Le Havre upsets Dominion to take the 2009 IGA for Game of the Year

The reliably interesting International Gamers Awards have been announced and, unlike nearly every other award this year, the top prize DID NOT go to Dominion. This juggernaut, designed by Donald X. Vaccarino (with Valerie Putnam and Dale Yu developing), has been swallowing up all the major honors this year but the IGAs went another way and again awarded Uwe Rosenberg for Le Havre, a deep, textured game unlikely to hit the table as frequently as its quick and approachable competition. Congratulations to Uwe and Lookout Games for their second win in a row (they also took it with Agricola last year).

Le Havre is an undeniably terrific game, if a bit long for my taste. I’ve jokingly referred to it as “Agricaylus” but it does have a personality all its own. Although I would not play it with four or five, it is a terrific three player game full of interesting choices. While I am not crazy about the selection of promo buildings that are largely unavailable for direct purchase (an issue that has kept me from buying the game since the OCD will surely kick in), I quite enjoy playing it and, with my recent success getting my lovely wife to play Agricola, I’m hoping we can try Le Havre down the line, too. Maybe if we can get one for the Strategicon library…

I appreciate the IGAs recognizing the longer 'gamer games' that simply don’t have a shot at winning a Spiel Des Jahres or even, it seems, a DSP or Tower. Heaven help them in any Origins award category, the nominees for which seem to be selected by a poorly informed psychic reading tea leaves. As sorry as I am to see great Martin Wallace designs like Automobile and Brass get edged out, it is terrific to see them in the running.

The IGAs also give out a two-player award and it has gone to Day & Night by Valentijn Eekels and published by Mystics. I certainly look forward to trying the game out now that the IGAs have recommended it so highly (indeed, above fine games like Dos De Mayo and Kamisado). They give away awards for historical conflict games but you didn't expect to read about that here, did you? If so, I'd have to paraphrase the mighty Derk Solko, "Do you LISTEN to the podcast?!?"

Congratulations to the winners and also to the IGA committee for such fine selections. More info on the IGAs and their voting process can be enjoyed here.