The White Castle, Forest Shuffle seal wins in this year’s Gouden Ludo awards
Forest Shuffle has added to its triumph in the German language Deutscher Spiele Preis last month by winning the Gouden Ludo Flemish family game of the year award.
The win means Forest Shuffle has also done the double of Dutch language awards this year, having already scooped the 2024 Nederlandse Spellenprijs for best family game – replicating the success of double award winner The Wandering Towers last year.
Forest Shuffle has been nominated for a string of awards since its release last year, including being ‘recommended’ in the 2024 Kennerspiel des Jahres contest and picking up nominations for Golden Geek Medium Game of the Year and Board Game Quest’s Best Card Game.
Fellow multi-award nominee The White Castle scooped the expert game gong in the 2024 Gouden Ludo, having been up against nominees The Isle of Cats and Starship Captains.
That trio fought of competition from more than 20 submitted entrants this year, including Wyrmspan, Age of Innovation and Spirit Island.
Mycelia, published by Ravensburger, and Unmatched Adventures: Tales to Amaze, published by White Goblin Games in Flemish, were nominated alongside Forest Shuffle for the family game section of the awards.
More than 40 titles duked it out for nominations in that category, including popular names such as Harmonies, Quacks of Quedlinberg: Duel and Sea Salt & Paper.
The White Castle’s win is the first Gouden Ludo award for Dutch publisher 999 Games since 2020, when it triumphed with The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine.
Forest Shuffle publisher Asmodee last won a Gouden Ludo in 2018 with Azul, having previously been successful with Colt Express in 2015 and 7 Wonders in 2011.
The Gouden Ludo has been awarded each year since 2009, when Matt Leacock’s Pandemic became the first to win the prize. This year’s awards took place at the Spel 2024 games fair at Antwerp Expo last week.
Entries must be Dutch-language games which are relatively easy to find on the Flemish market, including specialised stores and web shops.
A jury narrows down publishers entries each year, which are then voted on by members of the Forum Federation and other Flemish gaming clubs.
Full winners and nominees, 2024:
Family games
Winner: Forrest Shuffle – Asmodee
Nominated: Mycelia – Ravensburger
Nominated: Unmatched Adventures: Tales to Amaze – White Goblin Games
Expert Games
Winner: The White Castle – 999 Games
Nominated: The Isle of Cats – Intrafin
Nominated: Starship Captains – White Goblin Games
