Hans im Glück
Corporate brand
UnclaimedHans im Glück is a German publisher of board and card games.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Hans im Glück is a German board-game and card-game publishing brand whose catalogue includes influential strategy, negotiation, civilization, economic, route-building, and family titles. The name comes from “Hans im Glück,” the German fairy tale recorded by the Brothers Grimm and commonly rendered in English as “Lucky Hans” or “Hans in Luck.” Its visual identity references that story through an image of Hans riding a pig. The publisher’s catalogue is especially associated with modern European-style tabletop games. Its notable releases include Die Macher, Modern Art, El Grande, Tigris and Euphrates, Samurai, Carcassonne, Amun-Re, Saint Petersburg, Thurn and Taxis, Stone Age, Russian Railroads, and The Voyages of Marco Polo. These titles cover a wide range of mechanisms and themes, from political campaigning and auctions to territorial development, ancient civilizations, trade, transportation, and prehistoric settlement. Carcassonne, first published in 2000, is the best-known title associated with Hans im Glück. It helped popularize accessible strategic tabletop gaming through a tile-laying format in which players create a shared landscape and compete for control of its features. The title became an international reference point for the modern board-game market, while foreign-language editions have generally been handled by publishing partners in individual territories. Although many Hans im Glück games use relatively little language in their components, the publisher has traditionally issued domestic editions with German-language rules. English editions have primarily been published by Rio Grande Games, while Dutch editions have been associated with 999 Games, among other international partners. This arrangement has allowed the catalogue to travel beyond Germany without implying that every foreign-language edition is produced directly by Hans im Glück. The available reference material identifies Hans im Glück primarily through its publishing activity and catalogue rather than through corporate ownership, management, financial disclosures, or a detailed company chronology. Consequently, information about its legal structure, headquarters, founders, current executives, ownership, and operating scale remains unconfirmed here.
History
Hans im Glück is a German board and card game publisher named after the Brothers Grimm tale Hans im Glück. The story's association is reflected in the brand's logo, which depicts Hans riding a pig. The available reference material does not establish the company's founding year, founder, headquarters, ownership, or legal structure. The publisher's documented catalogue begins with Die Macher in 1986 and includes a succession of influential strategy and Eurogame releases. Early and middle-period titles include Maestro, 1835, Modern Art, El Grande, Tigris and Euphrates, Samurai, Amun-Re, Saint Petersburg, Fjords, Thurn and Taxis, and Stone Age. These games demonstrate a broad publishing range rather than a single fixed theme or mechanism. Carcassonne, released in 2000, is the brand's most prominent international title in the supplied material. Its success helped establish Hans im Glück as an important name in modern tabletop gaming. Later notable publications include Dominion, The Palaces of Carrara, Russian Railroads, The Voyages of Marco Polo, and Stone Age Junior. Hans im Glück's own domestic printings traditionally contain German-language rules, even when the games themselves are largely language-independent. International editions have mainly been produced through licensing or publishing relationships, including English-language editions from Rio Grande Games and Dutch editions from 999 Games. The source material does not provide a complete account of these relationships, their dates, or current status.
- 2016
Stone Age Junior
[1]Stone Age Junior is listed as a later notable Hans im Glück title.
- 2015
The Voyages of Marco Polo
[1]The Voyages of Marco Polo is listed among the publisher's notable releases.
- 2014
Russian Railroads
[1]Russian Railroads is listed as a notable publication.
- 2008
Stone Age
[1]Stone Age is listed among the publisher's notable games.
- 2000
Carcassonne
[1]Carcassonne was published and became the brand's most internationally prominent title in the supplied references.
- 1995
El Grande
[1]El Grande is listed as a notable publication.
- 1992
Modern Art
[1]Modern Art appears in the publisher's notable catalogue.
- 1986
Die Macher
[1]Die Macher is listed as an early notable Hans im Glück publication.
Products and positioning
A German tabletop-game publisher associated with influential strategy and family board games, including internationally licensed editions of modern European-style titles.
Tile-laying strategy board game · 2000
Carcassonne
Carcassonne is the best-known Hans im Glück title in the supplied reference material. It is a modern European-style board game centered on building a shared landscape with tiles and competing over features within that landscape. The game is associated with the brand's international profile and has been issued in foreign-language markets through publishing partners.
Strategy board game · 1995
El Grande
El Grande is one of Hans im Glück's notable mid-1990s publications. The supplied material identifies it as part of the publisher's strategy-game catalogue but does not provide detailed rules, editions, sales information, or current availability.
Auction and strategy board game · 1992
Modern Art
Modern Art is a notable Hans im Glück title from the early 1990s. It forms part of the publisher's catalogue of modern European-style tabletop games. Detailed edition history and commercial performance are not established by the supplied sources.
Strategy board game · 2008
Stone Age
Stone Age is a notable Hans im Glück release from 2008. The title represents the publisher's continued focus on thematic strategy games. The provided reference does not specify its mechanics, edition history, or present retail status.
Economic and strategy board game · 2014
Russian Railroads
Russian Railroads is listed among Hans im Glück's notable later publications. It belongs to the publisher's strategy-oriented catalogue, while the supplied material does not provide further information about its rules, international editions, or availability.
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