May 17, 2021 – The Spiel des Jahres 2021 nominees have been announced. The organization that runs the most prestigious board game award in the world made the announcement this morning via Twitter. In addition to the main award, the Kinderspiel des Jahres 2021 nominees (best game for kids) and the Kennerspiel des Jahres 2021 nominees (best strategy game).
Spiel des Jahres 2021 Nominees
- The Adventures of Robin Hood
- MicroMacro: Crime City
- Zombie Teenz Evolution
Recommendations: (1) Biss 20, (2) Chakra, (3) Point salad, (4) Switch & Signal, (5) The Key: Sabotage at Lucky Lama Land
Kinderspiel des Jahres 2021 Nominees
- Dragomino
- Storytailors
- Mia London
Recommendations: (1) Hipp Hopp Hippo, (2) Inspector Nose, (3) Käpt’n Kuller, (4) Memo Friends, (5) Swip Sheep, (6) Tapikékoi?, (7) Dream Catcher
Kennerspiel des Jahres 2021 Nominees
- Lost Ruins of Arnak
- Fantasy Realms
- Paleo
Recommendations: (1) Aeon’s End, (2) Riftforce, (3) Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion, (4) Barrage
Check out the whole announcement via the Spiel Website.
The children’s game of the year 2021 will be awarded on June 14, 2021. The Game of the Year 2021 and Strategy Game of the Year 2021 will be awarded on July 19, 2021.
The Spiel des Jahres is the most prestigious board game award in the world and dates back to 1979. You can check out the full list of winners and nominees from over the years here. The awards are usually tied to Spiel, one of the biggest gaming trade shows of the year, but given the weird pandemic world we are living in, things are a bit different. You can see on the list of 2021 board game conventions, that dates are all screwed up. At least we will still get the award.
Check out further details on all the nominees:
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Players take on the role of Robin Hood and his companions in an open world. The board evolves over time with the movement of the characters is handled via an innovative mechanism that uses different wooden pieces. Various actions and secrets will be revealed along the way. The game board “remembers” what players have already explored or found, and thanks to the special materials, the entire game can be set up and dismantled quickly.
FOR MORE: Buy The Adventures of Robin Hood on Amazon
MicroMacro: Crime City
Players are detectives. Crimes have taken place all over the city, and you want to figure out exactly what’s happened, so you’ll need to look closely at the giant city map (75 x 110 cm) to find all the hidden information and trace the trails of those who had it in for their foes. With different cases included, each one includes a number of cards that ask you to find something on the map or uncover where someone has gone or otherwise reveal information relevant to a case.
FOR MORE: Buy MicMacro Crime City on Amazon
Zombie Teenz Evolution
This is the sequel to Zombie Kidz Evolution, a standalone game with a different set of rules. By accomplishing special Missions, players unlock additional content that will provide a richer experience, while constantly renewing the enjoyment of the game. The icing on the cake: the two games are compatible, you will be able to play Zombie Kidz with your Zombie Teenz, and vice versa.
FOR MORE: Buy Zombie Teenz Evolution on Amazon
Dragomino
The Kingdomino family is expanding with Dragomino, a version for children who are going to go in search of dragon eggs. The big moment has arrived. You have been named “dragon trainer”, and you have the chance to meet them on a mysterious island. But you are not the only trainer sent to these lands. You need to discover the most eggs to win. Players draft from a limited supply of tiles and add their selections into their personal board to build high scoring set.
FOR MORE: Buy Dragomino on Amazon
Storytailors
Use your wit and imagination to tailor the stories to your taste and fit them out with the most suitable characters. The characters who can take on any role – a brave knight or a sad musician, a mischievous witch or a clumsy ninja… A well-loved story will be forever entertaining if the characters constantly changed and yesterday’s evil guard could become today’s dandy steersman. Because it’s up to you to decide who will play every role in your story.
FOR MORE: Buy Storytailors on Amazon
Mia London
You must help detective Mia London unmask which one of the 625 notorious scoundrels has committed a mischievous crime through use of memory mechanics. Watch the clues as they are revealed to you because each accessory appears on two cards — except for the one belonging to the scoundrel. Note the missing accessory in your booklet and reconstruct the villain’s portrait…
FOR MORE: Buy Mia London on Amazon
Lost Ruins of Arnak
On an uninhabited island in uncharted seas, explorers have found traces of a great civilization. Now you will lead an expedition to explore the island, find lost artifacts, and face fearsome guardians, all in a quest to learn the island’s secrets. In addition to traditional deck-builder effects, cards can also be used to place workers, and new worker actions become available as players explore the island. Some of these actions require resources instead of workers, so building a solid resource base will be essential. You are limited to only one action per turn, so make your choice carefully.
FOR MORE: Buy Lost Ruins of Arnak on Amazon
Fantasy Realms
As ruler, it’s up to you to build the mightiest realm in the world! Will you choose to follow military tactics and sweep away all in your path with a massive army? Will you turn towards sorcery and control an inaccessible island surrounded by impenetrable flames? The choice is yours, and no two realms will ever be the same in this combo heavy card game. Make the best hand you can by making the best combos. The game ends when ten cards are in the discard area. Aim for the highest score to win.
FOR MORE: Buy Fantasy Realms on Amazon
Paleo
This is a co-operative adventure game set in the stone age, a game in which players try to keep the human beings in their care alive while completing missions. Each player starts the game with a couple of humans, who each have a skill and life points. On a turn, each player chooses to go to one location and while you have some idea of what you might find there, you won’t know for sure until you arrive, at which point you might acquire food or resources, or find what you need to craft a useful object, or discover that you can aide someone else in their project, or suffer a snakebite that brings you close to death.
FOR MORE: Buy Paleo on Amazon
