Home  »  Depot  »  Awards  »  Spiel des Jahres  »  2002

Second part of the complete list of the German Game of the Year Award.   The games are listed in alphabetical order within each year, with the winner, a nomination list (from 1999) and a recommended list.   Winners and special awards are marked with the icon. From 2001 does the Childrens Award have its own list and icon. Each entry is listed with [ Title - Designer - Publisher ] [ A brief description with the number of players and recommended age group has been added from 2001 ]

2004  German Game of the Year Zug um Zug  -  Alan R. Moon   -  Days of Wonder Crisscrossing USA on rails, for 2-6 travellers aged 8+

Never before has it been so exciting!  Live, before the eyes of representatives of the press, was the German game of the Year awards - the Spiel des Jahres and the Kinderspiel des Jahres announced. Even the members of the jury didn't know the final result.   The main award "Spiel des Jahres 2004" went to the American designer Alan R. Moon, who has for a long time been a permanent member of the German game scene, for his exiting railway game, Zug um Zug (Ticket to Ride). He has already been standing on the top of the podium once before, in 1998 when he won with Elfenland. The publisher Days of Wonder has stepped into the spotlight of the game world for the first time with Zug um Zug.   The rules to Zug um Zug is easy to teach, even if the rich material gives the impression of complexity. 2-6 player are building railway lines on a map of North America. But they are not only concerned of building the longest distances, the players also receive special points for reaching certain cities. In order to build at all must the players first possess the correct Railroad Car cards in order to connect the necessary routes. Zug um Zug is a succesful mix of long- term planning, short term decisions and reactions to the other players actions. If you then bring enough luck will you experience an energetic and adventurous train ride until the very end. » Zug um Zug is able to spellbind first time gamers and regular gamers equally well.« said jury spokesman Uwe Petersen in his presentation. »Therefore is it especially suitable to provide the message of the Spiel des Jahres to a broader public.«

Nominated Family Games Dicke Luft in der Gruft  -  Norbert Proena  -  Zoch Amusing horror game with exiting memory training for 2-6 vampires aged 6+ Einfach Genial  -  Reiner Knizia  -  Kosmos Simply brilliant placement game in which the last place determines victory. 2-4 players age 10+ Raja  -  Michael Kiesling & Wolfgang Kramer  -  Phalanx Magnificent palaces in ancient India, built by 2-5 architects aged 12+ St. Petersburg  -  Michael Tummelhofer  -  Hans im Glück Czar Peter the Great is building his "Paris of the East", with 2-4 builders from age 10   2004  German Childrens Game of the Year Geistertreppe  -  Michelle Schanen   -   Drei Magier Spiele Ghostly race with surprices, for 2-4 players age 4+   Nominated Childrens Games Macius: Actung, fertig, los!  -  J. Grunau, W. Kramer, H. Raggan  -  Kosmos Tricky puzzle-fun for 1-4 players age 4+ Mare Polare  -  Roberto Fraga  -  Selecta Inuits on turbulent fishing trip, 2-4 players age 6+ Schatz der Drachen  -  Reiner Knizia  -  Winning Moves Memory game full of variants, for 2-5 intrepid treasure hunters aged 6+ Schnelle Welle  -  Hajo Bücken & Dirk Hanneforth  -  Ravensburger Adventuresome sea voyage through the nursery, for 2-5 small pirates aged 5+   2004  List of Recommended Games These games may no longer carry the logo, but a leaflet with the recommended games will be available where the games are sold. The leaflet is meant as an aid for people searching for a particular style of games, and the titles will categorizes and include additional comments.   Attika  -  Marcel-André Casasola Merkle  -  Hans im Glück Competition for surpremacy in ancient Greece among 2-4 players age 10+ Carcassonne - Die Burg  -  Reiner Knizia  -  Hans im Glück A race for points in the courtyard - Placement game for 2 players age 8+ Chicky Picky  -  Annette Birlenbach  -  Beleduc Chickens searching for earthworms. Memory and dexterity game for 2-4 players aged 4+ Coyote  -  Spartaco Albertarelli  -  Kidult Games Fun bluffing game with elements of deduction for 2-6 American Indians aged 10+ Da Vinci Code  -  Eiji Wakasugi  -  Winning Moves Exiting race to discover the secret code, for 2-4 code crackers aged 10+ Die Sieben Siegel  -  Stefan Dorra  -  Amigo Cunning trick-taking card game for 3-5 players aged 10+ Dos Rios  -  Franz-Benno Delonge  -  Kosmos Lucrative crop areas win by diverting rivers, for 2-4 campesinos aged 12+ Froschkönig  -  Bernhard Lach & Uwe Rapp  -  Zoch Pressing for a kissing experience. A tongue-in-cheek game for 2-4 froggy players aged 6+ Geisslein, versteck dich!  -  Christine & Wolfgang Lehmann  -  HABA Memory game based on Grimm's "The Wolf and the 7 Little Kids". For 2-5 players aged 4+ Igel und Floh  -  Manuela Hinter & Thomas Strolz  -  Drei Magier Spiele Learning to read with head and hands - for 1 or more children aged 5+ Im Wassergarten  -  Ferdinand Hein  -  Dr. F. Hein Spiele Quick pictorial hunt in the flowery lake. 2-6 players aged 6+ Piranja  -  Oliver Igelhaut  -  Abacusspiele All or nothing when trying to catch large and small fish. For 3-6 anglers aged 6+ Kakerlaken Poker  -  Jacques Zeimet  -  Drei Magier Spiele Tremendous bluffing game about small creatures. For 2-6 animal lovers aged 8+ Kipp, Kipp, Ahoi!  -  Gunter Baars  -  Ravensburger Dodge the tilting stacks of barrels, for 2-4 children aged 5+ Klapper Hexen  -  Anja Wrede  -  Kosmos Spellbinding guessing game for 2-4 small witches, aged 4+ Können Schweine Fliegen?  -  Sonja Hässler  -  Kosmos Quiz game about the animal world. For 2-4 players aged 5+ Mausen  -  Detlef Wendt  -  abacusspiele Devious card game for 3-6 players aged 8+ Maya  -  Bernd Eisenstein  -  abacusspiele Pyramid building in the heyday of the Maya culture. 3-5 players age 9+ Monte Rolla  -  Ulrike Gattermayer-Knapp & Manfred Knapp  -  Selecta Parcheesi (Ludo) with marbles for 2-4 children aged 4+ Mücke mit Tücke  -  Frank Stark  -  Nürnberger Spielkarten Frantic mooing and miaowing. Card game for 3-5 players aged 6+ Oase  -  Alan R. Moon & Aaron Weissblum  -  Schmidt Spiele Clever bidding and good trading secure influence in the Gobi desert. 3-5 players aged 10+ San Juan  -  Andreas Seyfarth  -  alea The citizens of Puerto Rico are doing their businesses with cards. 2-4 players aged 10+ Spatzenbande  -  Kai Haferkamp  -  Ravensburger 3-dimensional collecting and dexterity game for 2-4 children aged 4+ Tom Tube  -  Roland & Tobias Goslar  -  Kronberger Spiele Tactical placement game for 2 austronauts aged 10+ Versunkende Stadt  -  Michael Kiesling & Wolfgang Kramer  -  Clementoni The waterman in pursuit in the fabled city. For 2-4 treasure hunters aged 8+ Viele Dinge  -  Karsten Adlung & Bernhard Naegele  -  Adlung Spiele Hectic card game about concepts for 2-8 masters of words aged 8+ Viva il Re!  -  Stefano Luperto  -  daVinci games Mad kingmaking game for 3-8 players aged 8+ Wo bist du heller Mond?  -  Tanja Engel  -  Kosmos Collecting pairs before the moon comes down, for 2-4 children from age 4 Yinsh  -  Kris Burm  -  Don & Co. Tactical game full of clever tricks. For 2 players aged 10+

2003  German Game of the Year Der Palast von Alhambra  -  Dirk Henn  -  Queen Games Build the Moresque palace. For 2-6 builders age 8+

Quick and simple entry level game with transparent and logical mechanics in connection with tactical decisions. Plus a theme which allow the player to dream and escape into a foreign world. The Jury believe that ALHAMBRA has the potential to entice new people into playing the game, and to convince them of the beauty and value in gaming.

Nominated Family Games Clans  -  Leo Colovini  -  Winning Moves Foundation of settlements for 2-4 prehistoric humans, age 10+ Die Dracheninsel  -  Tom Schoeps  -  Amigo Treasure hunting for 3-5 players, age 10+   Recommended Family Games Amun-Re  -  Reiner Knizia  -  Hans im Glück Challenges during the building of the pyramids, for 3-5 players age 12+ Attribut  -  Marcel-André Cassasola Merkle  -  Lookout Games Card game of opinons and faces, for 3-8 players age 10+ Ballon Cup  -  Stephen Glenn  -  Kosmos Airy struggle between two balloonists, age 10+ Coloretto  -  Michael Schacht  -  Abacus Spiele Card game about favorite colours. For 3-5 players, age 8+ Die Werwölfe von Düsterwald  -  des Pallières & Marly  -  Asmodee Horror adventure for 8-18 players, age 10+ Edel, Stein und Reich  -  Reinhardt Staupe  -  alea Gem stone trading for 2-5 players, age 9+ Fische, Fluppen, Frikadellen  -  Friedemann Friese  -  2F-Spiele Truly surprising trading game for 2-5 players, age 10+ Paris Paris  -  Michael Schacht  -  Abacus Spiele Do business with the tourists. For 2-4 players, age 9+ Richelieu und die Königin!  -  Michael Schacht  -  Ravensburger Card game about the French power struggle. For 2 players, age 12+ Rumis  -  Stefan Kögl  -  Spielwerkstadt Murmel Building game with lots of variations. For 2-4 players, age 8+   2003  German Childrens Game of the Year Via Topo!  -  Manfred Ludwig  -  Selecta Wild chase after the biggest piece of cheese. For 2-4 players, age 4+   Nominated Childrens Games Lauras Sternenspiel  -  Kai Haferkamp & Rüdiger Husmeier  -  Amigo Help tidying up Laura's room. For 2-4 players, age 4+ Robbys Rutschpartie  -  W. Kramer, J. Grunau, H. Raggan  -  Kosmos Pushing on a an Ice floe. For 2-4 players, age 4+   Recommended Childrens Games Der Krähenschatz  -  Uli Geissler  -  Werksiedlung Kandern Crazy Memory-wrangling game for 2-4 players, age 5+ Der Plumpsack geht um  -  Reinhard Staupe  -  Amigo Card game about hidden items. For 2-5 players, age 5+ Max Mäuseschreck  -  ?  -  Ravensburger Action game about a bunch of scared mice trying to escape. For 2-4 players, age 4+ Schloss Schlotterstein  -  Kai Haferkamp & Markus Nikisch  -  HABA Magnetic powers at the spooky castle. For 1-6 players, age 5+ Sparito!  -  Gunter Baars  -  Selecta Cryptic reverse traffic Memory for 2-4 players, age 5+

2002  German Game of the Year Villa Paletti  -  Bill Payne  -  Zoch Curious building game with uncertain ending, for 2-4 players age 8+

Nominated Family Games 2002 Puerto Rico  -  Andreas Seyfahrt  -  alea Economic building simulation in the Caribbean, for 3-5 players age 12+ TransAmerika  -  Franz-Benno Delonge  -  Winning Moves Tactical rail line builing, for 2-6 players age 8+   Recommended Family Games: Alles im Eimer  -  Stefan Dorra  -  Kosmos Card game about restive farmyard animals, for 2-6 players age 8+ Atlantic Star  -  Dirk Henn  -  Queen Games Take a cruise onboard luxury liners, for 2-6 players age 10+ Blokus  -  Bernard Tavitian  -  Sekkoia Tactical placement game with geometric figures, for 2-4 players age 8+ Der Herr der Ringe - Die Gefährten Ksp.  -  Reiner Knizia  -  Ravensburger Card game about the fabulous places in Middle Earth, for 2-4 players age 9+ Dschunke  -  Michael Schacht  -  Queen Games Trade at Asia's floating markets, for 3-4 players age 10+ DVONN  -  Kris Burm  -  Don & Co Abstract tactical game for 2 players age 9+ Kupferkessel Co.  -  Günter Burkhardt  -  Goldsieber Tactical game of magical ingredients, for 2 players age 8+ Magellan  -  Tom Lehmann  -  Hans im Glück Auction game about the most famous explorers, for 3-6 players age 12+ San Gimignano  -  Duilio Carpitella  -  Piatnik Tower building in Renaissance Italy, for 2-4 players age 8+   2002  German Childrens Game of the Year Maskenball der Käfer  -  Peter-Paul Joopen   -  Selecta Cooperative memory game 2 or more players age 4+   Nominated Childrens Games 2002 Bärenstark  -  Heinz Meister  -  Goldsieber Strong activities on the meadow, for 2-4 players age 5+ Höchst Verdächtig  -  Manfred Ludwig  -  Haba Tactical detective game on tilting base, for 2-4 players age 6+   Recommended Childrens Games Cocotaki  -  Haim Shafir  -  Amigo Card placement of unique animals, for 2-10 players age 5+ Krododil unterm Bett  -  Helmut Huber  -  Jumbo Narrative memory game for 2-6 players age 3+ Lotti Karotti  -   -  Ravensburger Exiting dicethrowing race for 2-4 sweet rabbits age 5+ Schnapp zu!  -  Susanne Armbruster  -  Haba Cunning guessing game between the fish and the pelican, for 2-4 players age 4+

2001  German Game of the Year Carcasonne  -  Klaus-Jürgen Wrede  -  Hans im Glück Tactical tile placement in the Middle Ages, for 2-5 players age 10+

Nominated Family Games Das Amulet  -  Alan R. Moon & Aaron Weisblum  -  Goldsieber Using magic spells in the search for jewels, for 3-6 players age 12+ Zapp Zerapp  -  Heinz Meister & Klaus Zoch  -  Zoch Enchanting game with "hearing aids", for 2-4 players age 7+   Recommended Games: Babel  -  Hagen Dorgathen & Uwe Rosenberg  -  Kosmos Power play about building the highest towers, for 2 players age 12+ Capitol  -  Alan R. Moon & Aaron Weissblum  -  Schmidt Building boom in ancient Rome, for 2-4 players age 10+ Cartagena  -  Leo Colovini  -  Winning Moves Tactical escape game for 2-5 players age 8+ Die Händler von Genua   -  Rüdiger Dorn  -  Alea Sophisticated negotiation game for 2-5 players age 12+ Drachendelta  -  Roberto Fraga  -  Eurogames Risky movements between islands, for 2-6 players age 8+ Ebbe und Flut  -  Wolfgang Werner  -  Adlung Spiele Tidal interrelations with cards, for 1 or 2 players age 10+ Hexenrennen  -  Wolfgang Panning  -  Queen Games Dice adventures with chain reactions, for 3-5 players age 10+ Land Unter!  -  Stefan Dorra  -  Berliner Spielkarten Malicious card game, for 3-5 players age 10+ Royal Turf  -  Reiner Knizia  -  Alea Horse racing at Ascot, for 2-6 players age 10+ San Marco  -  Alan R. Moon & Aaron Weisblum  -  Ravensburger Power struggle in Venice, for 3-4 players age 10+ Literary Game:   Der Herr der Ringe  -  Reiner Knizia  -  Kosmos Hobbits on adventure, for 2-5 players age 10+ Historical Game:   Troya  -  Thomas Fackler  -  DaimlerChrysler Archeological excavations

2001  German Childrens Game of the Year Klondike  -  Stefanie Rohner & Christian Wolf   -  Haba Activity game with betting, for 2-4 players age 6+

Nominated Childrens Games: Im Märchenwald  -  Markus Nickisch Weisblum  -  Adlung Spiele A fairytale card game for 1-8 players age 5+ Rüsselbande  -  Alex Randolph  -  Drei Magier Fast race with acrobatic piglets, for 2-7 players age 4+

© Mik Svellov 1997-2004

editor@brettboard.dk

18. jul 2004