This is what winners look like: the newly selected games of the year!
21.7.2016
Translation: machine translated
Every year, a jury selects the Connoisseur Game, Children's Game and Game of the Year, as it did earlier this week. These are the three winners.
Game of the year: Codenames
This strategic game is basically about guessing terms in two teams. However, it can hardly be compared to Activity. The two team leaders know the terms to be guessed and are allowed to give their team one clue per round. However, this only consists of one word and the number of matching terms. The game is skilfully made more difficult by a few ingenious rules. Communicative combiners will enjoy this game for a long time. The jury's verdict:
"A first game of Codenames is often followed by a second. Then the third, the fourth. The game with associations exerts a pull that hardly anyone can escape. Describing as many words as possible with one term without referring to words of the competition - this recurring task is like a puzzle that you are determined to solve. Good variations for two or three players round off this team game. Anyone who likes juggling with language will love Codenames."
Expert game of the year: Isle of Skye
In this placement game, each player builds a landscape around their own castle. The tiles are bought from the other players. In each round, the players set prices for their tiles and thus initially tie up capital. However, the opponents have the right of first refusal. What is not sold must be paid for. This means that only those who trade skilfully and use their money wisely will receive the desired expansions. A devious game for prudent traders. Verdict of the jury:
"Isle of Skye seems simple thanks to its lean rules, and yet it is fascinatingly challenging. Just like in real life, players need experience in this laying and economic game to manage and utilise their money in a tactically clever way. Isle of Skye also boasts a flexible scoring system that redefines the objectives in each game. The elegant interlocking of many innovative mechanisms and ideas borders on perfection."
Children's game of the year: Stone Age Junior
This game depicts how people in the Stone Age conquered and shaped their world in a very memorable and, above all, child-friendly way. In the world of the Stone Age children Jono and Jada, goods are collected and exchanged and players build their first settlement. Where you can move your figure is determined by the face-down tiles on the edge of the board; you first have to explore them and then memorise where things are located in order to build your village: The first player to build three huts wins. An exciting game for hunters and gatherers aged 5 and up. The jury's verdict:
"Collect, plan and build. Resource management, the clever use of figures on action fields and building strategy - these are not normally topics for children's games. But author Marco Teubner does an exemplary job of transferring the appeal of the family game of the same name into an age-appropriate Stone Age adventure for the youngest players. He skilfully uses memo elements to create equal opportunities between the generations. This is how the modern Stone Age child likes to play."
Irene Portmann
Senior Brand Communications Manager
Irene.Portmann@digitecgalaxus.chI love the strategy game “The Settlers of Catan”, the Ravensburger puzzle “Colourful Cupcakes” and the pink fluffy unicorn that sits on my desk (a birthday present from my workmates). Not only do I have a weakness for toys, I also get excited about good food and comedy TV shows.