Queen Games


Queen Games is a German publisher of tabletop games, based in Troisdorf and founded in 1992 by head Rajive Gupta, which specialises primarily in German-style, family-level games but has also published smaller numbers of both simpler, children's games and more complex, gamers' games.
They have shown a propensity for re-releasing previously self-published games in professionally illustrated editions, having drawn multiple times from the catalogues of db-Spiele and, more recently, Winsome Games, and re-releasing those already published by themselves with a different theme and varying degrees of revision of the rules. One of their more popular releases is Alhambra, itself developed from a game originally self-published in 1992, which won the Spiel des Jahres and placed second in the Deutscher Spiele Preis in 2003. Alhambra has since spawned many expansions and a number of standalone spin-offs and could be considered the "franchise" of the company. They are also known to some extent for publishing many games designed by Dirk Henn, with illustration by Jo Hartwig or Michael Menzel and/or with an Arabian theme, whether set within the Arabian Peninsula itself or an Islamic culture such as Al-Andalus. Other games published by Queen Games include , San Francisco Cable Car and Wallenstein.
In 2000, Queen Games switched from publishing their games in traditionally horizontal, shallow, rectangularly faced boxes in various shapes and sizes to using distinctively "fatter" boxes designed for being stacked vertically in only four standardised box sizes and their publications from about 2005 to 2010 have typically been produced in both a domestic version with only German rules and an export version with rules in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and German and the title on the box changed to be more language-independent. If the game components contain text this is replaced in the export version with either language-independent symbols or a translation into English. Some of their games have, however, also been re-published by publishers based in other countries in fully translated versions. Both practices appear to be being gradually phased out as of February 2010, with most new games being packaged in shallower, square-fronted boxes and produced in one German-titled, multilingual edition; only those that are language-dependent have separate domestic and export editions.

Notable publications

Listed below are games published at some point by Queen Games that have been recommended by international awards or considered notable enough to be re-released by Queen or other publishers.
Export nameGerman nameTranslated nameReleaseDesignerNotes
–Expedition–1996Ursula and Wolfgang KramerPreviously published as Wildlife Adventure in 1985 by Ravensburger; recommended for the 1997 Spiel des Jahres, 8th place in the 1997 Deutscher Spiele Preis, winner of the 1996 Meeples' Choice Award
–Res publicaRes publica1998Reiner KniziaPreviously published in 1991 by Hexagames; published in English in 1999 by Avalanche Press and in 2011/2012 by Queen Games
–Schnäppchen JagdBargain Hunt1998Uwe RosenbergPublished in English as Bargain Hunter in November 2010 by Valley Games
–Die HändlerThe Traders1999Wolfgang Kramer and Richard UlrichRecommended for the 1999 Spiel des Jahres, 5th place in the 1999 Deutscher Spiele Preis; published in English as Merchants of the Middle Ages in 2010 by Z-Man Games
–Don–2001Michael SchachtRepublished as Serengeti in 2006 by Asmodée Éditions and in English as Serengeti in 2007 by ABACUSSPIELE
Industria: 600 Years of ProgressIndustria – 600 Jahre Entwicklung–2003Michael SchachtA different box was produced for each individual language but components remained in German; finalist for the 2004 International Gamers Award in the general strategy games, multiplayer category; republished as Industry in 2010 by Ystari Games
AlhambraDer Palast von AlhambraThe Palace of Alhambra2003-03Dirk HennPreviously implemented as Al Capone in 1992 by db-Spiele and as Stimmt so! in 1998 by Queen Games; winner of the 2003 Spiel des Jahres, winner of the 2003 Essen Feather, 2nd place in the 2003 Deutscher Spiele Preis, winner of the 2003 As d'Or, winner of the 2005 game of the year award in Finland, Sweden and Norway; published in English in 2004 by Überplay and in 2009 by Esdevium Games, republished as Alhambra: Anniversary Edition in 2008 and as New York in 2010, reimplemented as Granada in 2009
The Gardens of the AlhambraDie Gärten der Alhambra–2004-10Dirk HennPreviously published as Carat in 1993 by db-Spiele and as Carat in 1998 by Queen Games; recommended for the 2005 Spiel des Jahres
ArchitektonArchitekton2005-04Michael SchachtPreviously published as Contra in 2001 by Spiele aus Timbuktu
TombouctouTimbuktuTimbuktu2005-10Dirk HennPreviously published as Timbuktu in 1993 by db-Spiele; recommended for the 2006 Spiel des Jahres
ShogunShogun–2006-10Dirk HennPreviously implemented as Wallenstein in 2002 by Queen Games; finalist for the 2003 International Gamers Award in the general strategy games, multiplayer category
ThebesJenseits von ThebenBeyond Thebes2007-03Peter PrinzPreviously published as Jenseits von Theben in 2004 by Prinz Spiele; nominated for the 2007 Spiel des Jahres
EketorpEketorp – Die WikingerburgEketorp: The Viking Stronghold2007-10Dirk HennPreviously published as Eketorp in 2003 by db-Spiele
The Thief of BaghdadDer Dieb von Bagdad–2006-10Thorsten GimmlerNominated for the 2007 Spiel des Jahres
Chicago ExpressChicago Express–2008-10Harry WuPreviously published as Wabash Cannonball in 2007 by Winsome Games
SultanSultan–2009-09André Zatz and Sérgio HalabanPreviously published as Riquezas do Sultão in 2007 by Estrela
GranadaGranada–2009-10Dirk HennPreviously implemented as Alhambra
Arena: Roma IIArena – Revolte in Rom IIArena: Revolt in Rome II2009-10Stefan FeldSequel to Roma, published in 2005 by Queen Games, sharing the same system but having different cards; both have the components to be played as a standalone games but may be combined with one another
San Francisco Cable CarSan Francisco Cable Car–2009-10Dirk HennPreviously published as Iron Horse in 1997 by db-Spiele and as Metro in 2000 by Queen Games; recommended for the 2000 Spiel des Jahres, winner of the 2001 Mensa Select award, finalist for the 2001 International Gamers Award in the general strategy games, multiplayer category
FrescoFresko–2010-03Marco Ruskowski and Marcel SüßelbeckWinner of the 2010 Deutscher Spiele Preis, nominated for the 2010 Spiel des Jahres
Samarkand: Routes to RichesSamarkand – Karawane zum ReichtumSamarkand: Caravan to Riches2010-03David V. H. Peters and Harry WuPreviously implemented as Age of Scheme: Routes to Riches in 2008 by Winsome Games; recommended for the 2010 Spiel des Jahres
Showmanager––2010-09Dirk HennPreviously published as Premiere in 1992 by db-Spiele, as Showmanager in 1997 by Queen Games and as Atlantic Star in 2002 by Queen Games; recommended for the 1997 Spiel des Jahres, recommended for the 2002 Spiel des Jahres, 3rd place in the 1997 Deutscher Spiele Preis, winner of the 1997 Meeples' Choice Award
Paris Connection––2011-01David V. H. PetersPreviously published as SNCF in 2010 by Winsome Games
German Railways––2011/2012Harry WuPreviously implemented as Preußische Ostbahn in 2008 by Winsome Games
Dschunke–Junk2011/2012Michael SchachtPreviously published in 2002 by Queen Games; recommended for the 2002 Spiel des Jahres, 3rd place in the 2002 Deutscher Spiele Preis, finalist for the 2003 International Gamers Award in the general strategy games, multiplayer category
Escape: The Curse of the TempleEscape: Der Fluch des Tempels–2012Kristian Amundsen Østby2012 Meeples' Choice Nominee, 2013 Origins Awards Best Family, Party or Children's Game Nominee, 2013 Spiel des Jahres Game of the Year Recommended, 2013 UK Games Expo Best Boardgame Nominee.