NEWS

Just One takes home Spiel des Jahres award

Published on: 23rd July 2019

Just One, the cooperative word game available from Asmodee UK, has been named the winner of the coveted award.

Released last year, Just One sees players secretly writing single-word clues to help one of their number guess a secret word – with the twist being that, if more than one person gives the same clue, it is erased.

The game has been met with critical acclaim, culminating in its triumph at the Spiel des Jahres awards, which for more than 40 years have recognised games that combine fun, innovation and broad family appeal.

Previous winners include Catan, Ticket to Ride, Codenames and Dixit, placing Just One in exalted company among market-defining titles.

“The genius of Just One lies in its simplicity,” say the awards’ organisers. “It stands out by creating an incredible magnetic attraction: playing it in public means that people will begin to stare, and then they’ll want to join in too. There’s no reason they can’t: the difficulty level is so low that anyone can begin playing straight away. It’s a flash of pure brilliance and enjoyment, where every round is a success and a lasting impression is left behind.”

The initial success of Just One, which is part of Asmodee UK’s new Party Games range, has led to the game selling out, though more stock is expected to arrive in early August. Its recommended retail price is £17.99.

Also recognised at the awards was another Asmodee UK product, Wingspan, which was named Kennerspiel des Jahres (Experts’ Game of the Year, recognising more complex games than the Spiel award). The first such award-winner to be designed solely by a woman, the game casts players as birdwatchers trying to discover a wide variety of birds and attract them to their network of wildlife preserves.

Wingspan’s unique theme, real-life ornithological detail and beautiful presentation have made it a sell-out hit, as well as drawing mainstream media coverage in outlets including the New York Times and the Guardian.

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