Finnish Toy Association picked the finalists and winners of the Game of the Year in three categories: children, family and adults. There were plenty of good games participating and these games made it to the end:
Children’s Category
* Winner : Eläinpyramidi (Tavella)
* Finalist: Koko perhe näyttelee (Tactic)
* Finalist: Muumien sanasirkus (Egmont)
Comment: I have to admit that I have not playerd any of these games. This is going to change though because I’m planning on a podcast on all the finalists and have gotten hold on most of the games.
Family Category
* Winner : Bandu (Bausack) (Competo)
* Finalist: Oregon (Lautapelit.fi)
* Finalist: Qwirkle (Competo)
Comment: We had a great selection this year in this category and some good games were left out of the final three. Bandu is a game for the whole family and is fun with anyone. Oregon is a solid game as is Qwirkle but they might have done better in the adult category because they are more complex than Bandu.
Adult’s Category
* Winner: Modern Art (Lautapelit.fi)
* Finalist: Taidolla ja Tuurilla (Wits and Wagers) (Competo)
* Finalist: Maximus (Gambit Games)
Comment: I was pretty sure that Taidolla tai Tuurilla would have won because it’s a game that is fun with gamers and non-gamers. Usually these games have done best in the competition. But this year Modern Art took the win and there’s good reasons for that: the game is excellent and Lautapelit.fi produced a Finnish version out of the game with unic graphic design. I was also pleased that Gambit Games and Maximus got among the finalists. Maximus is a solid game and a example of the possibility to develop and produce a Finnish board game in every sense.
Overall I must say that I’m very pleased with these results. It’s great to have good games winning the prizes than bad and these are games which I can recommend to anybody.