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: 2006

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Game of the Year

Thurn and Taxis (Restocking) English language edition
List: $34.95 $27.99 (20% savings!) Winning the Spiel des Jahres in 2006, Thurn and Taxis takes the theme of the German post office and transforms it into a fascinating game. Players take turns building connecting routes of postal stagecoaches across Germany. Decisions must be made ...

Special Prize for Complex Play

Caylus (Temporarily Out of Stock) second edition
List: $54.95 $43.95 (20% savings!) The year is 1289. To strengthen the borders of the Kingdom of France, King Philip the Fair decided to have a new castle built. For the time being, Caylus is but a humble village, but soon, workers and craftsmen will be flocking by the cartload...

Special Prize for Fantastic Play

Shadows Over Camelot
List: $60.00 $47.99 (20% savings!) Shadows over Camelot is a unique collaborative game featuring a malevolent twist! As the incarnation of the Knights of the Round Table, you join forces against the game itself in an attempt to protect Camelot. Your victory hinges on the successful...

Nominee

Buccaneer (Restocking) multi-lingual edition of Seeräuber
List: $29.95 $23.95 (20% savings!) It's total chaos at the port. Many of the pirates are casting jealous glances at the riches in the large trading ships... and hatching plans to get the lucrative booty.

Nominee

Blue Moon City
List: $39.95 $31.95 (20% savings!) The Dark Age is over. The royal heirs, who caused the conflict and the destruction of Blue Moon City, have fled, and their corrupt advisors have been banished to faraway lands. The bitter division between the peoples of Blue Moon is beginning to heal.

Nominee

Aqua Romana multi-lingual edition
List: $59.95 $10.00 (83% savings!) It is Rome and they do not have enough drinking water. Master builders oversee their workers as they build the necessary aqueducts to bring the people the water they need. The winner will be they player who best manages his workers to build the longest...

Nominee

Just 4 Fun (Currently Unavailable)
$39.95 On a game board with 36 numbered spaces, place your pieces in such a way that you have the majority on four space in a row. To do this you play up to four cards, add the values and occupy the appropriately numbered space. You always have to decide...

Recommended

Mesopotamia: Cradle of Civilization Several thousand years ago, clans of people began settling in Mesopotamia. Now you can lead one of these clans, exploring unknown areas, building huts to live in, and creating cult centers to collect the valuable and desired Mana. At the same time, all... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Recommended

Roma (Restocking) English language edition of Revolte in Rom
List: $29.95 $23.95 (20% savings!) Rome is in a state of emergency, the Senate and the Guard are embroiled in fierce arguments, the people are divided. Many roads lead to Rome, whether you decide to use powerful cards such as the Tower and the Praetorian Guard to protect the power and...

Recommended

Tombouctou international edition of Timbuktu
List: $59.95 $47.95 (20% savings!) All caravans want to go to Timbuktu to convert salt, coffee, gold, pepper, and especially water to riches and fame! Of course, the way through the desert is perilous and only the best will make it safely. Of course, those too timid will fail as well.