For those who don’t know, I’m a bit of a board game fanatic. In particular, “German Games” (or sometimes called “Designer Games”) - The German “Spiel des Jahres” (Game of the Year) is like the Oscars for board games. The winner was annouced yesterday and the honors went to “Niagara” designed by Thomas Liesching. Here’s a description from BoardGameGeek…

Niagara is set in the not particularly safe world of rushing waterfalls. In the late 18th Century, the Shawnee and Iroquois Indians pointed white Desperadoes, Mercenaries and Adventurers in the direction of hidden caches of valuable jewels, in the hopes of turning them against one another and away from their territorial expansion ambitions. Players play as some of those Adventurers.

The first player to be able to claim ownership of five jewels is the winner. But the chase after the riches has some snags. The speed of the river is always changing, since the speed depends on the decisions of the players and the changeable weather. And once a canoe goes over the walls, it’s a hefty investment to replace it. And there are also the Desperadoes to contend with, who aren’t above trying to plunder the riches from Adventurers returning home. Niagara is distinguished by an innovative movement mechanic as well as a beautiful three-dimensionsal rendering of the waterfall setting.

It’s a fantastic game, fans of “Carcassonne”, “Settler’s of Catan”, and “Ticket to Ride” (Menolippu) should all enjoy this. Head to lautapelit.fi and order a copy now or goto their store in downtown Helsinki.