Top 10 Games I’m Excited for at Spiel Essen 2026
Years pass and I am still not rushing back to the Mecca of board gamers that is Spiel Essen. I cannot deny it is an incredible fair! This year it runs from 22nd to 25th October.
Board Game Geek lists over 1200 new games that will be showcased in the German exhibition halls. That is quite a daunting list to traverse, I know, because I have done it. And in doing so I have compiled my Top Ten games I would be keen to get my hands on if I was making the journey with a nearly empty car boot!
Most people will see some notable absences: Avalon: The Riven Veil, Queen Alice, and -60° would be on many people’s ‘must have’ list, but they just aren’t speaking to me and my gaming tastes from what I have read. I spotted Gaudi at UKGE so that didn’t make the list here, but easily could have. Oh and you’ve already heard what I think about Meow Heist in my review, that’s debuting at Essen too!
So here is my Spiel Essen preview of new games:
Braided Skies
Jamey Stegmaier recently announced his major release for the year, Braided Skies. Set in the Smoking Bones universe created by illustrator Andrew Bosley. This game goes alongside a series of books that are planned by the illustrator and his son. This is the same world the Smoking Bones Travel Guide was set in and that book turned out brilliantly. It’s been in development for quite some time, so I have high hopes for this game. I’ve read the rulebook and this really sounds like my sort of thing! (Stonemaier Games. Hall 3: 3R400)
Kano
Okay this is absolutely beautiful and if the box art tart in you hasn’t made you want this game already, then look further at the gorgeous tiles and super cute paint pots that you use to create your traditional Japanese handscrolls. The gameplay of Kano boasts pattern building, set collection and tile placements. I’m sold! (Matagot. Hall 3: 3D200)
Medico
Stefan Feld has designed so many brilliant games that I have enjoyed. So seeing his name on a box always excites me. Even more so if it hasn’t been overproduced and annoyingly tweaked by Queen Games. Medico sees players gain knowledge as they journey from city to city. The colour budget was clearly used up on the board rather than the box, but I would rather it that way round as I know what I will be looking at longer! (Pegasus Spiele. Hall 3: 3K120, 3L110, 3M120)
Carl von Linné
Galileo Galilee has been one of my favourite game of recent times and is currently my second most played game of the year. So it comes as no surprise that I am interested in its successor in the range from Pink Troubadour, Carl von Linné. From the glimpses I have got, it looks brilliant and if the gameplay matches that, I will be very pleased indeed! I would possibly pick up the Forestry expansion at their stand too. (Pink Troubadour. Hall 4: 4G515)
Carpet Racers
Pink Troubadour must be doing something right to have two games feature on this list! The designer of Carpet Racers, Tomáš Holek has been putting out some awesome games, SETI, Pondscape and the previously mentioned Galileo Galilee, all fall into his oeuvre. This one bills itself as a chaotic racing game where players control cars, without knowing which one is theirs! It is giving me big micro machine vibes. Colour me intrigued! (Pink Troubadour. Hall 4: 4G515)
Excursions
I love the look of Galactic Cruise, and one day I hope to play it, but it looks too heavy for me to play regularly enough to warrant owning it. Excursions is set in the same universe and with beautiful artwork by Ian O’Toole, but is just that little bit more accessible. It also says it plays up to six players and with simultaneous play that might be possible without the game dragging too much. I can’t wait to find out more about this one and I will be keeping an eagle eye on the Kickstarter campaign. (Kinson Key Games. Hall 4: 4D320)
Fadenfroh
This could well be the epitome of cozy games. A phrase that would normally scare me off more than it would lure me in. However, with Alexander Pfister and Jordy Adan as designers, I have got quite a lot of hope that Fadenfroh will offer some interesting gameplay. Never have I been more keen to pick up a needle and thread! (Pandasaurus Games. Hall2: 2E330)
Blood Hunt
There is something about the artwork of Weberson Santiago that lures me in time after time. So of course my eyes have diverted to Blood Hunt from Mandoo Games. Then I saw the coffin-shaped board and I had to learn more! This expands on the gameplay of Dracula vs Van Helsing and focusses on strategic card play and tactical positioning. That ticks a lot of boxes! (Mandoo Games. Hall 6: 6B201)
Orcs Up!
Sometimes you just want to have fun and Orcs Up! looks like it will deliver that dexterity fun that I get from games like Meeple Circus and Drop It. Is it new and revolutionary? Unlikely. Does it see you and your orcs climbing up a tower which other players are scaling while also hurling boulders to muck up your plans? Yes, yes it does! Simple, silly fun, I’m in! I am not even gonna apologise! (Cranio Creations. Hall 3: 3T400)
Grizzo
If you want to catch my eye on a list of over 1000 games soak it in some neon. Grizzo is a little push your luck card game for 2-5 players that plays in about 20 minutes, but is also the kind of game that I will play loads! Onto the wishlist it goes! (HABA. Hall 8: 8A115, 8A300)
Also…
There are also plenty of games not on the list that I would like to see and explore more. Hopefully some people I know will bring back copies of Grow Sky, Isle of Bears, Ikebana and Gnomeville for me to try out sometime!
If you’re going, have a great time – I’ll be hoping to be just a little bit jealous of what you bring back!
