While the layman’s knowledge of board games might end at Scrabble and Monopoly, the world of board gaming is a wondrous one that is full of games and names you may never even have heard of. There are a gazillion different categories out there – war games, card games, co-op games and many more.
Just like every other industry, the board gaming fraternity also gives out awards to some of the most outstanding games of the year. And one of the most prestigious ones of the lot is the Spiel des Jahres, German for “Game of The Year”, which has been around since 1978. From 2011, a special category called Kennerspiel des Jahres (Connoisseur-Enthusiast) was introduced to celebrate the more complex games.
Here are some of the games that have won the coveted title over the years.
Istanbul Board Game
Istanbul is a fun 2 to 5 player game and works best at 4 players. The ultimate aim in the game is to be the first player to collect 6 of these ruby-like gems. Designed by famed designer Rudiger Dorn, the design and production of everything from the wooden bits to the rubies are fantastic. Using wood instead of plastic does certainly give the game a more premium feel. The game falls under the category of ‘resource management’. The look-and-feel of the game is that of a bazaar or marketplace and each player is in charge of ‘merchant’ and his ‘assistants’.
7 Wonders
This simple yet addictive card-drafting game has been often praised for its wonderful designing. Most board game designers will agree that the design of this game is one of the most influential designs of the last decade. In the game, players lead their own ancient civilizations and have to build these up from their barbaric roots. You can choose to go for a military victory or build a powerful nation with the help of philosophers, scientists and artisans.
Legends of Andor
This beautiful looking board is the first of its kind on this list. Unlike the other games mentioned here that get you to compete with other players for your own glory, Legends of Andor is a co-operative game. Designed by Michael Menzel, this game needs players to play with each other and defeat the game as they go along. In the game, players are a band of heroes who must protect a fantasy realm from a horde of invaders. The production value of this game is pretty decent. The components give it an almost-premium feel, especially the wooden ones. If co-op games are something you are looking to try, this game is a good fit for your shelf of board games.
Wingspan
If you are the kind of board game player who wants a game that is complex yet refuses to compromise on quality and aesthetics, then Wingspan is the game for you. This is by far one of the prettiest looking games we have ever seen. This is an engine-building game that turns players into bird enthusiasts who are looking to attract the best birds to their aviary. Two components of this game will stand out:
i) The gorgeous dice tower that ensures that all dice rolls are fair.
ii) The markers for the board that are pastel-coloured bird eggs
This is a must-have in your collection if you want to own at least one game with exquisite design.
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