(In case you don't know, the Spiel des Jahres are the world's biggest board game awards, although they usually cater more to family games. Settlers of Catan won in 1995 and Ticket To Ride won in 2003.)
Nominees
Dixit
Ident
A la Carte
Roll Through the Ages
Fresko
Recommendations
Level X
Mosaix
Don Quixote
Hunter-gatherers
Jaipur
Kamisodo
Samarkand
Tobago
Hansa Teutonica
Endeavor
Well, looks like my favourites won't be winning. Sigh. Although I'm quite happy to see Tobago, Hansa, Samarkand, Jaipur, and Endeavor all on the recommendation list. Chris Norwood over at GamerChris swears by Dixit, a party game that is more elegant and subtle than most and Roll Through The Ages has gotten a lot of press.
And I gotta say, I picked up up my copy of A la Carte last week. It's a rather silly game of cooking that comes with neat little spice bottles and actual metal pots for your "food". I'm excited to give that a try.
Oh yes, and there was also a special mention for A World Without End, the sequel game to the game The Pillars of the Earth, based on the sequel book to the book The Pillars of the Earth. I have read both books but played neither game...
ReplyDeleteMan I have tried and tried to like Dixit.. everyone seems to have fun but me.. I hate it.. stupid game.. sulk
ReplyDeleteWhat was your favourite?
I am truly baffled that tobago is not on the Nominees list, and that Fresco is. I dont have any plays for fresco but i dont hear the buzz for it that tobago had. It was truly robbed. Roll through the ages is good but really Spiel des Jahres good?
ReplyDeletewow! to me the only thing they got right this year was that Jaipur got a Recommendation. I have to back Dixit for the award now
UPDATE: Just played A la Carte and it was a crapload of very silly fun. I can see why it got the nod as it's an absolute hit with beautiful pieces. Expect pictures...
ReplyDeleteYeah I find that odd too... I've never even heard of Fresco... and everyone I know who has played Tobago thinks it's great game... (Maybe it's them little stone heads though)
ReplyDeleteMy collection isn't big, but it includes both Tobago and Fresco. Fresco is good enough, but it just kind of "feels like a eurogame", where you're converting one kind of currency (money) into another kind of currency (paint) into a third kind of currency (VPs). Tobago, on the other hand, feels like a race for buried treasure. Shoulda been Tobago on the list.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Kris and loopster. I've played both and Tobago is WAY more balanced, fun for all, nice mix of strategy and luck.. Fresco is decent, but it's nothing special, your typical euro with nice board art. Worth trying out I suppose, but better than Tobago? In what way? I'm truly disappointed with this news.
ReplyDelete