The Spiel Des Jahres is a German award program for board and card games with the purpose of rewarding excellence in game design and promoting well designed games in Germany (and ultimately the world over). The awards have been given since 1978 and many board game enthusiasts believe that they are responsible for cultivating a strong development community in Germany and increasing the overall quality of their games.
There are three awards given out each year at this point. The Spiel Des Jahres (which is literally translated to Game of the Year), the Kennerspiel Des Jahres (which roughly translates to Connoisseur Game of the Year), and the Kinderspiel Des Jahres (or Children’s Game of the year). All of them are intended to reward games targeted to different audiences. Below is a list of the nominees and winners for this years award.
Game of the Year
The game of the year is, essentially, the Best Picture award for board games. The winning game is often a game with new and interesting mechanics that are expressed in simple ways. They also tend to have great components that are well made. Any game nominated for the Spiel Des Jahres is worth, at least a look from your family.
Game: Colt Express – WINNER
Designer: Christophe Raimbault
Publisher: Ludonaute
Game: Machi Koro – NOMINEE
Designer: Masao Suganuma
Publisher: Kosmos
Game: The Game – NOMINEE
Designer: Steffen Benndorf
Publisher: Nürnberger Spielkarten Verlag
Connoisseur- Game of the Year
The Connoisseur-Game of the Year is an award given to a game that is, while well designed, a bit too complex for your average consumer. Many of these games will have lots of components, and will take a very long time to play (but not always). Don’t let that stop you though. These are still great games that beat out HUGE piles of other games to be nominated for an award.
Game: Broom Service – WINNER
Designer: Andreas Pelikan and Alexander Pfister
Publisher: Ravensburger
Game: Elysium – NOMINEE
Designer: Brett J. Gilbert and Matthew Dunstan
Publisher: Space Cowboys
Game: Orléans –NOMINEE
Designer: Reiner Stockhausen
Publisher: dlp games
Children’s Game of the Year
The Children’s Game of the Year Award is given to games that are designed specifically with children in mind. That is not to say that they will not be playable by older players, but they are a far cry from Candy Land and Sorry.
Game: Spinderella –WINNER
Designer: Roberto Fraga
Publisher: Zoch
Game:Push a Monster –NOMINEE
Designer: Wolfgang Dirscherl and Manfred Reindl
Publisher: Queen Games
Game: Schatz Rabatz – NOMINEE
Designer: Karin Hetling
Publisher: Noris-Spiele
Linda Wrobel 
Guest Writer