Hexagames

Hexagames was a German publisher of board games, card games, and other tabletop titles headquartered in Dreieich. The company operated during a particularly productive period for German game publishing and became one of the better-known publishers in the country during the 1980s. Its catalogue combined original German designs, licensed or acquired titles, and games associated with internationally recognized designers. The company is notable for publishing titles such as Lines of Action, Cosmic Encounter, Res Publica, The 1st Million, Uisge, Abilene, Dino, Can't Stop Express, and Digging. The business was established by Langden Hensley, and the Hexagames trademark was registered with the German Patent and Trademark Office in late 1982. Hensley and Jürgen Hagedorn released Long Short during the same year, providing the young company with an early product. Hexagames also benefited from changes in the German games market following the bankruptcy of the publisher Bütehorn around 1982. Several Bütehorn titles were incorporated into Hexagames' programme, helping expand its catalogue beyond the company's initial releases. Jürgen Hagedorn remained associated with Hexagames until retiring in 1988. From 1986, Joe Nikisch—later known as the founder of Abacusspiele—was responsible for the product range as product manager. This period saw Hexagames publish a broad selection of strategy games, family games, card games, and abstract titles. Several releases achieved recognition in German board-game awards, including nominations for Spiel des Jahres and placements in the Deutscher Spiele Preis and À la Carte Card Game Prize. Lines of Action was nominated for Spiel des Jahres in 1988, while Res Publica won the 1992 À la Carte Card Game Prize. Hexagames ceased operations in 1992. Following its dissolution, the Berlin manufacturer Sala acquired some of its games and issued them under the Salagames label. That label disappeared from the market after approximately two years, and Abacusspiele republished some Hexagames titles in 1994. The Hexagames trademark itself also changed hands: in 1994, Hensley lost the mark, which was subsequently registered by BOB Marketing & Sales GmbH of Langen. Additional former Hexagames games later appeared through other publishers, including Osiris and Abacusspiele. As a result, Hexagames is best understood as a defunct historical publishing brand whose influence continued through reprints and successor editions rather than as an active contemporary company.

Hexagames emerged in 1982 as part of the German tabletop-games publishing scene. Its trademark was registered in Germany late that year, and founder Langden Hensley worked with Jürgen Hagedorn on the release of Long Short. The company soon expanded its programme by taking on games associated with Bütehorn after that publisher became insolvent. This gave Hexagames a broader catalogue and helped establish it among the notable German publishers of the 1980s. The company published games across several categories, including abstract strategy, family games, card games, and more specialized tabletop designs. Its catalogue included works by designers such as Sid Sackson, Claude Soucie, Roland Siegers, Reiner Knizia, and the design team behind Cosmic Encounter. Hexagames' releases gained repeated recognition in German gaming awards. The 1st Million and Lines of Action were nominated for Spiel des Jahres, while Uisge received a special award for visual presentation. Abilene and Dino were also Spiel des Jahres nominees. Other titles appeared in rankings for the Deutscher Spiele Preis and the À la Carte Card Game Prize. Management changed during the company's operating period. Hagedorn retired in 1988, while Joe Nikisch managed the product range from 1986 onward. Nikisch's later association with Abacusspiele became important to the afterlife of the Hexagames catalogue. Hexagames dissolved in 1992. Sala acquired part of the catalogue and marketed selected games under the Salagames name, but that imprint survived only for roughly two years. In 1994, Abacusspiele republished some Hexagames titles, while other games subsequently appeared through publishers including Osiris. The brand's trademark status also changed after the company's dissolution. In 1994, Langden Hensley lost the Hexagames trademark, which was registered again by BOB Marketing & Sales GmbH in Langen. Hexagames therefore no longer functions as the original operating publisher, but its historical importance remains visible through its award record, influential catalogue, and later reprints.

1. 1994Catalogue and trademark transition

   Abacusspiele republishes some Hexagames games, while BOB Marketing & Sales GmbH re-registers the Hexagames trademark after Hensley loses it.

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2. 1992Hexagames dissolves

   The original Hexagames publishing operation ends after approximately a decade in the market.

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3. 1988Jürgen Hagedorn retires

   Hagedorn leaves Hexagames after the company has established itself as a significant German games publisher.

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4. 1986Joe Nikisch takes responsibility for the product range

   Joe Nikisch becomes product manager for Hexagames' catalogue.

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5. 1982Hexagames is established

   Langden Hensley creates Hexagames, and the brand's trademark is registered with the German Patent and Trademark Office late in the year.

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6. 1982Long Short is released

   Hensley and Jürgen Hagedorn publish Long Short, one of the company's earliest documented releases.

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A prominent 1980s German tabletop-game publisher with a diverse catalogue spanning strategic, abstract, family, and card games, including award-recognized designs and titles later reissued by successor publishers.

• Lines of ActionAbstract strategy board game1988

  A Hexagames edition of Claude Soucie's abstract strategy game. The title was nominated for Spiel des Jahres in 1988 and is one of the publisher's most prominently recognized releases.

• Cosmic EncounterStrategy and negotiation board game1992

  Hexagames published a German edition of the space-themed negotiation and strategy game designed by Bill Eberle, Peter Olotka, Jack Kittredge, and Bill Norton. The title placed sixth in the 1992 Deutscher Spiele Preis.

• Res PublicaCard game1992

  A Reiner Knizia card game published by Hexagames. It won first place in the 1992 À la Carte Card Game Prize, making it one of the company's strongest award performers.

• The 1st MillionBoard game1987

  A Sid Sackson design released by Hexagames and nominated for Spiel des Jahres in 1987. It represents the publisher's interest in commercially accessible strategy and family-oriented game concepts.

• UisgeBoard game1989

  A Roland Siegers game associated with Hexagames. It received a 1989 Spiel des Jahres special award for being the most beautiful game.

• Can't Stop ExpressDice and strategy game1989

  A Sid Sackson title published by Hexagames in the late 1980s, illustrating the company's willingness to carry compact and replayable strategy formats.

• DiggingStrategy board game1990

  A Reiner Knizia design released by Hexagames in 1990. It forms part of the publisher's later catalogue of designer-led strategy games.

• 1992Wind down the original Hexagames operationStrategy

  After operating as a notable German publisher through the 1980s and early 1990s, Hexagames was dissolved.

  What changed. The original publishing business ceased operations and parts of its catalogue were transferred to Sala.

  Aftermath. Selected games continued under the Salagames label and were later republished by Abacusspiele and other publishers.

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• 1982Expand the catalogue through former Bütehorn titlesStrategy

  Bütehorn's bankruptcy around 1982 created an opportunity for another German publisher to take over games and broaden its programme.

  What changed. Hexagames incorporated several Bütehorn games into its publishing programme.

  Aftermath. The move helped Hexagames build a wider catalogue during its early years.

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1. Hexagames