Section · 3 guides
Board game awards and how to avoid fake copies
What the Spiel des Jahres awards mean for gift buyers and how to avoid counterfeit copies when you buy online.
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Two questions come up before almost every board game gift: is this game any good, and is this copy real?
For the first, award badges are a quick signal. Our Spiel des Jahres guide explains what the red, anthracite gray and blue pawns mean, lists the winners since 2019, and says what the award does not tell you, such as whether a game suits your player count.
For the second, how to spot a counterfeit board game works through the checks in order: the publisher’s logo on the box front, print quality, the boards and cards, and the warning signs in a listing and its price, plus what to do if a fake has already arrived.
Spiel des Jahres winners to give
Live listings, shown by eBay
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- 01
Black Friday is November 27, 2026. Compare board games by player count, play time, age rating, edition and sealed condition, and check expansions first.
- 02
Signs of a counterfeit board game from publishers: missing logos, blurry print, glossy boards and prices too good to be true, plus what to do if you get one.
- 03
What the Spiel des Jahres red, gray and blue badges mean, every winner from 2019 to 2026 in all three awards, and how to use the list to pick a gift.
Photo: Júlio Reis (User:Tintazul) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Frequently asked questions
When are the Spiel des Jahres winners announced?
Every July. The jury announces nominations and a recommended list in May and names the winners in July.
What is the first sign of a counterfeit board game?
Stonemaier Games lists a missing trademarked publisher logo on the box front as the first sign, followed by blurry, low-resolution printing.
Sources
- Spiel des Jahres FAQSpiel des Jahres e.V.
- Game counterfeits and what we can do about themStonemaier Games
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