The board game version of “Dorfromantik – Das Brettspiel” has been awarded the prestigious “Game of the Year” award. The analog version of the popular digital game was developed by Lukas Zach and Michael Palm, who received the award in Berlin. The board game aims to provide a cooperative and feel-good experience, with new goals set in each game. The game has been praised for its ability to take the pressure off everyday life.
In “Dorfromantik”, up to six players work together to create a village landscape using hexagonal tiles. They must fulfill various orders from the population, such as building the longest track or lengthening a river. As the campaign progresses, players can unlock new tiles hidden in locked boxes, allowing them to continuously push for a higher score.
The idea for the board game version of “Dorfromantik” was conceived by the authors in 2021. They subsequently entered into a license agreement with the developers of Toukana Interactive, leading to the successful realization of the game. The original digital version of the game received rave reviews and was described as a “perfect time waster as a change from stressful everyday life,” utilizing the board game model of “Carcassonne.”
In 2021, “Dorfromantik” received several awards, including the main award from the German Developer Award and two awards from the German Computer Game Award. The popularity of the digital version has increased the anticipation and interest in the board game adaptation.
The industry association of game publishers recognizes the growing convergence of the digital and analog gaming worlds. They believe that good game ideas can be successfully implemented in both formats, as long as the spirit of the game is carried over. This year’s “kenner game of the year,” “Challengers!,” takes inspiration from video games known as “auto-battlers.” The integration and crossover between these two worlds continue to thrive.
The “Game of the Year” award, often referred to as the “Oscar for board games,” has been recognizing outstanding games since 1979. The recent success of “Dorfromantik – Das Brettspiel” showcases the enduring appeal and creativity of board games in the gaming industry.
