2011 Spiel des Jahres Nominations

Every year, a group of German geeks gather together and nominate games to receive the very prestigious and highly coveted Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) awards. This is the equivalent of the Grammies, People’s Choice Awards, and the Oscars all rolled up into one for the board game industry. Sadly, no red carpet or models.

The Spiel des Jahres is important for three reasons. First, it promotes the board, dice, and card game industry by calling world wide attention to games and their concepts, rule structures, and designs. How many of you were surprised when you realized that there were games other than Monopoly, for example. Second, games that are only available in other countries have a tendency to be picked up by other game companies once they are nominated and most certainly when they win the Spiel des Jahres. This is great for us because it means that games are translated into other languages and made available for your family gaming table. Third, a little competition is a very healthy thing. By expecting games to perform well and define what makes a great game a “game of the year”, game designers and publishers now have a model to follow and surpass. Games just keep getting better and better with improved components, game play, and innovation.

That being said, here are the 2011 nominees. Each game is linked to Board Game Geek where you can read more about them.

Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year)

Kennerspiel des Jahres (Advanced Game of the Year)

Kinderspiel des Jahres (Children’s Game of the Year)

All of these games look great. I’ve only had a chance to play one of them, personally, but hope to get a game of 7 Wonders in as soon as possible. I’m am also excited to see if the three Children’s games get picked up by a United States game publisher. We could always use more innovative childrens games. Anything to get them away from the television and video games is A-OK in my book.

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About Cyrus

Editor in Chief, Owner/Operator, Board Game Fanatic, Father of Three, and Nice Guy, Cyrus has always enjoyed board, card, miniature, role playing, and video games, but didn't get back into the hobby seriously until early 2000. Once he did, however, he was hooked. He now plays board games with anyone and everyone he can, but enjoys playing with his children the most. Video games continue to be of real interest, but not as much as dice and little miniatures. As he carefully navigates the ins and outs of parenting, he does his very best to bestow what wisdom he has and help nurture his children's young minds. It is his hope and ambition to raise three strong, honorable men who will one day go on to do great things and buy their Mom and Dad a lobster dinner. Cyrus goes by the handle fathergeek on Board Game Geek. You can also check him out on CyrusKirby.com. Yes, he has a URL that is his name. His ego knows no bounds, apparently....

7 Responses to 2011 Spiel des Jahres Nominations

  1. Nate says:

    Oh, it has models

  2. Pete says:

    How long is it until we know which ones will be brought over state side?

    • Cyrus says:

      Many of the games already on the list are available to you if you live in the United States. You can purchase 7 Wonders, Forbidden Island, Qwirkle, and Asara from Funagain Games, for example. You will have to wait for the others, sadly. No telling when the announcements will be made.

  3. Meng says:

    The guys from The Spiel podcast have promised to play all 9 nominees and review them over the next few episodes. It would be great if the Father Geek staff could review the Kinderspiel nominees. Any ideas where to buy them? Besides amazon.de?

    • Cyrus says:

      Yes, it would! I will be sending the Spiel a personal note asking them how they got their hands on the copies. I do not expect review copies to be sent, but knowing where to purchase them would certainly be welcome information!

  4. Pingback: Father Geek » Kinderspiel Update

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