Overview
- The Rekordinstitut für Deutschland certified 1,170 people playing Catan simultaneously in Essen’s Grugahalle, reclaiming the mark last held by Rotterdam.
- Organisers opened seven halls and expect roughly 220,000 visitors, with nearly 950 exhibitors showcasing more than 1,700 new titles across the fair.
- Industry figures point to robust growth in 2025, with Statista estimating €400 million in revenue and Spieleverlage e. V. citing 18% gains for games and puzzles, as Board Game Arena reports 10.8 million accounts and about six million hours played per month.
- The community‑voted Deutscher Spielepreis was awarded to SETI: Auf der Suche nach außerirdischem Leben, underscoring players’ sway alongside juried prizes.
- Crowding produced long entry lines, separate fee‑based cloakrooms and only two ATMs on site, even as international visitors described planned spends of up to €2,000.