Time to party – 40 years of Knizia Games!
Pop the champagne corks in 2025 to celebrate 4 decades of fun and bringing enjoyment to the people worldwide by Reiner Knizia and his publishing partners around the globe.
Let’s take a quick look back into the past: Reiner’s publishing career started in 1985 with a self-published play-by-mail magazine “Postspillion” and published games in various magazines. From there, it was only a small step towards the first game boxes. In 1990, Reiner hit the gold vein with Digging and Goldrausch. The following years brought top-sellers like Quo Vadis, Pirat/Loot, Tutanchamun, Auf Heller und Pfennig/Kingdoms and many more to the players – over 800 games big and small (and medium too!) have been published up to 2025. And there are still a lot more in the pipeline…!
In 1993, Reiner’s Modern Art was crowned with the German Game Prize and from then on national and international awards came rolling in. Including the double-hit of Spiel des Jahres (Keltis) and Kinderspiel des Jahres (Wer War’s?) in Germany in 2008.
Today, Knizia Games is also proudly looking at Game of the Year awards in France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Brazil, Japan, and even Down Under in Australia.
More important than all the awards, however, is the ongoing fulfilment of our mission “Bringing Enjoyment to the People”. Therefore, we call upon the many, many fans of Reiner’s games in all corners of the world to celebrate with us the 40 Year Anniversary of Knizia Games: Get to the tables, set up a game and let the fun continue!
Thank you for all your support!
Chartae with a nice touch!
A message reached us from Spain a while ago that Reiner’s game Chartae is now also popular with the visually impaired gamers. Publisher Ouril developed alternative game material which allows players to feel the coast lines and sea waves on the Chartae tiles rather than see them.
To the eye of the average beholder the tiles may appear a bit bleak but lower your lids and let your fingertips do the looking and you will get a feel of the special appeal of this unusual version of our game.
We wish all players of “Chartae Adaptado” a wonderful experience!
Let the good times roll!
Our Dutch publisher 999 Games is presenting our Pick A Pen line – a new roll and write concept in which you do not roll any dice, but you roll coloured pencils instead.
The first three games in the line are Gardens (Tuinen), Reef (Riffen) and Crypt (Crypten), and each game offers several scenarios.
To start the game, you roll all five pencils and pick one of them. On each of the six sides of each pencil there are different symbols.
By choosing the colour you want to use, you also choose a certain symbol – or vice versa.
With this combination of colour and symbol you mark or colour spaces on your play sheet, and hopefully you will do it optimally so that at the end of the game you will have the most beautiful garden, collect the most valuable treasure, or be the best at deciphering the inscriptions in the crypt.
Pick a game, pick a scenario, and Pick A Pen!
Home Alone
Living on a desert island? Stuck in a pandemic? The kids don’t want to play with you? No problem!
Together with Schmidt Spiele, Reiner has published the For One line of games which gives the lonesome player the chance to beat himself at Kniffel and other games.
In contrast to other playful self-activities, in particular those involving solving puzzles and logical thinking, or even digital one-person games that you play in front of a screen, with the new For One line Reiner wants to convey the same feelings and tension that you get in a multi-player social game. The only difference is that there are no other players making moves. You make one move after another, so it is always your turn and you are always involved!
These games are not “brain teasers”, because all our For One games have challenging random elements built in which you have to adapt to move by move.
Each For One game comes with many levels of increasing difficulty, but the random elements mean that no two games are the same, so you can try your luck again and again at the same level.
Don’t forget: “Fortune favours the brave.”
Offline Fun in Brazil
In 2023 with the pandemic officially declared over, Reiner accepted an invitation to visit the Diversão Offline event in Brazil, and flew over for the weekend so that he could meet our Brazilian partners and extend our publisher relationships in South America.
Reiner thanks everybody for the warm reception he received in São Paulo – by the publishers as well as by the gamers.
Mandatory use of bow ties – put it on at KniziaCon!
In July, a friendly message reached us from Robert Rawes who had the idea of hosting a KniziaCon together with two of his friends. The trio owns around 83 Knizia games of which about 60 were shown and played at a Board Game Tavern near Raleigh, NC, USA where the KniziaCon took place.
Robert and his friends not only offered their personal Knizia game library to the public but also prepared a supply of bow ties that attendees could wear while playing. Unfortunately, no contest took place to see who looked smartest with Reiner’s trademark piece of clothing. But then, who can beat the master, right?!
Instead, a raffle was held and the main prize ( Blue Lagoon) went to a lucky winner who was then able to add the first Knizia game to his board game collection. Congratulations!
All in all, the small privately organized KniziaCon with roughly 50 participants turned out to be a great success, and Robert and his friends are planning to make it an annual event. Following our motto, they simply want to focus on “Bringing Enjoyment to the People”.
Bring your own bow tie!
The Quest for El Dorado continues…
Somewhere deep in the South American jungle lies the mythical land of ‘El Dorado’. Legend speaks of unimaginable golden treasures to be found there. But no-one has ever discovered this legendary place – until they played the game…
Since the start of its voyage into the board game jungle, the game has felt the golden shine of El Dorado on its cover: Nominee for the German Game of the Year, the Ravensburger expedition (treading the beautifully illustrated paths by Franz Vohwinkel) moved on to win the Game of the Year in Italy and Spain.
Even more gold hit the game when Vincent Dutrait started a second expedition with a new look that led not only to many more discoverer teams from many nations, but also to being awarded the Game of the Year in the Netherlands (999 Games), Poland (Nasza Księgarnia), Hungary (Reflexshop) as well as Finland (Lautapelit).
A true international bestseller, with expansions and promo-packs supporting the continued success of the game, offering ever new challenges to the players in their quest for gold and playful enjoyment with family and friends. Join the expedition!
COTTA TV – The Marshmallow Test
You want everything? You want it now? And you want it for free?
Then you should take the Marshmallow Test!
In case you don’t remember how this test works, our Inspector Cotta has prepared a little explanatory video for you. You will learn everything about delayed gratification and what this has to do with little, fluffy sweets and success in life.
The Marshmallow Test has been conducted over 50 years. Have the results changed over the years? Find it out for yourself… Or, for instant gratification, play our game “The Marshmallow Test!”
COTTA TV – The Marshmallow Test
My City – Our Legacy Game
Over 24 games you have the opportunity to build your own great city. Starting from the early settlements, the game guides you through 8 exciting chapters up to the age of industrialisation.
Each game offers new challenges. Each chapter of 3 games comes with a secret envelope full of new buildings, cards and stickers, with ample prospects to further develop your own personalised city.
Of course, you are in competition with your fellow city builders. After each game there is a score which influences the further course of history.
Enjoy this unique legacy game with simple rules for the whole family.
L.A.M.A. Second to Just One
Our little card game L.A.M.A. came second to Just One for the prestigious German Game of the Year Award 2019.
The L.A.M.A. invasion is now in full swing, with kids, families and adults all over the world falling in love with this little emotional rollercoaster: get out before it gets worse, stay in to improve your score – but never get caught with L.A.M.A. cards in your hand…
Reiner Knizia (left in picture) says thank you to all the L.A.M.A. fans.
For our little L.A.M.A. DRAMA present, click here.
Yellow & Yangtze Best Board Game 2018
Reviewing the year 2018, Scott Alden, owner of BoardGameGeek selects Yellow & Yangtze as the Top Board Game of 2018.
Yellow & Yangtze was released by Grail Games at GenCon in August 2018, and it is the sister game of our all time classic Tigris & Euphrates.
Our Business in Greater China
China has an enormous growth potential still to be roused and explored. Our latest visit to China has greatly extended and deepened our publisher relationships there.
We expect more than 30 new game releases in 2019 in Greater China – some of them world premieres.
‘RK’ says thank you for the overwhelming reception in China.
倪 睿 南
Heckmeck World Championships
More than 2,500 contestants competed in the 12th Heckmeck World Championships. The 70 most successful players made it to the grand final in Munich on 17th March 2018.
After five dramatic rounds, Kolja from Bochum successfully defended the title he won last year and remains the Heckmeck World Champion for another year. Congratulations!
Many thanks to all the players and their families for participating and to Susy Heiss and her team for organising this fantastic event, celebrating the 12th Anniversary of our ‘worm game’ and the upcoming Deluxe edition of the game.
Our Euro Classics Series
Build a great kingdom along the rivers of Tigris & Euphrates. Become the most powerful Samurai in feudal Japan. Lead your dynasty of Egyptian pharaohs to eternal fame under the Sun God Ra. Send your caravans Through The Desert to expand your trading empire. Or compete for the favour of the Grand Mogul in Taj Mahal.
The Quest for El Dorado
Somewhere deep in the South American jungle lies the mythical land of ‘El Dorado’. Legend speaks of unimaginable golden treasures to be found there. But no-one has ever discovered this legendary place.
Now you have the opportunity to assemble your own expedition and lead it to success. But the road ahead is not easy, and other intrepid explorers are already on their way! You must ensure that your expedition is most effective in dealing with the ever-changing terrain and formidable challenges along the way.
If you succeed, victory will be yours in this innovative new deck-building game.
New Arrival – Captain Black
Can you help Captain Black’s ghost to sail his ship to the treasure island before darkness sets in. But beware of the many dangers along the way.
Enjoy this co-operative game with an electronic ghost figure that moves round the ship and (mis)directs your activities while you are desperately trying to keep the ship afloat.
And yes, the ship is really 90cm (3 feet) long!
Ship ahoy!
Top 10 Toy Inventor
A survey of 2,000 inventors named Reiner as one of the world’s top 10 toy inventors, amongst industry giants such as Ole Kirk Christiansen (Lego), Frank Hornby (Hornby Trains, Meccano, Dinky Toys), Erno Rubik (Rubik’s Cube), Ruth Handler (Barbie Doll), and Walter Frederick Morrison (Frisbee).
The Cat has got the Cream!
Our game Mmm!, published by Pegasus, wins the Austrian Game Award 2015.
In this co-operative game for kids and families, you are up against the cat! How much food can you sneak out of the pantry to feed your hungry mouse family before the cat strikes! Run!
Kniziathon Packages on Their Way!
The Kniziathon 30th Anniversary Event has proved to be an enormous success. Here is a batch of prize packages about to leave for all points world-wide after we heard from people wanting to join in the celebrations by organising a Kniziathon of their own: from just a handful of players at a local games club, to dozens at a larger games convention.
In total we sent out over 200 parcels, bringing enjoyment to more than 6,000 Kniziathon participants. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone for taking part!
The Worms come to the Apple
Our famous worm game, also known as Heckmeck, Pickomino, Regenwormen…., is now available in the Apple App Store.
Roll the dice, choose wisely, and grab the biggest worms from the grill. But don’t push your luck too far, or your spoils will get burnt.
Enjoy a local game against computer opponents, or play online against your friends and enemies.
Drachenhort
The first of our five new releases from Ravensburger this year is now available in Germany.
Join up to seven intrepid explorers as you make your way through the treacherous dungeon in search of rich treasures.
But watch out for the fiery dragon, who fiercely guards his valuable horde. If you see him, run!!!!
Reiner in Nuremberg
January and February are amongst the busiest months on Reiner’s calendar. It is this time of year when the major trade shows occur, where publishers exhibit to retailers their new releases for the forthcoming season (including the following Christmas!). The Nuremberg Toy Fair is the largest, and Reiner goes there with new prototypes to demonstrate to those publishers; also to see what they have made of his earlier designs. At the Ravensburger booth, Reiner could demonstrate five new releases, including his new Star Wars game.
The Game is Afoot!
Just released from Simply Fun Games is Do You Know Shakespeare? Do you know which of the following are true Shakespearean phrases?
- ‘Double, double toil and trouble’;
- ‘What the dickens’;
- ‘Lead on, Macduff’.
Every question in the game has six possible answers, and you have to work out which of them are true… You can play individually or in teams, as you identify which are true facts or which are the red herrings. Answer: The first two are correct, the last is a common misquotation.