Ep 142 - Ranking Simply Solo Games

Welcome to Second Star to the Left! Here’s where we share board game reviews, ramblings, and a few wrong turns along the scenic route!
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We’re having a look at some of my favorite solo games! The Simply Solo line from Button Shy Games, designed by Scott Almes. Ranking them was anything but simple! Do you agree with our ranking?
If you’re interested in more Button Shy videos, check out our playlist
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Intro 0:00
0:26 Simply Solo
2:09 #6
3:45 #5
4:41 #4
6:30 #3
7:51 #2
9:08 #1
11:14 wrap up
11:48 Shenanigans
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[@ellap1313]

I fully agree with this list. I have also been late to Fishing Lessons but it’s growing on me. FCI is my fave game. Period. I love Scott’s games. My second fave is tiny epic galaxies. Scott is so talented.

[@SecondStartotheLeft]

We have most of the Tiny Epic games too! Love Scott Almes games

[@sebastianruizromo637]

Top ten button shy!!!! Yaaaaaaayyyyyy!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@SecondStartotheLeft]

So hard to choose!!

[@sarahschreffler5407]

I LOVE Royal Limited. It's the Simply Solo getting the most actual play around here right now.

[@SecondStartotheLeft]

It's a very fun puzzle

[@spielmill1755]

hmm we have to play Royal Limited. Seems up our alley. Thanks for the fun list!

[@SecondStartotheLeft]

It's a good one! Thanks for stopping by! 🧡

[@cschu3]

I had been on the fence about purchasing Ugly Griffon Inn. Now I just may have to grab it! I play my PNP Last Lighthouse very often. I think this would be my number one right now.

[@SecondStartotheLeft]

It's so wonderfully thematic!

[@nimahamehameha]

FCI is my favorite from this list, then Royal Limited. FCI is in my top 10 of all solo games, not just BS.

[@SecondStartotheLeft]

It's such a great game to take anywhere and play!

[@redsable1434]

Love buttonshy games. Food chain island is great. I think my very least favorite game is pentaquark. Favorite is numbsters and sprawlopolis

[@SecondStartotheLeft]

Numbsters is so good!!

[@stacie_everdell]

I need to get a few more from this solo series. I have and love Ugly Griffon Inn, but now I want the expansions. 😊

[@SecondStartotheLeft]

The expansions are very fun!

[@sarahschreffler5407]

I don't particularly like the theme of Last Lighthouse. BUT I'm getting a copy in the club. And it has occurred to me to hand it to my kids (particularly my son) when they are having problems getting to sleep because of nightmares. The theme of conquering dreams might just do the trick to help that problem.

[@SecondStartotheLeft]

That'd a great idea!

[@teaNgames]

I don't have all the games in the Simply Solo line, but I agree with your comments and relative order for the ones I do have! How do number of plays track with the game's order? I feel like Ugly Gryphon Inn will always top my list simply because I've had it the longest & played it the most...and I'm not sure the newer games will ever be able to catch up!😁 Does your ranking track with number of plays?

[@SecondStartotheLeft]

Food Chain Island definitely has the most plays although Numbsters - not in this group - is catching up quickly! Otherwise, I've played them all about the same as I try to cycle through them. I would say that newer games take time to move up, but Last Lighthouse moved up very quickly.

[@LuisGarcia-gv8hu]

Definitely do a top ten button shy! Love button shy games and seeing what favorites people have

[@SecondStartotheLeft]

It's in the works - but it is going to be so difficult to choose favorites!

[@joek0620]

Just got into Button Shy at the beginning of the year, I loved the games that I own that I joined the board game of the month club. My favorite Simply solo game of the ones I have played is is Royal Limited. I think the difficulty of the puzzle is just right and the theme really clicks with me. My least favorite is surprisingly Unsurmountable. I know many count is as a top Scott Almes game, but tile laying is not a top genre for me and this tile laying puzzle did not click that well for me. I will still play it, but not as much compared to my other BS games. I have yet to try Ugly Griffon Inn and Fishing Lessons.

[@SecondStartotheLeft]

The whole Simply Solo line is very good, so Unsurmountable being at the bottom of the list, is still not too bad. I don't play it as often as the others either so I might just be not as good at it. I am happy there are choices!

[@joek0620]

@@SecondStartotheLeft As a BGOTMC member, I am so excited to play some more Scott Almes Button Shy games. I mentioned I like thr Royal Limited the most and 2 new expansions will really add more to the experience. So excited to also try the Last Lighthouse and it's 2 expansions as well.

[@joek0620]

I just recently got my copy of The Last Lighthouse and it has now become my top Simply Solo game. The game loop is so fun and I really love the challenge on the 2 hardest difficulties.

[@SecondStartotheLeft]

@@joek0620 I'm so glad you like it!

[@jonathanantscherl]

Haven’t played last lighthouse but my #1 and #6 are the same as yours with a little bit of jiggling in the middle! FCI is just fantastic and one that I always recommend to people. Can’t put my finger on it but unsurmountable just didn’t do it for me and is actually the only one I don’t own (i playtested it a load and knew it wasn’t for me!)

[@SecondStartotheLeft]

I always gift the same Button Shy games to people who are starting out - Food Chain Island, Skulls of Sedlec, one of the -opolis (usually Nature), or Tussie Mussie. FCI is such a great way into Button Shy games!

[@pnpgutterfold]

Where'd you playtest this? I remember being able to playtest Numbsters with a B&W copy with no backs, but I couldn't find one for Unsurmountable!

[@jonathanantscherl]

@@pnpgutterfold It was through the buttonshy discord server which I’ve been a part of for a good few years now. Well worth being part of it if you can as it helps them to form better games but also helps you form a decision about whether a game is for you or not! 👍👌

[@pnpgutterfold]

@@jonathanantscherlomg thank you so much, I'm going to join it right now!!!

[@pnpgutterfold]

It seems like the Royal Limited is just a slightly different variation of Ugly Gryphon Inn. Am I wrong to make this assessment? I know the themes are incredibly different, but what does one have that the other doesn't and vice versa? (Thanks in advance for any answers.)

[@SecondStartotheLeft]

They are pretty different. In Ugly Gryphon Inn, all the guests work off of each other and can always potentially be moved or removed. Royal Limited is a little more puzzly, trying to balance the cost of cards with the number/color combinations. Once a card is placed and its cost is paid (in cards) it can't be moved. Every time you run out of cards and have to reshuffle, the countdown goes down. Hope that helps a little! They're both really fun and different enough if you are looking into them. Everyone's tastes are different, but we enjoy them both.

[@malvinafis6907]

Love Button Shy. and the simply solo line. I just wished the rule books were a tiiiiny bit longer and more detailed.

[@malvinafis6907]

your number 1 is my favourite, too

[@malvinafis6907]

I'd love to see the solo-ish of the button shy games!

[@SecondStartotheLeft]

I agree that the rules are sometimes a bit tricky. I am glad that there are lots of videos out there to help. Not ours 🤣 You shouldn't use ours for rules!

[@SecondStartotheLeft]

It's just so easy to take out and play

[@SecondStartotheLeft]

We are working on them! Billie is happy to provide snarky commentary