Maltese company Mighty Boards has made history by becoming the first from Malta to win Germany’s prestigious Kennerspiel des Jahres board game award. The award, often referred to as the “Oscars of board gaming”, recognises expert games for a more experienced audience and is considered one of the most coveted honours in the industry.

Mighty Boards’ winning game, Rebirth, was designed by legendary German game designer Reiner Knizia and has sold 120,000 copies internationally in 15 languages. The strategic tile-laying game is set in a future where civilisation has collapsed and players take on the task of restoring the world. According to Mark Casha, one of the company’s founders, orders are expected to increase following the win, which he described as “game-changing” for small publishers.

The award was presented at a ceremony in Germany on Sunday, marking a significant milestone for Mighty Boards, which was founded nine years ago by friends Mark Casha, Gordon Calleja and David Chircop. The company has established itself as a major player in the board game industry, with 14 games distributed from five warehouses around the world.

Rebirth’s win also cements Knizia’s reputation as royalty in the board game community, making him the first game designer to have won all three German board game prizes: Kinderspiel, Spiel and Kennerspiel des Jahres. Casha highlighted the importance of team effort behind Rebirth’s success, crediting a diverse group of creatives, artists, developers, testers, product designers and marketing professionals who worked together to bring the game to life.

The win is expected to boost Mighty Boards’ profile and sales in the coming months, with Casha noting that Rebirth has the potential to become an “evergreen” – a game that continues to sell well over the years. With this achievement, Malta’s gaming industry has taken another step forward, demonstrating its capabilities on the global stage.

Mighty Boards received the game as a basic paper prototype and built its theme, art direction and production from scratch. The company is based in Attard and has 14 games distributed from five warehouses around the world. Casha said that there is “a whole team behind it”, crediting the diverse group of creatives who worked together to bring Rebirth to life.

The success of Rebirth is a testament to the hard work and dedication of Mighty Boards’ team and the company’s ability to produce high-quality games that appeal to a global audience. With this win, Malta’s gaming industry has taken another step forward, demonstrating its capabilities on the global stage.