It's opening day for Season 21 of The Spiel. First, Doug Richardson returns as co-host for the show! Then we introduce three new segments: Game Lab with Lucio Rodriguez Spielunking the Game Cave with @runningboardgamer.bsky.social The Playground with James Engelhardt thespiel.net/node/1400

Looking forward to being at GAMA Expo in Louisville next week with a small team from The Spiel Foundation! We’re a non profit organization celebrating twenty years promoting play as a positive and powerful force in the world.

We will be punching games at Casa de Spiel this Saturday from 11-6. If you have a few hours, come join the fun! There’s a decent chance we’ll be moving games into our new home next month. We’ll need an army for that monumental task. Keep your fingers crossed. thespielfoundation.com?tribe_events...

Season 20 of The Spiel finishes with a flourish and a coronation. Two incredible games have been selected as Meeple Crown winners: Fromage and Hot Streak! Congrats to Ben Rosset, Matthew O'Malley & R2i Games (Fromage) and Jon Perry & CMYK Games (Hot Streak)! thespiel.net/node/1399

The latest winner of the Major Fun Award is... Barbecubes! Flip a card, then find a way to fit the food shown on the world’s tiniest grill.. using the world’s tiniest tongs. Congrats to designers Rob Sparks & Brett J Gilbert and publisher Alley Cat Games! thespiel.net/node/1398 #boardgames

The latest winner of The Spiel of Approval Award is... Sand Art! From a common workbench, take actions to fill your bottle with lovely patterns to create a one of a kind piece of art. Congratulations to designer Kory Jordan and publisher @25thcentury.games thespiel.net/node/1397

The latest winner of the Major Fun Award is... Duck & Cover! Move duck cards from a grid into stacks. The Captain calls out a duck number. Everyone uses this duck to cover a neighbor OR it swims to a new space Congrats to Oussama Khelifati & @captaingames.bsky.social thespiel.net/node/1396

The latest winner of The Spiel of Approval Award is... Chai Garam! Tea is not just a beverage in India. It’s a way of life - an emotion. Only the best brewers will stand out and succeed. Congratulations to designer Sidhant Chand and publisher Mozaic Games! thespiel.net/node/1395 #boardgames

The latest winner of the Major Fun Award is... Oya One More! Match dice you roll to the pattern on a card. Here’s the catch! You can only match a single die or ALL the dice to a card. Congratulations to designer KC Ogbuagu and publisher Nibcard Games! thespiel.net/node/1394

The latest winner of The Spiel of Approval is... Love Conquers All! Place tiles representing challenges we face when building relationships so they fit within the framework of the board. Congratulations to designer Jeff Siadek & Gorilla Games! thespiel.net/node/1393 #boardgames #spielofapproval

The latest winner of The Spiel of Approval Award is... Tofu Shifu! Develop recipes to serve your customer’s tastes and become a master of this culinary art. Congratulations to designers Ayi & Hypercross R&D and publisher Ayi Games thespiel.net/node/1392 #boardgames #spielofapproval

The latest winner of the Major Fun Award is... Whirly Derby! Secretly choose how many of your marbles to risk on each race, then load everyone’s marbles into the launcher and let them fly! Congrats to Tedman Getschman & Big Potato thespiel.net/node/1391 #boardgames #majorfun

The latest winner of The Spiel of Approval Award is... Boom Patrol! Blow up tanks, gather gold, or gain glory to collect the most medals over a few brutally short and crazy rounds. Congratulations to designers Anthony & Nicole Amato & @smirkanddagger.bsky.social thespiel.net/node/1390

The latest winner of The Spiel of Approval Award is... Rock Hard 1977! Find a road to fame and fortune by rocking out. How you spend your time will shape the course of your career. Congratulations to designer @jackiefox.bsky.social @devirgames.bsky.social thespiel.net/node/1389 #boardgames

The latest winner of The Spiel of Approval Award is... Don Quixote: The Ingenious Hidalgo! Guide Don Quixote through a series of adventures over two chapters, hoping to shape his character and the outcome of the story to match your goals. thespiel.net/node/1388 #spielofapproval #boardgames

My work at The Spiel Foundation includes overseeing two game award programs with decades of history. The Major Fun Award celebrates games with a playful soul - games great for kids, families or parties The Spiel of Approval Award celebrates games that encourage thoughtful or strategic play

My friend Fagner is a brilliant game designer from Brazil. He has a new roll-and-write game called Christmas Union about elves organizing for fair working conditions at the North Pole. Still a few days left to support his work and get a copy. gamefound.com/en/projects/...?

It’s Giving Tuesday and The Spiel Foundation could use your help. We are in the process of renovating an old church to become The DeKoven Center for Play! We’re making great progress but still have miles to go and many bills to pay before we can open in 2026. www.gofundme.com/f/support-th...

A new episode of The Spiel is now available! Episode 464 - A Tale of Two Essens (with a side of haggis) Rick Hammerle and Katherine Rosland join the show to chat about our experiences at the world’s largest game fair, plus a side quest to Scotland Https://thespiel.net/node/1387

Six pies made for the big meal today: 2 apple 2 pumpkin 1 mincemeat and 1 cherry/raspberry mix. The making is as enjoyable as the eating.

Now that the dust has settled, here's a wrap up of our Essen Spiel 2025 adventures! thespielfoundation.com?p=19948 #playmatters #spielfoundation #boardgames

My friends in Enugu, Nigeria are hoping to host the second annual SebCon. They need to raise a modest sum ($2,000) to grow the event. Watch the intro video and you'll see the whole SebCon team's passion for play is a positive force in the world. www.kickstarter.com/projects/seb...

Come play Owo Ni Koko from designer Olusanya Oluwafemi at the Nigeria table in Hall 4 C-100 at The Spiel Foundation booth!

Come meet designer Yen Lin and demo Hegemony of Faith from 11-1 every day in Hall 4 C-100 at The Spiel Foundation booth.

We are ready for Essen Spiel Day 1 at The Spiel Foundation booth! Come play 24 different games from 5 different countries over the course of the fair. You can also try your luck at our mini-Spielathon to help us raise funds and maybe even win a prize!

Episode 463 of The Spiel is now available! Chelsea Steenbock, Chair of Play with Your Food, and I chat about how games have shaped our lives and how our passion for play enables us to build community and serve others beyond the game table. thespiel.net/node/1386 #boardgames #thespiel #playmatters

I am incredibly excited to announce The Spiel Foundation's game demo schedule for Spiel Essen 2025! We have 23 different games to demo with designers from 5 different countries: Nigeria, Taiwan, South Africa, Brasil, and Australia! thespielfoundation.com?p=19788 #boardgames #spielessen

The latest winner of the Major Fun Award is... Cyber Pet Quest! Humans have become techno-zombies, infected by a virus in their gadgets. Can your ragtag team of sentient cyber pets save the day? Congrats @deadalivegames.bsky.social! www.majorfun.com/cyber-pet-qu... #Boardgames #majorfunaward

The latest winner of the Major Fun Award is Lost for Words. Explore how language shapes our feelings & our ability to connect with and share them. Sometimes it takes just the right word to not feel so lost. Congrats @pinktigergames.com! www.majorfun.com/lost-for-wor... #boardgames #majorfunaward

Episode 462 of The Spiel is now available! Canadian Spielers Matt Robertson and Roger Leroux join us for a rousing chat across many topics, including the awe-inspiring story of Play with Your Food, a gaming charity in Regina, Saskatchewan. thespiel.net/node/1383 #BoardGames #PlayMatters

The latest winner of the Major Fun Award is... Combo! Assembling fruit salad is a collective effort. Offer up fruit cards, hoping to be part of the best combo at the end. Congrats to designer Ikhwan Kwon & @happycampergames.bsky.social www.majorfun.com/combo-is-maj... #BoardGames #majorfunaward

The latest winner of the Major Fun Award is... Hot Streak! Four minor league mascots compete in a footrace that could net you cold hard cash. Read on to discover why we love this absurdly awesome and hilarious game! www.majorfun.com/hot-streak-i...

Ready to punch games all day, prepping them for The Spiel Foundation’s bundle program! Woo!

Come join us for an afternoon of tabletop craziness and raise money for a great cause. Announcing the 2025 Spielathon! When: Saturday, Aug 2 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM Where: COhatch Circle Center 49 W Maryland St. Indianapolis, IN 46204 (next to Ruth's Chris) Cost $10 thespielfoundation.com?p=19737

I have some incredible news to share. After six very long years searching, The Spiel Foundation has found a home, its very own building in Indianapolis! The DeKoven Center for Play will be a hub for all our activities and good work. More details (and pics!) here: thespielfoundation.com?p=19719

Episode 461 of The Spiel is now available! A con report, a solo game about coming out, and big news brewing in the Spielaverse. T Listen in for some great gaming conversations with Mike McMann and @pacogmsmagazine.bsky.social ! thespiel.net/node/1380

Thanks to this great crew of Spielers, we prepared over 2,000 books and games for The Spiel Foundation bundle program in a single day!! Next punch party is July 19 11am-6pm. Mark your calendars and join the fun!

The latest winner of The Spiel of Approval Award is... War Story: Occupied France. Guided by choose-your-own-adventure style booklets, can you gather the intel, equipment & allies to stop Nazi forces? Congrats to designers Davids Neale & Thompson and publisher Osprey Games! thespiel.net/node/1379

My amazing friend Paco García Jaen has created a solo RPG called Closet. It’s a gay awareness-raising game designed to build greater empathy and understanding. Take on the role of a gay man trying to come out of the closet and live a full life. www.kickstarter.com/projects/gms...

Episode 460 of The Spiel is now available! Onion pie, killer aliens, and a car sold to fund a game convention. Join the fun and listen in using the link below: thespiel.net/node/1378

The latest winner of The Spiel of Approval Award is... Burn the Fort! Attack relentless lines of wagons heading west to slow expansion and burn the colonizer’s fort to the ground. Congratulations to designer Klee Benally and publisher Indigenous Action Media! thespiel.net/node/1377

The latest winner of the Major Fun Award is... Diatoms! Collect and arrange algae samples into colorful microscopic mosaics. Congratulations to designer Sabrina Culyba, @ludoliminal.bsky.social & @25thcentury.games www.majorfun.com/diatoms-is-m...

The Spiel Foundation is incredibly grateful to be partnering with Cardboard Alchemy on their latest game - Flamecraft Duals! Buy a copy and you will have the option to add another for only $10. The extra game will be donated to our game bundle program! www.kickstarter.com/projects/car...

Episode 459 of The Spiel is ready for action! -- Iced Tea, Dog Rating & Smooth Jazz -- @bruceandsquirrel.bsky.social chats about ungamifiable games Jason Hsieh tells us about his Favorite Game Lucio Rodriguez shines the backshelf spotlight on Heroscape thespiel.net/node/1375

Happy Spielaversary! 19 years ago today we launched The Spiel and a year later The Spiel Foundation was born. I never would have thought this crazy idea would become a major chapter of my life. I am so grateful and lucky to connect w/ people around the world who share a passion for play!

The latest winner of The Spiel of Approval Award is... Fromage! Gather ingredients and assign your staff to a rotating game board, one wedge at a time. Congrats to Ben Rosset, Matthew O'Malley, R2i Games & @allplay.bsky.social! Read on to learn why we love the game. thespiel.net/node/1374

The latest winner of the Major Fun Award is... Odin! Send cards from your hand to Valhalla by surpassing the value of your neighbor’s contribution. A modern twist on a classic climbing or “ladder-style” game. Congrats to the designers & @helvetiq.bsky.social www.majorfun.com/odin-is-majo...

Happy Trans Day of Visibility!

Season 20 of The Spiel begins with flourish and 3 Gs... Growth, Gubbins, and GAMA! Growth: We introduce a new format for the show. Gubbins: Co-Op Corner, a new segment hosted by Gubbins makes its debut! GAMA: Erwin Susara and I recap our adventures at the GAMA Expo. thespiel.net/node/1372

Episode 2: Pull List totally knocked my socks off. It is wonderfully funny, super nerdy, & incredibly important. It left me in tears. The good kind. If you’re a nerd or geek of any flavor, seek it out www.imdb.com/title/tt3305... I hope Apple sees the potential in this for a series of its own