SPIEL Essen 2026: 10 New Board Games to Look Forward To
From October 22 to 25, Essen will once again become the ultimate international gathering spot for board game enthusiasts. SPIEL Essen 2026 will bring together hundreds of new releases, ranging from massive eurogames to thematic titles with novel mechanics—and narrowing them down to just ten highlights is no easy task.
At El Taller del Modelista, we have prepared our own curated selection of games we are eager to follow closely. This isn't a strict ranking or tier list: it's a roundup of ten upcoming releases that caught our eye due to their design concepts, thematic settings, or the talented designers and publishers behind them.
There are also plenty of compelling reasons to look beyond the major international publishers. Several Spanish publishers are stepping up with standout titles deserving of a spot on our tables—whether by developing original internal projects or bringing exciting international titles to the Spanish market.
A quick note on language editions: several featured titles will receive official Spanish localizations, though a few lack confirmed release dates. For others, no Spanish edition has been announced yet. We note the current status for each entry so you can verify before purchasing or placing a pre-order.
1. Entropy
Original Publisher: Board & Dice. Spanish Edition: Tranjis Games.
What if you could build an entire solar system from its cosmic inception to the emergence of life? That is the ambitious scope behind Entropy, a strategy game that invites players to orchestrate the birth of stars, planets, and evolving ecosystems.
Co-designed by Tommaso Battista, Simone Luciani, and Nestore Mangone, the game blends engine building and tactical development with an immersive cosmic setting that gives it a distinct identity. During the game, players utilize available actions to cultivate their solar systems, construct diverse planets, and nurture conditions for life to flourish.
The collaboration of veteran strategy game designers with a theme that breaks away from conventional board game tropes makes Entropy an absolute must-watch on our radar. We are particularly eager to see how it distills such a monumental cosmic scale into tight tactical and strategic decisions at the table.
Language: Will be available in Spanish thanks to Tranjis Games.
2. Timespan
Publisher: Alion Games.
Guiding a civilization from the Stone Age to the Space Age within a manageable playing time is the core premise behind Timespan.
Throughout the game, you build your society by acquiring groundbreaking technologies, constructing historical structures, recruiting iconic figures, and unlocking cultural milestones across distinct historical epochs. The key to victory lies in developing a flexible action engine and seizing fleeting opportunities without losing sight of the passage of time and your evolving long-term strategy.
Civilization games are usually associated with marathon play sessions and overwhelming complexity. That makes Timespan's effort to condense the sweeping feeling of historical expansion into a more streamlined, accessible experience—without sacrificing meaningful strategic depth—especially exciting.
Language: No Spanish edition announced yet. We are eagerly awaiting a localized release.
3. Prague Unseen
Publisher: ALBI.
The historical city of Prague and its rich folklore take center stage in Prague Unseen, a strategy game that seamlessly weaves historic urban renewal with legendary creatures and supernatural elements.
The game drops players into a flood-ravaged Prague, where rival factions compete to rebuild the historic city center and capitalize on new opportunities. The inclusion of Golems, Vodniks, and other figures from local folklore gives the game a unique thematic identity that stands apart from standard fantasy settings.
Its city-building and worker placement framework caught our attention for how organically it connects real historical locations with legendary folklore. It is definitely a title worth examining closely to discover how its tactical mechanics interact with its atmospheric setting.
Language: No Spanish edition announced yet. Given the availability of international versions, we recommend checking the specific product listing for details.
4. -60°
Publishers: Nanox Games and DLP Games.
Antarctica in 1971 serves as the cold backdrop for -60°, an intense strategy game combining scientific expeditions, resource management, and tile exploration across a frozen wasteland.
Players command scientific teams that must construct research stations, explore uncharted ice fields, and upgrade operational abilities to advance through an unforgiving environment where every placement carries lasting weight. The setting introduces an alternate history premise, adding an element of mystery to the expedition.
A major highlight of this title is its design pedigree: Alexander Pfister and Peter Prinz. Combining these renowned eurogame designers with such a rare thematic setting is more than enough reason for us to discover how its engine-building and risk-management systems perform on the table.
Language: No Spanish edition announced yet. English and German editions have been announced; please double-check available language options before purchasing.
5. Kingdom Come: Deliverance – The Board Game
Original Publisher: Czech Games Edition. Planned Spanish Edition: Maldito Games.
The universe of the hit video game Kingdom Come: Deliverance makes the leap to the tabletop in a sweeping adventure set in 15th-century Bohemia. Kingdom Come: Deliverance – The Board Game fuses exploration, narrative storytelling, and eurogame mechanics to translate the gritty medieval atmosphere of the original game to the table.
Its historical setting and story-driven gameplay make it one of the most intriguing titles ahead of Essen. We are particularly interested in seeing how the design team balances narrative encounters and world exploration with strategic deck-building and engine planning.
The project features a stellar design team led by Vlaada Chvátil and Tomáš Holek. For fans of the video game franchise, seeing how its authentic world converts into a collaborative board game experience will be a major highlight.
Language: The Spanish edition is planned for 2027 via Maldito Games, though an exact release date is yet to be confirmed.
6. Queen Alice
Publisher: Combo Games.
Inspired by Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass, Queen Alice delivers a unique blend of strategic engine building, card play, and chess-inspired spatial movement.
During the match, players move iconic chess pieces across the board according to standard chess rules to trigger powerful board actions via a card drafting system. As the game unfolds, players refine their decks to pull off devastating card combos while attempting to steer Alice's destiny toward ascending as either the Red Queen or the White Queen.
This tug-of-war for the crown adds a competitive layer to engine building: optimizing your player board isn't enough on its own; you must also adapt your strategy based on which queen is taking the throne. Its enchanting visual presentation and clever integration of chess mechanics make it one of our most anticipated games to play.
Language: A Spanish edition is planned, but a definitive release date has not yet been confirmed.
7. ASHES: Blackout Protocol
Publisher: Perro Loko Games.
Underground colonies fight to rebuild civilization in the wake of nuclear war in ASHES: Blackout Protocol, a strategy game that drops players into a post-apocalyptic wasteland and tasks them with managing critical resources to restore humanity.
Operating from underground bunkers, players dispatch vehicles, rescue stranded civilians, and construct expanded shelter networks. Exploring hazardous surface terrain and upgrading your base must be balanced against resource management and colony radiation control.
Featuring a gritty sci-fi setting and a strategy engine focused on societal reconstruction, we are excited to see how player interaction unfolds and how structural upgrades dictate the trajectory of each match.
Language: Will be available in Spanish.
8. Níjar
Publisher: Perro Loko Games.
The traditional ceramic craftsmanship of Níjar, Almería, serves as the thematic foundation for Níjar, a management and strategy game set inside artisan pottery workshops during the 1920s.
Players manage their own workshops, overseeing the complete pottery production cycle—from harvesting and refining clay to crafting, glazing, and selling finished artisan pieces. Workspace optimization and worker scheduling are vital to expanding your business and achieving local renown.
The setting also highlights other celebrated traditional crafts from the region, such as esparto grass weaving and jarapa rug making. In a genre dominated by industrial, commercial, or grand civilization themes, grounding a eurogame in a authentic regional craft tradition is incredibly refreshing.
Níjar stands out as a compelling blend of tight strategy and rich regional culture, offering a wonderful opportunity to explore a piece of Almería's historical artisan heritage through modern board game design.
Language: Will be available in Spanish.
9. Diables
Publisher: Salt & Pepper Games.
The Ball de Diables—a traditional Mediterranean street festival with deep historic roots in Catalonia—inspires Diables, the new strategy eurogame designed by Dani García. Players lead their own street troupe (colla), staging spectacular pyrotechnic performances to dazzle spectators and earn prestige.
To succeed, you must coordinate your troupe members, manage diverse pyrotechnic supplies, and react to changing crowd dynamics as the parade moves through the city streets. Meticulous show planning and clever resource allocation are essential to outshining rival troupes during the festival.
Beyond its worker placement and management mechanisms, what makes Diables truly stand out is how faithfully it transforms a cultural tradition into core gameplay mechanics. Theme isn't just window dressing here: it actively shapes your tactical decisions and the type of fireworks show you assemble.
It is another exciting release highlighting the creative strength of Spanish publishers and designers willing to explore fresh, unexpected themes in medium-heavy board games.
Language: Will be available in Spanish.
10. Gaudí
Publisher: Devir.
The life and architectural genius of Antoni Gaudí inspire Gaudí, a strategy game designed by Dani García that invites players to step into the creative universe of one of history's most celebrated architects.
Throughout the game, players draft cards and collect colorful trencadís mosaic tiles to build out their player boards. Scoring revolves around three core pillars central to Gaudí's identity: Nature, Catalonia, and Faith. Success requires balancing all three, as your final score will be heavily influenced by the pillar in which you have made the least progress.
The game seamlessly pairs card drafting and tile placement with unmistakable artistic inspiration. We love the idea of Gaudí's work serving as more than just a thematic backdrop—acting instead as the direct foundation for strategic decision-making and mosaic composition on the table.
Furthermore, this release arrives at a historic moment. 2026 marks the centenary of Antoni Gaudí's passing (June 10, 1926) and is officially celebrated as the Year of Gaudí. This timely release from Devir offers a fantastic opportunity to honor his architectural legacy through tabletop gaming.
Language: Will be available in a multilingual edition (Spanish, Catalan, English, Italian, Portuguese).
Ten Games We Can't Wait to Follow at Essen
This selection gathers diverse tabletop experiences: from building solar systems and guiding historical civilizations to exploring mythical cities, rebuilding society after nuclear devastation, or managing traditional craft workshops and cultural festivals.
It also highlights the flourishing creative momentum within Spanish board game publishing, as local studios continue to produce original designs while bringing outstanding international titles to wider audiences. For us, SPIEL Essen is the ultimate opportunity to discover which bold ideas are taking shape and which games will earn a permanent spot on our gaming tables in the coming months.
As always, this list isn't an exhaustive ranking, nor does it imply these are the only titles worth following. These are simply ten exciting upcoming games that spark our curiosity, and we look forward to tracking them closely throughout SPIEL Essen 2026.
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