Yay! A board game reviewer who gets to the point and doesn't bog us down with every last, minute, trivial pro and con of each game. Great video.

@rexgoodheart3471

2 жыл бұрын

Don't get me wrong. I don't mind in-depth reviews of individual games. But not in these "best of"-type links.

I’ve noticed that my top 10 board games from my first year have changed. The games I enjoyed before are still very enjoyable but since then, I’ve played many more amazing games. It really surprises me when I think about it. Never could I have imagined that I would’ve found even better experiences to play considering how much I love my original top 10. Great list and a fun watch, as always! Take care.

Thanks for taking the time to flesh out your thoughts on each game. Good stuff Joel! Favorite solo overall? "A Feast for Odin" (just leave it on an underused table for weeks) Favorite solos I'd rather play multiplayer and really test my spelling ability? "Teotihuacan" & "Nusfjord" Favorites that are better solo than multiplayer? "Hadrian's Wall" & "Nemo's War" Favorite future release solo-only? "Hoplomachus Victorum" (Kickstarter delivery probably Aug-Sept) Thanks again. -Rob

I've only just clicked subscribe but I've avidly watched a bunch of your reviews and Top Ten's. The reason ironically was because most of the games you play can be played Solo. I've purchased a load of the Battle Terrain and RoSD purely because of this channel, I'm just waiting to move house and play the darn thing!!! Really appreciated your section on 'prefer to play multilayer, but enjoy solo' - not many lists encorporate that! Defenders of The Realm, my new copy had two sets of the same boss boards, but Eagle Gryphon replaced them and I can finally get this on the table!

Love these kinds of solo focused lists!

YES!! Another Solo list on this channel!! As someone who almost never buys games unless they are soloable, I appreciate this content. 👍👍👍

@CptBumFlufff

2 жыл бұрын

Interesting, I am finding that I am more likely to purchase games with solo modes these days. Has that always been the case for you? Or like me has the global pandemic changed your style of play?

@shaneannigans

2 жыл бұрын

@@CptBumFlufff It's always been the case for me. I see a solo mode as an 'insurance policy' in case my friends aren't interested but I love the mechanisms and/or theme, I haven't lost money 😊 It's foreign to me that games are still made without a solo mode 😆

Great great stuff. As someone who has't played almost all of these games, I felt like I really got to understand what they were about and if they would to appeal to me and what I'm looking for in a solo experience. Thanks so much for this!

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Appreciate it.

Totally agree with your view on solo, not too much number crunching! Great list as always.

What a great channel! Can't believe I missed this, you have a new subscriber!

This has me wanting to check out Return to Dark Tower and Dune Imperium even more now! Some really good games on here, and great video!

Thanks, great list with fine games and arguments 🎉❤

Great list! Love to see good old WarhammerQuest so high :)

Thank you for doing this!

spirit island, imperium classic, sleeping gods, 7th continent and under falling skies, arkham horror lcg are the games i enjoy most playing solo. thank you for your list as about a third of it i now need to look into 😃

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

Oh Spirit Island is a good one. I need to play that more.

@Bleuchz

2 жыл бұрын

Imperium C&L made me into a solo gamer! My game room is a mess as I move stuff to storage so it's been awhile but imperium lives on the shelf under my coffee table ever since I got it =)

@JendersGaming

2 жыл бұрын

Agreed!

@apollonia6656

Жыл бұрын

Test Tester, Agree with you 👏👏👏

@gorgdemorg9381

Жыл бұрын

If you like under falling skies I recommend warps edge. It's a great solo game.

Great list. Always looking for solo games i dont have in my collection.

Mage Knight is the only game I own from your list and it is one of my favorites for sure. I’m going to get into the “COIN” series games and I have been looking at Colonial Twilight because you only have to run one bot. Great list!

Love the RoSD love! Have the core book but just haven’t gotten around to reading it yet. Thx for the push!

@DriveThruReview

Жыл бұрын

Awesome. Enjoy!

Never heard of Rangers of Shadow Deep and you got me looking at the BGG forum. I'm loving what I see. Doing a little research so maybe I can use minis from all my existing games. I'll figure out the terrain but LOVE what I'm seeing.

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

You can definitely do that. If you’re on Facebook, check out the Facebook Group for it. It’s a wealth of helpful people.

Good to see Bloodborne and Altar Quest getting some love here... and Shadows of Brimstone, my favourite Dungeon Crawler!

Great list! I had heard mixed reviews of Dune: Imperium solo so it was good to hear your thoughts. Trying to decide between that and Cuba Libre as my next solo pickup.

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

Tough call really. Dune: Imperium is higher on my list, but Cuba Libre is a singular experience (or any COIN game).

I appreciate that you have real experience playing the games you recommend. Your intimate knowledge adds to whatever else I've read or watched about the games you recommend. I have RoSD and will use mini's from Zombicide Black Plague and Castle Ravenloft. What are your thoughts on Star Wars Imperia Assault. I solo that with the app and really enjoy it. Cheers

@DriveThruReview

Жыл бұрын

I really did not enjoy that app for whatever reason (or Descent 2nd edition app). I did enjoy the campaign we played through, and love the skirmish mode. It's one of my favorite skirmish games actually.

As usual, great video. Good to know when double or triple fisting works well! 😀

Great list!

Marvel Champions, Marvel Legendary, Hogwarts Battle, G.I.Joe Deckbuilding, D&D Adventure Game, Lost Ruins of Arnak. These are the ones I play. I'm getting the 4 precon for the LotR LCG next week so I'll be getting that out a bit more for a bit.

Thanks for the video. Coming soon is a new edition of Five Leagues From the Borderlands, which looks to be a mashup of Five Parsecs and Rangers of Shadowdeep, which I also enjoy both of those products.

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

Yep. Can’t wait.

Thanks for your work.

Great list, and thanks for the reminder that I own too many games (I own most of the ones you listed)! 🙃

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

My pleasure :D

Great video.

Thanks for the list! Definitely has me considering some of these. I recently picked up Dawn of The Zeds. Have you tried that one yet?

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

I have. I reviewed it years and years ago. I really enjoyed almost all the games in that States of Siege line.

Very interesting list.

Pretty unique and very interesting solo list. Nowadays I'm enjoying playing Hellboy solo and Dungeon Degenerates (that one also with my group), both very pleasant and distinct experiences. Worth noting Mini Rogue, top notch quality in such an small box. I recommend getting the lore expansion for it for a complete experience on par with a big box game.

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

Definitely. I think the Lore expansion is a must.

Always nice to discover and have different views for solo games. Here are the ones i play(ed) the most recently, back in the days or that are quite recent for me (and in no specific order) : LOTR LCG Warp's Edge Aeon's end Spirit Island Cthulhu Death May Die Predator's Island Sentinels of the multiverse (Definitive Edition) Street Masters Runebound v3 Daimyo

What an interesting solo list! I have a tough time two-handing solo (I like to "be a character" and playing two never resonates with me in the same way). I'm actually having a debate with myself over Final Girl season 2. I love basically everything about the system and played it a ton at first but I'm honestly not sure how much play it will get going forward. Shame that game can't handle 2p like my other go to solo: imperium C&L.

Thanks for your recommendation re:Warp s Edge. I have Solar Storm...seems a little like WE. Bought Under Falling Skies and I should play the scenarios. Thanks again

Arkham Horror revised edition LCG, SoB, rangers of shadowdeep and pandemic are some of my fave solo games

I have to say, once I heard your thoughts on Dune Imperium, my ears perked up because I love that game as well, and I definitely wanted to know what games you like to play solo over it!

I can confirm dark tower solo is a great time. super fun and challenging

Thanks for this great list! Have you played Sellswords & Spellslingers? Love to hear your thoughts about it compared to Rangers of Shadowdeep.

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

I’ll have to check that one out. Thanks!

I play Mage Knight, Too Many Bones, and (now) Cloudspire the most. I also think Gloomhaven and Arkham Horror LCG would be in my top, but I play those at two a lot. Other standouts are Gaia Project and Pax Pamir 2e, though again I will play those multiplayer when possible.

Awesome list. Yeah, Rangers is an amazing solo game!!! I was hoping 5 Parsecs would be up there with Rangers. Yes, GW needs to reprint the original Warhammer Quest!!! I've never played it. Recently got the new printing of HeroQuest and it's been fun to play with my little nieces. But everyone says Warhammer Quest is better!

For me: Spirit Island, Paladins of the West Kingdom, Robinson Crusoe, Roll Player, Viticulture, Terraforming Mars, Fleet the Dice Game, Detective: City of Angels, Manhattan Project: Energy Empire, Space Base (solo variant in BGG forums)

Great list! Wondering if you have tried Warp's Edge? I think it is pretty great 😁

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

Not yet! I plan to give it a shot.

Neat, I just re-watched your old list the other day. Have you looked into Core Space at all?

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

I've looked into it a few times now. I just haven't had the chance honestly.

I am definitely going to have to investigate about Rangers of Shadow Deep. Loving the sound of it! :-)

Thanks for the tip on Rangers. Only 8 copies left and I got one. Bought the monster cards too. Sounds like something I will totally love. I’m always looking for a good rpg that immerses you in the world.

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

Hope you enjoy it!

Mageknight's probably my favorite board game and I do frequently play it solo on Tabletop Sim

I highly recommend the D-Day at… series, if you haven’t tried them. I have Tarawa and it was a fantastic solo experience. Omaha Beach is another good option to start with.

Salutations! Interesting list-very fond of Blackstone fortress. I recently received my copy of 5 parsecs from home because of Tabletop Minions. However, I am curious as to why there were no roll and write games on this list? 4 Against Darkness was a book I purchased during the pandemic which saw quite a few plays(and wipes) but overall was fun to play. With inflation such as it is roll and writes have a small barrier to entry as opposed to the cost of some of the miniature based games. Cheers!

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

I'm honestly not a big fan of roll and writes for some reason. Or.. it seems "game books".... I tried some of those 4 Against X games and just couldn't get into them unfortunately.

One of my favorite games to play solo is Darkest Night 2nd edition; it's such a tight, well-designed and endlessly replayable "gem" of a game, and I'm always surprised that it never makes it on to these kinds of lists.

@DriveThruReview

Жыл бұрын

It’s a good one. I’ve not played the new versions, just the original.

Hey Joel, I was a little surprised by the lack of any purely solo (designed for one player) games in the 20 you like to play solo. No Coffee Roaster, Final Girl, Maquis, Warp's Edge, Hostage Negotiator, etc. Is it because you don't own them? Don't enjoy them? Just curious... thanks for the updated list!

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

Some of those I've tried and not liked (Final Girl and Hostage Negotiator). I still need to try Warp's Edge. It does some to be a rarity for me that something designed to be only solo falls short. Mini Rogue is definitely an exception to the rule. In the past I've enjoyed every single one of Shadey Torbey's games, and States of Siege series, DVG's Leader series, and Nemo's War. But, I think I burned myself out on that style of game.

Love this video, checked it for probably 10 times. Solo eurogamer at heart but thinking of trying Shadows of Brimstone or Blackstone, which is the more strategic?

@DriveThruReview

Жыл бұрын

Hmmmmmmmm... That's an interesting question. Probably Blackstone. The initiative track is usually an interesting puzzle.

@wiktormonfilsgustafsson56

Жыл бұрын

@@DriveThruReview but theme in SoB looks more interesting

@DriveThruReview

Жыл бұрын

@@wiktormonfilsgustafsson56 Don't disagree :)

ROSD is my number one to! So much fun!

You sold a copy of Rangers of Shadow Deep. I've been in the board gaming hobby for 6 years now and I've still never played a straight up miniatures game but love solo and co-op. So I'm taking your advice, using whatever minis I have and going to do it! Thank you again for your wonderful insight into this amazing hobby.

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome. Hope you enjoy it. Just a note to get started. You could also just use board game tiles or those dry erase D&D mats as well. No need to go all hog wild with the terrain from the start.

@michaelrichard1320

2 жыл бұрын

I'm doing the same as well. Just ordered it. Excited to try it

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

@@michaelrichard1320 Awesome. Hope you enjoy it.

@SanjuroSan

2 жыл бұрын

@@DriveThruReview I was thinking about using gloomhaven stuff and other miniatures from board games. I could get a dry erase mat too.

@ChuckBarchuk

2 жыл бұрын

@@michaelrichard1320 Hey Michael, where did you order it from? I can't seem to find a physical copy anywhere? I'm also seeing a standard and deluxe edition. What's the difference?

I'm really enjoying Five Leagues from the Borderlands 3rd edition!!

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

I hope to get around to that soon myself.

Highly recommend the "Allies" expansion for Shadows of Brimstone to deal with the low number of character difficulty. Makes playing a solo or two player character enough. Allies are easier to manage than an additional character.

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

You know, I need to try that. I have it, just haven't put it to use. Thanks for the recommend!

@jonathanstutzman7757

2 жыл бұрын

@@DriveThruReview For sure. The dog is especially a cool ally to use. The bark ability actually increases tactical positioning slightly allowing for decisions about which enemy to apply the most attack negatives to. Next to Frontier Town, it adds the most thematically and gameplay experience wise to the game imo and is underrated.

Interesting list. Personally I'd put for Forbidden Fortress version of Shadows of Brimstone above the older core boxes, but they're all great.

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

Ya. I think that's fair. The new editions are nice with some of the rules tweaks though. I know some folks prefer cowboys to samurai etc... (and vice versa).

I really need to pickup Rangers. Love Frostgrave just haven't picked up this one - YET.

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

You won't regret it! :D

nice intro 👍

Dear Joel, please can you share where did you get your game shelfs?

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

I actually got it from a going out of business sale at a local Office Max. Unfortunately I can’t tell you exactly. They were just some real cheap shelves that were sturdy and nice enough looking :)

Personally I find running 2 characters in AltarQuest really easy, just a few cards to look at, each gets half the table, at the same time I sold Eldritch horror as late game remembering all the cards for even one character let alone more than one was too much for me.

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

I should probably try it again with multiple characters. When I first tried it I was still kind of a novice at the game. I bet if I tried it now, it might be more doable. I don't think I could ever hack it with four though :)

I wonder if available and upcoming Stargrave solo content will replace Rangers of Shadow Deep for you

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

I've played Stargrave solo, and really enjoyed it, but it's basically just a BIT more fleshed out than Frostgrave solo. If he built a new sci-fi game from the ground up like Rangers... then maybe. But, right now, solo Stargrave is just "cool"... compared to Rangers "amazing"... for me anyway.

Nice to see Nuklear Winter '68 on this list 🙂

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

It's definitely a hidden gem.

Love the unintentional Professor X pose for Marvel Champions

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

Haha... had to rewatch :)

Did you ever play Secrets of the Lost Tomb?

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

I’ve not. I think I watched your series on it twice now :)

My pick that I believe people like me who love TTRPG's will love D100 Dungeon Mapping game with books by Martin Knight.

Five Parsecs is a gem. It's fantasy version, Five Leagues from the Borderlands 3rd edition, should supplant Rangers of Shadow Deep..

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

I still need to try that one.

If you like Rangers you may try Silver Bayonet. Pour L'Empereur! 😁

under falling skies, dawn of the zeds, hadrians wall, roll player, arkham horror lcg, cthulhu death may die and andor are good solo games too.

Next time you try Mage Knight solo, try it with three characters. It takes a lot longer, but since you are in each other's way, it forces you to try out different strategies with each knight. Very rewarding if you have the dedicated table space.

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

I don't think my brain could process all of that at once :)

@darrensmith8487

2 жыл бұрын

@@DriveThruReview It can be exhausting. I usually spread it out over a few days, but totally worth it.

@loarnchilcote9895

Жыл бұрын

Hey I really like that idea! ... Do you have any other cool house rules for other games like that? Id love to hear more ideas like that. Just a couple of minutes ago I was trying to think of ways to spice up my solo plays of Ledergames Oath. I already am using 3 of the Clockwork Prince bots

Just wanted to see where Dungeon alliance fits into your solo list, to me it's got to be up there with the best just for its solo design☺️

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

You know that game was on my radar years ago, and I never followed up on it. I'll have to check it out and see if it's still around.

@GrungefolkBoy2010

2 жыл бұрын

@@DriveThruReview Cool, hope you find it, I brought Shadows deluxe book last year,still haven't played it yet, lack of terrain put me off, but after your comments, will dig it out,thanks👍

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

@@GrungefolkBoy2010 Just a note to get started. You could also just use board game tiles or those dry erase D&D mats as well. No need to go all hog wild with the terrain from the start.

@GrungefolkBoy2010

2 жыл бұрын

@@DriveThruReview well it just so happens I also brought a big book of game mats recently for solo rpging! Thanks good sir!

black orchestra! Legendary Encounters Aliens, Moonrakers!

I need to finally play Rangers of Shadow Deep.

Rangers of Shadowdeep is great, though I prefer Frostgrave by the same designer.

Mini Rogue is so good.

No particular order: Altar Quest(with two characters) Hell Boy the board game Nemo's War Second Edition Dungeon Degenerates Tiny Epic Dungeons, Pirates, Tactics, Zombies Sylvion Pandemic: The Fall of Rome Eldritch Horror Elder Sign Under Falling Skies Super Skill Pinball 4-cade Big Trouble in Little China: the board game Radlands (with Mike from one stop co-op shops solo variant Dune Imperium

Nice list. Our tastes are very much aligned. But no Hellboy??? What’s up with that? :)

@SpoonyBard88

2 жыл бұрын

Hellboy is a random, unbalanced mess.

@jebprice68

2 жыл бұрын

@@SpoonyBard88 pshaw. Begone blasphemer. :)

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

I enjoy that game for sure. Just didn’t stick around with me. I didn’t feel like I could replay as much as some of the others on this list.

How do we get our hands on warhammer quest without cost?

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

I talk in more detail about in my video review for it, but the TLDR is buy a real copy and then chop it up for parts on eBay (except the minis), and then print your own cards and tiles :)

Please advice me to choose which one​​ to be... More funny Repeatable Each time another pleasure No dice or chance Long lasting And at last great pleasure as a solo version also These are: 1)Terraforming Mars 2)Wyrmspan 3)Ark Nova 4)Carnagie 5)Great Western Trial 6)Dune Imperium 7)Lost Ruin of Arnak 8)Meadow 9)Earth 10)Heat Pedal... 11)Cascadia 12)Viticulture 13)Marvel Champions You can also recommend 2 or more... Thank you 🙏

@DriveThruReview

19 күн бұрын

Out of those for solo I would choose any of these: Great Western Trail, Dune Imperium, Lost Ruins of Arnak, Marvel Champions. I think they meet your criteria except for "no chance".

I would buy the hell out of Shadows Over Brimstone if you didn't have to assemble the blasted miniatures

I don't see "Churchill" on this list. Must be some sort of mistake

Bought Mage Knight when it first came out and still have not played it ! Why ? The rules are too much and it requires a lot of table space so, 95% of those who think it is 'the Best solo game ever ' must have the patience of saints! I play solo and only solo and find that it can be relaxing but sometimes stressful eg: Robinson Crusoe Cursed Island, This Was of Mine.....headache inducing.

Arkham Horror lcg.

Drop everything and play Dune with the expansion right now! I mean it, you’ll thank me later.

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

I know. I know. It’s sitting there calling to me. Just time and me absolutely playing it to death have deterred me… so far :)

Too bad you can't buy mage knight anywhere except eBay looks like a good game

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

It goes in and out of print... just gotta wait a few months I think.

Surprised no KDM

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

I do like that one, but it gets replaced by Brimstone and Warhammer Quest for me. Just more my "vibe".

@andreikoenig5718

2 жыл бұрын

@@DriveThruReview I never played Warhammer quest, but I see there are different choices. Cursed something, forbidden something. Is there a set you recommend to start with?

@DriveThruReview

2 жыл бұрын

@@andreikoenig5718 The only one in print is Cursed City.. and honestly.. it's terrible. The best one is the original from 1995, but it's EXTREMELY pricey aftermarket. The other best one is Blackstone Fortress which is a sci-fi theme. It's technically out of print, but you can still find it if you poke around for it. I definitely recommend that one. The other two, Silver Tower, and Shadows over Hammerhall are also good, but hard to find.

@andreikoenig5718

2 жыл бұрын

@@DriveThruReview thanks for the write up! appreciate it!

@andreikoenig5718

2 жыл бұрын

@@DriveThruReview will keep an eye out. I have everything for KDM and nearly everything not counting promos for shadows of brimstone, so I can stay busy for a while :)