Schmidt Spiele

Schmidt Spiele GmbH is a German games and toy publisher headquartered in Berlin. Its roots reach back to 1907, when lithographer Josef Friedrich Schmidt established Schmidt & Söhne in Munich and began producing and distributing board games. The company became especially important in German popular culture through Mensch ärgere Dich nicht, a dice-and-race game developed by Schmidt and released in 1914. The title became a mass-market success and has remained one of the best-known German board games across generations. Over the course of the twentieth century, Schmidt Spiele broadened its portfolio beyond traditional family games. It developed products for children, families, and experienced players, adding board games, card games, puzzles, and later digital adaptations. Its catalogue has included culturally prominent titles such as Kniffel, the German version of Yahtzee; Auf Achse; DOG; and a range of licensed and original games. The company also became associated with award-winning and critically recognized titles, including Auf Achse, Qwirkle, and The Quacks of Quedlinburg. In 1984, Schmidt Spiele worked with Droemer Knaur to publish Das Schwarze Auge, which became the first commercially successful pen-and-paper role-playing game in Germany. The company experienced a major structural crisis in 1997. Schmidt Spiele became insolvent, its headquarters in Eching near Munich closed in August of that year, and its main production facility in Ingolstadt was taken over by Ludwig Scheer GmbH. The Schmidt Spiele brand, together with rights to most of the games, was acquired by Berlin-based Blatz Group, now known as Good Time Holding GmbH. The transaction preserved the Schmidt Spiele name and placed it within a broader media and entertainment group that also includes KIDDINX-related companies. Schmidt Spiele has operated under this ownership since 1997. Under Good Time Holding, the brand continued its traditional board-game business while expanding substantially into puzzles and licensed products. It distributes products using properties associated with companies and artists including Disney, Universal, and Thomas Kinkade. The 2008 acquisition of rights to the premium children's-games brand Drei Magier strengthened its position in more demanding children’s games. In October 2017, Selecta became part of Schmidt Spiele’s brand world, adding a long-established producer of high-quality wooden toys to the group’s offering. Today, Schmidt Spiele serves several segments: classic family games, children’s games, strategy and hobby games, card games, puzzles, plush products, and wooden toys. The company presents new releases and maintains industry relationships at major trade fairs such as SPIEL in Essen, Spielwarenmesse in Nuremberg, and Berlin Brettspiel Con. It also supports public-facing activities such as the Schmidt Puzzle Championship and tournaments for Mensch ärgere Dich nicht and Kniffel. Since 2022, the company has measured the carbon footprint of its locations and has reported measures involving green electricity, renewable heating, lower-emission vehicles, recyclable materials, and reduced use of plastic shrink wrap. In 2025, it presented NATPAX, a puzzle-board material made from waste paper and grass fibers.

Schmidt Spiele traces its origins to 1907 in Munich, where lithographer Josef Friedrich Schmidt founded Schmidt & Söhne. The early business concentrated on the manufacture and distribution of board games. Its defining breakthrough came in 1914 with Mensch ärgere Dich nicht, a game Schmidt developed in a small workshop in Munich’s Giesing district. Based on a simple dice-driven race mechanism, the game became a major commercial success and eventually a durable part of German gaming culture. During the following decades, Schmidt Spiele expanded its catalogue and established itself as one of the leading games publishers in the German-speaking market. Its output increasingly covered different audiences, from children and families to regular hobby gamers. Important titles associated with the company include Kniffel, Auf Achse, DOG, and many other board and card games. The company also moved beyond conventional board games. In 1984, it cooperated with Droemer Knaur on Das Schwarze Auge, which became the first commercially successful pen-and-paper role-playing game in Germany. The publisher encountered serious financial difficulties in 1997 and filed for insolvency. In August 1997, the Eching headquarters near Munich was closed, and Ludwig Scheer GmbH took over the main production facility in Ingolstadt. The Schmidt Spiele name and rights to most of the company’s games were acquired by the Berlin-based Blatz Group, which later operated as Good Time Holding GmbH. Rather than replacing the established name, the new owner retained Schmidt Spiele as the principal brand. Good Time Holding’s wider group also includes KIDDINX-related media and studio businesses. After the ownership change, Schmidt Spiele preserved its classic games while expanding into new categories. It became a significant European puzzle supplier and distributed licensed products connected with properties such as Disney and Universal, as well as designs associated with Thomas Kinkade. In 2008, the company acquired rights to Drei Magier, a premium children’s-games label known for more demanding and imaginative products. Selecta joined Schmidt Spiele’s brand world in October 2017, strengthening the group’s wooden-toy activities. The modern Schmidt Spiele portfolio includes classic games, family and children's games, hobby and strategy titles, card games, puzzles, plush, wooden toys, licensed products, and digital versions of selected games. The publisher maintains visibility through booths and product presentations at SPIEL in Essen, Spielwarenmesse in Nuremberg, and Berlin Brettspiel Con. It also operates or supports community-facing activities, including the annual Schmidt Puzzle Championship, tournaments for Mensch ärgere Dich nicht and Kniffel, state-level competitions, and an official world championship format for Mensch ärgere Dich nicht. Environmental initiatives have become a stated part of the company’s operations. Since 2022, Schmidt Spiele has measured the carbon footprint of its sites and has described cooperation with ClimatePartner, renewable heating, green electricity, and a gradual move toward electric and hybrid vehicles. Product measures include greater use of recyclable materials and replacing some plastic shrink wrapping with paper-based adhesive dots. At the 2025 International Toy Fair, the company presented NATPAX, a puzzle-board material described as using 60 percent waste paper and 40 percent grass.

1. 2025NATPAX is presented

   The company presents NATPAX, a puzzle cardboard material made from waste paper and grass fibers, at the International Toy Fair.

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2. 2022Carbon-footprint measurement begins

   Schmidt Spiele begins recording the carbon footprint of its company locations and describes related emissions-reduction measures.

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3. 2017Selecta joins the brand world

   Selecta becomes part of Schmidt Spiele’s brand portfolio, adding wooden toys to the group’s activities.

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4. 2008Drei Magier rights are acquired

   Schmidt Spiele acquires rights to the premium children's-games brand Drei Magier.

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5. 1997Insolvency and ownership transfer

   Schmidt Spiele files for insolvency, its Eching headquarters closes, and the brand and most game rights move to the Blatz Group, now Good Time Holding.

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6. 1984Das Schwarze Auge is published

   In cooperation with Droemer Knaur, Schmidt Spiele publishes Das Schwarze Auge, which becomes Germany’s first commercially successful pen-and-paper role-playing game.

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7. 1914Mensch ärgere Dich nicht is released

   Josef Friedrich Schmidt’s dice-based race game reaches the market and becomes the company’s defining classic.

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8. 1907Schmidt & Söhne is founded in Munich

   Lithographer Josef Friedrich Schmidt establishes the business that forms the historical foundation of Schmidt Spiele and begins producing and distributing board games.

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A traditional German games publisher combining enduring mass-market classics with contemporary family, children's, hobby, puzzle, and toy products. Schmidt Spiele emphasizes broad accessibility, recognisable heritage brands, award-winning games, licensed entertainment properties, and direct engagement with the gaming community through trade fairs, championships, and public events.

• Mensch ärgere Dich nichtClassic board game1914

  Schmidt Spiele’s signature classic, released in 1914. Players move pieces around a track using dice rolls and attempt to send opposing pieces back to their starting area. Its simple rules and competitive reversals made it a long-running fixture of German family gaming.

• KniffelDice game

  The German-market version of the well-known dice-combination game. Players roll dice repeatedly and select scoring combinations, balancing probability, risk, and the need to complete a score sheet. It is one of Schmidt Spiele’s established mass-market titles.

• DOGBoard game

  A modern family board game associated with Schmidt Spiele’s range. It combines race-game movement with cards that influence play, creating tactical choices and interaction between players or teams.

• Auf AchseStrategy board game

  An award-winning strategy title built around transport and logistics. Players manage routes and deliveries while responding to changing conditions, making it representative of Schmidt Spiele’s move beyond purely traditional family games.

• QwirkleTile-laying game

  An award-winning abstract family game based on arranging tiles by shared attributes. Its accessible rules and pattern-building decisions give it broad appeal across casual and family audiences.

• The Quacks of QuedlinburgFamily and hobby board game

  A prominent modern title in Schmidt Spiele’s portfolio, combining push-your-luck decisions with the construction of a personal ingredient pool. Players attempt to create valuable potions while avoiding an unstable mixture.

• Das Schwarze AugePen-and-paper role-playing game1984

  Published in 1984 in cooperation with Droemer Knaur, Das Schwarze Auge became the first commercially successful pen-and-paper role-playing game in Germany and broadened Schmidt Spiele’s role in the German gaming market.

• Drei MagierChildren's games

  A premium children's-games brand acquired by Schmidt Spiele in 2008. Drei Magier is positioned around more challenging and imaginative games for children rather than only simple introductory play.

• SelectaWooden toys

  A long-established wooden-toy brand that became part of Schmidt Spiele’s brand world in 2017. Its products complement the publisher’s games portfolio with tactile toys designed for children.

• Schmidt Puzzle Championship

  Germany

  An annual speed-puzzling event staged at multiple locations and in several German federal states. Participants aged five and above begin simultaneously with a secret 60-piece puzzle and compete to complete it fastest. Local partners organize the individual events, which also promote Schmidt Spiele’s puzzle range.

  Outcome. The championship creates public participation around the puzzle category and gives the brand a recurring community and promotional platform.

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• Mensch ärgere Dich nicht and Kniffel tournaments

  Germany

  Schmidt Spiele supports recurring championships and tournaments for its established cultural game brands, including state-level competitions and an official world championship format for Mensch ärgere Dich nicht.

  Outcome. The events reinforce the social and heritage value of the two long-running titles.

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• Tourism partnerships and regional game activities

  Germany

  Schmidt Spiele collaborates with German tourism organizations and destinations, including partners in Saxon Switzerland, Sankt Peter-Ording, Büsum, Butjadingen, and Cuxhaven. Activities may include themed events, special editions, and joint promotions.

  Outcome. These partnerships connect games with regional tourism and provide local marketing and event opportunities.

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• 2025Present NATPAX puzzle cardboardProduct launch

  The company continued developing puzzle materials with a lower-impact materials profile.

  What changed. Schmidt Spiele presented NATPAX at the International Toy Fair, describing it as cardboard made from 60 percent waste paper and 40 percent grass.

  Aftermath. NATPAX was presented as an innovation supporting the company’s sustainability-oriented puzzle strategy.

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• 2022Introduce carbon-footprint and packaging measuresStrategy

  Schmidt Spiele addressed environmental impacts associated with its sites, transport, energy use, and product packaging.

  What changed. The company began measuring the carbon footprint of its locations, using green electricity and renewable heating, gradually adopting electric and hybrid vehicles, and increasing the use of recyclable packaging materials.

  Aftermath. The measures established sustainability reporting and materials changes as part of the company’s operating and product-development approach.

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• 2017Add Selecta to the brand portfolioM&A

  Schmidt Spiele expanded beyond games into established children's wooden toys.

  What changed. Selecta became part of the Schmidt Spiele brand world in October 2017.

  Aftermath. The transaction broadened the group’s children's-product range with Selecta’s wooden-toy activities.

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• 2008Acquire rights to Drei MagierM&A

  Schmidt Spiele sought to secure the continuation of a premium children's-games brand known for more demanding products.

  What changed. The company acquired rights to Drei Magier.

  Aftermath. Drei Magier became part of Schmidt Spiele’s children's-games offering.

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• 1997Restructure the business after insolvencyOther

  Schmidt Spiele entered insolvency and closed its Eching headquarters, while its production facility in Ingolstadt was transferred to Ludwig Scheer GmbH.

  What changed. The Blatz Group acquired the Schmidt Spiele brand and rights to most of its games, retaining the established name under the ownership structure that became Good Time Holding.

  Aftermath. The brand survived the insolvency and continued as part of Good Time Holding, with a broader portfolio spanning games, puzzles, toys, and media-related activities.

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• 2025Schmidt Spiele presents NATPAX puzzle board

  At the International Toy Fair, Schmidt Spiele presented NATPAX, a puzzle cardboard material described as comprising waste paper and grass fibers.

  Product launchOther
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• 2022Schmidt Spiele expands environmental reporting and packaging measures

  The company began recording the carbon footprint of its locations and described measures involving renewable energy, green electricity, lower-emission vehicles, recyclable materials, and reduced dependence on shrink wrap.

  Other
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• 2017Selecta joins Schmidt Spiele’s brand portfolio

  From October 2017, Selecta became part of the Schmidt Spiele brand world, adding a specialist wooden-toy range with a long manufacturing history.

  M&A
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• 2008Schmidt Spiele acquires rights to the Drei Magier brand

  Schmidt Spiele acquired the rights to Drei Magier, a premium brand focused on challenging children's games, helping maintain the brand within its broader children's-games portfolio.

  M&A
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• 1997Schmidt Spiele becomes part of Good Time Holding after insolvency restructuring

  Following insolvency, the Schmidt Spiele brand and rights to most of its games were acquired by the Berlin-based Blatz Group, now Good Time Holding GmbH. The company’s former headquarters in Eching closed, while its principal production facility in Ingolstadt was taken over by Ludwig Scheer GmbH.

  BankruptcyM&A
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1. Schmidt Spiele