These are the winners of De Nederlandse Spellenprijs!
On 11 October, De Nederlandse Spellenprijs was presented at Spellenwereld Assen. The jury announced the winners in the categories Best Family Game, Best Connoisseur Game and Best Expert Game.
To be eligible for the title, a game must be published in Dutch, available on the Dutch market, and released between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025. So you may well have already played one of these games at last year’s Spellenspektakel!
A family game is suitable for a wide audience, including children aged 8 and above. A connoisseur game is suitable for players who are looking for more of a challenge and don’t mind a slightly longer playing time. An expert game is suitable for players with more playing experience, where the complexity and playing time do not need to be limited.
After the nominees are announced in July, the expert jury evaluates the games. The jury consists of 13 game enthusiasts who work in the Dutch-language gaming world and, in that capacity, play many games.
Best Family Game 2025: Bomb Busters
The best game in the Family Game category is Bomb Busters by 999 Games.
In Bomb Busters by 999 Games, you and your fellow players have a mission to defuse the bomb. Can you work well together as a team? The game contains 66 missions, each with its own challenges. This keeps the game exciting every time you play. Can you keep a cool head and work together as a team?
What does the jury think?
Bomb Busters is a deduction game that keeps everyone on the edge of their seats. You are truly working together to defuse the bomb, and you can feel it in your gut when someone hesitates over a disastrous choice. How can you share important knowledge? The clever design makes it exciting for any number of players and challenging for everyone. What will our next mission be?
The other nominees for Best Family Game 2025 were:
Faraway by White Goblin Games
In the card game Faraway by White Goblin Games, you are constantly engaged in tactics. The jury described it as a game in which you balance your goals and your possibilities every turn, in order to optimise your next steps based on the path you have already taken.
The scoring is exactly the opposite of what we are used to, which also makes for a fresh and challenging experience.
Pixies by Gamin’BIZ
The beautiful card game Pixies by Gamin’BIZ is a gem on the table, according to the jury. It is easy to understand, but has a surprising number of layers. Each round, you make new considerations and choices. This keeps the game playable for players of all levels.
Best Connoisseur Game 2025: Botanicus
The best game in the Connoisseur Game category is Botanicus by 999 Games.
Botanicus is a board game from 999 Games with a typically Dutch theme: flowers and gardens. As a diligent gardener, you ensure that your garden is filled with the most valuable plants. Let your garden blossom and who knows, it might even attract valuable animals!
What does the jury think?
The jury is very enthusiastic about this optimisation game. They appreciate how expert choices are elegantly simplified without compromising tactical sophistication. The various possibilities ensure that your garden looks different every time you play. It has high replayability and offers experienced players enough extra challenge. The jury: ‘You want to master this gardening game, which means you’ll quickly plan your next game session.’
The other nominees for Best Connoisseur Game 2025 were:
Komeet by HOT Games
Komeet by HOT Games is set in prehistoric times, just before the comet strikes. You decide which animals grow up and put together the strongest group. Make sure they help each other and are safe in the cave before the comet strikes. The jury is very enthusiastic about this strategic game, which combines different game mechanisms to create an extra challenge. For example, strong animals take longer to travel than weaker ones, but the positioning game in the middle of the table also adds extra factors to take into account. This results in an elegant strategic game with fluid, tactical surprises, according to the jury.
Pirates of Maracaibo by Geronimo Games
With your fearless crew, you navigate your ship through the Caribbean in Pirates of Maracaibo. In this optimisation game from Geronimo Games, you have to set a brisk pace. You make clear choices to reach your finish line. But be careful, because one misstep and you’ll fall behind. The jury puts it nicely: ‘Whether your choices will prove sufficient to achieve the current goals remains exciting until the very end.’
Best Expert Game 2025: SETI – De Zoektocht naar Buitenaarde Intelligentie
The best game in the Expert Game category is SETI – De Zoektocht naar Buitenaarde Intelligentie by DSV Games
In SETI by DSV Games, we search for intelligent life in the universe. Invest in technology, scan nearby stars and plan space travel. By using the orbits of celestial bodies, you can speed up your journeys.
What does the jury think?
The jury is very enthusiastic about the many possibilities in this development game. It creates a positive gaming experience and the surprises in the game provide enough excitement while playing. No two experiences in this space will be the same.
The other nominees for Best Expert Game 2025 were:
Men-Nefer by Keep Exploring Games
In this strategic building game by Keep Exploring Games, it’s not about whether you progress, but how quickly. Every choice in Men-Nefer influences numerous elements, and every action triggers an avalanche of possibilities. The elegant design keeps this enormous flow of possibilities clear and playable. Will you contribute the most to the unique culture of the ancient Egyptian capital?
Windmill Valley by Board & Dice
Windmill Valley has a Dutch theme as well. In this game from Board & Dice, you manage windmills, invest in tulip bulbs and who knows, you might even export them. The speed at which the windmills turn determines the pace of the game. The jury describes Windmill Valley as an economic game. Every turn is important and presents dilemmas: “Can I do something else first, or will I be too late?” In this quintessentially Dutch polder landscape, timing is crucial.
Vote for your favourite winner
De Nederlandse Spellenprijs has been around for 25 years now! In that quarter of a century, a total of 41 winners have been crowned. From 2001 to 2011, there were 8 nominated games and one winner. In 2013, the distinction between the categories Family Games and Expert Games was introduced. From then on, three games were nominated per category and one winner was chosen per category. Since 2020, the category Connoisseur Games has also been added.
As a fun activity, last month the public was able to vote for their favourite winner from the 25 years of winners. The 41 games to choose from were:
Machiavelli, Cartegena, Puerto Rico, Maharadja, De Ontembare Stad, Caylus magna carta, De Vorsten van Florence, Cuba, Agricola, Hoogspanning, Hanzesteden, Lancaster, King of Tokyo, Terra Mystica, Qwixx, De Legenden van Andor, Splendor, Concordia, Avonturenland, Marco Polo, Droomhuis, Orléans, Azul, Gaia Project, Welcome to your perfect place, Rovers van de Noordzee, Point Salad, de Crew, Architecten van het Westelijk Koninkrijk, CuBirds, It’s a Wonderful World, Everdell, Cascadia, Libertalia – de winden van Galecrest, Ark Nova, De Betoverde Torens, Heat, Sleeping Gods, Sky Team, Forest Shuffle, Sabika
The favourite winner? That turned out to be the 2022 Experts Game Ark Nova by White Goblin Games.
De Nederlandse Spellenprijs at Spellenspektakel 2025
De Nederlandse Spellenprijs is a committee within the Dutch Game Association Ducosim. Both the Dutch Game Award and Ducosim will be present again this year at the Spellenspektakel, on 8 & 9 November 2025 at the Jaarbeurs. Here you will find all the winners and (part of) the jury. Will we see you there?