Top 10 Games I’m Excited for at Spiel Essen 2025
I have only been to Spiel Essen once. While I am sure I will go back there one day, it was never going to be an annual event for me. That said, it is an incredible showcase for the board game hobby with many new titles being launched each year.
Board Game Geek lists over 1000 new games to trawl through, but fortunately for you, I have compiled my top ten list of games I would want to check out, if I was actually stomping the vast halls in Germany. I must confess, it doesn’t look like an epic year, however, there are always some gems to be uncovered.
You might be surprised that Orloj: The Prague Astronomical Clock doesn’t feature below, and perhaps it should, it looks fantastic, but I am not sure it would get the play time with me so I will let others get excited for it instead. Similarly, some of the games I already own haven’t featured. Board games like Druids of Edora from Alea/Ravensburger and Stonemaier Games’ Origin Story – I am enjoying both a lot so they are worth looking into for sure. Nor have some of the Kickstarter games I am eagerly awaiting, like I Made You A Mixtape appeared on the list. They certainly could’ve featured here too, but it’s my list and I will do what I ruddy well want with it – so there!
Recall
This was the first game that caught my attention without a doubt. So much so, when a friend (@shirtsandmerch) offered to bring me one game back with him, this was the one I chose! I am a big fan of this game’s predecessor, Revive, and my love for that game grows with every play, so I have very high hopes for this one! Recall tantalizes with engine building and exploration, and with the design team behind it, oodles of strategy too no doubt (Hall 3 3F110)
The Royal Society of Archeology
I’m not entirely sure what made The Royal Society of Archeology lure me in, it was probably the publisher, HUCH! (Hutter). The theme and the name also appealed, even if they spelt Archaeology wrong! I was pleased to see the player board, tracks and tokens when I did click through to investigate it further. I really like the sound of the interesting take on worker placement, whereby benefits are given to all people on a space based on their experience. It would certainly be one I would check out! (Hall 6 6B300)
Les Derniers Droïdes
I am fully aware I am a box art tart. I am also fully aware that that is why I have put Last Droids firmly on my list! The card art is pretty superb too. It’s all so beautiful it hurts a little. It’s only available in French thus the title Les Derniers Droïdes, but English rules will be given out with purchases and the cards are language independent. It’s one to head for as the publishers haven’t had interest from overseas yet so this might be the only way to get it! How does it play? Pffft who cares, look at it! (Hall 2 2E120)
Lucha Lucha Three Four Five
I have always wanted a good wrestling-themed game. Despite looking, I have never quite found the one that has got me clambering over the top rope for it. However, I’ve got a good feeling that this might be that game. The abstracted strategy of it may not appeal to everyone, but I reckon this two player game will appeal to me. The question is, will the theme shine through enough? I really hope so! (Hall 6 6D300)
Night Soil
This game is very turd. I mean literally it is about poo! More specifically, it’s about sanitation in Tudor London which was a pretty poop job before the plumbing of the Victorian era. Effluent efficiency awaits players in this game with a unique theme! Although you cannot polish a turd, this game might come close! (Hall 3 3F110)
Similo Aquatic Animals
You probably know by now that I am a big fan of the small co-operative card game Similo, so when I heard Horrible Guild were launching a new deck, I knew I just had to have it! Aquatic Animals brings a deck of just that! I cannot wait to have a whale of a time with it – pun intended! Now I just have to rely on Gareth (@boardgamemeeple) to bring it back for me – maybe even with the Spiel special board game edition too – not that I’ve told him that! (Hall 6 6C110)
Forestry
Managing a sustainable forest will delight some eco-friendly board gamers and sound like a dry ol’ theme to others. I think when you see the little wooden digger components even the theme-sceptics will be converted to wanting to give this dual worker placement game a whirl! Never has harvesting, felling, replanting and water retention looked and sounded so enticing! (Hall 4 4G515)
Covenant
Devir more regularly than not smash it out the park with their releases, so their logo on a box will always make me keen to find out more. In this board game you’ll be taking on the role of dwarves trying to reclaim your ancestral home and getting the most glory along the way to win. Expect words like Karrak-cüm-Kazar and the Age of the Beard to be put in front of you, and if that doesn’t wet your whistle, you better check for a pulse! (Hall 3 3D600)
Oliva
Adorable box art reminiscent of children’s books, conceals a card game about producing, harvesting and pressing olives into olive oil. Other than the box art tart in me being awakened, I was tempted by the sounds of your actions becoming more powerful based on the cards visible on all players’ boards. Sounds delightful to me! (Hall 5 5G515)
Crops
Little Rocket Games make some really solid little card games, like Hens. So I always keep an eye out for their new releases at Essen, particularly as they can be hard to find in the UK (although many are crowdfunded prior to retail) This quick little card game boasts pattern matching, set collection and end game bonuses. It might not be anything new, but I also reckon what it will do will be good! (Hall 5 5F515)
Also…
While that may be my personal top ten I would want to see in person, I am excited to hear about some others that are not on my list. I will be quizzing those that I know going on games like Aquaria, Kokeshi, Gzhel, Fortunes of Scoundrel Bay, Emberheart, and even Orloj. But like I said, this is my list and I am sticking to it!
If you’re going, have a fabulous time – I’ll be thinking of you (buying me all the games) and probably be just a little bit jealous of what you bring back!
