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: 2005

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Game of the Year

Niagara (Restocking)
List: $49.95 $39.95 (20% savings!) In the wild rapids of the Niagara River, fearless canoers battle the water and each other to collect gems along the riverbank. Of course, the most valuable gems are found furthest down-river, close to the waterfall. Yes, there is a waterfall, and...

Children's Game of the Year

Das kleine Gespenst The little ghost is on his way in the witching hour! The little ghost would like to visit as many of his friends as possible before the witching hour has ended. Who will open the right door with the magic keys? The witching hour clock indicates which... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Nominee

Around the World in 80 Days (Temporarily Out of Stock)
List: $37.95 $29.99 (21% savings!) Follow the path of those who took this legendary Jules Verne trip around the world. Do it less than 80 days and faster than your opponents and win the game. Win or lose, all will enjoy this game as you travel by train, boat, elephant, and balloon.

Nominee

Himalaya German edition The players move through the Himalayas on earthen trails, icy tracks and stone paths. As tribal chiefs they travel from village to village, and collect raw materials or fulfill orders. With them they can secure game-critical influence -- in political... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Nominee

Himalaya (Currently Restocking) multi-lingual edition
$65.99 The players move through the Himalayas on earthen trails, icy tracks and stone paths. As tribal chiefs they travel from village to village, and collect raw materials or fulfill orders. With them they can secure game-critical influence -- in political...

Nominee

Jambo English language edition
List: $24.95 $19.99 (20% savings!) Jambo! is the friendly greeting Swahili traders offered their customers in Central Africa before colonization. The players are traders in this day, competing to be the first to earn 60 gold by selling tea, hide, fruits, salt, silk, and trinkets...

Nominee

That's Life! (Currently Restocking) multilingual edition of Verflixxt!
$39.99 You just got onto the path to victory, and now you have to take this blasted card. But remain calm, because the game's not over yet. The last card decides the winner here. Only then is the final scoring done. As the saying goes...

Nominee

Verflixxt! original German edition of That's Life! You just got onto the path to victory, and now you have to take this blasted card. But remain calm, because the game's not over yet. The last card decides the winner here. Only then is the final scoring done. As the saying goes: He who laughs last, laughs Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Nominee

That's Life! English language edition of Verflixxt! You just got onto the path to victory, and now you have to take this blasted card. But remain calm, because the game's not over yet. The last card decides the winner here. Only then is the final scoring done. As the saying goes... Funagain Games does not stock this edition of this title, usually because it's out of print.

Recommended

BoomTown
List: $25.00 $19.95 (20% savings!) There's gold in them hills! With that cry prospectors race westward and Boomtowns are establishedthe gold rush is on. In Boomtown, you must compete with your fellow prospectors in a mad scramble to find your fortune in gold, but watch out for...