Spiel des Jahres

The German Spiel des Jahres is perhaps the world's most prestigious game award. Founded in 1978 by a group of German game critics to promote awareness and to increase the cultural value of games, the award recognizes outstanding games based on originality, playability, and educational value of the game idea; organization, clarity and understandability of rules; packing and layout of the gameboard and the game rules; and functionality and overall quality of the game materials included.

Each year the journalists who compose the Jury cast ballots to select the honorees and to award the main prize, the Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year). In past years, a list of Nominees was selected, then a few weeks later, the Spiel des Jahres was chosen from that list. Beginning in 2004, an initial list of Recommended games was published as well as five Nominees announced as finalists; and finally, the Game of the Year is announced a few weeks after that, in early summer.

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Spiel des Jahres: 1999

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Game of the Year

Tikal English language edition Tikal is the most important and largest of all Mayan sites. It is located in the midst of an impenetrable jungle in northern Guatemala. The Mayans lived in Tikal from 600 BC to 900 AD, but little is known of the civilization that thrived there for... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Game of the Year

Tikal English language edition
List: $44.95 $35.99 (20% savings!) Each player is the director of an expedition intent on exploring Tikal in search of the secret paths that lead to the temples and precious treasures that have remained hidden for over 1000 years. A player receives points during four scoring rounds for...

Game of the Year

Tikal original German edition Tikal is the most important and largest of all Mayan sites. It is located in the midst of an impenetrable jungle in northern Guatemala. The Mayans lived in Tikal from 600 BC to 900 AD, but little is known of the civilization that thrived there for... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Finalist

Giganten
$66.95 Players compete to earn the most money in the world of Oil Exploration. Players explore the oil fields with their trucks and decide whether to establish oil rigs on the sites they find. Each established well produces one barrel of oil per day,...

Finalist

Union Pacific original German edition One of the three Finalists for Spiel des Jahres 1999, Union Pacific is yet another masterpiece from the designer of the 1998 Spiel des Jahres winner, Elfenland. In Union Pacific, Alan Moon has reworked his 1990 Airlines game into a compelling... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Finalist

Union Pacific English language edition One of the three Finalists for Spiel des Jahres 1999, Union Pacific is yet another masterpiece from the designer of the 1998 Spiel des Jahres winner, Elfenland. In Union Pacific, Alan Moon has reworked his 1990 Airlines game into a compelling rail... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Finalist

Union Pacific new edition One of the three Finalists for Spiel des Jahres 1999, Union Pacific is yet another masterpiece from the designer of the 1998 Spiel des Jahres winner, Elfenland. In Union Pacific, Alan Moon has reworked his 1990 Airlines game into a compelling rail... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Nominee

El Caballero English language edition On to the New World! is the cry from the fans of El Grande. Leave the Spanish mainland behind and set sail to discover the New World! This time let your trusty Caballeros help you control the islands and the seas of this new land. Both land and sea... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Nominee

El Caballero On to the New World! is the cry from the fans of El Grande. Leave the Spanish mainland behind and set sail to discover the New World! This time let your trusty Caballeros help you control the islands and the seas of this new land. Both land and sea... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Nominee

El Caballero original German edition
$78.99 On to the New World! is the cry from the fans of El Grande. Leave the Spanish mainland behind and set sail to discover the New World! This time let your trusty Caballeros help you control the islands and the seas of this new land. Both land and sea...