# The Must-Play Board Games from 2026’s Biggest Board Game Fair

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-must-play-board-games-from-2026s-biggest-board-game-fair/
- Published: 2026-10-28T16:00:18+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-28T16:26:14+00:00
- Original publisher: Polygon
- Original article: https://www.polygon.com/best-new-board-games-spiel-essen-2026/
- Topics: Cybersecurity, Technology

## Key points

- SPIEL Essen drew a record 230,000 visitors.
- Seven featured games include Cyberpunk, Diablo and Gloomhaven spin-offs.
- The Diablo game is planned for Gamefound crowdfunding in Q1 2027.

## Summary

SPIEL Essen attracted a record 230,000 visitors, who came to try new releases and upcoming games. The article highlights seven games the writer played at the fair, spanning established franchises and newer designs, with release plans ranging from next year to a 2027 crowdfunding campaign.

Among them are Mercenaries Wanted, a quicker Gloomhaven spin-off for one to six players, and a cooperative Diablo game built around character classes, loot and repeatable encounters. Other picks include a sea turtle-themed game, a new Forest Shuffle title set by a river, and the Cyberpunk trading card game, whose booth drew a particularly large queue.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.