The 2023 Deutscher Spiele Preis awards have been announced at the International Spieltage in Essen.  These recognise the “Best Children’s Game” and a top ten list of the “Best Family and Adult Games”, the results of an open vote by games clubs, gamers and people in the industry.  As annual awards, the games named in the Deutscher Spiele Pris lists often intersect with the winners and nominees of Spiel des Jahres Award, but in many other ways, the awards differ as Spiel des Jahres winners are chosen by a committee with a list of strict criteria whereas the Deutscher Spiele Preis is more a list of the most popular games of the preceding year.

– Image from spiel-essen.com

This year, the top ten list includes the both the winners and some of the nominees of the Spiel and Kennerspiel des Jahres awards, but the top spot went to the Kennerspiel nominee, Planet Unknown.  Dorfromantic (winner of the Spiel de Jahres) took second place on the list with the car racing game, Heat, taking third place.  Challengers!, winner of the Kennerspiel des Jahres award, featured further down the list as did Marrakesh, Earth, Woodcraft, Next Station: London, HITSTER and Tiletum.  The winner of the best children’s games was Mysterium Kids, which also won the Kinderspiel des Jahres earlier this year. Congratulations to all the award winners.

– Adapted from Image by f-p-p-m