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: 2002

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Game of the Year

Villa Paletti In the land where the Lemons bloom, there once lived a wise old sage, whose friends called him "Paletti". He only had one goal in life, to finish the wonderful castle in the sky that his grandfather had begun to build many years before, but which... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Game of the Year

Villa Paletti (Currently Restocking)
List: $29.99 $23.99 (20% savings!) The blockbuster European hit is now available from Wiggles 3D! Players compete to build a wooden tower without knocking it over. Always a crowd pleaser that anyone can play, Villa Paletti is the perfect building block for any party!

Children's Game of the Year

Maskenball der Käfer The Ladybugs' Costume Party The colorful ladybugs are dressing up for a costume party. They have decided to swap spots with each other. This may be tricky because of the "magical" magnetic spots -- some will attract and some will not. Be careful though -- don't take too long... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Finalist

Puerto Rico #7 ALBS, English language edition
List: $44.95 $35.99 (20% savings!) The most critically acclaimed board game of the last twenty years, Puerto Rico continues to wow people with its brilliant mechanics. Each player utilizes different roles (Mayor, Captain, Settler, Trader, Prospector, Craftsman, or Builder) to score...

Finalist

Puerto Rico #7 ALBS, original German edition In 1493 Christopher Columbus discovered the eastern-most island of the Great Antilles. About 50 years later, Puerto Rico began to really blossom -- through you! Which roles will you play in this new world: Prospector? Governor? Settler? Trader? Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Finalist

TransAmerica English language edition America in the 19th century: railroads are booming! Pioneer spirit and vision are everywhere. Everyone wants to be the first to build a railroad network across the country. Each player gets a set of five cities and must build a network (with the... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Finalist

TransAmerica original German edition America in the 19th century: railroads are booming! Pioneer spirit and vision are everywhere. Everyone wants to be the first to build a railroad network across the country. Each player gets a set of five cities and must build a network (with the... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Finalist

TransAmerica English language edition; includes Vexation
List: $32.95 $26.99 (18% savings!) America in the 19th century: railroads are booming! Pioneer spirit and vision are everywhere.

Nominee

The Bucket King English language edition of Alles im Eimer It's bucket-cleaning day on the farm and the children and animals are making a game of it. The children build pyramids with the clean buckets and the animals rush from pyramid to pyramid, trying to knock the buckets down. In the end, the player who... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Nominee

Alles im Eimer
$36.00 Each player builds a pyramid of buckets of five different colors before himself. The starting player challenges the next player with a card -- the next player must then raise the stakes by playing a higher value of cards of the same color --...