On our radar
Our 10 Most Exciting Strategy Games, and Where to Play ThemSPIEL Essen 2026
Our top 10 strategy games at SPIEL Essen 2026: players, playtime, hall and booth to demo each one, plus fair deals and pickup times.
News & radar
What's happening in the board game world and what's on our radar. Fair warning: most of these we haven't played yet. When we have, we say so.
On our radarOur Watch List for a 6-Year-Old and a 10-Year-OldSPIEL Essen 2026
SPIEL Essen runs October 22–25. These are the new releases on our radar for a table with a 6-year-old and a 10-year-old, plus three for the grown-ups.
NewsAlexander Pfister Sends Us to Antarctica-60°
-60° (Sixty Below) by Alexander Pfister and Peter Prinz: research stations, a meteorite and push-your-luck on the ice. New at SPIEL Essen 2026.
NewsOnly a Few Copies at EssenBraided Skies
Braided Skies from Stonemaier Games launches Andrew Bosley's Smoking Bones world. Only a small quantity will be at SPIEL Essen 2026.
NewsHow Deep Do You Dare to Take Your Mech?Drillers
Drillers from CGE is one of the most anticipated new games at SPIEL Essen 2026: deck building, mechs and the question of how deep you dare to go.
NewsYou Create Stars, Planets and LifeEntropy
Entropy has you create stars, planets and life. On show at SPIEL Essen 2026 and already out in German from Frosted Games.
NewsPretty Mosaics, but the Scoring Has TeethGaudí
Gaudí by Dani Garcia: trencadís mosaics, cards and a sneaky scoring rule. At SPIEL Essen 2026 from Devir, and in German from HUCH!.
NewsPrimal Spirits Against Fake DruidsGreenwood
Greenwood is coming from Capstone and, in German, Feuerland's BlackLabel line. Demos at SPIEL Essen 2026 in Hall 3.
NewsThe Caylus Designer Brings an Old Game BackGreylune
Greylune from Caylus designer William Attia mixes worker placement with adventure. English premiere at SPIEL Essen 2026.
NewsTwo New Karak Games, One for Ages 6 and UpKarak: Labyrinth and Karak II: Inferno
Albi brings two new Karak titles to Essen: a real-time drawing game for ages 6 and up, and an expansion for Karak II.
NewsVlaada Chvátil Brings the Video Game to the TableKingdom Come: Deliverance
Vlaada Chvátil and Tomáš Holek bring the video game Kingdom Come: Deliverance to the table. It premieres at SPIEL Essen 2026.
NewsChess, Except Cards Move the PiecesQueen Alice
In Queen Alice, cards move chess pieces and the square decides your action. One of the most anticipated games at SPIEL Essen 2026.
NewsThe Winners Are Dito!, Rebirth and Mooki IslandSpiel des Jahres 2026
A quick refresher before SPIEL Essen: the 2026 winners of Germany's game of the year, connoisseur game and children's game awards.
NewsTickets, Hours and What Parents Should Know FirstSPIEL Essen 2026 With Kids
SPIEL Essen 2026 runs October 22–25. Opening hours, the family ticket and what parents should know before they go, in one short overview.
NewsTen New Games the Whole Hobby Wants to SeeSPIEL Essen 2026
Queen Alice, Timespan and -60° lead the BGG preview list for SPIEL Essen 2026. The top 10 at a glance, with publisher and genre.
News50 New Cards for Arnak, Zero New RulesSurprise Shipment
A new expansion for Lost Ruins of Arnak: 50 cards and three site tiles, no new rules. What's in the box and what we expect.
NewsFrom the Stone Age to Space in 90 MinutesTimespan
Timespan is a civilization game with no warfare and lots of simultaneous play. It premieres at SPIEL Essen 2026 in Hall 3.
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