The results of the Deutscher Spiele Preis (German Game Prize) 2026 have been partially revealed, with the top three vote-getters being (alphabetically):
- Boss Fighters QR, by Michael Palm, Lukas Zach, and Pegasus Spiele
- Galactic Cruise, by T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, Koltin Thompson, and Kinson Key Games
- Sanctuary, by Mathias Wigge and Feuerland Spiele
Each year, residents of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland can submit an ordered list of their five favorite games in the DSP competition, with any game released between 1 May of one year and 30 April of the following year being eligible.
The three-month voting period ended on 31 August 2026, and the three titles above received the most votes. On 21 October 2026, the day before SPIEL Essen 26 opens, the order of these three titles will be revealed during an event hosted by convention organizer Merz Verlag. Places 4-10 in the voting results are:
- 4 — The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship, by Matt Leacock and Z-Man Games
- 5 — Take Time, by Alexi Piovesan, Julien Prothière, and Libellud
- 6 — Rebirth, by Reiner Knizia and Mighty Boards
- 7 — Cozy Stickerville, by Corey Konieczka and Unexpected Games
- 8 — River of Gold, by Keith Piggott and Office Dog
- 9 — Star Trek: Captain's Chair, by Nigel Buckle, Dávid Turczi, and WizKids
- 10 — Forest Shuffle: Dartmoor, by Kosch and Lookout Games
The titles with the most votes in the children's category, for which voters can list only a single title, are (in alphabetical order):
- Mooki Island, by Florian Sirieix and Scorpion Masqué
- Paleolino, by Marco Teubner and Hans im Glück
- Toriki: The Castaway Island, by Wojciech Grajkowski and Lucky Duck Games
As above, the children's game with the most votes will be revealed prior to the opening of SPIEL Essen 26.
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