German Game of the Year

1979

Game of the Year

• Hase und Igel (Hare and Tortoise), Otto Maier, David Parlett

Special Prize for Most Beautiful Game

• Seti, Bütehorn, ??

Other Nominated Games

• Twixt, Schmidt, Alex Randolph
• Alaska, Otto Maier, Eric W. Solomon
• Acquire, Schmidt, Sid Sackson
• Senso (Simon), Milton Bradley, ??
• Blockade, Bütehorn, ??
• Merlin, Parker, ??
• Shogun, Otto Maier, ??
• Chess Challenger Voice, Consumenta, ??
• Touché (Magische Vier), Parker, traditional

1980

Game of the Year

• Rummikub, Intelli/Arxon, E. Hertzano

Special Prize for Most Beautiful Game

• Das Spiel, Edition Perlhuhn, Reinhold Wittig

Special Prize for a Solitare Game

• Rubiks Cube, Arxon, ??

Other Nominated Games

• Focus, Parker, Sid Sackson
• Epaminondas, Bütehorn, Robert Abbott
• Formel 1 (aka Daytona 500, Brickyard), ASS, Wolfgang Kramer
• Heiße Spur, Parker, ??
• Galaxis, Otto Maier, ??
• Dampfroß, Bütehorn, David Watts

1981

Game of the Year

• Focus, Parker, Sid Sackson

Special Prize for Most Beautiful Game

• Ra, Intelli, ??

Other Nominated Games

• Havannah, Otto Maier, ??
• Räuber und Gendarm, Bütehorn, Rudi Hoffman
• Can't Stop, Parker, Sid Sackson
• Wendo, Intelli, ??
• Quibbix, Intelli, ??
• Ombagi, Edition Perlhuhn, Reinhold Wittig
• Sagaland, Otto Maier, Michael Matschoss and Alex Randolph

1982

Game of the Year

• Sagaland (Enchanted Forest), Ravensburger, Michael Matschoss and Alex Randolph

Special Prize for Most Beautiful Game

• Skript, Jumbo, ??

Other Nominated Games

• Baubylon, Edition Perlhuhn, Reinhold Wittig
• Can't Stop, Parker, Sid Sackson
• Fang mich!, Spear, ??
• Geister, Bütehorn, Alex Randolph
• Havannah, Otto Maier, ??
• Kensington, Arxon, ??
• Millionenspiel, Otto Maier, Ruediger Koltze
• Vokabo, Noris, ??

1983

Game of the Year

• Scotland Yard, Ravensburger, Project Team (Schlegel, Garrels, Ifland, Burggraf, Scheerer, Höffman)

Special Prize for Most Beautiful Game

• Wir Füttern die Kleinen Nilpferde, Edition Perlhuhn, Reinhold Wittig

Other Nominated Games

• Bärenspiel, Herder, Hajo Bücken
• Der schwarze Prinz, Noris, Johann Ruettinger
• Fuzzy, Heinzm und Schlendrian, Spear, ??
• Riombo, Edition Perlhuhn, Reinhold Wittig

1984

Game of the Year

• Dampfross, Schmidt, David Watts

Special Prize for Most Beautiful Game

• Uisge, Hexagames, Roland Siegers

Other Nominated Games

• Claim, Jumbo, Alex Randolph
• Domingo, Otto Maier, ??
• Feuerwehr, Herder, Norbert Lechleitner
• Metropolis, Otto Maier, Sid Sackson (review)
• Netzwerk, Edition Perlhuhn, Knut-Michael Wolf

1985

Game of the Year

• Sherlock Holmes Criminal-Cabinet (aka Consulting Detective), Franckh-Kosmos, ??

Special Prize for Most Beautiful Game

• Die drei Magier, Noris, Johann Rüttinger

Other Nominated Games

• Abilene, Hexagames, Roland Siegers
• Campus, Amigo, ??
• Cash & Carry, Hanje-Spieleatelier, ??
• Heimlich & Co., Edition Perlhuhn, Wolfgang Kramer
• Jago, Spear/Apex, ??
• Kuhhandel, Otto Maier, Rüdiger Koltze
• Mr. Zero, Dacapo, ??
• Pin, KD, ??

1986

Game of the Year

• Heimlich & Co.(Under Cover), Ravensburger, Wolfgang Kramer

Special Prize for Most Beautiful Game

• Müller & Sohn, Franckh-Kosmos, Reinhold Wittig

Other Nominated Games

• Code 777, Jumbo, Robert Abbott
• Das ver-rückte Labyrinth (The Magic Labyrinth), Otto Maier, Max Kobbert
• Greyhounds, Hans-im-Glück, Bernd Brunnhofer
• Malawi, Piatnik, Gerhard Kodys
• Top, KD, ??
• Top Secret, Jumbo, Alex Randolph
• Winkeladvokat, Schmidt, Roland Siegers

1987

Game of the Year

• Auf Achse, F.X. Schmid, Wolfgang Kramer (review)

Special Prize for Most Beautiful Game

• Tatort: Nachtexpress, Jumbo, ??

Other Nominated Games

• Der fliegende Teppich (The Flying Carpet), Otto Maier, ??
• Die 1. Million, Hexagames, Sid Sackson
• Kreml, Fata Morgana, Urs Hostettler
• Maritim, Edition Perlhuhn, Reinhold Wittig
• Restaurant, Flying Turtle, Roland Siegers
• Sauerbaum, Tranelis, Johannes Tranelis
• Shark, Flying Turtle, Jean Vanaise

1988

Game of the Year

• Barbarossa und die Rätselmeister, ASS, Klaus Teuber

Special Prize for Most Beautiful Game

• Inkognito, Milton Bradley, Alex Randolph

Special Prize for Cooperative, Family Game

• Sauerbaum, Herder, Johannes Tranelis

Other Nominated Games

• Bausack, Zoch, Klaus Zoch
• Forum Romanum, Franckh-Kosmos, Wolfgang Kramer
• Hol's der Geier, Otto Maier, Alex Randolph
• Janus, Franckh-Kosmos, Rudi Hoffman
• Loa, Hexagames, Claude Soucie
• Mississippi, Mattel, Roland Siegers
• Schoko & Co., Schmidt Spiel, G. Monnet & Y. Hirschfeld (review)
• Targui, Jumbo, Dijkstra and van Dijk

1989

Game of the Year

• Cafe International, Mattel, Rudi Hoffman

Special Prize for Most Beautiful Game

• Henne Berta, Haba, Geni Wyss

Special Prize for Children's Game

• Gute Freunde, Selecta, Alex Randolph

Other Nominated Games

• Abalone, Abalone, Michel Lalet and Laurent Levi
• Der Ausreißer, F.X. Schmidt, Pierre Jacquot (rules)
• Ein solches Ding, Fata Morgana, Urs Hostettler
• Flieg, Dumbo, flieg, Schmidt, ??
• Hexentanz, F.X. Schmidt, Björn Hölle
• Maestro, Hans-im-Glück, Rudi Hoffman
• Mitternachtsparty (Ghost/Midnight Party), Otto Maier, Wolfgang Kramer
• Pole Position, Piatnik, Gerhard Kodys
• Regatta, Klee, Frank Thibault

1990

Game of the Year

• Adel Verpflichtet, F.X. Schmid, Klaus Teuber

Special Prize for Most Beautiful Game

• Lifestyle, Ravensburger, Ravensburger Design Team

Special Prize for Children's Game

• Das Geisterschloß, F.X. Schmidt, Virginia Charves

Other Nominated Games

• Das Geheimnis der Pyramide, Jumbo, S. Rohner and C. Wolf
• Dino, Hexagames, Reinhold Wittig
• Die heiße Schlacht am kalten Buffet, Otto Maier, Alex Randolph
• Favoriten, Walter Müllers Spielewerkstatt, Walter Müller
• Heuchel & Meuchel, Franckh-Kosmos, Rudi Hoffman
• Lancelot, Mattel, Roland Siegers
• New Orleans Big Band, ASS, Herbert Schützdeller
• Tabaijana, Herder, Wolfgang Kramer

1991

Game of the Year

• Drunter & Drüber, Hans-im-Glück, Klaus Teuber

Special Prize for Most Beautiful Game

• Das Labyrinth der Meister (Master Labyrinth), Ravensburger, Max J. Kobbert

Special Prize for Children's Game

• Corsaro, Herder, Wolfgang Kramer

Other Nominated Games

• 20 Questions, MB, ??
• Bauernschlau, F.X. Schmidt, Tom Schoeps
• Casablanca, Amigo, Eric Solomon
• Formica, Huki, M. Lorrigan and S. Ray
• Im Reich des weißen Bären, Schmidt, Charles Lerue
• Invers, Peri, Kris Burm
• Irrgendwie, Pyramo, Dieter Matthes

1992

Game of the Year

• Um Reifenbreite/Demarrage (reissue of Homas Tour), Jumbo, Rob Bontenbal

Special Prize for Children's Game

• Schweinsgalopp (All The Way Home), Ravensburger, Heinz Meister

Other Nominated Games

• Die Verbotene Stadt, Ravensburger, Alex Randolph and Johann Rüttinger
• Quo vadis?, Hans-im-Glück, Reiner Knizia (review)
• Razzia, Ravensburger, Stefan Dorra
• Palermo, Piatnik, Walter Ziser
• Gold Connection, Schmidt Spiele, Sid Sackson
• Schraumeln, F.X. Schmidt, Urs Hostettler
• Tabu (Taboo), Milton Bradley, ??
• Donnerwetter, Haba, Peter Lewe
• Entenrallye, Walter Müllers Spielewerkstatt, Walter Müller

1993

Game of the Year

• Bluff (Liars Dice), Milton Bradley, Richard Borg

Special Prize for Most Beautiful Game

• Kula Kula, Blatz, Reinhold Wittig

Special Prize for Children's Game

• Ringel Rangel, Haba, ??

Other Nominated Games

• Modern Art, Hans-im-Glück, Reiner Knizia (review)
• Pusher, Theta Promotions, Werner Falkhof
• Quarto, F.X. Schmidt, ??
• Rheingold, Jumbo, Reinhard Herbert
• Spiel der Türme, Schmidt Spiele, Urs Hostettler
• Tutanchamun, Amigo, Reiner Knizia
• Zatre, Peri, Manfred Schueling

1994

Game of the Year

• Manhattan, Hans-im-Glück, Andreas Seyfarth (review, rules)

Special Prize for Most Beautiful Game

• Doctor Faust, Blatz, Reinhold Wittig

Special Prize for Children's Game

• Looping Louie, MB, ??

Other Nominated Games

• 6 nimmt!, Amigo, Wolfgang Kramer (rules)
• Billabong, Franjos, Eric Solomon
• Die Osterinsel (Easter Island), Blatz, Alex Randolph
• Kohle, Kies & Knete, Schmidt Spiele, Sid Sackson
• Take It Easy, Schmidt Spiele, Peter Burley
• Was sticht?, Moskito, Karl-Heinz Schmiel

1995

Game of the Year

• Die Siedler von Catan, Franckh, Klaus Teuber

Special Prize for Most Beautiful Game

• Tri-Balance, Theta Promotions, Michael Sohre

Special Prize for Children's Game

• Karambolage, Haba Spiele, Heinz Meister

Other Nominated Games

• Buzzle, Franjos, Bill Eberle, Jack Kittredge and Peter Olatka
• Condottiere, Eurogames, Duccio Vitale and Dominique Erhard
• Die Maulwurf-Company, Ravensburger, Virginia Charves and Bertram Kaes
• Galopp Royal, Goldsieber Spiele, Klaus Teuber
• Kaleidos, eg Spiele, ??
• La-Trel, ASS, Richard Morgan
• Linie 1, Goldsieber Spiele, Stefan Dorra
• Medici, Amigo, Reiner Knizia

1996

Game of the Year

• El Grande, Hans-im-Glück, Wolfgang Kramer and Richard Ulrich

Special Prize for Most Beautiful Game

• Venice Connection, Drei Magier Spiele, Alex Randolph

Special Prize for Children's Game

• Vier zu mir!, ASS, Heike Baum and Wolfgang A. Lehmann

Special Prize for Action Game

• Carabande, Goldsieber, Jean du Poel

Other Nominated Games

• Ab Die Post!, Goldseiber, H. Huber
• Campanile, Blatz, Wilfried Kuhn
• Mü, Doris & Frank, Doris Mathaus and Frank Nestel
• Reibach & Co, FX Schmid, Alan Moon
• SisiMizi, EG, Alex Randolph
• Word-Whiz, EG, Hajo Bucken
• Speed, Adlung, Reinhard Staupe
• Top Race, ASS, Wolfgang Kramer
• Wat'n Dat, ASS, Claude Weber

1997

Game of the Year

• Mississippi Queen, Goldsieber, Werner Hodel

Special Prize for Most Beautiful Game

• Aztec, Zoch Verlag, Niek Neuwahl

Special Prize for Children's Game

• Leinen los!, HABA, Alex Randolph

Special Prize for Action Game

• Husarengolf, Abacus, Thorsten Marold

Other Nominated Games

• Bohnanza / Beananza, Amigo, Uwe Rosenberg
• Comeback, Staupe Spiele, Reinhard Staupe
• Die Siedler von Catan - Das Kartenspiel / Settlers Cardgame, Kosmos, Klaus Teuber
• Dimenticato, Dr. F. Hein Spiele, Ferdinand Hein
• Expedition, Queen Games, Wolfgang Kramer
• Loewenherz, Goldsieber, Klaus Teuber
• Manitou, Goldsieber, Gunther Burkardt
• Showmanager, Queen Games, Dirk Henn
• Visionary, Schmidt Spiele, Ron Dubren

Special thanks to Richard Breese who helped fill in 1993 and 1994. And Bob Rossney for filling in many of the bits and pieces. And Helmut Wresnik who filled in still more.

The Game Cabinet - editor@gamecabinet.com - Ken Tidwell