The UK Games Expo People Awards 2021 is now open for public voting

The People’s vote is now open for this year’s UK Games Expo Awards with a shortlist spanning 52 finalists across 18 board gaming categories.

With the nomination process now closed, the voting has commenced and the UK Games Expo 2021 judges have produced a shortlist of the best games – and accessories and novelty items – submitted.

Categories in this year’s UK Games Expo People’s Awards span those like Best Abstract Game, Best Children’s Game, and Best Family Game, as well as Best New Board Game (American Style) and Best New Board Game (Euro Style). 

Categories for Best New Card Game, Best Party Game, and Best Role-playing Game have also been included, with a host of favourites and well-known titles popping up across all categories, including the Kinderspiel des Jahres 2021 winner Dragomino, Zombie Teenz Evolution, and the popular card game Abandom All Artichokes.

The winners will be revealed during this year’s UK Games Expo, which will return to Birmingham’s NEC this July 30th to August 1st following its year hiatus when the pandemic forced the show to go virtual in 2020.

This year’s show promises to deliver its usual line-up, minus its Bring and Buy in order to avoid queues and close crowds. Returning events at this year’s show will include its family zone and family specific exhibitors and events, and more than 200 exhibitors ready to demo and sell their games and gaming products.

The event recently updated its health and safety regulations for the show, which includes mandatory face masks and proof of covid vaccination or negative covid tests from all exhibitors and visitors.

Meanwhile, voting remains open on the UK Games Expo People’s Awards. Check out the full shortlist below or cast your own votes here.

Best Abstract Game

Distrix – Distrix Games LLC
Flash 8 – Scorpion Masque

Best Children’s Game

Detective Charlie – Loki/IELLO
Dragomino – Blue Orange
Micons – Gigamic

Best Family Game

Daring Dustbunnies – Hopwood Games
Ghost Adventure – Buzzy Games
Zombie Teenz Evolution – Scorpion Masque

Best Gaming Novelty

Finding the Dragon – Game flow
Legend of the Five Rings: Poison River, by Josh Reynolds – Aconyte Books, Asmodee Entertainment
Senet Magazine – Senet Magazine Ltd

Best Miniature Range

Dungeons and Diversity – Roleplaying Miniatures – Strata Miniatures
Dystopian Wars: Hunt for the Prometheus – Warcradle Studios
Stargrave: Science Fiction Wargames in the Ravaged Galaxy – Osprey Games and North Star Military Figures

Best Miniature Rules

Dystopian Wars: Rules & Gubbins Set – Warcradle Studios
Stargrave: Science Fiction Wargames in the Ravaged Galaxy – OspreyGames

Best New Accessory

5e Condition Chips – Dungeon Bones
Box of Adventure – Valley of PerilLoke Battle Mats
DM’s Little Black Book – Squarehex.co.uk

Best New Board Game (American Style)

Kitara – IELLO
Meeple Land – Blue Orange
X-Men Mutant Insurrection – Fantasy Flight Games

Best New Board Game (Euro-Style)

Dinner in Paris – Funnyfox
Excavation Earth – Mighty Boards
Merv: The Heart of the Silk Road – Osprey Games

Best New Board Game (Strategic)

Prisma Arena – Hub Games
Undaunted: North Africa – Osprey Games
Unmatched: Battle of Legends, Vol.1 – IELLO

Best New Dice Game

Escape the Dark Sector – Themeborne
Paper Dungeons – Alley Cat Games
Trek 12 – Lumberjacks studio

Best Party Game