German Board Games

If you are looking for an entertaining experience for a rainy or snowy day or to share with the family at the holidays, German board games can be one of the best choices. They also make great gifts for game lovers.

Below is some information you may find useful and interesting about these games and why they are becoming so popular even outside Germany.

German Board Games: An Overview

Although one may think German board games only refer to games made within that country, the reality is the term has expanded to encompass an entire style of gaming that is different in many ways from American board games.

The German board game industry actually started in the 1960s and took off just a decade later. While games in this style are produced in a number of other European countries, Germany is the primary producer and is home to some of the major manufacturers.

German Board Game Themes

These games typically have a number of special features which make them unique. These features include themes. Unlike many Asian games, such as Go, which are played with no story or theme, most German board games have to have some type of theme.

They would be comparable to games, such as Monopoly, in that there is a story-line encompassing the actual gameplay.

easy to learn

high fun aspect

Classic German Board Game: "Mensch ärgere Dich nicht"

One of the most popular German board games is
"Mensch ärgere Dich nicht" (meaning "Human, Don’t get angry"). The game was created in 1914 and since then more than 60 million copies have been sold. Despite its popularity, the game is not part of the German board game style described above.

The rules are simple. Up to four players try to move all of their four pieces from the Starting point to the Ending point by rolling dice. When one player lands on another’s piece, however, the other player must go back to the beginning. It’s easy to learn, fast to play, and can be enjoyed by all ages.

German Board Games Products/Brands

Two of the most well-known manufactures of German board games are Haba and Ravensburger. Both are based in Germany but have expanded their businesses to include subsidiaries and customers throughout the world, including the United States.

Haba specializes in games for younger players. In fact their company motto can be translated as "Made for Parents" because their goal is to create games parents will appreciate and want to give their children.

On the other hand, Ravensburger provides a more diverse line-up, including the ever-popular maze game known as Labyrinth which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary on the market.