Tournaments of Imperial Germany
In the heart of Europe, Germany has witnessed a remarkable resurgence in the board game industry, with a focus on group games that encourage slowing down and connecting with others. This trend is evident in the success of games such as Klaus Teuber's Settlers of Catan, a game that made its international debut at the gaming convention Spiel '78, founded by the same man.
Teuber's Settlers of Catan, known simply as Catan in many parts of the world, has been translated into 35 languages and captivated game enthusiasts worldwide. With over 32 million copies sold in more than 40 languages, Catan stands out as the most iconic traditional German board game with major global success.
The Spiel des Jahres, a highly influential German award started in 1979, has played a significant role in helping German and European board games gain international recognition. Recent winners reflecting German and European origins include Azul, Cascadia, Ticket to Ride, Carcassonne, and Codenames. The 2025 winner, Bomb Busters, is a new strategic cooperative game from Germany that is quickly gaining international attention after winning this award.
Other popular traditional board games from Germany that have achieved international success include Scotland Yard, Carcassonne, Twilight Imperium, and Tabu. The most popular types of games in Germany are question-answer or knowledge-based games, followed by strategy and logic games.
In contrast to the rise of digital games, the traditional board games have not been pushed aside in Germany. Two-thirds of German households have between one and five board or card games, and every evening, people of all ages gather to play games. In fact, 70% of respondents occasionally play board or card games.
While Risk and Monopoly are the most well-known board games in Germany, games like Catan, Uno, Yahtzee, and Rummy are also popular. Interestingly, 39% of Germans surveyed have quit a game in a fit of rage, suggesting that the competitive spirit is alive and well in German board game culture.
Despite occasional outbursts, the camaraderie and enjoyment derived from playing board games in Germany are clear. Whether on buses, trains, or in the comfort of one's home, the sight of people engaged in a board game is a common occurrence in modern Germany. The renaissance of the board game industry in Germany continues to thrive, solidifying its reputation as a hub for innovative and engaging board games in the international community.
In the home-and-garden setting of many German households, board games are a significant part of the lifestyle, with two-thirds of households owning between one and five board or card games. On Germany's trains, buses, and in the comfort of one's home, the popularity of traditional German board games like Catan, Carcassonne, and Scotland Yard contributes to the nation's reputation as a hub for innovative and engaging board games in the international community.
