Spear's Games
Spear's Games, active from 1930 to 1992, published family, children's, word and puzzle games across European markets.
- 15 Games
Biography
J.W. Spear & Sons (Spear's Games) has historical roots in Fürth near Nuremberg and is known for localising games for European languages. The company moved production to Britain before and during WWII and underwent ownership changes; its brands were later acquired by Mattel in 1994. Our database lists 15 published titles.
Career
Active between 1930 and 1992, the publisher released a variety of family‑oriented and children's games as well as abstract and word/puzzle titles. Recurring mechanics include Tile Placement, Set Collection, Grid Movement, Simultaneous Action Selection and Roll/Spin and Move. The company focused on adapting games for different European markets and produced several award‑recognized party and family games.
Most Famous Games
Key titles in our records include Take it Easy! (1983), Power (1981) and A to Z (1992). Other notable releases are Life Style (1989) and Asterix: The Card Game (Asterix: Das Kartenspiel, 1990). Some of these games received awards such as Årets Spill and a mention linked to Spiel des Jahres.
Design Style
Their catalogue favors accessible, mechanic‑driven designs suitable for families: tile placement and set collection patterns recur, often blended with abstract or animal‑themed concepts. Many titles aim at broad, multilingual European audiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Spear's Games from?
The company's history begins in Fürth (near Nuremberg); the dataset does not provide a single definitive current location.
What is their most famous game?
Our top‑listed game is A to Z (1992).
What mechanic is their signature?
Tile Placement, Set Collection and Grid Movement appear most often.
How long have they been active?
The dataset lists activity from 1930 to 1992.
Verdict
Good pick for collectors or players interested in mid‑20th‑century family and children's games with straightforward mechanics.
