This year's Spiel in Essen will be a bit amputated for me unfortunately. Even more important to arrive prepared! So, I made a list. Maybe it can be of interest for others. Who knows. (A BGG Geek List with the same info: https://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/197261)

Main Releases

504

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/175878/504
This year's Friedeman Friese seems fascinating. "504 is a game that creates 504 different games out of one box.", they say, but will any of them be worth our time (and shelf space (and money))?

7 Wonders: Duel

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/173346/7-wonders-duel
Antoine Bauza teams up with Bruno Cathala to revisit "7 Wonders" as a two player game with intriguing drafting mechanics inspired by... pyramid solitaire.

Barony

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167513/barony
Splendor is one of my favourite games from last year. Marc André is back with a seemingly (slightly) heavier game.

Mysterium

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/181304/mysterium
Coop Ghost Murder Mystery Dixit! (Technically it was at Essen last year, but only in Polish.)

Ships

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/153737/ships
This year's Martin Wallace (A Study In Emerald, A Few Acres of Snow, Mythotopia...)

Bretagne

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/179350/bretagne
Probably too heavy to get much play time these days, but it sounds intriguing.
http://opinionatedgamers.com/2015/09/21/liga-first-impressions-of-bretagne/

Inhabit the Earth

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/181797/inhabit-earth

The Gallerist

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/125153/gallerist

Steam Works

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/143176/steam-works
Steampunk worker placement game.

Favor of the Pharaoh

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/171011/favor-pharaoh
A new dice game from Tom Lehman. (Roll for the Galaxy, etc.)

Above and Below

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/172818/above-and-below
The new Ryan Laukat sounds intriguing. City building meets story telling... (Not entirely sure this will be presented at Essen, but LudoVox seems to think so... )

Dice City

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/179572/dice-city
"Dice crafting"?

Flip City

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/168679/flip-city
Deckbuilding meets Minivilles? Push your luck with a card flipping gimmick... Why not?

Small City

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/130486/small-city
Another mayor-sim?

My Village

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/172381/
Dice-version of Village.

Pandemic Legacy

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/161936/pandemic-legacy
Pandemic. Legacy.

Scythe

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/169786/
The new game from Stonemaier Games. (Viticulture w/Tuscany, Euphoria, Between two Cities...)

Automobiles

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/180680/automobiles
Third game in the series that started with the excellent Trains. A bag-builder. My collection could do with a bag builder...

Cthulhu Realms

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/179303/
Star Realms meets Lovecraft? This must be tried.

Tides of Time

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/176229/tides-time
Another two player drafting game... in a small box. From Portal Games.

Codenames

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/178900/codenames
Another take on the Dixit association party game sub genre? From a fascinating designer. Why not?

Nippon

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/154809/nippon

Dino Twist

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/179723/dino-twist
To call it "6 nimmt" with donosaur theme would be unfair, but I had a quick introduction to this game at the Octogônes fair in Lyon this weekend and I am looking forward to try it for real.

Games released earlier in 2015 that might be playable

New York 1901

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/174660/new-york-1901
The new Ticket Ride? (Supposedly a great gateway game.)

The Voyages of Marco Polo

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/171623/voyages-marco-polo
Great reviews.

Sapiens

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/169649/sapiens
Dominoes with cavemen-theme? Made in Lyon, but I haven't tested it yet... (A video: https://www.boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/46133/spiel-2015-preview-sapiens-or-dominoes-dawn-time )


Expansions

Suburbia 5★

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/171007/suburbia-5
Suburbia! (Along wiht the "Con Tiles" promo?)

Nations: Dynasties

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/180539/nations-dynasties
I wouldn't mind revisiting Nations, and why not including an expansion.

Port Royal: Ein Auftrag geht noch...

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/181899/port-royal-ein-auftrag-geht-noch
Port Royal expension pack. Interesting.


Already Kickstarted

I have kickstarted a couple of games that might be demoed this year.

Epic

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/175621/epic
From the makers of Star Realms.

Between Two Cities

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/168435/between-two-cities
Stonemaier Games' first game from external designers. A fascinating take on drafting. Casual 20 minutes game for 1-7 players.

Black Hat

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/148282/black-hat
Played this at Essen last year. Excellent take on trick taking.


Things that have excaped me in earlier year(s) that I would like to try

Roll for the Galaxy

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/132531/roll-galaxy
This was missing at last year's Messe, but it has an expansion out this year, so I hope they demo it somewhere... (https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/175754/roll-galaxy-ambition)

Castles of Mad King Ludwig

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/155426/castles-mad-king-ludwig
Didn't prioritize this last year as I thought it was too close to the Suburbia that I already have in my collection... Expansion coming out, so it might be fun to try -- if possible. (https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/174296/castles-mad-king-ludwig-secrets)

Colt Express

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/158899/colt-express
Spiel des Jahres 2015, didn't prioritize it last year. Expansion out. Hope to test it. (https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/181158/colt-express-horses-stagecoach)

Russian Railroads

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/144733/russian-railroads
Yet another much raved about game that I missed last year that has an expension coming out. (https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/181693/russian-railroads-german-railroads)

Concordia

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/124361/concordia
With the new Salsa-expansion coming out maybe this will be demoed?
(https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/181084/concordia-salsa)

Istanbul

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/148949/istanbul
New expansion... etc. (https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/172505/)

Resources

(Photos by myself taken at previous Essen trips.)