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: 2001

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Game of the Year

Carcassonne English language edition with River tiles The southern French city of Carcassonne was founded on an important trade route between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Because of its strategic location, the city was often conquered and has known many rulers. As a result of this varied... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Game of the Year

Carcassonne travel edition
List: $29.95 $23.99 (20% savings!) Now you can take Carcassonne everywhere you go. The scoring track is printed on the cloth carrying sack, which has room for all the tiles and followers. Of course, all components are a bit downsized to make it more convenient to carry along, but the...

Game of the Year

Carcassonne English language edition, no River tiles
List: $29.95 $23.99 (20% savings!) The southern French city of Carcassonne was founded on an important trade route between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Because of its strategic location, the city was often conquered and has known many rulers. As a result of this varied...

Game of the Year

Carcassonne Big Box 2006 edition This special limited edition has the basic game and river expansion as well as the four major expansions: Inns & Cathedrals, Traders & Builders, Princess & Dragon, and The Tower. Each has its own compartment in the box and the tiles for each expansion... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Finalist

Das Amulett Who hasn't wanted to be a real wizard? No training necessary--here the players are already experienced magicians. A contest to find the greatest wizard is initiated and the winner is the one who first finds all the jewels for his amulet, thereby... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Finalist

Zapp Zerapp (Currently Unavailable) 2nd edition
$46.95 The magic mountain stands alone, towering in eternal stillness over the lost plains. No noise, no voice, not even the rush of the wind can be heard there. Since time before legend, the mountain has been guarded by a banishing spell. Any normal...

Finalist

Zapp Zerapp 1st edition
$42.00 The magic mountain stands alone, towering in eternal stillness over the lost plains. No noise, no voice, not even the rush of the wind can be heard there. Since time before legend, the mountain has been guarded by a banishing spell. Any normal...

Nominee

Babel (Restocking) English language edition
List: $24.95 $19.95 (20% savings!) Players compete to build temples on the five building sites displayed on the board. The players must build the temples level by level, using cards played on their side of the board adjacent to the building sites. The cards represent the different...

Nominee

Babel original German edition A small board features 5 building sites. Players erect a temple using square cards drawn from a common pile. Temples must be erected in strict order according to numbers on the cards. Building sites are assigned to a People, and card play... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Nominee

Capitol Subtitled "Architects of the Eternal City". Rivalry in old Rome for the most spectacular buildings and dominance in the Roman prefectures. Whoever uses the 90 blocks and 40 roofs best will win. There are four rounds to a game: Each round has a... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.