The Spiel des Jahres award Trivia Quiz

Answer: Germany

"Spiel des Jahres" translates to "Game of the Year" in German. The award was created in 1978 to recognise and encourage high quality games. The winner each year is decided by an independent jury, with eligibility extended to games released in the German market in the preceding 12 months.

Answer: Sales volume

The fourth criterion (in addition to concept, rule structure and layout) is game design, which encompasses functionality and workmanship. Profitability is not a factor in the jury's decision. However, given the prestige in which the award is regarded, a win can do wonders for a game's sales and market spread.

Answer: Catan

"The Settlers of Catan" (first released as "Die Siedler von Catan" in Germany) won in 1995. With over half-a-dozen expansions released and versions translated into at least 30 languages, "Settlers" has become one of the most internationally popular games of the early 21st century.

Game designer Klaus Teuber has three other Spiel des Jahres winners to his name: Drunter und Drüber, Hoity Toity and Barbarossa.

Answer: Its city walls

Carcassonne is a medieval town in southern France that grew out of a Roman settlement. The historical significance of its extensive fortifications has been recognised by the town's inclusion on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

In the game "Carcassonne", designed by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede, players create a medieval landscape by strategically placing tiles and followers. It is a relatively simple, quick board game that, like many other Spiel des Jahres nominees and winners, can be combined with over a dozen expansion sets to keep the game fresh and challenging.

Answer: Ticket to Ride

Designed by Alan Moon, "Ticket to Ride" is a table-top board game with a railroad theme. Players attempt to form railway routes connecting destinations across a map of Canada and the USA. Other versions have been released based on maps of Germany, Nordic countries, wider Europe, Asia and Africa. Card, computer and phone adaptations have also been developed.

In Germany the game is known as "Zug um Zug", which means "Train by Train". "Zug" is also the German word for "turn", so the name has a second meaning ("Turn by Turn") that is very appropriate for a board game.

Answer: Building

The object of "Dominion" is to collect the most victory points by the end of the game. This is achieved by adding various cards to your deck and playing them strategically, often in combinations.

As of mid-2013, 9 game sets have been released that add new strategic possibilities; cards can also be mixed between sets allowing an almost infinite number of possible combinations.

Answer: Scotland Yard

In "Scotland Yard" a team of 2-5 players, acting as the police, cooperate to catch another player, acting as the criminal Mr X. Players travel by taxi, bus, water bus and the Underground across a map of London using strategic moves and logic to find Mr X, whose location is hidden much of the time.

Answer: Rubik's cube

Two special awards were given in 1980 in addition to the usual "Game of the Year": a "beautiful game" prize to a dice game called "Spiel", and a "solitaire" prize to Ernõ Rubik's combination puzzle. More than 350 million copies of Rubik's cube were sold in the four decades since its invention, making it one of the most popular toys worldwide.

Answer: Games for children

The Kinderspiel des Jahres began in 1989 as a special prize for children's games, awarded alongside the main award. In 2001 it officially became a separate annual prize.

Answer: The wonders of the ancient world

"7 Wonders" was created by Antoine Bauza, and can be played by 2-7 people. Each player is responsible for building a city around one of the Wonders of the Ancient World, collecting cards to build resources, commercial routes and military strength. The game is played over three rounds, so the inevitable choice between immediate gain and potential long-term payoff tests players' strategy and timing.