8 GAMES I'VE BEEN ENJOYING SOLO & some I want to try!
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- čas přidán 28. 06. 2024
- Hey friends! It's time to talk about solo gaming! This is something that I just recently started within the last 3 months and I've been really enjoying it! I would love to hear from you guys what games are great solo and which ones you think I would like! If you have been considering starting to play some games solo I definitely recommend trying it out! It's a lot of fun.
CHAPTERS
00:00 intro
02:16 #1 Three Sisters
05:42 #2 Rolling Realms
07:29 #3 Hadrian's Wall
10:13 #4 Dinosaur Island Rawr & Write
13:00 #5 The Whatnot Cabinet
14:12 #6 Indian Summer
15:10 #7 Tiny Towns
17:33 #8 Stardew Valley The Board Game
19:54 more games I want to try out solo
23:52 outro
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Love the videos! There are three games I've been enjoying solo, two of which were kickstarters that may bee hard to find, but I HIGHLY recommend them.
1. Snack Time : A Roll-n-Write game where you play as monsters navigating sewers to snack on unsuspecting people above.
2. The Road: A French game that has little to no text, you have to print your own rule book and order your own playmat from a third party, but you play as one of 4 travelers walking along a road, collecting goods and having random encounters with thieves and murders, hoping to reach your destination alive.
3. Renegade Game's Warp's Edge: A Bag builder in space. Fight waves of enemies to put more chips in your bag, in order to race the clock and beat the final boss before time runs out.
I’m with you on this girl! Yes! Same for me, wish we lived closer so we could play together! Love the solo component now offered in games! I love sheepy time, Arnak, Oh my goods, and Capital Lux 2!
Yess! That would be wonderful! I've been watching some of your content recently and I think we would get along very well! 😊 Thanks for the recommendations! I also just saw that you did the Tabletop Tag! Cant wait to watch! 🥰👏🏻
I tried Welcome to the Moon, Parks, Honey Buzz, Wingspan and Arnak solo and I liked them :) I also like Meadow, Tidal Blades, Sprawlopolis, Fantastic Factories, Anachrony, Calico, Nova Luna, Sunset over water, Bandida, Explorers, Tawantinsuyu, Castles of Burgundy, Clans of Caledonia, Euphoria, Cooper Island, Forbidden Island, Ginkgopolis, Isle of Cats, NY Zoo, Realm of Sand, Sub Terra, Tiny Epic Galaxies, Unearth, Villagers, Trek 12 Amazonia
Tuscany is a MUST for Viticulture. Once you incorporate it into the game, you’ll never go back to the base game. I’ve played Wingspan solo and thoroughly enjoy it. If you don’t have Under Falling Skies, I highly recommend. It’s a solo only game that is very puzzling and so satisfying when you squeeze out a victory. I also enjoy Dune Imperium, both solo and multi~player. I’ve tried Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island and yet to have win yet. It is difficult, but one day I may finally get there. Lastly, I really love Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition, Paladins of the West Kingdom, and Aquatica! All play great solo.
Wingspan solo on switch is pretty fun so I'm gonna guess that it's fun played solo in it's physical form as well!
Give it a go ☺️
I'm actually forced to play solo because no one in my family plays games with me (which is fine by me because I love solo gaming), so almost all of my games can be played one player! Some of my favorites are either blank-and-writes (Cartographers, Three Sisters, and Rolling Realms) or ones with AI (Wingspan, Arnak, Parks). Stardew and The Loop are definitely in my top favorites though, they're just so fun :)
The introvert in me absolutely loves it! 😊 Sometimes I just don't want to talk at all lol. We definitely have similar taste in board games! I need to look into The Loop!
Same story, lol. So many games on the shelf that I can't play.
So many Button shy games are wonderful solo puzzles.
I have played Food chain island, sprawlopolis, tussie mussie, antinomy so far, love them all, and I have just received Rove kickstarter delivery, that one is interesting solo puzzle as well.
Just found your channel . Great selection for solo games. Some that I love include calico, Cascadia, welcome to, crystallo, under falling skies, warps edge, sunset over water, herbaceous, floriferious, three sisters, numerous buttonshy including numsters, circle the wagon, food chain island, at the helm, sprawlopolis
Have you heard about Railroad Ink? It’s the first roll n’ write game that I played, before I even knew roll n’ write was a thing. It’s pretty fun and can also be played solo!
Imo Ilse of cats has one of the best solo modes!
Arnak is great too!
Cartographers is good.
Moonrakers just came out with a digital companion app to play that game solo which is SUPER cool
Sorcerer city has a fantastic solo mode.
Cascadia is pretty good solo!
Also I'm a big fan of real time games solo it's not so much a relaxing vibe bit really fun.
Fuse, flatline and 5 minute mystery are great.
Tiny Epic series. Each are unique and amazing! Tiny Epic Western was my top favorite for a long time then they made Tiny Epic Pirates but I love them all so much!
Great video and I would like to try some of the roll & writes that you mentioned. A few of my favorite solo games are Spirit Island (playing 2 Spirits), Marvel Champions, Everdell with Mistwood Expansion, Wingspan, Isle of Cats, Robinson Crusoe, Underwater Cities and Villagers. Happy Solo Gaming 😊
I only play solo and have over 500 games. Some games are tweaked but my recent buys are mainly Nature themes.
Took Isle of Cats down from the many shelves and decided to play it....at long last and it is so much fun.
Next game to play will be another Nature theme: Creature Comforts.
Cannot wait for the re-release of S.O.S Titanic.
Sorry for long comment!
My fave solo euros are Maracaibo and Blackout Hong Kong definitely recommend both of those!
Blackout Hong Kong is fantastic. Definitely doesn't get enough love. The solo is challenging for sure.
So many good options and the comments have a wealth of recommendations! Most of my friends and family like lighter games - and don't want anything past 20-30 minutes and I like to dig in so it's solo for me much of the time. This is fine as I game to relax (and video game to relax). I really like these for solo play: HoneyBuzz, Welcome to games, Cartographers, Cascadia, Isle of Cats (regular and Explore and Draw), Sprawlopolis, and Tiny Towns. The one's I am currently *loving* solo right now are: Walking in Burano, Chai, Skulls of Sedlec and my most current fave Caverna. I just picked up the two expansions for Tiny Towns - which I'm hoping to play soon and I also went on a bit of an Uwe Rosenberg buying sprint and cannot wait to dig into more of his games solo. I started with Caverna and I am hooked. Love the strategy part! I also bit the bullet and bought Obsession which I want to get to the table this weekend. Please keep doing these video's (and I'll go follow on twitch as well)! Thank you!
WOW! So many recommendations and all amazing ones! Thank you! I've been wanting to try Isle Of Cats and Explore other & Draw! Cascadia looks great, Chai I've been wanting for so long! I didn't realize it could be played solo! AMAZING! 👏🏻😊 We LOVE Caverna! It's definitely a bigger one I want to try eventually! It's fantastic! Thank you so much!
Great video. I've been trying a lot more games solo lately too. Challenged myself to play at least a game a day, going on 9 months straight, shooting for a full year. Play mostly with my wife but she needs to sleep sometimes for whatever reason 😅, so solo plays are filling the gaps. Viticulture is pretty good solo, makes you work, only get 7 rounds. Some others I've tried recently that were fun (some fan-made solo variants from BGG, some built-in solo) ... Red Cathedral, Gizmos, Fantastic Factories, Newton, Roll for the Galaxy, Calico, Great Western Trail, Dinosaur Island, Village, Railroad Ink, Santa Maria, Space Base, Targi, Underwater Cities. 🎲
I actually didn't know there were many board games out there that could be played solo. I want to play more board games, but my regular group prefers to play RPGs. This is will be a good way for me to get my fix! Thanks!
Great subject!! I'm solo-playing almost all my games since my hubby isn't into it much. But when I first started, I ordered many 2+ player games without solo mode. However, there are a lot of good games for which fans on BGG have made solo decks or rules for. Some are even posted as official solo modes by the designers who couldn't get to them before publishing. That is a definite plus because I still get to enjoy these multiplayer games on my own. I also enjoy the bit of craft I need to cut automa decks, makes for something different related to board games. So I do not let the player count influence my decision first. This has opened up so many more interesting games for me (or if I play 2-handed): Museum, 7 Wonders Duel, Fresco, Galaxy Trucker, Hadara, Iki, Mariposas, Whistle Stop/Mountain, etc.
I didn't know this! Thank you so much for letting me know! I need to go do some BGG research now! Woohoo! I'm excited! 😊 2-handed playing is something I have considered doing as well. I feel like it is a great way to play around with different strategies.
I have to solo game more than multiplayer as my wife isn’t so keen; as such I can highly recommend the following games which for me are WONDERFUL solo games( they are also great multiplayer…I now tend to prioritise purchasing games of this category))
I also couldn’t see these on your shelves when you reorganised them in another video;
1 A FEAST FOR ODIN
2 TAPESTRY
3 DUNE IMPERIUM
4 NEMESIS
5 CONCORDIA- there is a new mini expansion called SOLARIA ( I think) that creates a very clever Ai opponent.
I think I need to find some smaller games that do the same thing- satisfy the solo itch with quicker set up.
I’m interested in exploring the Uwe Rosenberg trilogy- one of which you played for this video.
Thanks ending looking through your videos.
ButtonShy has a ton of great solo games. My personal favorites, Skulls of Sedlec and Death Valley, are not solo-only but have great solo variants/expansions. Sprawlopolis, ROVE, and Food Chain Island are my solo-only suggestions, in that order.
The PARKS Ai is good but the fan-made “Ranger Ron” you can find in Files on the BGG page is great (and is Nightfall expansion compatible).
I need to get a few Buttonshy Games! I've heard amazing things. 😊 and ohhhhh I'll try out solo with Ranger Ron! HAHA! Thanks!
Definitely recommend Tuscany for Viticulture. The solo is nice and simple. I like the solo mode for Wingspan too
Amazing! It is at the top of my list! Thank you! 😊
I personally hated Tuscany for the solo game. The influence map feels incredibly defeating and I found I liked the game significantly less with Tuscany for solo. I have not played Tuscany multiplayer, but I think I would really like it in that context.
I’ve started to wanna solo game since starting a work from home job. It’s a way to spend my evening away from my computer
As for solo games; I’ve been enjoying Sagrada, railroad ink and the oniverse games are fun
I am also in the same boat where my husband doesn't enjoy games as much as I do so I play a lot solo. I tend toward medium to medium-heavy games in my solo plays but also like lighter games as well. Welcome to the Moon is so much fun! I highly recommend checking out the fan made solo variants from Parks and Sagrada on BGG from Mark Outten. I didn't care for either of those with the publisher solo mode. Wingspan is fantastic solo but crazy hard to beat. My favorites right now for solo are Glen More II Chronicles, The Bloody Inn, The Grand Carnival, and Euphoria. Viticulture I enjoy solo okay but not with Tuscany. I am getting ready to try out Rococo: Deluxe Edition, Praga Caput Regni, CloudAge, and Trails of Tucana which are new to my collection. So many amazing solo options.
Would definitely recommend Robinson Crusoe. It is a medium to heavy euro gamer and the rulebook is a bit daunting. But there is a great app that helps with the setup and learning the rules (Watch It Played also has a few great videos helping you out). But is is a great game and very rewarding. You can play solo one-handed or two-handed that gives you a bit of variety in terms of characters and special abilities.
Nice video! I've really been enjoying Nemo's War, recently. It's pretty tough but very thematic and a good puzzle. The different motives also give the game a lot of replayability!
Many thanks for telling us about Hadrian's Wall. After watching your videos I found it in the local game store, and this one is a keeper. I can tell it was written by someone who is interested in history too!
I haven't seen your list yet, but these are the solo modes I have:
Calico - has a ton of preset challenges and a tracker in the back for both multiplayer and solo. Abstract strategy tile placement that the rng can kill easily but I adore. Others do not find it as appealing as I do.
Coatl - Trying to make Coatls out of randomized body, head, and tail pieces of various colors. You have two different scoring options as far as goals and are trying to get as many points as possible by matching your color patterns to your goal cards. The solo variant is a bot that just makes sure cards and pieces are getting taken to simulate an opponent and give you a score to beat.
Ark Nova - Still waiting for my copy to arrive but played on tabletopia and tts. Solo mode reduces the game to rounds and is fun enough but takes away a little bit from what I like of the multiplayer mechanics. Sort of a beat your score situation, but mostly just a score above 0 to win type deal.
Planning to Have:
Cartographers - Roll and Write that I've played on tabletopia and just really want to own. Haven't played enough to give good description but its talked about a lot online.
Micro Cosmos - A kickstarter game that just wrapped up its campaign. You are trying to restore the galaxy after a galactic war. You have to balance resource gathering, exploring, and building up your ship in order to colonize, rescue refugees, and ultimately terreform and restore 3 planets in your solar system, which is a card tableu you build out by exploring. The base game has a bot solo mode, but the expansion has a campaign and its one of the few space games I've seen that has art I like as opposed to the dry old sci-fi book cover look so many have.
Paradox Initiative - Another backed space game, I think it had a solo mode. In this one you are restoring timelines by researching planets with a matrix of tokens that you swap around to make rows of four or five matching. Its hard to explain but really compelling to me. Each timeline set of cards (past, present, future of same planet) is done by a different artist as a big collaboration.
There's a few more I want but they aren't off the top of my head and are just living in wishlists.
I have Calico but I totally forgot it could be played solo! And I didn't know there was challenges in the back. That's so fun! Will definitely have to try that. We have Ark Nova on pre-order so I'm excited to try it out solo. All others have been added to the list to check out. Thank you so much for the recommendations! 😊
I can relate more with Francis....😉😉😆
But at least you enjoy your games. 👍👍👍
I love Honey Buzz! Such a cute and fun game! I really enjoy the solo variant. Definitely give it a try! My favorite game that I’ve played solo is Meadow. I heard you mention in another video that you really appreciate a game with good art. Meadow is a “must have” in that sense! Every card is different and so beautiful! The solo gameplay is very easy to implement and the game is just stunning to look at overall! I I think you would really love it!
YES! Meadow has been at the top of my wishlist for a long time! It looks beautiful and I've heard a ton of good things about the gameplay. Unfortunately its hard to find in Canada right now. It has been sold out forever. 😢 Waiting patiently for it to come back in stock!
I've been playing loads of GANZ SCHÖN CLEVER! at the mo which is a fun die drafting roll+write with a snacky Rube Goldberg sequence if you line things up well
Great video! :) Some I've enjoyed playing solo that you might enjoy are Calico which has a series of challenges that can be played solo at the end of the rule book, Cartographers (bgg has a monthly solo challenge which is really fun to do), and Wingspan as you mentioned :) so many I want to try on your list though!
OHHH! I have both Calico and Cartographers! Totally slipped my mind that they can be played solo! I didn't know Calico had challenges! That sounds like so much fun! Thank you! 🥰
Love this video so much! I need a good solo game!! 🖤 can’t wait to try some of these out!
You definitely should try it out Tiffany! It's so much fun! 😊
This is also me. I love board games and seem to want to play more than anyone else around me. Whilst I have always loved board games I have only fairly recently, discovered board games as a hobby and became exposed to all the many many games available. I had not realized that so many games now have solo variants. Like you, this is increasingly becoming one of the criteria that is driving my purchase of games these days. I really love these video's. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I’m so glad you’re loving the Stardew Valley board game - I’m in the same boat exactly, Mike doesn’t like the luck but I think it fits the theme perfectly, and it’s so fun!
Of your list, I’ve only played that and Indian Summer, I would love to try all the others, I think we have similar tastes 😋
Parks solo is awesome! I played through every ‘year’ card on the solo version as a kinda campaign and i really enjoyed it. Sagrada solo is great too! Wingspan is wonderful solo.
My fav solo games:
#1 by far - any Unlock! game (except the kids one, I just tried it and with no app, it’s not as engaging 🤪)
2. Orleans (sooooo fun, great solo scenarios in the expansions)
3. Search for Planet X (haven’t you tried it solo yet?? It’s so fun solo!)
4. Camp Pinetop (I think you would love this theme and the solo adventure is really neat)
5. Herbaceous is wonderful solo, I think you would enjoy it!
6. The Lost Expedition I’ve really loved solo
7. Squire for Hire, fellow ontario-ian game lol, super fun, always in my travel bag!
More I adore: Agricola, Obsession, Near and Far (played through the story mode for each character), Meadow, Raiders of Scythia, Elevenses for One :)
Wow! So many amazing ones to check out! The Search For Planet X I totally forgot you could play solo! I need to try it out! Definitely added all of these to the list! Thanks as always Kimoro! 🥰
Fantastic video, my suggestions would be Cartographers and Mr. Cabbagehead’s Garden, both amazing solo experiences. Super enjoying the channel!!!!!
We have Cartographers! Love that game so much. I've never played it solo though! I should definitely do that. I saw Mr.Cabbagehead's Garden the other day and the cover scares me so much! HAHA! He is so creepy! 😂 I have heard the game is good though! Need to look into that one more. Thank you!
Jenna, very good video. I’ve got a friend who loves “Final Girl”, which is solo-only. I expected it to be lame, but is really great. And Viticulture in solo mode is a blast. But Stonemeyer kicks ass in pretty much all they do!
Here are a few that you didn't mention in your video that are worth checking out for solo play.
Small Islands
Any games from the "Oniverse" series
Friday
Floriferous (You mentioned this in your gardening themed games video, but I wasn't sure if you had actually played it or not)
Same... very few games I buy now can't be played solo. I do try to buy ones my family/friends will enjoy, and part of solo is prioritizing which to bring out for multiplayer, which I'm happy to keep playing solo.
I really like Three Sisters, but don't like how in solo farmer Edith takes stuff away from you. K should get Tiny Towns out solo... I really like it but my family isn't very keen.
I highly recommend Lost Ruins of Arnak and Viticulture for solo play!
Maybe a bit on the heavy side, have a look at Hoplomachus Victorum. Love the selection you did, specially if you can use it to play 1 or more .... 🤩🤩🤩
I. love playing Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition and Spirit Island solo.
I relate so much to your situation xD I'd like to play boardgames with other people more often, but it is so difficult lately that I am doing a lot of solo playing. These are the ones I recommend:
- Robinson Crusoe: For a challenging but very thematic experience
- One deck dungeon: Tiny footprint game that allows you to play a dungeon crawler with just a bunch of cards and dice
- Arkham horror, the card game: This game is soooo good. SUper thematic scenarios built with cards, gradual deck building, campaign development.... The downside: it requires some commitment and can get pretty expensive 😅 but it is truly GREAT.
Ahh I haven’t tried the other games on your “solo want to play” list, but a huge plug for PARKS! It was really intuitive and crunchy!
Really been wanting to try viticulture solo too
Can't wait to try Parks! It might be the one I play solo this Sunday for my Solo Sunday livestream. 🥰
Nice vid! I enjoy a Spaceshipped by Buttonshy and Lux Aeterna for my light solo playing. Spaceshipped is about accumulating resources, upgrading, and mitigating problems while Lux Aeterna is pretty much all mitigating problems and just trying to prioritize what to break (or try to fix).
Definitely need to check out Buttonshy Games! They look amazing! Thank you for the recommendations! 😊
Wow, if you are just getting into this you are in for a treat according to all the games I see in your collection :D Pardon my writing a novel but you got me excited ; )
About your list of the solo you want to try first: I think they are all good lol We seem to have very similar tastes. Welcome to the Moon's AI Astra is really well made, it feels like a race the whole time. Parks solo is also just very similar to multiplayer, so well done. Honey Buzz: you can aim for different levels and then see if you can achieve those objectives. It's very tight so it feels competitive for sure.
One suggestion if you don't own it yet which is great solo or with others: Meadow! Cute AF and the solo is so simple to deal with but acts just like another player. When I am short on time or energy, that's my go to. I admit the points chart isn't strong but you can make your own rule (like I count all East cards that are usually worth zero for the Ai as 1 point each and we're almost always head to head). Meadow is not known as much but just in the same category as Honey Buzz, Parks, and Everdell for me. Gorgeous yet still crunchy.
Others I see on your shelf: Arnak is super good at 1! That AI will keep you on your toes ; ) Concordia (if you buy Solitaria) is amazing and you'll get the bonus of playing coop with others. Had a blast doing so). Everdell is not bad solo, it's simplistic but still works out to block cards and locations. But I can't wait for the expansion which will have a dedicated solo mode. Expensive, yes! But I want to enjoy it more often and that's the way to go for me. Just finished playing 5 solo games in a row with Viticulture (Tuscany or not). Again, so well made and expected from Stonemaier! Simple no fuss AI.
Love finding people with similar tastes in board games! 🥰👏🏻 and honestly I love when people write me novels and help me out! I appreciate it! You got me excited to jump into more solo games for sure!
Meadow is actually one I have wanted for SO LONG! I has been at the top of my wishlist for like 4 months but I can't find it anywhere in Canada. 😢 waiting patiently! Hoping to get it before the expansion is released!
I’m in a similar boat, my husband doesn’t mind board games but isn’t as in to them is me so I play solo more often than not. My favourites are;
Dice Miner
Floriferous
Cartographers
Isle of Cats Explore and Draw
Welcome to the Moon
Next Station London
Wingspan is great solo. Super easy and fun to solo. I also have Tiny Towns and The Stardew Valley Board Game. I enjoy those games solo too. I am excited to try out a lot of these other games. I like the types of solo games you have here. A lot of videos on solo board games talk about the most complicated games. I like a bit of a challenge, but I mainly want to just have fun. Great video!
Right now it's Terraforming Mars Ares Expedition for me. Haven't even played it as anything but solo. Still figuring out how to even win it. 😂
That is one I totally forgot could be played solo! We really enjoyed it 2 player so I would love to try it solo too!
I'm primarily a solo boardgamer! I also enjoy roll and writes. You listed just about all of my favorites except I do also recommend Seven Bridges!
Nice list! Going to check a few of these out and give tiny towns solo a go. I've been playing lots of warps edge solo. For roll and writes, my wife and I enjoy playing ganz schön clever solo.
You should totally get Tuscany. The board with the new turn order track and actual seasons makes viticulture so much better.
Thanks for the recommendations Ricky! And yes Tuscany will be added soon! 😊
My fav solo games tend to be published by garphill games. So take your pick based on the theme and/or mechanics but this would be my order - Viscounts of the west kingdom, Circadians: first light, then paladins. Also heard great things about Raiders of scythia/ north sea. You're guaranteed a winner in any of those. Added bonus, they all come in the Hadrian's wall small sized boxes.
I've been wanting to try more from Garphill Games since loving Hadrians Wall so much! They all look great! Hoping to add some to my collection soon! Wayfarers Of The South Tigris looked amazing but I passed on the Kickstarter and I'm hoping to grab it when it comes to retail! 😊
We seem to have a lot in common!! I FOR SURE recommend Welcome to the Moon!
Nice! 🥰👏🏻 Can't wait to try!
Agreed! Welcome to the Moon is fantastic. If you're a fan of the original, then Welcome to the Moon will not disappoint.
Also, Long Shot the dice game is another solo favorite of mine! Raiders of Scythia and Too Many Bones are longer games I like to play solo. Dwellings of Eldervale is also a great one. lol I have so many favorites!
Great games, i'll definetly try some of them, since recently i'm getting into liking and experimenting roll'n writes, loving your recomendations! About the games you should try, Welcome to the moon, Honey Buzz and Coffe Roaster are definetly some of i'm also looking for. Wingspan is cool solo, but the Digital Edition is so lovely, that i don't think i will ever play it physically solo again. In the Digital Edition you can play against "Real" AI opponents, and even put an Automa AI there, you can put it against max AI players and play it SOOO fast, and the birds there got some movement and real sound, it's such an immersive and relaxing experience, you should try too.
great list some that I will definitely try solo as well. Playing solo bring something else. I really like Dungeons, Dice & Danger and trek 12 for the roll and write. The isle of cats is also good solo
You can add Warp's Edge and Wreakland Run (when it is released)
Also love Stardew Valley solo! So good! I'd also try Meadow and Juicy Fruits, they have really good solo modes; if you want something quicker, Buttonshy has some really good options as well (Sprawlopolis is a good place to start). I also like Cafe solo, if you like cube pushing efficiency puzzles.
0:52 I sympathize with you, but I just have yet to get into solo games.
I am trying to get my parents to play more board games with me, but there are only certain games which I could play with them. I taught my father Catan - and it had been his favorite game for a while now. I tried introducing other games, but he says that it isn't as good as Catan - since Catan has trading.
He also can't stand sitting at a table as anyone (myself or otherwise) is explaining the rules of a game - and would keep saying, 'OK, let's start playing. I'll figure it out as I go'. To which I have to tell him that what I have told him so far about the game is just the tip of the iceberg - and he needs to know how to play before we can start jumping in. He then gets impatient and ends up fleeing the table, because he is stubborn and has to be doing something. And of course, that puts him off whichever game it was that I tried to teach him - since that leaves a bad taste in his mouth toward that game - and so he will never want to play that particular game again. This is exactly what I am afraid of.
At least my mother and I agreed that I can teach her games - and if they work out that way, where she understands the game - then between myself and her, we could both explain the game to my father. If he doesn't understand my gaming language, then my mother could explain it in plain language.
We haven't gotten to that point yet, but I am trying to get my mother to understand one game - and hope we can start if it works out...
I personally haven't gotten into solo games. You see, the whole reason I got into the board gaming hobby to begin with is to turn the clock back to a time before electronics (when I am playing) - when people gathered together and played (board games) with each other. Playing solo would not help me accomplish that. This is also why I don't play games on TTS/Tabletopia/BGA, etc. The whole joy/fun of playing board games is being worn other people and interacting with them in a social way, while doing the same activity as them. That also builds community - of people with varying tastes, which makes the world 🌎 go 'round. (Otherwise, there would be no need for more games, which include the same and also different mechanisms and themes to come out every year. There is something for everyone).
While I do understand the solo gaming trend, to me, it is just not worth my effort to open a game just to set it up just to play myself. However, I may try it at some point. #1 If there is a game which plays identically solo and multiple, I may play the game solo to get a feel for the game - which would help me teach the game. #2 I have a few games which I wouldn't even consider bringing out to my parents - due to their complexity - one of which is Mage Knight. However, Mage Knight has a fantastic solo mode (shout-out to Ricky Royal for the best "How to Play" series for the game) which I very much want to play one day! Another game I would love to play solo (especially if I can't find anyone else to play with) is Gaia Project. And I am having happy to report that the Automa solo mode from GP was added to Terra Mystica - so I need to get that for my Terra Mystica Game- and maybe try solo on that one, too.
I want to hear more about the Parks solo experience when you do! It's been on my someday maybe list for a bit. I've been playing a lot of Palm Island solo lately.
I'll most likely be playing Parks solo this Sunday over on Twitch! I think I have decided that is the one I'm playing! 😊
The out of the box solo is okay. But not amazing. However, there is a fan made solo mode called Ranger Ron available free on BoardGameGeek that is fantastic! I highly recommend it with the fan made mode. Lots of fun and it works with the expansion as well.
This is so very useful and relevant for my own personal situation, so thank you for the video. My wife doesn’t really game, I don’t have a group to play with at the moment and I have twins on the way, so it looks like I will need to find some fun solo games to play in my down time. Cheers!
Awh no problem at all! Glad I can help! 😊 Solo gaming is a great way to have some me time so definitely recommend! It's great! Congratulations on the twins!
OMG! Me too! I just tried out Three Sisters earlier. I also loved Everdell and Obsession in solo gaming. You should definitely try it out. Solo gaming is just a perfect “ME” time.
It really is the best me time! 🥰 And ohhhh! We have Obsession pre-ordered so I definitely will have to try it solo! And I totally forgot about Everdell! Need to try it solo too!
@@TheBoardGameGarden Now I have to buy that Seize the Bean board game as well. I added the game on my wishlist when you featured it in one of your videos. Hoping they still have it next year.
Love the channel!
Solo-only games I've enjoyed: Under Falling Sky, Warp's Edge, Doom Machine, Friday
Games I've enjoyed solo: Parks, Cascadia, Floriferous, Wingspan, Calico, Fleet: The Dice Game
Games I want to try playing solo: The Red Cathedral, Roll Player, Dawn of the Zeds, Sheepy Time
I've played a lot of the games on your list, all excellent choices 😄 Sheepy Time is a great solo. It plays quickly, so you can get a few game in as well.
Thank you so much for all the amazing recommendations! WOW! So many to add to my list! 👏🏻
Canvas! I love it!
I just got Coffee Roaster too! It is sooo much fun! I am kinda starting to get into solo games too. I have all these games and no one to play with. So slowly going thru and playing on my own. A few you mentioned (What not cabinet and Indian Summer) look interesting, will have to check them out:)
Can't wait to try Coffee Roaster! 😊👏🏻☕
Oh my goodness we LOVE roll & writes. I have been dying to get 3 sisters myself. Earlier this week we played Hadrians wall for the first time & we both loved it. Justin said its his new fav roll & write previously it was fleet. I was totally going to recomend welcome to the moon to you for solo play haha however you brought it up at the end of the video! I also recomend trying Imperal Settlers Roll & Write at 1 player (i haven't myself but i suspect it will be good). - Rachael
Yessss! Fellow roll and write lovers! I really want to add so many more to our collection! There are so many more I want. 😂 Hadrian's Wall is fantastic! And yeah I really need to play Welcome To The Moon! I don't know why it is taking me so long to table it! Thanks for the recommendation! Ill add it to my list! 😊
Just started watching your channel, and am glad to have found it!
I only play small box card games and, roll and writes solo due to ease of set up and for a fairly quick experience.
Whatnot Cabinet is maybe one I might want to check out.
If you are looking for other options that I can recommend, these are a few that have been excellent.
Capital Lux 2 and Castles of Burgundy the Card Game are great! One of my earlier card games is Village Green and has gotten a lot of solo milage.
Some roll and writes I like are Fleet, the Dice Game...but Three Sisters maybe enough to have? Otherwise, Biblios Quill and Parchment is interesting, and again Castles of Burgundy the Dice Game is also very good. This is probably an even quicker lighter experience than the card game.
Enjoy!😉
Arkham noir and mr cabbage heads garden are fun
Thanks youtube for recommending this video. No one I live with likes boardgames at all, and I don't have any local friends that enjoy them either. So I tend to be stuck with tabletop games that can be done online over discord (maybe with a few tweaks to adapt at times), or just... pretending I'm 2 or 3 people and playing alone, hahah. Would love to try out some solo games but I didn't have enough knowledge on what to really attempt before. Great vid :D
I am so glad you found the video! Solo gaming is so much fun! Glad I can help you out a bit! 😊
Pretty much all Coop Games can be played solo (if in doubt Play two characters)
My absolute Favorite Game for true solo (or in general) is Spirit island. Higher on complexity but SO brilliant
OHHH Thats a very good point! I never thought to do that! And Spirit Island has been one we were always interested in since the beginning! The complexity always scared us though! I think our most difficult game currently is a 3.97 and it is 4.03 I think. So honestly I think I/we could handle it now! 😊
I love PARKS and really enjoy it solo. It's quite a relaxing game anyway but even more so with one player. For me, only Cascadia is more relaxing solo.
I prefer to play games with others, but also tend to want to play more than the rest of my family. I really enjoy Viticulture and have especially loved the new Viticulture World expansion (the solo automa is so smooth). I haven't played Hadrian's Wall solo yet, but I really like that game and expect to play it solo when I get my own copy. I also like Cartographers solo and Maquis is a solo only game that is fun. Great video👍
I am the same way! I really do love playing with others but when everyone else is all board gamed out I love solo gaming. 😊 I would love to try out the Viticulture World expansion eventually! It looks great! Thank you so much Billy!
I agree my husband sometimes does not want to play games with me as often as I would like. I am looking forward to trying some of your suggestions, especially Stardew Valley. I will be trying Wingspan and Parks first because I already have those two games.
YAY! Yeah Stardew Valley is fantastic! I can't wait to try out Wingspan and Parks as well. 😊
Just wanted to chime in again. I got Isle of Cats and been playing the solo variant. It’s so great! What an unexpected surprise of a good game this has been.
I just picked up Dinosaur Island Rawr & Write yesterday and played it for the first time. I loved it! It was my first roll & write board game and will for sure be picking up more. I also have and enjoy Stardew solo. I have not played Parks but it is a game on my wish list, I have Trails which is made by the same people and has the same beautiful art style but it is not a solo game. I have really had solo games on my radar lately because like you my partner likes games but maybe not as much as me so I’ve been trying to collect more that I can play alone.
Oh yay! That's awesome! So happy you enjoyed it! It's so much fun. I'm excited to try out Parks solo soon. 😊
Takes the cake is right! Lol Hadrian was unamused. Loved this video, I am in the same boat. I keep buying two player games and my fiancée isn’t in the mood to play as often as I am! I play Marvel Champs and Sagrada solo, thinking about trying Viticulture and NYZ next :)
PS if we are ever at a Con together we gotta play Sagrada!
AHAHAHA! I definitely laughed at myself while editing that part. 😂 Glad you enjoyed the video! I would love to try NYZ solo! It's a game I want in general so I'm happy to know now it can be played solo! Thanks! And 100% YES! Would love to play Sagrada!
Lots of good stuff, you have concordia on your back shelf, you should check out the solotaria expansion for it!
OHHHH definitely adding that to my list! I remember seeing something about a solo expansion! Thank you so much for reminding me! Concordia doesn't get tabled enough and I love it! 😊
Current favorite solo's Spirit Island ( solo or multi) and Final girl stupidly hard but a lot of fun
Spirit Island is one we have wanted for so long! Now that I know it has a good solo mode as well it is a must! Thank you! Final Girl is another one I would LOVE to try! I'm a huge horror movie fan so I think I would love it! 😊
I can relate, Jenna! My wife likes to play games with me... occasionally. Even then, after one game, she's usually done, whereas I could play games all day. I just played Fleet: The Dice Game for the first time (solo) a few days ago, and it does play a lot like Three Sisters, with an A.I. opponent taking away your options with their choices. Have you tried Cartographers? It's a flip and write that plays very well solo. One of my go-to games when my wife isn't in the mood to play a game with me.
Ohhh I'll have to try Fleet: The Dice Game sometime soon! I love that part of Three Sisters. Thanks! Yes we do have Cartographers! Totally slipped my mind that I could play it solo too!
I can so relate to this video 😂 this is due to my gf not being so big into games, so solo gaming is a big part of my life. It's so much a part of my life that I sometimes won't buy a game unless it has a solo mode 😅
Welcome To The Moon is a great solo game 😄 I have this one, and I enjoy it a ton, especially the campaign, and Parks is a fantastic solo as well the Rangers can be tough to go up against.
So other great games that I really enjoy solo are Spirit Island 🏝, Sprawopolls, and Yes Seize The Bean 😉 are all excellent solo games. ( I play Seize the bean solo at least once a week 😅) I also enjoy Everdell solo as well Rugwart can be tough to play against.
If you have any questions on how to play these solo, just let me know 😄 and I’ll be glad to do a quick teach.
Yeah I am starting to get to that place as well Rich! If a games doesn't have a solo mode I am definitely less inclined to buy it for sure! It just makes me feel so much better investing in a game if I know I can play it solo! Can't wait to try Welcome To The Moon! All amazing recommendations (especially Seize The Bean haha!). All have been added to the list! Spirit Island is definitely one we have been wanting! It would be our heaviest game though! So that kind of scares me! Thanks for watching Rich! 😊
I check literally every game I buy for solo modes or if it can be played by an 8-year-old. Lol
I second Spirit Island, I love it!
I have recently enjoyed Everdell, Merchants of the Dark Road, Overboss and Mansions of Madness solo.
Ohhhh I've been intrigued by The Merchants Of The Dark Road solo! It is a bit intimidating to me! I've been really enjoying that game in general recently though. It's great! Everdell and MOM I'll have to look into playing solo too! SOOO many options for solo! Love it.
@@TheBoardGameGarden it’s was just a deck of cards in merchants of the dark road that you follow the action for the AI. Easy to use once you get all the icons. There is a bit of a campaign but but I haven’t played that. The bit I had the hardest time with was remembering which way the arrow was for greater than or less than. 🤣
Viticulture is my favorite game to play solo! I just love it 💖
Can't wait to try it! Did you get Viticulture World? Interesting in getting it?
Great video! Some recommendations from my end for solo games that aren’t too complex:
- Cascadia: Nature theme with tile placement and bag drafting
- Warp’s Edge: Space theme with bag drafting deck building aspect
- Under Falling Skies: Space theme with dice placement
- Paperback: Word based card game with deck building aspect to it (Think Scrabble but 1000 times better)
- Aerion: Really quirky theme utilizing cards and dice to build airships
Sprawlopolis: 18 cards based game that fits in a portable wallet. So much game for being so compact.
All have been added! Thank you so much! 😊 We do have Paperback but I am not the biggest fan! I'm just so bad at thinking of words! LOL!
@@TheBoardGameGarden I totally get it. My wife is an English major, so we play it on the cooperative mode! Lol
I also picked up Maracaibo yesterday. Very highly regarded in the solo board gaming world. It has a campaign mode and also a solo variant where you play against an AI (good reviews for the AI as well!)
Have not had a chance to play though as I am still getting through the Robinson Crusoe scenarios (and having learnt a tough set of rules, I think I am put off by any rulebook exceeding 5 pages! 😂)
So far I have only found 1 game that I have been really digging at solo which is Imperium: Classics / Legends respectively. I have tried a few others though. Shores of Tripoli was pretty fun which I recently tried. Great video again friend. and making me want to on Hadriens Wall though im not usually a fan of Roll and Writes
Dang, why did I have to see this comment. Pulling up Amazon right now and buying. I'm a sucker for asymmetrical and deck building and this game has both. Bonus for a good solo mode.
Thank you so much Sam! I've heard a lot of good things about Imperium Classics/Legends. They have been added to the list! I need to get you and Tim more into roll and writes! HAHA! I do think roll and writes are best as solo games though. Unless there is something that creates some sort of interaction between players.
Meadow has one of the best solo variants. It's a Wonderful World has a good solo version, too. Oh, and Aquatica.
Oh also Wingspan, Arnak but I haven’t tied the campaign yet.
Based on the games you listed, I’d like to suggest Cascadia from Flatout Games. It’s a double layer spatial puzzle with drafting. Super easy solo to implement and no need to worry about other players waiting while thinking through all the potential options!
Yeah very chill solo game.
Would love to add Cascadia to our collection eventually! Francis isn't the biggest fan of Calico so we will see if he will likes Cascadia! If not its nice to know the solo is good as well! Thanks! 😊
If you enjoy (or at least don't mind) a space themed game, Warp's Edge or Under Falling Skies are both good options for solo games. Also, Set a Watch is one I'd recommend looking at and seeing if it's something you'd enjoy
I do like space themes for the most part! Thanks for the recommendations! 😊
Sagrada has a really neat “campaign” mode on the app. Great app too, very worth
I’ve been playing Hadrian’s Wall solo a lot lately. I Also love playing Obsession solo.
I'm obsessed with Hadrian's Wall! SOO GOOD! 😂 And we actually have Obsession pre-ordered! I'm so excited to try it!
Well, I hope you love Obsession as much as I do. It’s a unique game. It took me a bit to wrap my head around the rules but now it’s honestly one of my favourites to play solo. My husband won’t give it a chance because of the theme. I love it.
Have you tried This War of Mine yet?
It's a large, very immersive solo adventure... The theme is very dark of course, but the experience will stick with you. If you like a lighter theme, but similar weight, you could try Robinson Crusoe (Haven't played this one myself). Both will require you to make hard decisions with serious consequences...
Marvel United solo has been my addiction for the past month-ish since all the Kickstarter content arrived! It's got a special solo mode where you shuffle 3 hero decks together, but tbh I just prefer to play it "multi-handed"; I grab the characters I want to use, deal all their hands out onto the table (it's a co-op game, so that open info is fine) and just take turns going around with each of them.
Also, I got Ticket to Ride recently, and I've been enjoying playing it against Amazon Alexa! It took a bit of fiddling to get the Alexa app and TtR skill set up on my phone (I don't have an Echo and don't really want one, lol), but now that I've got it working, it's been a fun way to "play with someone else" while playing solo. 😊
I've heard that you can play TTR with Amazon Alexa! Thats amazing! 😂👏🏻
@@TheBoardGameGarden Yeah, though you have to be prepared for the trash talk! She loves calling out "Booyah!" and "Cha-ching!" whenever she claims a route. 🤣
I've been playing solo a lot more the last couple of years. My two primary solo games are Obsession and Great Western Trail 2nd Edition. Lost Ruins of Arnak, Hadrian's Wall, Imperial Settlers Empires of the North, Glen More II (with the expansion), Viticulture, Castles of Burgundy, and Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition have seen playtime recently. Currently have Maracaibo set up on the table and hope to play Manhattan Project: Energy Empire with the new expansion, though you can play the base game solo as a beat your own score option. Quite a few other games that are or can be played solo in my collection. I also need to get Parks and Tiny Towns to the table solo. Thanks for the reminder.
WOW! We have a very similar taste in games! We have GWT, Castles Of Burgundy, Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition and Maracaibo and I totally forgot that all of those can be played solo as well! Or maybe I'm just leaning forwards lighter solo games right now subconsciously just because its so new to me! I'll have to try all of those in the future and some of your other recommendations to! Thank you! 😊 Have fun with Parks & Tiny Towns!
Ah, love Glen More II. 😍 Such a fantastic mid-weight solo experience.
This man has great taste!
I really like Voyages solo and Gloomhaven JOTL
If you haven’t tried it yet, I can highly recommend the small solo expansion for Concordia! Plays very well solo and is an excellent addition to any gamers solo catalog! :)
10:13 Now that we are talking about roll and writes, have you played Pandoria: Merchants? I have heard that that game is up there with Hadrian's Wall as the heaviest roll and write to date.
A great video. Thank you so much. In my experience, games with a solo "variant" are not near as good as games that are truly meant to be played solo. Games like Nemo's War or Robinson Crusoe or Lord of the Rings TCG (well, that one works just as good as two player). But again... thanks!
I really enjoy solo games. Some games I've enjoyed solo that you didn't list here:
Pure solo games:
Warp's Edge
Lux Aeterna
Under Falling Skies
Friday
Other games with solo modes:
7 Wonders Duel (official solo print n play available on publisher website)
Blitzkrieg! World War Two in 20 minutes
A Feast for Odin
Dune Imperium
Floriferous
Atlantis Rising
Viticulture
Wingspan
Scythe (If you can deal with a bit tricky Automa rules)
Spirit Island
Sleeping Gods
Everdell
Aquatica
Ark Nova
Robinson Crusoe
Thank you so much for the list of recommendations! WOW! So many ones one there I would LOVE! We do have Ark Nova pre-ordered and I am so excited to try it solo! 😊👏🏻
You really need to try Tiny Epic Galaxies solo. Great fun!
Great video.
Sagrada is fun solo, I also only recently discovered it has a solo variant
I love Hadrian's wall. I only got a copy of it because I heard it's good solo. I've never actually played it multi player, and I'm not even sure I would enjoy it multi player. Have you tried the solo campaign?
I don't know if you like deduction games, but if you do, The Search for Planet X is excellent solo (and multi player too)
Project L is also fun
Unrelated to solo playing, the Tuscany expansion makes viticulture so much more fun, at least in my opinion
I actually think I do prefer Hadrian’s Wall solo but it still is fun multiplayer. Could just be that our game group is pretty chill and we chatted through the whole game. Some people might get a bit quite and it could end up being a very quite multiplayer solitaire game. Depends on the group. I LOVE deduction games and I actually have The Search For Planet X! I totally forgot that it can be played solo! It is definitely on the list now! Thanks for reminding me. Project L has been added to the list and definitely getting the Tuscany expansion eventually! 😊
I play so solo, I felt line my dice towers so I don't disturb my wife at 4 AM when I play. :D