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: 2003

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Game of the Year

Alhambra German edition Granada -- at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, one of the most exciting and most interesting projects in Spain of the Middle Ages begins: the building of Alhambra. The game is easy to learn: only few rules and you're ready to play this... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Game of the Year

Alhambra: Limited Gold Edition
List: $59.95 $47.99 (20% savings!) The golden anniversary edition version of the 2003 Spiel des Jahres offers new game material. This includes wooden fountains and an embroidered cloth bag, adding more atmosphere to the game!

Game of the Year

Alhambra: Big Box (Temporarily Out of Stock) includes all 5 expansions
List: $79.95 $63.99 (20% savings!) In Granada, one of the most impressive building projects of the Middle Ages has begun: the construction of Alhambra. A palace, fortress, and a small city -- all-in-one -- Alhambra is made up of the world's most beautiful gardens, pavilions, chambers...

Game of the Year

Alhambra english edition
List: $42.95 $33.99 (21% savings!) In Granada, one of the most impressive building projects of the Middle Ages has begun: the construction of Alhambra. A palace, fortress, and a small city -- all-in-one -- Alhambra is made up of the world's most beautiful gardens, pavilions, chambers...

Game of the Year

Alhambra English language edition In Granada, one of the most impressive building projects of the Middle Ages has begun: the construction of Alhambra. A palace, fortress, and a small city -- all-in-one -- Alhambra is made up of the world's most beautiful gardens, pavilions,... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Children's Game of the Year

Viva Topo! A speedy chasing game for little tacticians! Pussy-cat alarm in mousy paradise. The fall of the dice decides the destiny of the hungry mice. Who is faster, the cat or the mice? Viva Topo, is an exciting dice game. Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Finalist

Clans (Restocking) English language edition
List: $27.95 $22.35 (20% savings!) The game is set in late pre-history, a time of transition -- when our distant ancestors, who had struggled and barely survived for ages in very small nomadic groups, began to feel their lives would be more secure and less arduous if they formed...

Finalist

Die Dracheninsel
$30.00 The players are treasure hunters on the dragon island looking for the legendary dragon treasure. They overcome mountains, rapid rivers, volcanos and dense forests. Together they drag the heavy chests back to their boats at the edge of the island.

Nominee

Amun-Re English language edition
List: $39.95 $31.95 (20% savings!) Everyone knows of the pyramids on the Nile - eternal monuments of a powerful and beautiful culture, that can still take our breath away. The pharaohs choose their sites, build their pyramids, and thank Amun Re and the other Gods for their bounty.

Nominee

Attribute English language edition Is limestone sour? Is a mate stale? Is a pioneer square? Think all word games are the same? Attribute is different! Attribute is a creative word game for three to eight players (the more the better). For each topic, each player has 4 different... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.