion Masqué | Nominated |

### 2022 awards

The nominations for the 2022 award were announced on May 23, 2022. The award for Children's Game of the Year was announced on June 20, 2022. The winners were announced on July 17, 2022.
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Cascadia | Randy Flynn | Flatout Games, AEG, and Kosmos | Won |
| Scout | Kei Kajino | Oink Games | Nominated |
| Top Ten | Aurélien Picolet | Cocktail Games | Nominated |
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Living Forest | Aske Christiansen | Pegasus Spiele and Ludonaute | Won |
| Cryptid | Hal Duncan and Ruth Veevers | Osprey Games/Skellig Games | Nominated |
| Dune: Imperium | Paul Dennen | Dire Wolf | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Zauberberg (Magic Mountain) | Jens-Peter Schliemann and Bernhard Weber | Amigo | Won |
| Auch schon clever (Ganz Schön Clever Kids) | Wolfgang Warsch | Schmidt | Nominated |
| Mit Quacks & Co. nach Quedlinburg (Quacks & Co. Quedlinburg Dash) | Wolfgang Warsch | Schmidt | Nominated |

### 2023 awards

The nominations for the 2023 award were announced on May 22, 2023. The winners were announced on July 21, 2023.
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Dorfromantik: Das Brettspiel (Dorfromantik: The Board Game) | Michael Palm and Lukas Zach | Pegasus Spiele | Won |
| Fun Facts | Kaspar Lapp | Repos Productions | Nominated |
| Next Station London | Matthew Dunstan | HCM Kinzel | Nominated |
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Challengers! | Johannes Krenner and Markus Slawitscheck | 1 More Time Games and Z-Man Games | Won |
| Iki | Koota Yamada | Giant Roc / Sorry We Are French | Nominated |
| Planet Unknown | Ryan Lambert and Adam Rehberg | Strohmann Games / Adam’s Apple Games | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Mysterium Kids | Antonin Boccara and Yves Hirschfeld | Libellud / Space Cow | Won |
| Carla Caramel | Sara Zarian | Loki | Nominated |
| Gigamon (Gigamons) | Johann Roussel and Karim Aouidad | Mirakulus / Studio H | Nominated |
Special Prize :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Category | Result |
| Unlock! Game Adventures | Cyril Demaegd, Mathieu Casnin, Thomas Cauët and Jeremy Koch | Space Cowboys | Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year Special Prize | Won |
| Unlock! Kids: Detektivgeschichten (Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories) | Cyril Demaegd, Wilfried Fort, Marie Fort | Space Cow | Children's Game of the Year Special Prize | Won |

### 2024 awards

The nominations for the 2024 award were announced on June 11, 2024. The winners were announced on July 21, 2024.
Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Sky Team | Luc Rémond | Kosmos / Scorpion Masqué | Won |
| Auf den Wegen von Darwin (In the Footsteps of Darwin) | Grégory Grard and Matthieu Verdier | Sorry We Are French | Nominated |
| Captain Flip | Paolo Mori and Remo Conzadori | Playpunk | Nominated |
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| e-Mission (Daybreak) | Matt Leacock and Matteo Menapace | Schmidt / CMYK | Won |
| Die Gilde der fahrenden Händler (The Guild of Merchant Explorers) | Matthew Dunstan and Brett J. Gilbert | Skellig Games / AEG | Nominated |
| Zug um Zug Legacy: Legenden des Westens (Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West) | Rob Daviau, Matt Leacock and Alan R. Moon | Days of Wonder | Nominated |
Children's Game of the Year :
| Game | Designer | Publisher | Result |
| Die magischen Schlüssel (Magic Keys) | Markus Slawitschek and Arno Steinwender | Game Factory / Happy Baobab | Won |
| Große kleine Edelsteine | Wolfgang Warsch | Schmidt | Nominated |
| Taco Katze Pizza Junior (Taco Kitten Pizza) | Dave Campbell and Thierry Denoual | Blue Orange | Nominated |

## All winners
### Game of the year

| Year | Game | Designer | Publisher |
| 1979 | Hare and Tortoise | David Parlett | Ravensburger |
| 1980 | Rummikub | Ephraim Hertzano | Intelli |
| 1981 | Focus | Sid Sackson | Parker |
| 1982 | Enchanted Forest | Alex Randolph and Michel Matschoss | Ravensburger |
| 1983 | Scotland Yard | Werner Schlegel, Dorothy Garrels, Fritz Ifland, Manfred Burggraf, Werner Scheerer and Wolf Hoermann | Ravensburger |
| 1984 | Railway Rivals | David Watts | Schmidt Games |
| 1985 | Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective | Raymond Edwards, Suzanne Goldberg and Gary Grady | Kosmos |
| 1986 | Top Secret Spies | Wolfgang Kramer | Ravensburger |
| 1987 | Auf Achse | Wolfgang Kramer | F.X. Schmid |
| 1988 | Barbarossa | Klaus Teuber | Altenburger und Stralsunder |
| 1989 | Café International | Rudi Hoffmann | Mattel |
| 1990 | Adel Verpflichtet | Klaus Teuber | F.X. Schmid |
| 1991 | Drunter und Drüber | Klaus Teuber | Hans im Glück |
| 1992 | Um Reifenbreite | Rob Bontenbal | Jumbo |
| 1993 | Call my Bluff | Richard Borg | F.X. Schmid |
| 1994 | Manhattan | Andreas Seyfarth | Hans im Glück |
| 1995 | The Settlers of Catan | Klaus Teuber | Kosmos |
| 1996 | El Grande | Wolfgang Kramer and Richard Ulrich | Hans im Glück |
| 1997 | Mississippi Queen | Werner Hodel | Goldsieber |
| 1998 | Elfenland | Alan R. Moon | Amigo Spiele |
| 1999 | Tikal | Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling | Ravensburger |
| 2000 | Torres | Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling | Ravensburger |
| 2001 | Carcassonne | Klaus-Jürgen Wrede | Hans im Glück |
| 2002 | Villa Paletti | Bill Payne | Zoch Verlag |
| 2003 | Alhambra | Dirk Henn | Queen Games |
| 2004 | Ticket to Ride | Alan R. Moon | Days of Wonder |
| 2005 | Niagara | Thomas Liesching | Zoch Verlag |
| 2006 | Thurn and Taxis | Andreas Seyfarth and Karen Seyfarth | Hans im Glück |
| 2007 | Zooloretto | Michael Schacht | Abacus Spiele |
| 2008 | Keltis | Reiner Knizia | Kosmos |
| 2009 | Dominion | Donald X. Vaccarino | Rio Grande Games |
| 2010 | Dixit | Jean-Louis Roubira | Libellud |
| 2011 | Qwirkle | Susan McKinley Ross | Mindware Spiele |
| 2012 | Kingdom Builder | Donald X. Vaccarino | Queen Games |
| 2013 | Hanabi | Antoine Bauza | Abacusspiele |
| 2014 | Camel Up | Steffen Bogen | Eggertspiele |
| 2015 | Colt Express | Christophe Raimbault | Ludonaute |
| 2016 | Codenames | Vlaada Chvátil | Czech Games Edition |
| 2017 | Kingdomino | Bruno Cathala | Pegasus games [de] |
| 2018 | Azul | Michael Kiesling | Next Move/Plan B Games |
| 2019 | Just One | Ludovic Roudy and Bruno Sautter | Repos Production |
| 2020 | Pictures | Daniela and Christian Stöhr | PD-Verlag |
| 2021 | MicroMacro: Crime City | Johannes Sich | Edition Spielwiese and Pegasus games [de] |
| 2022 | Cascadia | Randy Flynn | Flatout Games, AEG, and Kosmos |
| 2023 | Dorfromantik | Michael Palm and Lukas Zach | Pegasus games [de] |
| 2024 | Sky Team | Luc Rémond | Kosmos / Scorpion Masqué |

### Connoisseurs' game of the year

| Year | Game | Designer | Publisher |
| 2011 | 7 Wonders | Antoine Bauza | Repos Production |
| 2012 | Village | Inka Brand and Markus Brand | eggertspiele and Pegasus games [de] |
| 2013 | Legends of Andor | Michael Menzel | Fantasy Flight Games |
| 2014 | Istanbul | Rüdiger Dorn | Pegasus games [de] |
| 2015 | Broom Service | Andreas Pelikan and Alexander Pfister | Ravensburger |
| 2016 | Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King | Andreas Pelikan and Alexander Pfister | Mayfair |
| 2017 | Exit - The Game | Inka Brand and Markus Brand | Kosmos |
| 2018 | The Quacks of Quedlinburg | Wolfgang Warsch | Schmidt Games |
| 2019 | Wingspan | Elizabeth Hargrave | Stonemaier Games |
| 2020 | The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine | Thomas Sing | Kosmos |
| 2021 | Paleo | Peter Rustemeyer | Hans im Glück |
| 2022 | Living Forest | Aske Christiansen | Pegasus games [de] and Ludonaute |
| 2023 | Challengers! | Johannes Krenner and Markus Slawitscheck | 1 More Time Games and Z-Man Games |
| 2024 | Daybreak | Matt Leacock and Matteo Menapace | Schmidt |

### Children's game of the year

| Year | Game | Designer | Publisher |
| 1989 | Gute Freunde | Alex Randolph | Selecta |
| 1990 | My Haunted Castle (German title: Das Geisterschloss) | Virginia Charves | F.X. Schmid |
| 1991 | Corsaro – Irrfahrt im Piratenmeer | Wolfgang Kramer | Herder |
| 1992 | Galloping Pigs (German title: Schweinsgalopp) | Heinz Meister | Ravensburger |
| 1993 | Ringel Rangel | Geni Wyss | Habermaaß |
| 1994 | Loopin' Louie | Carol Wiseley | Milton Bradley |
| 1995 | Karambolage | Heinz Meister | Habermaaß |
| 1996 | Noah's Park (German title: Vier zu Mir) | Heike Baum | Altenburger und Stralsunder |
| 1997 | Leinen Los! | Alex Randolph | Habermaaß |
| 1998 | Chicken Cha Cha Cha | Klaus Zoch | Zoch Verlag |
| 1999 | Kayanak | Peter-Paul Joopen | Habermaaß |
| 2000 | Arbos (game) [de] | Armin Müller and Martin Arnold | M+A Spiel |
| 2001 | Klondike | Christian Wolf and Stefanie Rohner | Habermaaß |
| 2002 | The Ladybug's Costume Party (German title: Maskenball der Käfer) | Peter-Paul Joopen | Selecta |
| 2003 | Viva Topo! | Manfred Ludwig | Selecta |
| 2004 | Spooky Stairs (German title: Geistertreppe) | Michelle Schanen | Drei Magier Spiele |
| 2005 | Das Kleine Gespenst | Kai Haferkamp | Kosmos |
| 2006 | Der Schwarze Pirat | Guido Hoffmann | Habermaaß |
| 2007 | Beppo der Bock | Peter Schackert | Huch & Friends |
| 2008 | Wer war's? | Reiner Knizia | Ravensburger |
| 2009 | The Magic Labyrinth | Dirk Baumann | Drei Magier Spiele |
| 2010 | Diego Drachenzahn | Manfred Ludwig | HABA |
| 2011 | Da ist der Wurm drin | Carmen Kleinert | Zoch Verlag |
| 2012 | Schnappt Hubi! | Steffen Bogen | Ravensburger |
| 2013 | Der verzauberte Turm | Inka and Markus Brand | Schmidt/Marke Drei Magier Spiele |
| 2014 | Geister, Geister, Schatzsuchmeister! (English title: Ghost Fightin' Treasure Hunters) | Brian Yu | Mattel Games |
| 2015 | Spinderella | Roberto Fraga | Zoch Verlag |
| 2016 | My First Stone Age | Marco Teubner | ZMAN Games |
| 2017 | Ice Cool | Brian Gomez | Amigo |
| 2018 | Funkelschatz (English title: Dragon's Breath) | Lena und Günter Burkhardt | HABA |
| 2019 | Tal der Wikinger (English title: Valley of the Vikings) | Marie and Wilfried Fort | HABA |
| 2020 | Speedy Roll (Alternate title: Hedgehog Roll) | Urtis Šulinskas | Piatnik |
| 2021 | Dragomino | Bruno Cathala, Marie Fort and Wilfried Fort | Pegasus games [de] and Blue Orange |
| 2022 | Zauberberg (English title: Magic Mountain) | Jens-Peter Schliemann and Bernhard Weber | Amigo |
| 2023 | Mysterium Kids | Antonin Boccara and Yves Hirschfeld | Libellud / Space Cow |
| 2024 | Die magischen Schlüssel (English title: Magic Keys) | Markus Slawitschek and Arno Steinwender | Game Factory / Happy Baobab |

### Special awards

| Year | Prize | Game | Designer | Publisher |
| 1979 | Beautiful game | Seti | No specific designer | Bütehorn |
| 1980 | Beautiful game | Spiel | Reinhold Wittig | Edition Perlhuhn |
| 1980 | Solitaire | Rubik's Cube | Ernő Rubik |
| 1981 | Beautiful game | Ra | Marco Donadoni | International Team |
| 1982 | Beautiful game | Skript | Henri Sala | Jumbo |
| 1983 | Beautiful game | Wir füttern die kleinen Nilpferde | Reinhold Wittig | Edition Perlhuhn |
| 1984 | Beautiful game | Uisge | Roland Siegers | Hexagames |
| 1985 | Beautiful game | Die Magier | Johann Rüttinger | Noris Spiele |
| 1986 | Beautiful game | Müller & Sohn | Rei'nhold Wittig | Kosmos |
| 1987 | Beautiful game | Orient Express | Jeff Smets | Jumbo |
| 1988 | Beautiful game | Inkognito | Alex Randolph and Leo Colovini | Milton Bradley |
| 1988 | Cooperative family game | Sauerbaum | Johannes Tranelis |
| 1989 | Beautiful game | Henne Berta | Geni Wyss | Habermaaß |
| 1990 | Beautiful game | Life Style | No specific designer | Ravensburger |
| 1991 | Beautiful game | Master Labyrinth | Max Kobbert | Ravensburger |
| 1992 | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded |
| 1993 | Beautiful game | Kula Kula | Reinhold Wittig | Blatz Spiele |
| 1994 | Beautiful game | Doctor Faust | Reinhold Wittig | Blatz Spiele |
| 1995 | Beautiful game | Tri-Ba-Lance | Michael Sohre | Theta Promotions |
| 1995 | Puzzle | 3D Krimi-Puzzle | No specific designer |
| 1996 | Beautiful game | Venice Connection | Alex Randolph | Drei Magier Spiele |
| 1996 | Dexterity game | Carabande | Jean du Poel |
| 1997 | Beautiful game | Aztec | Nicolas Neuwahl | Zoch Verlag |
| 1997 | Dexterity game | Husarengolf | Torsten Marold |
| 1998–2000 | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded |
| 2001 | Literary game | Lord of the Rings | Reiner Knizia | Kosmos |
| 2001 | Historical game | Troia | Thomas Fackler |
| 2002–03 | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded |
| 2004 | Recommended | Attika | Marcel-André Casasola Merkle | Rio Grande |
| 2005 | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded |
| 2006 | Fantasy game | Shadows Over Camelot | Serge Laget and Bruno Cathala | Days of Wonder |
| 2006 | Complex game | Caylus | William Attia |
| 2007 | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded |
| 2008 | Complex game | Agricola | Uwe Rosenberg | Lookout Games |
| 2009 | New game worlds | Space Alert | Vlaada Chvátil | Czech Games Edition |
| 2009 | Party game | Gift Trap | Nick Kellet | |
| 2010 | Game of the Year plus | World Without End | Michael Rieneck and Stefan Stadler | Kosmos |
| 2011–17 | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded |
| 2018 | Special prize | Pandemic Legacy: Season 2 | Matt Leacock and Rob Daviau | Z-Man Games |
| 2019–22 | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded | No special prizes awarded |
| 2023 | Special prize | Unlock! Game Adventures and Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories | Cyril Demaegd, Mathieu Casnin, Thomas Cauët and Jeremy Koch | Space Cowboys |