Rebirth is a tile-laying game for 2–4 players designed by Reiner Knizia, and it won the 2026 Kennerspiel des Jahres — the German industry's award for the year's best strategy game for experienced players. Games run 45–60 minutes.

How it plays

Players draw and place tiles to rebuild a civilisation, connecting settlements and paths to score points. The rules are clean and quick to teach, but the tile-placement decisions open into real strategic depth after just a few turns — the kind of game that rewards repeat plays without ever feeling heavy to explain.

Quick facts: 2–4 players · 45–60 min · Ages 10+ · Designer: Reiner Knizia · 2026 Kennerspiel des Jahres winner

FAQ

What does "Kennerspiel des Jahres" mean?
It's the German Game of the Year jury's award for connoisseur-level games — the category above family games, for players who want more tactical depth without excessive rules overhead.

Is this a good next step after simpler tile-laying games like Carcassonne?
Yes — Rebirth keeps the accessible tile-by-tile flow but layers in more meaningful strategic choices each turn.