Visiting Essen Spiel
What is Essen Spiel all about?
Introduction
The Internationale Spieltage SPIEL is the world's largest fair for board games and role-playing games. It's been held each year in Essen, Germany since 1968 when it was called "Spielwarenmesse". Nowadays it's known as SPIEL or simply Spiel, and many people refer to it by its full name "Spieltage" (or "Spielwarenmesse") because they don't know what else to call it.
When is it?
The four day show runs from Thursday to Sunday each October.
Where is it?
Essen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Located on the Ruhr river, it is the second largest city of the Ruhr area and is the eighth largest city in Germany.
Spieltage SPIEL – the Internationale Spieltage SPIEL for short – is the world's largest fair for board games and role-playing games. It's held each year in October in Essen, Germany.
While the name may sound like it's German for "play," Spiel is actually short for Spielesammlung, or collection of games. The Spieltage SPIEL – the Internationale Spieltage SPIEL for short – is the world's largest fair for board games and role-playing games, held each year in October in Essen, Germany.
It's a place where both new and established game makers can get their hands on prototype copies of their latest creations without having to travel across Europe to try them out. If you're lucky enough to be there at just the right moment, you might even get a chance to play with some prototypes yourself!
Attendees are introduced to new games and meet publishers, designers, artists, and authors; they can also play with friends or make new acquaintances. The gaming industry sees it as a place to be seen, to interact with fans and customers, and to expand their networks.
The convention is held at the Messe Essen exhibition centre, which has been the site of many other large events in its history. It was built between 1909 and 1910 as a trade fair and exhibition venue. The hall can be divided into two parts: one for conferences that holds up to 14,000 people and another for gaming conventions that holds up to 24,000 people.
Remember the first time you played Catan? Or how awesome it was when you discovered The Resistance? Well if you do then you'll want to know all about Spiel.
Spiel is the world's largest fair for board games and role-playing games. It’s held every year in October in Essen, Germany.
Spiel is a place to be seen, to interact with fans and customers, and to expand their networks. Spiel is where some of the most popular board games get released every year by some of the World's top publishers.
It’s also where you can play many upcoming titles before they release so you can decide if they're worth investing in or not (or just try them out). And if you're looking for something specific they might have it on display already at Spiel because distributors get their hands on new titles early so they can test them out among retailers before putting them up for sale on shelves at stores throughout Europe during Christmas time each year!
Will UKGE be attending Essen Spiel?
UK Games Expo will be exhibiting at Essen Spiel 2024. Watch this space for more info!
Rest assured the tea urn and our brew kits will return!