Career Poker
Number of Players: 4-8
Playing Time: 60 Minutes
Age: 10+
Designer: Klaus Grähnke, Brian Walker
EAN: 4022148071106
Published: Revised Edition 2017
(First Edition 1988, Hexagames)
You smile and play your final card. The boss turns pale because you have just inherited his job. At the start of the next round, you are the only one to stay seated, while everyone else scrambles to find a new position within the company; besides, exchanging your worst cards for the dishwasher’s three best cards can’t be all that bad. But don’t get too cozy on your executive chair because the game is not finished yet!
It is each trainee’s dream to climb up to the executive suite. At Crazy Inc., the jobs are reassigned over and over again. The boss’ chair is wobbly and before you know it your former assistant becomes your new supervisor. Then, it’s time to switch seats again. But beware! The player with any cards left gets stuck with the dirty work and becomes the dishwasher: Not only will he deal the cards, he must also give his best cards to the new boss. But remember, as the saying goes: He who laughs last laughs longest…
Neolithibum
Number of Players: 2-6
Playing Time: 40 Minutes
Age: 8+
Designer: Harald Bilz, Peter Gutbrod
Illustrator: Uwe Sammann
EAN: 4012257237036
Published: 1991 (First Edition Kröhnland-Games)
Each year, the cavemen gather around the holy oak, which was once struck by lightning, to pile up huge rocks in order to appease Prewt, the great god of thunder. If only the pile wasn’t so wobbly!
With a bit of instinct and dexterity, the players place REAL stones on a wooden disc… or they can hinder their opponents by giving clever suggestions or hitting them with a club (of course, those aren’t real: That’s what the cards are for!). Bluff, tactics, dexterity and a bit of foul play are what makes this not-so-serious game a lot of fun.
Nichts als Ärger!
Number of Players: 2-6Playing Time: 30 Minutes
Age: 8+
Designer and Illustrator: Frank Stark
EAN: 4015566000070
Published: 1999
Nichts als Ärger! is a cheeky card expansion for the beloved classic dice game of Pachisi. The current version is published under license by Schmidt Spiele with the title Mensch Ärgere dich Nicht, Noch mehr Ärgern, Kartenerweiterung.
Bongo!
Number of Players: 2-8
Playing Time: 20 Minutes
Age: 8+
Designer: Bruno Faidutti
Illustrator: Frank Stark
EAN: 4015566000155
Published: 2013 (First Edition 2000)
As a group of tourists on a safari through the African steppe, you are trying to observe and photograph gnus, rhinos and bongos. Will you be lucky enough to spot the rare animals, even though poachers are scaring more and more of them away?
In Bongo!, roll the bamboo dice and examine them carefully to know which of the three types of animals you must call out. If you are correct, you gain a trophy. If you are incorrect however, you will be punished ruthlessly! Watch the dice carefully, act fast, and you may have a chance to win!
Ein Arsch kommt selten allein
Number of Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 30 Minutes
Age: 12+
Designer: Harald Bilz
Illustrator: Franz Vohwinkel
EAN: 4015566000131
Published: 2001
The end is near and no one wants to be the butt of the joke. Your butt is on the line, so get rid of your cards as fast as possible to be victorious in this irreverent card game!
Planet Steam
Number of Players: 2-5
Playing Time: 120 Minutes
Age: 14+
Designer: Heinz-Georg Thiemann
Illustrator: David Ardila, Chris Beck, Ian McQue, Brian Schomburg
EAN: 4015566020399
Published: 2014 (First Edition 2008)
In Planet Steam, you are ruthless entrepreneurs exploiting a colony on a newly discovered planet named “Steam.” Harvest resources such as energy, ore, and quartz using steam-powered extractors and converters and maneuver the fast-growing market to gain the most profit and be victorious. Planet Steam is an outstanding economic simulation with a unique Steampunk aesthetic!
Erwischt!
Number of Players: 4-50
Playing Time: 30 Minutes or More
Age: 12+
Designer: Christian Lemay
EAN: 4015566000254
Published: 2009
Expansions: Erwischt! 2
I’ve been watching her for quite a while now… She ordered a coffee… I had hot chocolate. Now she runs her fingernail over her eyebrow. Maybe that’s a sign of nervousness? Hey, why does she want to drink from my cup suddenly? Damn! Time is running out, so I must take the risk and call it out: “GOTCHA!”“Gamers…” sighs the waiter as he wipes the counter.
Erwischt! (Gotcha!) is not your typical game. It is not your main activity, instead you can play it casually at a party, over dinner, or even while playing another game. Have you ever lightened the mood in a meeting with a loud “Gotcha!”?
Arrgh!Tect
Number of Players: 2-8
Playing Time: 30-45 Minutes
Age: 8+
Designer: Walter Obert
Illustrator: Jochen Eeuwyk
EAN: 4015566000568
Published: 2009
Unga kog kang goto bato bumm… If you don’t find the correct words, only the big club will help! – Ancient Stone Age saying
Two teams compete for the fastest, most amazing, and most accurate construction project. Only the architect knows the blueprint. He gives instructions to his worker in perfect Stone Age style and with physical strength if need be. If a worker makes a mistake, he will be hit on the head with the inflatable club. Yes, the bosses were like that in those old days of Flintstone Inc.
Der Heidelbär
Number of Players: 3-6
Playing Time: 20 Minutes
Age: 10+
Designer and Illustrator: Frank Stark
EAN: 4015566000292
Published: 2009
Expansions: Wilde Wasser Edition, Wald und Wiesen Edition
Only very few people suspect that our language is infiltrated by bears. The furry chaps hide in many German words you wouldn’t guess: Like in AlBÄRt Einstein, in BÄRserker or in the month NovemBÄR, the bears are everybear… erm… -where!!! Will you manage to track them down?
Der HeidelBÄR is a party game in which players take turns describing a secret “bear” word to the other players using only short sentences.
Das perfekte Alibi
Number of Players: 5-20
Playing Time: 15 Minutes
Age: 10+
Designer: Pascal Roussel, Christian Lemay
Illustrators: Pierô Le Mille-Pattes, Heiko Eller
EAN: 4015566000247
Published: 2009
A terrible crime has been committed. We caught the suspects and now you need to tear their ridiculous alibis to shreds. We will see how long they can withstand our precise interrogation techniques. I know they will soon become entangled in a web of contradictions, and then… Justice will be served!
In Das perfekte Alibi, two suspects undergo extensive interrogation concerning their shared alibi. Of course, the investigators’ sneaky questions are designed to trigger differing information during the individual interviews. Will the suspects manage to convince the judge?
A la carte
Number of Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 30-45 Minutes
Age: 8+
Designer: Karl-Heinz Schmiel
Illustrators: Christof Tisch, Jochen Eeuwyk
EAN: 4015566000537
Published: 2009 (First Edition 1989, Moskito)
Expansions: Dessert
The aroma of grilled food fills the air, peppers and fresh herbs make your mouth water… Adding a bit of salt should do it… Oh no! That was too much! If you want to be a successful chef, you cannot burn the dish or use too much salt.
It’s not always easy to stick to the recipe. Heat your oven up to the correct temperature and show off your cooking skill by sprinkling the right amount of spice into the pan. If you successfully master the risks and perils of a canteen kitchen, you will become a true award-winning chef. Bon appétit!
Die Gulli Piratten: Der Schrecken der Kanalisation
Number of Players: 2-5Playing Time: 30-60 Minutes
Age: 14+
Designer: Andreas Pelikan
Illustrator: Marina Fahrenbach
EAN: 4015566100022
Published: 2012
Descend into the deep and sail the treacherous waters of human refuse aboard bizarre vessels in search of discarded riches! Fight each other for a place on board of one of the three Sewer Pirats ships! Assemble your crew of charismatic rats, fast cockroaches, strong raccoons, and other critters and snatch the most valuable haul from the abandoned flotsam. Only a good combination of treasures will lead you to victory in this game full of tactical decisions and deception.
Blood Bound
Number of Players: 6-12Playing Time: 15-30 Minutes
Age: 14+
Designer: Kalle Krenzer
Illustrator: Michael Küper
EAN: 4015566000933
Published: 2013
Blood Bound is a game of deception for larger groups. Taking on a secret identity, hostile vampires try to kidnap the Elder of the opposing clan or give their lives for the benefit of their own Elder. Malicious attacks, aimed indiscretions, and assistance from others will slowly uncover the truth: Who fights for whom? And who is the Elder? Watch out for the updated version with brand new illustrations by FFG!
Justice League: Hero Dice - Batman
Number of Players: 1 per SetPlaying Time: 15 Minutes
Age: 10+
Designer: Andreas Schmidt
Illustrator: Diverse DC Artists
EAN: 4015566100329
Published: 2015
Expansions: Justice League: Hero Dice – Superman, … Flash, … Green Lantern
You’re the Dark Knight™, the Caped Crusader™, the World’s Greatest Detective. You’re the living proof you don’t need superpowers to be a superhero… You are Batman™!
Together with the other members of the Justice League™, you are the last line of defense to protect billions of lives from the worst imaginable foes. Will you make the difference? Will you secure the safety of mankind?
With this Batman set for Justice League: Hero Dice you join the Justice League as the Dark Knight. Roll the dice and battle villains with cunning and deception. Keep the villains away from your city at all cost!
Where We Come From
In 1989, Harald Bilz and Peter Gutbrod founded a game publishing company named Heidelberger Spieleverlag to turn their own game ideas a reality. The young company had its first success in 1992 with the game Neolithibum, which reached the Deutscher Spielepreis’ Top 10. In 1994, the company started offering wholesale and distribution services to help smaller publishers. At that time, the company mostly published small family games and card games with historical themes.
In 2001, Heidelberger Spieleverlag started working with international publishers to localize games for the German market. Alongside their world-renowned partner, Fantasy Flight Games, the company had the opportunity to collaborate with many partners including Ares Games, Czech Games Editions, and alea Spiele. Over the years, more than 40 international publishers became exclusively distributed by Heidelberger Spieleverlag. This made the company one of Europe’s most relevant publishers for hobby, strategy, fantasy and sci-fi games.
Heidelberger Spieleverlag kept publishing its own titles, focusing on non-standard components, unique designs, and innovative game mechanics. Among these games, many are now considered tried-and-true classics in the German game market, like A la carte (Spiel des Jahres 2009 Nominee) and Blood Bound (Spiel des Jahres 2014 Jury Recommendation), which both gained worldwide recognition.
Heidelberger Spieleverlag was acquired by the Asmodee Group in 2017 and merged with Asmodee Germany. Asmodee’s national distribution units usually do not take care of game development. Instead, this is handled by a variety of international independent game studios. As a result, HeidelBÄR Games was founded at the end of 2017 to bring the experience, passion, and creativity of Heidelberger Spieleverlag’s team onto the international stage. “The Bear” had the honor of joining the ranks of other fabulous Asmodee game studios, like Fantasy Flight Games, Z-Man Games, Days of Wonder, Space Cowboys, Pearl Games, and Plaid Hat Games.
