Top 10 Solo Board Games of All Time | Updated Ranking 2024 (+Amy tries them all!)
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- čas přidán 20. 06. 2024
- After two years and 500 games later, Maggie has updated her top 10 solo games of all time! And to make things interesting she's also taught them all to me with mixed results. So join us while Maggie counts down her best board games to play alone while I try to comprehend playing a game with no witnesses. Lol.
Thanks for watching!
A&M
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:30 Number 10
Video: Maggie's 2 character playthrough
• Mythwind | A Rahdo Run...
04:46 Number 9
06:56 Number 8
10:59 Number 7
15:30 Number 6
19:23 Number 5
Video: Maggie's solo playthrough • Great Western Trail Ne...
26:19 Number 4
33:15 Number 3
40:16 Number 2
Video: Maggie's 'Completionist' campaign variant • Themer Solos | Stardew...
46:20 Number 1
51:41 Amy's ranking of Maggie's Top 10
1:00:24 Wrap up
Thanks for stopping by! We're Amy & Maggie aka ThinkerThemer. We're an Australian couple with two very different perspectives of what makes a great board game - Amy (Thinker) is all about the mechanics and enjoys tight, competitive games, and Maggie (Themer) is all about the storytelling and the theme of the game, and the 'world' that the designer is trying to create. Subscribe to our channel to hear us talk about these two elements of a game, and how well integrated we feel these are in delivering a cohesive and wonderful game experience.
#boardgames #tabletopgames #thinkerthemer ❤🏳️🌈🇦🇺
This was such a good top ten! And it was really neat that Amy sat down and played Solo games. I can't wait to solo mythwind. Another great video, Ladies, thank you!
Best Thinker Themer video yet?? I’m sure this was hours and hours of effort for Amy to play all these games. I really enjoyed this video and watching you two get to know each other a little better by playing these and sharing your experiences. I’ve never met you, but I love you both!
I love the joy and enthusiam in this video! You don't see that too often with solo gaming videos.
Great video and I love Maggie's description of the Bloody Inn, "some of these people will be... murdered... by you...."
Happy to see For Northwood! made it to this list - it's so good!
Mage Knight, Gloomhaven, Spirit Island - surprisingly not on the list. Good to see some fresh ideas on the top solo games.
imo, for MK, SI, and GH these three are either you will like it or hate it type of games due to its complexity
in my case i like both MK and SI, i never play GH but FH and i start to feel bored and repetitive after half year of playing it
I love this video so much! 🥰 First of all, is setting up and teaching ten solo games to a spouse a love language I didn't know about? That's probably the sweetest thing I can possibly imagine! 🥺💕 Maggie, I really love seeing your solo preferences as the "themer" of the channel and was surprised to see A Feast for Odin as your favorite solo game (also my #1 solo game!) considering how thinky (and thematically tenuous) I find that game to be! I'm also thrilled that Mythwind made it onto your list-I watched your Mythwind review and was starting to feel a bit apprehensive about the game (it's on its way as we speak) but I feel much more reassured after this video! Thank you for such enjoyable content, always! ☺
"I'll leave the room; yell out if you have any questions!" - Maggie, world's best exam moderator.
Great job guys, wonderful vid
The whole meeting someone analogy for Mythwind was the best giggle of my day so thanks for that! Thanks for also including Mythwind on your top 10 solo games Maggie! (*The added giggles and facial expressions Amy had during that analogy was equally hilarious)
I love everything about this video 💕 Thank you for sharing!
This is one of my favourite videos of yours! So much fun to watch! Also enjoyed the comparison between the solo and the multiplayer experience of the games on the list. Super fun and super informative! Keep up the amazing work! ❤
Looking forward to trying these, thank you!
What a great discussion and that bit about sharing your world at the end was delightful.
🎉awesome solo list Maggie and I applaud the attempt Amy! Love the energy and banter as always! Keep up the good work!
I wish I can find time for some board games, just so busy nowadays…
Thank you so much for this video!
Great list! I haven't tried any of the games on your list but I'm very tempted to go game shopping right now. Thank you for sharing 🥰
Thanks for a great video!
Love the video!
Great review. Thank you.
Solo top 3 for me: #1 Spirit Island, #2 Castles of Burgundy, #3 Voidfall and maybe Eartborne Rangers or Too many bones next. Those did not come close for Maggie?
P.S really looking forward to FLOE and the solo mode for it too!
Thanks for the great content.
I started watching your channel about half a year ago and never expected to see Amy play a solo game, let alone so many! Had a lot of fun watching this.
That Stardew Valley campaign mode sounds great! I haven't played the game solo yet, but I love it multiplayer, and this sounds like a great way to get more out of the game.
Sadly For Northwood is not available here, but I was lucky to find out friends of mine made the print and play version of it. They were very sweet to let me borrow it and I got a couple of games in already. It's a lot of fun, and I haven't even started the campaign yet!
Y’all look so happy!!! 🙏 Great list.
Fantastic video, I absolutely love it!
Hope you two will do 1 next year, even though it must be a lot of work. ❤
I absolutely loved and enjoyed this video. Mostly because I appreciate all the behind the scenes experiences you must have gone through to prepare for filming. Amy’s willingness to try something that means so much to Maggie. It shows so lovely in Maggie’s face during the video. Thank you for sharing this with us all. Love this community. P.S. the completionist campaign mode should become official option for Stardew valley. I can’t wait to try it (today! lol)
Thanks for another wonderful, fun to watch video!! You're both so passionate, funny and engaging. I loved this and I don't even *do* solo gaming, lol. (Though maybe I'll try now!)
Thank you so much for the time you’ve both spent making this video and testing these games! New to the board game world here ☺️
I’m excited to check out Great Western Trail. I have the same problem as you when I started a complicated game solo. I have Tapestry and am so excited to play, but the solo mechanics make it overwhelming to the point I forget what I was aiming for with my turns since I’m still learning the game.
I was so excited to see this video pop up!! Amy, I think it is great you tried all of these solo! Since I fall more in the thinker camp, I have not played Mythwinds or Sleeping Gods and probably will not. I thought I would like the Imperium games but it is just not my cup of tea. I tried a couple of times solo, but just can't get into it. I really do want to try Stardew Valley and Witchcraft. Of the ones I have played, I would put them in this order for me...Nusfjord, The Bloody Inn, GWT (but have not played New Zealand yet), For Northwood, and Imperium (a far distant last). Thanks for another great video! It's hard to believe that I am going to say this, but.....See you girls next week!!
Solid list!
Thx very much Maggie & Amy...I'm going to check out a couple of those games...I'm a big online gamer and looking forward to doing some solo stuff...again, thx.
Lot of awesome games in your top, Maggie !
Very awesome. I've been hooked on AFfO, Maggie/Amy.
I can empathize with you on this being number 1.
It's going to be my number one over my CTG catalogue of games this year.
So simple on the surface and yet so many choices.
I've only been playing the board games for close to a year but AFfO has something special for me.
Thanks, ladies for the great energy and vibes!
You have another subscriber!
I loved this! As a solo gamer this was really fun.
I came here for the games, I stayed for the hands!! 😍
Thank you sooo much for this top 10. This video answers a question I posted for you in another review you did so forget answering that. You have! As for my favorites on your list, I only currently own Feast for Odin and GWT 2d ed so Feast is my #1. Lately I've been soloing Expeditions which has a great bot but replayability is weak vs others. I spent a lot of hours soloing the first Pathfinder campaign game and really have good memories of that experience. Based on your review here I plan to purchase Nusfjord, GWT-NZ, Imperium Horizons, and Mythwind. Thanks again for your great reviews!
Great list! Big fan of For Northwood!, Imperium, and Feast for Odin.
I’m definitely going to look into Sleeping Gods now
As I'm getting more into solo gaming I appreciate this list! Several on the list I'm hoping to try solo eventually. Can't wait for a restock of For Northwood!
However, I'd also love to see a list for lighter solo games - the sort of games that are most accessible for solo play in limited time and/or space. I'm rarely able to set up heavier games for solo since I don't have a dedicated space to keep them set up between plays so anything I can set up, play, and put away in less than an hour (ideally 45 minutes) is the sweet spot for me.
Nusfjord is definitely on my list! I really like the way solo works with Feast so it's awesome to hear it's similar.
Great list! And good on you Amy for trying out all those solo games or solo modes! I really did enjoy playing Feast For Odin (with the Norwegians) solo. Very clean and simple challenge of beating your old score. I think I played it a dozen times over Christmas break a year ago. >< Obsession is lovely and simple as well. But yes, it does play a lot better in a group. Speaking of solo games, I'm curious about Maggie's impressions of Legacy of Yu.
A cliffhanger....! 🤠
What a great, fun and informative video! It helped motivate me to schedule a game night for our family, which we haven't done in a while. Sub/Like well earned!
That's a Top 10 shirt for sure Maggie!!
Loved this video! You all are great. I got A Feast for Odin after hearing you both rave about it! Our family loves it!
This was such a fun and charming video! Kudos to you, Amy, for sitting down and playing all of these games solo even when it's not your thing. And Maggie, what a list...I think there's something in there for everyone.) P.S. QUESTION: Would you ever consider doing a top five or top ten of best smaller box solo games? Asking for a friend...
Just pulled out For Northwood! a couple of days ago to play again and will be getting some more games in this week. The gameplay, art, theme, and general whimsy of the game are so well integrated! You've also reminded me that I have yet to play Witchcraft! Perhaps this week... And finally, I'm curious about A Feast for Odon (solo). Thanks for posting!
Awesome list! Stardew Valley is such a great board game (it's currently my 3rd favorite solo game). I'll have to try your 5 year variant sometime as that sounds like an interesting way to change up the game
i have loved nusfjord for years and only today when watching this did i learn *there are expansions* omfg i'm so excited
Love the video, please share the next 10 games :-)
Great list! I am glad to see the combination of both older and newer games. I was very curious to see if both Stardew Valley and/or Mythwind would make the list. Thanks for sharing, ladies!
I love bloody inn, but never tried it solo, thank for the hint.
My new favourite solo only are Legacy of yu, Freaky frogs. On the all time list is Freitag, Arkham noir, under falling skies. And i like arche noah solo.
I have only played For Northwood and The Bloody Inn from this entire list. My current fave is Obsession (have only played it solo). I am off to watch a playthrough of Witchcraft because you may have sold me on that one. LOVED this video! ❤❤
Love StarDew Valley...and only play with Maggie's hack version. Super Fun! Fun video! And WTG Amy!
As a solo player myself I enjoy a lot of your top 10, especially Witchcraft!, For Northwood and The Bloody Inn. Great video!
I can't wait my Nusfjord big box to arrive! Had it for preorder for a year now, maybe this summer...
I love that Amy tried all of these solo!! And that she liked Sleeping Gods as much as she did. I have mostly played the original solo, often finishing campaigns that started off with my husband or a small group of friends. I played Primevil Peril and really enjoyed it. Haven’t gotten to Distant Skies yet, but maybe this week!
Not really a solo player but love Bloody Inn multiplayer, especially with The Carnies expansion modules.
Completely agree with Maggie's #1 in Feast for Odin. It's a lot to get out but what a joyful solo experience.
So good that Amy tried them all! I’ve now added a few to my wishlist, especially as I’m spending a couple of nights a week away on my own. Finished Legacy of Dragonholt, and have tried a few games of Fleet the Dice Game. Will be playing Sleeping Gods Distant Skies soon. Am definitely on the lookout for For Northwood and Nusfjord.
Great list! I play a lot of solos. I agree that clunkier automas usually take out from the overall immersion and experience, however I tend to overlook it, if there is a solo campaign (Maracaibo)/set of specific challenges (Life in Amazonia). All that said, my top solo game has to be FF's solo only small card game Finished. I just love how it reminds me of classic solitaire but it is completely different... I find its mundane setting completely adorable (you need to finish your work at the office before you run out of coffee. Candies will help you along the way, but you need to use the sugar rush wisely, they are in limited supply). I also love that you get a short flipbook at the end of the won game :) With probably well over 500+ games under my belt (I had to buy 2nd copy - cards were completely damaged), I can fairly easily win on hardest setting. Greeting to all gamers :)
When I solo Feast I prepare an occupation card (or 2), preselect my shed and weapon (or 2) to set up for the strategy that I want to pursue. The solo is great training for following a strategy and for planning ahead several turns.
Hi Amy and Maggie, you are the best!! Loved this video just as much as the others. Could you please consider making a summary video, with an overview of all the games ranked so far? I'd love to see such a list and the top ten highest ranked games for each of you at this point in time, with your reflections on this result.
We just received our copy of Sleeping gods 2, and we are looking forward to getting into the story.
Great list! There's a few on here that are on my to buy list once I get through my current collection.
I'd be interested to see what you think of roll player adventures. I've really been enjoying it as a solo game, the set up isn't too bad, no automa and the dice and cards have a nice balance of luck and mitigation.
Love the list. In regard to Imperium, I like the practice solo mode and maybe Amy will like this as well. It plays very quickly and does not involve the Automa cards. I agree with her that with the cards it overstays it’s welcome.
We have a lot of games that can be played solo, including some on your list! I need to make time to try them!
Can’t wait for For northwood to be available again. Bloody Inn is my favorite
Great video, and super cool to hear Amy's take! I wonder if there are any other games that Amy is now curious to try solo now that she has a better sense of the ways she can still enjoy a game despite the lack of player interaction?
Great enthusiasm.
Love these videos - they alert us to the games possibilities.
How on earth can you decide, though? 😅
I haven't got a big collection but Orchard is great, Three Sisters is fabulous, Fliptown is a must, Unbroken is gritty etc.
Mythwind was one I decided to ignore as it got some negative press regarding the 'point' of it. I will look into it, again.
Thanks, you two. 😃
A kind video and an brilliant idea to rank someone else your personel top ten. Now I think, it should a thing everywhere >D
Loved the list. I'm 95% solo player and need a good solo component to justify buying a game. You should try Tales to Amaze the UnMatched solo/co-op game. This is the first time I've played a solo game and felt like I was playing another person.
There were some surprises in this video for me, for sure. First, I will preface this by saying that I already know that Maggie's and my thoughts on Automas differ vastly. For me, I say, the more complex the Automa, usually, the better, because I feel that helps it feel more real, and more like the Automa is doing things that a real player might do, and that is usually what I want in a solo mode for a game that I like. I don't personally have a problem with facilitating a complex Automa, or keeping track of what I was trying to do afterward. I totally understand the thoughts on the other side of that, though. So, I say all this to say that the surprises for me didn't so much come from Maggie's picks or thoughts, but more from some of Amy's thoughts. I was SO surprised by the fact that Amy said that she'd rather have a "beat your own score" chart in a solo game, than have an Automa. Since what brings down the rating of a game for Amy so often is the lack of player interaction, I could not believe my ears that removing even the little bit of interaction an Automa gives would have somehow made things...better!? lol Anyway, amazing, entertaining video as always. Keep doing what you're doing, and keep being awesome.
Nice top 10, love it. Not very often can we see a top 10 on your channel, so always great (and I can't count 10, out of 10, obviously)! I am sort of glad I passed on Mythwind, I also don't like grind. Love the Sleeping Gods series. Witchcraft: the theme quite contrary to both of you makes me like Resist! Like Septima - no theme for me. Other games in my top 10 would be Gloom-or Frostheaven, my new 7th Citadel, the new campaign of Arnak and finally Final Girl.
My favorite solo Uwe is Atiwa now. I love the solo scenarios. Have you played Garphill Games? Legacy of Yu solo is amazing. Hadrian's Wall is in my top ten solo. A few others from my top ten to solo: Obsession, Rococo Deluxe, Grand Austria Hotel, Shakespeare, Hamburg, Orleans (with Invasion), Lisboa, WIngspan.... Some notable new for me from last year: Rebuilding Seattle, Distilled, Planet Unknown, Wild Tiled West, Scholars of the South Tigris. For Northwood was great. Just got it. The Bloody Inn I have had for a while. Stardew Valley means well but is so difficult!
47:00 You could also take the cover off and just set that up vertically to show the camera - no spills. 👍 Fabulous video, and I love your 5-season hack for SDV! 🌈🍎🍇🍅🍒🍓
My partner and I have played through both the original Sleeping Gods and distant skies by playing it as if we are playing solo but both playing together. We have really enjoyed doing it that way, cause we get the experience of playing together while having control over everything! Great too 10!
Nusfjord is so good! I've never played it solo though.
Love Stardew, I've been tempted to try your variant, but I usually just play two handed. I play everything solo two handed- because I hate bots and like exploring two stategies at once. I thought I would love Imperium Classics, (I wont touch a Turzi solo mode with a ten foot pole) because I love a long, heavy game, but it is just so incremental I its feel. I ended up passing it on and picking up Cerebria in trade and absolutely falling in love with it playing the shaper variant two handed (another Turzi solo I'll never try.) Fun list. Someday I'll try A Feast for Odin.
Great list!!! You should also consider Underwater Cities Solo & Ark Nova!
im so excited for witchcraft im still waiting for it to be shipped
This is super interesting because a large percentage of the solo community prefers an automa. Cool to hear a different perspective.
A great video.
I’m just wondering if Maggie has had a chance to play Final Girl yet. I know you recently got a copy. It’s a little less strategic than most of the top 10, but I find it so wonderfully cinematic and thematic.
I'm not a solo gamer, but I did really like the solo of Earth and evergreen ..i can't wait to pick up earthborn rangers ..
Thanks for this fun video!
Surprisingly I've not played any of the 10 games on your list but I do play a fair amount of solo games myself. I think some of my top solo games would include:
Any of the Garphill Game's medieval trilogies games (Shipwrights of the North Sea Redux, Paladins of the West Kingdom, Viscounts of the West Kingdom, Wayfarers of the South Tigris, Scholars of the South Tigris, and more)
Darwin's Journey
Sagrada
Meadow
The Guild of Merchant Explorers
Moonrakers with at least the Nomad expansion
Eiyo
Spirits of the Forest
And Iwari
Some of these are on my list because they're small box games. Some are on my list because they exercise my brain in the same way as a logic puzzle, and the rest just do a great job of simulating an opponent.
Imperium series are tough to learn but once you learn it's a great game
I really love bloody inn too and think it's severely underrated . The expansion elevates it as well.
Maggie's "peaceful variant" of the Bloody Inn had me ROLLING 🤣
Hey! Regarding Great Western Trail New Zealand, I'm assuming you would not extend the same compliments to the other GWT titles?
Finally opened Imperium Classics and its taken a couple games against the bot, but I am really starting to get into the gameplay and theme and the speed at which I can do my turn and the bot’s has improved a ton. I actually think its a pretty simple bot system compared to say the ROOT bots that I learned a few weeks ago. I have purposefully only played Rome and played against the Carthage bot in an effort to minimize the variables while I iron out the systems; I think it will be pretty easy to learn new civs and new bots now. Thanks
Interesting how you would compare SDV campaign vs Mythwind...
I do find ranking big box vs. small box vs. 18-card games very hard to do.
The Bloodless Inn. From the makers of This Peace Of Mine.
Super cool :)) 🤪👑😘
Have you tried bloc by bloc uprising? Love that one solo
I visited the real bloody inn
Hi Maggie. Two questions:
1. What is a diference in solo variant for GWT base vs GWT New Zealand?
2. Will you accept the challenge to handle solo automa for Stationfall?
😀
Stardew Valley on no.2! What a big, pleasant surprise!!!
Do you play Feast for Odin with the Norwegians expansion for your solo game? Is it a must?
If you consider only the "official" solo included/expanded games.... My favs are: Caesar! Seize Rome in 20 Minutes (a game for 2 ppl. solo incl.), Codex Naturalis (solo to download from official website) and 7 Wonders Duel (solo to download from official website). I'm also interested in Nova Luna (solo incl.). And I'm waiting for Forage (solo game) and Diced Veggies(solo to download from official website) to be released in Vienna (Austria)... Otherwise, I have the fan-made solos for Splendor Duel, Azul, Targi, Rummikub... which work very fine for me. Btw, what do you think about Votes for Women (solo inc.) and Wonder Woman Challenge of the Amazons (only fan made solos on BGG) ? ^_^
Great discussion!
Finally picked up Sleeping Gods Distant Skies (and an expansion) for $50! What a bargain! I ended up also getting a copy of Hoplomachus Victorum the other week which I didn't think I would like but it's a really compelling design and it really makes my brain super happy.
Evil ladies. Now FfO is now on the list. I didn't know it was a polyomino. Anyway I had filled that niche with Isle of Cats, now there is another that is to-get. Thanks for the show!
A Feast for Odin is an absolutely phenomenal game-it's been my favorite board game (solo or otherwise) for years now! ⚔ Definitely a game worth checking out!
Good list - needs more Final Girl though 😉