Twelve kilometers. That’s how far my wife walked on her first day at SPIEL Essen. Stop and go, hall after hall, eyes everywhere. Her feet filed a formal complaint. Her bag, on the other hand, came home very happy.
SPIEL Essen is the world’s largest public fair for board games, according to its organizers ([SPIEL Essen press release](https://www.spielwarenmesse-group.com/fileadmin/SeG_Dateien/PDF/Pressemitteilungen/20241007_SPIEL Essen_PI_Schluss_en.pdf)). In October 2024 it was my wife’s first time. Here’s how that day went, and what came back to Berlin with her.
Packing for a fair you’ve never seen
A few days before, the excitement was through the roof. First time at SPIEL Essen, only there on Friday, and absolutely no idea where to start or what to pack. Her Instagram post was basically one big “help!”
If you’re in the same spot, here’s the honest version: she didn’t have a master plan either. What we can say in hindsight comes from her day, not from a checklist. Wear shoes you’d trust for a long walk. Keep space in your bag. And expect people. A lot of people.
SPIEL Essen 2024 by the numbers
To understand the “a lot of people” part, here’s what the organizers reported after the fair ([SPIEL Essen press release](https://www.spielwarenmesse-group.com/fileadmin/SeG_Dateien/PDF/Pressemitteilungen/20241007_SPIEL Essen_PI_Schluss_en.pdf)):
- Dates: October 3 to 6, 2024, at Messe Essen.
- Visitors: 204,000 over four days, from more than 80 nations.
- Exhibitors: 923, presenting more than 1,500 new products from 52 countries.
- Space: 68,500 square meters across six halls, the largest SPIEL Essen so far.
- Sold out: For the first time, all Thursday and Friday tickets sold out before the fair even started. Saturday and Sunday followed during the fair.
- Crowd cap: 2024 was the first year with a ticket quota. Never more than about 50,000 people were allowed on site at once, says Carol Rapp, managing director of the organizer, Merz Verlag.
So yes, my wife went on one of the sold-out days. Keep that in mind for the next part.
The day itself: 12 km and a lot of kids at heart
By the evening, she was beat. Twelve kilometers of stop-and-go walking. Eyes still flickering from looking around, focusing and trying not to miss anything. Her own verdict: she underestimated the crowds.
Two things stuck with her. The first was the hall with games from Asia, which fascinated her. The organizers kept a themed hall layout that year ([SPIEL Essen press release](https://www.spielwarenmesse-group.com/fileadmin/SeG_Dateien/PDF/Pressemitteilungen/20241007_SPIEL Essen_PI_Schluss_en.pdf)), so you could wander from one corner of the gaming world to the next.
The second was the people. No matter where, no matter who, no matter how old or how tall: deep down, everyone there was still a kid at heart who just wanted to play. That’s the best thing we can say about SPIEL Essen, and it’s why it’s for families of all kinds, not just for hobby gamers with a spreadsheet of must-buys.
Her last words before heading back to Berlin: it was an honor.
The haul: what came home with us
Eight boxes made the trip. The photos in her haul post show all of them:
- Medium. The party game that tests whether you share a brain. Our German copy comes from this trip.
- That’s You! Not reviewed yet.
- King of Tokyo: Duel. Giant monsters, but just for two.
- Arcs. Cole Wehrle’s space conflict game, with trick-taking at its heart.
- The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth. The German edition, “Der Herr der Ringe: Duell um Mittelerde”.
- Sky Team: Turbulence. An expansion for Sky Team, with 20 scenarios and new rules and modules, according to the packaging.
- Pixies. The smallest box of the bunch.
- Ratjack. A rat at a card table on the cover, and a sticker promising a limited-edition token inside.
Her plan for all of it: bring the games home and try them out with family and friends.
The birthday gift I wasn’t supposed to see
Here’s my favorite detail. When my wife posted the haul on Instagram, she added that one of the games was a birthday gift for me. Hopefully, she wrote, I wouldn’t see the post.
Which one? A gentleman keeps his surprises.
How the haul turned out
Several of these boxes have since earned their own reviews. A quick round-up:
- Duel for Middle-earth hit the table a few weeks after the fair. As huge fans of 7 Wonders Duel, we were really excited, and the new mechanics bring a fresh twist. One thing we noticed early: in our first games, every round was won via the Middle-earth map card. Maybe a bit overpowered? The full review has more.
- Medium turned into a lovely little telepathy test at our table.
- King of Tokyo: Duel won us over as a two-player game.
- Arcs blew us away on the first play and keeps coming back.
That’s You!, Pixies, Ratjack and the Turbulence expansion haven’t gotten their own write-ups yet.
Our takeaway for first-timers
One day, 12 kilometers, sore feet and a bag full of games we still talk about. If you’re thinking about your first SPIEL Essen: go. Book early, especially if you want a Thursday or Friday ticket. Wear good shoes. And leave room in your bag, because you will need it.
Have you been to SPIEL Essen? Tell us what you brought home.
FAQ
When was SPIEL Essen 2024?
October 3 to 6, 2024, at Messe Essen in Germany, according to the organizers' closing press release.
How crowded is SPIEL Essen?
Very. In 2024, every day sold out and 204,000 people came over four days. The organizers capped it at about 50,000 people on site at once. My wife admits she underestimated the crowds.
What did we buy at SPIEL Essen 2024?
Medium, That's You!, King of Tokyo: Duel, Arcs, The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth (German edition), the Sky Team: Turbulence expansion, Pixies and Ratjack.
Is one day at SPIEL Essen enough?
My wife went on the Friday only. She walked about 12 km that day and still felt like she had to look everywhere at once. One day works, but plan your route.
