Spiel

About this board game

Spiel is a board game for 2–6 players with a playing time of 20 minutes, first published in 1980. Its unusual tetrahedral board is paired with dice in three colors, creating the foundation for a series of different games.

Some activities focus on dexterity, while others use abstract movement. Rather than presenting just one fixed experience, Spiel offers a gaming system in which players are encouraged to devise new games of their own.

• An unusual tetrahedral board
• Dice in three colors
• Games involving dexterity and abstract movement
• A system designed to inspire player-created games

The game is also notable for its aesthetic appeal. Its distinctive geometric board and colorful dice give Spiel a strong visual identity, while its open-ended design invites experimentation beyond the included series of games.

Spiel has appeared in several editions. Edition Perlhuhn first published it in 1980 with 301 dice and 57 games; Kosmos released an edition in 1986 with 281 dice, and Abacus re-issued it in 2004 with 166 dice and fewer games. Abacus revived it again in 2011 with 121 dice.

The Kosmos edition displayed an age range of “4-99,” while the latest edition shows “6+.” This edition is also part of the franckh/“Edition Perlhuhn” series. The system was expanded by “55”, published by Abacus in 2005.

With its unusual components and invitation to create, Spiel is a distinctive entry in abstract and dexterity gaming.