Zoch GmbH

The Publishing Company

The year 1987 started with a sensation.  Klaus Zoch’s "Bausack" ("Sac O’ Bricks") was created and soon after, in 1988, included in the “Spiel des Jahres” recommendation list. Until now "Bausack" has been sold 50 000 times and is considered a classic among the building games.

The hour of birth of "Wer Wohnt Wo" ("Who lives where?") also occurred during this time. The hand-made wooden memory game is to this day a kindergarten favorite.

In the next few years games such as "Flusspiraten", "Das Hornberger Schiessen", "Mäusefest”, "Sac Noir" and "Big Bang" followed.

"Bamboleo" was published in 1996 as a further milestone of Zoch's dexterity games. In the same year, "Aztec" was awarded the “Sonderpreis Schönes Spiel”.

From then on, the Zoch success story progressed like a whirlwind. In 1998, "Zicke Zacke Hühnerkacke" ("Chicken Cha Cha Cha") had a major market breakthrough.  Initially awarded by the jury with the “Sonderpreis Bestes Kinderspiel 1998”, "Zicke Zacke Hühnerkacke" also received the “Deutscher Kinderspielpreis” award in the fall of 1998.  Until today more than 700.000 copies of "Zicke Zacke Hühnerkacke" have been sold; the game appeared in more than 20 foreign editions and was awarded with prizes in many European countries. In the years after 1998 an entire chicken family evolved.

The extension "Zicke Zacke Entenkacke" became just as successful as the card games "Au Backe" and "Hick Hack in Gackelwack" (“Pick Picknic”). Zoch's dexterity game tradition continued with the game “Hamsterrolle".

In 2001, "Zapp Zerapp" was nominated “Game of the Year 2001” and won the “Deutscher Kinderspielpreis” award.
 
"Villa Paletti" became “Spiel des Jahres 2002”. With this, the "Spiel des Jahres" jury awarded the work of the Zoch Publishing Company with the “Oscar” of the games industry.  "Villa Paletti" alone was sold more than 300.000 times during 2002.

In 2003, Zoch expanded their chicken games range with "Schicki Micki".  With "Iglu Pop" the publishers picked up the successful acoustic game mechanism of "Zapp Zerapp" and created yet another fun shaking and listening game.

When Zoch Publishing Company turned 18 in the spring of 2005, it was clear that the time had come to publish "grown-up" games as well. The publishers ventured forth with "Goldbräu" (in cooperation with Hanser Publishing Company), "Niagara", "Manila" and "San Ta Si" in a category that was not intended for the playing child’s hand only. This new step was awarded with success,as in 2005 "Niagara" became "Game of the Year”. Until today, "Niagara" as well as "Villa Paletti" have been sold more than 400 000 times.

Reiner Knizia's "Heckmeck am Bratwurmeck" ("Pickomino”) was released in the same year. Since then it has quickly conquered the hearts and hands of players. As an all-time favourite travelling and "in-between" game, it achieved the status of a cult game. It has the potential to secure a firm place among Zoch's classics in the future.  "Heckmeck" can now already be played in seven different country editions. And this is only the beginning!

The range of tactile games began with "Dschamál" and was expanded in 2006 with "Ramba Samba" and "Doktor Schlüsselbart”.

The year 2006 saw the release of "Los Mampfos" which was nominated for "Kinderspiel des Jahres". The extension "Flussgeister am Niagara"  contributed to the game enjoyment of "Niagara".

At the Nuremberg Toys Fair 2008, Zoch released "Burg Appenzell",  "Toni Tümpel" as well as two new members of the card and dice game category: "Gloria Picktoria" and "Volle Wolle".  In the fall of 2007, "Burg Appenzell" received the "Deutschen Kinderspielepreis 2007" award for the best children’s game and also the “Essener Feder” for the best game rules of the year.

At the “Spiel ‘07” in Essen Zoch presented the animated and fun "Didi Dotter" in the chicken game family, extended the card game section with "Alles Tomate!" and with "Altamira" released another game for older players. In addition and in response to many requests Zoch reintroduced "Bausack" – with which everything had started 20 years ago – in a box with an attractive new illustration and with revised material. Don’t worry: The linen sac is still inside the box, of course. 

Zoch's novelties of the Nuremberg Toy Fair 2008 were "Fladderadatsch" as a funny children's game and "Suleika" as a thrilling family game. Furthermore, Zoch created with "Cheesy Gonzola" an exciting extension of
"Burg Appenzell". "Cheesy's" game box has room for all game parts (roofs, cheese tiles, mice etc.) of the original game.
For its 10th anniversary the all-time children game classic
"Zicke Zacke Hühnerkacke" was re-published in a limited edition featuring a cool chicken baseball cap.

In May 2008, "Suleika" received a "Spiel des Jahres 2008" nomination, and "Didi Dotter" was awarded with a nomination for "Kinderspiel des Jahres 2008". The memory card game "Alles Tomate!" achieved a spot on the recommendation list for "Kinderspiel des Jahres 2008".

The 'Spiel 08' in Essen is already closing in. Among other games, Zoch will introduce the dice game "Sushizock im Gockelwok" by "Spiel des Jahres" author Reiner Knizia. Since July 2008 the game is already available at toy stores all across the country.

Information about further fall novelties of Zoch will not be given away... yet. You are allowed to be curious about them, though.

On the right road

Due to its continual innovative and decorated work, the Zoch Publishing Company has grown and developed over the years. Today, Zoch is a recognised trademark in the market and is valued as an interesting partner in business. The brand image is boosted by an established corporate identity.
Through the high acceptance of Zoch games by the consumer and because of the multiplying factors (also trade wise) an increased demand for Zoch products has emerged.


During 2007, Zoch extensively focussed on the creation of trademarks. From now on, our worldwide successful chicken games will be available under the corporate trademark "Zicke Zacke".  Zoch already released two "Zicke und Zacke" children’s books in cooperation with the Esslinger Publishing Company in 2006 and 2007. Furthermore, since the fall of 2007, the chickens "Zicke und Zacke"  have been available in plush in three different sizes - as result of the cooperation with Zoch's partner of choice, sigikid.

The assortment of games

Zoch's top quality selection of games by now consists of a wide range of more than 40 family, skill and children’s games. The game material is mostly made of wood and sets a new standard in product quality. One of Zoch's specialities is certainly our involvement with exciting and new materials. Zoch is not deterred by intricate and completely novel ways of dealing with games, but rather regards this as a challenge.
All Zoch products are produced according to the latest safety requirements and are certified by the most reliable testing institutes.
The significant success factor of the Zoch publishing company lies in its high innovative achievement and professional skill to develop game ideas to their fullest extent. The numerous awards prove the attractiveness of the games and Zoch's intuitive understanding of the wishes of the buyer.