The German Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) 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. (List courtesy of Funagain Games).

Spiel des Jahres 2007:

The most talented Adepts of the mystical arts come from around the world to compete. They fill their cauldrons with exotic and rare ingredients, all creating new potions in the quest for fame and honor. In addition to demonstrating their talents by replicating their fellow competitors' potions, each has a secret agenda: to promote the use of the component their school of magic prizes most highly! The person who brings the most fame to his or her school -- and for themselves -- will win the title of Supreme Adept!

In a remote land there lies a region with undulating hills and fertile valleys. Widely-traveled settlers have laid the foundation stone for the city of Arkadia. In addition to several other buildings, they want to construct a magnificent castle on a hill. Four wealthy families -- the cloth merchants, the spice merchants, the carpenters and the silversmiths -- want to enhance prestige and augment their influence. For this reason, they compete for the major contribution to the castle's construction. Players act as architects. The four families commission them to plan and realize the build-up of the town and the castle.

Europe in the age of imperialism. International investors compete to exert the greatest influence in Europe. With their wealth and granting of credit, they control the politics of the great European powers prior to World War 1. The nations build factories, fleets and armies. They expand, wage war, and levy taxes to pay the interest to their investors. Each player becomes an international investor, and at the start, controls at least one European power. Through new credit, the control over nations can change, as can the number of nations controlled by a single investor. The changes in the European balance of power constantly lead to new playing situations, strategic alliances and conflicts. Imperial is an event-packed strategy game, independent of the luck of cards or dice.

The players take on the roles of the heads of influential families in Paris at the end of the 14th century. In the shadow of the Notre Dame cathedral, the players compete for prosperity and reputation. Each family controls one of the 3 -5 boroughs that surround the site of Notre Dame. As head of his family, each player tries, through clever use of his action cards, to advance the power and prestige of his family, but penalties are assessed those who do not take care of the health of the people who live in their borough. The player with the most prestige at the end is the winner.

The stakes are high with Skybridge! With simple rules and quick games, you will want to play this 3-D strategy game again and again! Players take turns using the wooden pieces to construct their buildings higher and higher. All you have to do is be the best builder to win Skybridge! Includes wooden gameboard, 44 wooden playing pieces, and complete game rules.

England at the beginning of the 12th century -- Prior Phillip of Kingsbridge has a glorious vision: to build the largest, most beautiful cathedral in England. To accomplish the task, Phillip recruits the most renowned builders in the country. However, the fate of the Cathedral is constantly threatened by all manner of catastrophes and oppositions. Players join together to help build Kingsbridge Cathedral. Using your workmen and resources, you must wisely deploy assets to overcome unexpected difficulties and shortages to prove yourself the greatest builder of them all! Will your efforts be recognized when the Great Cathedral at Kingsbridge is complete? The Pillars of the Earth is based on Ken Follett's best-selling novel.

Players travel back in time to the end of the 19th century, take on the role of a famous archaeologist and discover the treasures buried in the sands for thousands of years. Each player slips into the role of an archaeologist, travels across Europe, finds suitable knowledge in different archaeological areas then excavates at antique places. The players receive points (= fame and honor) from discoveries at these locations; the player with most points wins the game.

The sun is going down and dusk is slowly descending upon Baghdad's silhouette. The shadows in the alleyways are getting longer and becoming darker. The Bazaar slowly empties and the honorable citizens of this desert metropolis make their way home. This is the time when Ahmed and his men go about their business. They have planned a big mission for this night. They want to steal no less than 4 treasures from the palaces to leave no-one in any doubt -- there is only one thief of Baghdad!

Each player is the leader of a band of Vikings. His task is to scout and then settle the islands off the coast of his homeland. As the Vikings uncover the size and shape of the islands, each band seeks to control as much of these new lands as possible. The bands build yards and churches and invite goldsmiths, scouts, fishermen, and nobles to settle on their island to establish the most profitable settlements. But, warriors are also necessary! As, the islands soon attract ships bound to attack them to pillage the new settlements.

1598. Yspahan the Fair becomes the capital of the Persian Empire. Thus, being placed at the center of the world, the city enjoys a period of cultural and economic blossoming. The cities and villages of the region intend to take advantage of this expansion. Caravans loaded with goods and jewels set out for the desert, bearing the promises of a radiant future. The players embody merchants trading with Yspahan. Meaning to take advantage of the coming of the Shah's Supervisor, they score points by placing their goods in the right shops, by sending them to the Caravan, and by constructing buildings. At the end of the game, the player with the highest score is the winner.

Each player uses small, large, wild and exotic animals and their young to try and attract as many visitors as possible to their zoo. But be careful -- the zoo must be carefully planned. Before you know it, you have too many animals and no more room for them. That brings minus points! Luckily, your zoo can expand. A zoo of a family game in which less is sometimes more...

Spiel des Jahres 2006:

• Aqua Romana - Rome does not have enough drinking water and you must build aqueducts to bring the people the water they need.
• Blue Moon City - Blue Moon City lies in ruin, but the people have vowed to restore the city to its former magnificence.
• Caylus - Players embody master builders to construct the King’s castle and developing the city around it.
• Mesopotamia: Cradle of Civilization - Lead a clan to explore and colonize ancient Mesopotamia.
• Shadows Over Camelot - a unique collaborative game where you join forces with the Knights of the Round Table in an attempt to protect Camelot.
• Thurn and Taxis - Players take turns building connecting routes of postal stagecoaches across Germany.

Spiel des Jahres 2005:

• Around the World in 80 Days - Complete the journey in less than 80 days to win the bet and the accolades of your comrades.
• BoomTown - In the wild rapids of the Niagara River, fearless canoers battle the water and each other to collect gems along the riverbank.
• Jambo - You're a trader competing to sell tea, hide, fruits, salt, silk, and trinkets.
• Power Grid - An energetic economic game where the object is to supply the most cities with efficient and reliable power.
• Verflixxt! (That's Life!) - He who laughs last, laughs best in this challenging card game.

Spiel des Jahres 2004:

• Carcassonne: The Castle - An exciting tile-laying competition between two players to expand the castle.
• Dawn Under - In the false dawn before sunrise, the vampires search for a dark resting place for the day.
• Ingenious - Players place colored tiles on the hexagonal board, blocking opponents and trying to protect themselves.
• Maharaja - The maharaja has called, and you must build magnificent houses and palaces in his name.
• Saint Petersburg - A tactical game for Russian tycoons - build baroque palaces, wide boulevards, and elegant bridges.
• Ticket to Ride - Balance greed with speed to build your railroad across America.

Spiel des Jahres 2003:

• Alhambra - Build the most beautiful and splendorous palace to be crowned the winner.
• Amun-Re - Build the most pyramids and offer the appropriate sacrifices to Amun Re.
• Balloon Cup - Compete in several balloon flights to earn trophies and fame.
• Clans - Set in late prehistory, your challenge is to build the largest and strongest clan.
• Coloretto - Like a Chameleon, a player must change his color many times during this game.
• Die Dracheninsel - You're a treasure hunter on dragon island looking for the legendary dragon hoard.
• Paris Paris - Build a successful tour bus line to earn the most money from the Parisian tourists.
• The Werewolves of Millers Hollow - Who among the villagers of Millers Hollow are werewolves?

Spiel des Jahres 2002:

• Blokus - A fascinating strategy game for the whole family, very easy to learn, yet challenging to play.
• Dvonn - A challenging stacking game with very simple rules - control as many pieces as possible by building stacks.
• Pizarro & Co. - Take the roles of the Kings who bid to hire the services of the best and most daring explorers.
• Puerto Rico - Be a settler, mayor, builder, craftsman, trader, or captain in 1543 Puerto Rico.
• San Gimignano - You're the head of an aristocratic family, trying to construct as many towers as possible.
• Villa Paletti - Finish the wonderful castle in the sky that had been begun many years before.

Spiel des Jahres 2001:

• Babel - You and your opponent try to build and maintain temples in ancient Mesopotamia. How high can you go?
• Carcassonne - Develop the area around the southern French city of Caracassonne by placing land tiles.
• Cartagena - This game recreates the famous 1672 pirate-led jailbreak from the fortress of Cartagena.
• Hexen Rennen - The clans of the weather, fog, thunder and wood witches have their annual summer solstice race.

Spiel des Jahres 2000:

• Frank's Zoo - A fun family card game with humor, interaction, partnership and strategy.
• Torres - Build the tallest and largest castles to earn the throne.