Gimpys Top 5 Solitaire Wargames

My top 5 favorite games to play solitaire. List spoiled below:
5: Silent Victory
4: Unconditional Surrender
3: Heroes Against the Red Star
2: Sherman Leader
1: Battle Hymn
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[@davydavis2635]

Played this and the whole series when it first came out, and now 40 years later it is totally replayable. I’ve forgotten everything that happened and love it again. Look forward to playing again when I’m 110 years old.

[@euripidesghost2197]

Thanks especially for the review of Unconditional Surrender! Just got it and looking forward to clipping counters and getting started.

[@fuzer909]

Queen of the Skies is my favorite solo. Played it all through high school and into my early twenties. Only one crew and bomber made it past 25 missions so I pushed forward until 35 on my own to see if my luck pressed on. At 35, I was completely shot down right after getting across the Channel. So after hundreds of missions total, no survivors. War is cruel.

[@alanjones1258]

Excellent Gimpy, many thanks.

[@KWGamers]

Nice job on that video. I have US and hag no clue it was solo friendly. This motivated me to throw down ASAP. I also have BH and Abush plus a module upgrade. I've played Ambush and loved it. Thanks again for posting this video.

[@rogerpaul8918]

I own Ambush with mods & Battle Hymn - agreed, the best solitaire games. Victory games were top notch.

[@GodsPoetryProductions]

Your channel it's my go-to for wargaming reviews and play throughs.

[@Tiggermk4]

Excellent list, and I'm agreement with your assessments. The Ambush/Battle Hymn system in particular is excellent , its such a shame no-one is looking at doing a reprint/kickstarter.

[@grantross2609]

......and don't forget the clever parachute landing LEATHERNECK !

[@Metafreak]

Only just started watching the video but can't wait to see you do that playthrough of EA: Ardennes & D-Day at Omaha Beach

[@phfan57]

Just bought Sherman Leader with Tiger Leader Upgrade & B-17 Flying Fortress Leader, this video helped me make my decision on Sherman Leader, looking forward to playing them.

[@The_Bermuda_Nonagon]

B-17:QUEEN OF THE SKIES by Avalon Hill is one of my favorites. :D

[@duncanrichardson5306]

Interesting and useful reviews. "Unconditional" sounds like one I should get hold of.

[@nb658]

Loved the Ambush series! Never made it to Battle Hymn though, which is funny because I was in the Marine Corps at that time (retired now).

[@MrProsat]

Me too. Why the heck did I sell that (Ambush) one?

[@howardjones5741]

Great insight into all these games. Like you, I hold Ambush/Battle Hymn WAY up at the top. But it might share the spot with LnLT. I just preferred the tactical specificity of that much more than I did with Sherman Leader. Maybe I didn't give the latter enough plays, but I remember wondering, whilst playing, why I wasn't simply playing LnLT? Don't the expansion missions of both Battle Hymn and Ambush! have a lot more variety in them? More randomized sightings and variable events and things?

[@helgaratbone1691]

In Unconditional I think the lesser nations can move anywhere as long as they keep a unit for home defense within a few hexes of their borders. Makes sense considering the climate.

[@wokajimbo4167]

I feel much the same about ASL, but I do enjoy using ASL components with the Retro rule set by Minden Games. Not only streamlines things (about 30 pages of rules in a little booklet), but it plays very well solo with its unique hesitation mechanic.

[@stephenhigginson5813]

Awesome, It was on the good ship Gimpy.....

[@penoyer79]

what an interesting pick for #1 lol. did NOT expect that.

[@craigclemens986]

It’s a weird pick

[@batmansmk]

So, this video was a total success!

[@farpointgamingdirect]

I have all of the Ambush! games and expansions as well as Open Fire! (tanks) and Shell Shock! (two player Ambush!)

[@Kili121416]

Put Battle Hymn on the table a whole ago and couldn't get into it anymore. Guess my tastes changed so through it away. Perhaps was a bit hasty !

[@jefferywilson3279]

Ww1 variation by compass games as well. Captain Von Tromp aka Sound of Music is one of the legendary sub captains included.

[@thegimpygamer]

Yea Compass churns out a lot of outstanding games.

[@henryachilles9401]

Great as always thank you for the hard work, What is Victory Games waiting for? Reprint Ambush and Battle Hymn??? It would sell big time...

[@killersalmon4359]

Victory Games doesn't exist any more, at least in physical form (it probably exists in paper as a legal entity).

[@henryachilles9401]

Hey Keller I hope you are well, Thanks I know I am just dreaming...:)

[@dalec6239]

Solid picks

[@salmonberg4365]

BTW the multiplayer Ambush system is called Shell Shock (boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2082/shell-shock). I have all the Ambush and Battle Hymn games/expansions and tried Shell Shock but it just doesn't seem to work well.

[@jimsmith7445]

What do you think of "Warfighter"? Good call on the DVG games...

[@GodsPoetryProductions]

I think that the do little raid is an awesome game

[@im2yz4u17]

This is the best review of top 5 games I have seen in a while and I realize this is an older video. Unfortunately, moving the camera around so much by hand had me minimizing the video and just listening to the commentary.

[@robertchmielecki2580]

I am looking for something opposite to dice-fests and tbh I have problems finding such games. A wargame with maximum decision making and minimum randomness. If I sit with a game - solo or multiplayer - I want to play (solve problems, make decisions) not be a dice-chucking, manual-checking bot for the game. Ane recommendations?

[@defleshedbuttocks]

Monopoly sounds pretty good!🚩🚩🚩

[@TheCrusaderRabbits]

where does one buy thos tile pliers?

[@marchanna]

Nice video. a bit late to the party, aren't I? lol you've probably done some new ones since. Anyway. wrt ASL mentioned at 29:00, ASL can be soloed without the solo module, a lot of people just play both sides to the best ability, it's fine. However, I've found that it's not a lifestyle game entirely but for me it has been such when I try to enjoy other tactical games like Lock N' Load, or Old School Tactical, etc. It's just too much to absorb other tactical systems as well, so for example I'm selling off my barely touched Heroes of the Nam. I still get into many other games at operational and strategic level. cheers and thanks again for the vid.

[@supark3244]

Thanks for sharing. Theme of Heroes Against the Red Star is not for me. You mentioned we can pick our theme. Not all L&L games are the same. What WW2 game would you recommend? Also, Sherman Leader looks amazing. What do you own in addition to the KS base pledge?

[@thegimpygamer]

Heroes of Normandy absolutely. Great WW2 tactical game plus it has a great expansion for it that you can purchase separately. If you mean what DVG games do I own I have probably about half their line of games.

[@supark3244]

Thanks Gimpy. I meant L&L game. I own several DVG titles but no L&L games. Will check out Heroes of Normandy. BTW - The green dice tower is awesome.

[@MichaelHeilemann]

The chit you put down on Denmark in Unconditional Surrender was put exactly where I'm from (Frederikshavn)... so... there you have it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@WysteriaGuitar]

Hey Gimpy regarding Lock and Load tactical, I am a newb when it comes to board wargaming this system. I find it hard to figure out which one or one's I should get. The website does not offer much help. I am into World War 2 Western front but also modern - Vietnam and Afghanistan. Can you recommend which I should buy to get started? Thanks

[@thegimpygamer]

You cant go wrong with the Heroes of Normandy module. It has a large variety of different units and covers one of your primary time periods you like.

[@WysteriaGuitar]

Sound good. Thanks for the advice! @@thegimpygamer

[@mikegrivett1892]

You mentioned mounted boards for Unconditional Surrender. Who should I contact to purchase these? Also, there is a 1st and 2nd edition of Unconditional Surrender, is one version preferable to the other?

[@thegimpygamer]

The GMT Store should have the mounted boards. I dont think there is a big difference between editions, but I would shoot for the later one if possible since it should contain any known corrections

[@imperator88vis67]

I had to share this story, even though I just realized this video is 4 yrs old..! In a local comics store last year they had a small section where they sell used games. Sitting there one day in a slighty battered and unsealed box, was an innocuous copy of Battle Hymn. I pulled it open just to see what shape it might be inside - - and discovered it was unpunched! Counters, cards, nothing ever used! The issue was that the store owner obviously knew what he had because he had put a round yellow sticker on the box saying $100! So I stood there in the store and inventoried every single component vs the parts list, and it was ALL there; not a thing was missing, not even the VG catalog and mail-in card. I thought it over for some time, but finally decided this was a once-in-a-lifetime find, and paid the man. You just don't find that game like that anymore! (By the way, its publish date is 1986.)

[@thegimpygamer]

Wow to find a unpunched copy like that in a comic store is one hell of a find. It is a little surprising that the owner knew what he had. Might be a good chance that when the person sold it to the store they explained its value and rarity to them to get a better price on the sale.

[@MeanderingMikesManCave]

Shell Shock is the 2-player version of Ambush

[@GeekGamers01]

Any chance of that Battle Hymn play you mentioned?

[@thegimpygamer]

Hey Geek! I really do need to find the time to do that. I think I take on too much at once since I have a couple different projects going on right now.

[@GeekGamers01]

I hope you do. I'd love to see that!

[@dennissvitak148]

Thunderbolt/Apache Leader needs to be on this list, as does Fields of Fire, and perhaps Warfighter WWII.

[@thegimpygamer]

I will be doing another top list soon. I also only included games I had personally played which is why some good ones like TAL werent included.

[@mistergoats4380]

Are there any fantasy solo war games? That have giants elves dragons and all that jazz?

[@thegimpygamer]

There was one but it is old. Like made in the 80s old. Sadly I can't remember what it was called. I think it was made by SPI though.

[@jancolpaert8163]

In the meantime there is now Combat! from Compass Games which could become the REPLAYABLE follow up for Ambush! And the best Solitaire mode for a tactical WWII wargame is according to me SASL. This overclasses the solitaire system for LnLT in a myriad of ways.

[@thegimpygamer]

Since this video was made I did a whole series on Combat and have a video on Combat 2 going up tomorrow

[@jancolpaert8163]

@@thegimpygamer Found them and they're fantastic! Keep up the good work! 👍

[@kosterix123]

My top wargame solo is Memoir ‘44 (with the ai I wrote, not that crap from bgg).

[@MrJorgitogrande]

Nice video Gimpy. Can I ask why Fields of Fire didn’t make it into your top 5? You did a review on it. For me, I like the idea but I’m put off by the messy rules. I’ve got great expectations for the 2nd volume hoping it’s going to improve it

[@crushingit5128]

I am wondering the same. I am interested in Fields of Fire as well, but the rules are so tedious and I have my doubts about the game, though it seems that once you got the rules down it get amazing reviews. (I read a comparison of 1st ed vs 2nd ed, unfortunately there were only minor updates. Nothing that really helps explain the rules or streamlines the gameplay to make it more appealing) Surprised to see Sherman Leader here. The combat looks as dull and basic as can be.

[@thegimpygamer]

Short version: Brain Fart. I kept thinking as I was making my list that I was forgetting one that I wanted to add to it and that's it. After I try EEA, DDay, and 2nd volume I will probably redo the list and adjust accordingly.

[@MrJorgitogrande]

There is a few videos out there with people playing it. Might be worth watching (although it's not going to be quick). Normandy is well covered, nobody seems to want to touch Korea and Vietnam seems to descend into a big shootout chaos. The rules are ok-ish but don't cover all possibilities. And when you come up with something not covered by the rules, you're either stuck or - as most people recommend - you have to create the rule for yourself, write it down and keep playing. Helpfully, the BG forum is very active so there are answers there. The game could use a lot more friendly flowcharts like the excellent ones from COIN series or Pericles. Overall, I do recommend buying the game. Top 5? Not sure in this form.

[@supark3244]

Newb question: Enemy Action Ardennes, D-day (which), and 2nd volume what? Which of the 3 D-day games is on-deck?

[@JavierGonzalez-jv5ue]

I like the system of Mosby's Raiders and I wonder... if are there any wargames with hexes that have a similar system? Wargame should have more than one counter and it it doesn't have to be large scale. Whether it is solitaire or not is not important, thanks.

[@tiffanzsolti]

What kind of tweezers do you use? :)

[@craigclemens986]

Special war gamers tweezers

[@jameshenderson4876]

Damn. I come here to relive my youth playing wargames and you remind me that I am getting old and my eyesight is failing. Next I'll check my email and it will be full of viagra adverts.

[@markc8401]

Never played ASL? What????? lol just kidding, but it does rank supreme. So when you first showed lock 'n load I thought it was Old School Tactical! A very close resemblance in every way (except that OST is WW2 only). The counters, the maps, etc all look the same. Question: the solo card deck - do you think that would work with OST as well?

[@thegimpygamer]

I just know myself and know what ASL would be for me. It would be like heroin for a junky🤣. I think it could be possible to use the solo card pack with OST. Now this is me guessing as I don't have OST, but the solo cards were designed to be generic enough to be used with all the LNL modules (modern and WW2). Since they had to go so general with it there's a decent chance it could pass with the player having to make some judgement calls.

[@markc8401]

@@thegimpygamer Thanks for your quick reply! So I assume the card deck is sold separately from LNL? And what is the deck officially called? I may just purchase it!

[@thegimpygamer]

@@markc8401 here is the link. Good sale going on now too so great timing. store.lnlpublishing.com/lnlt-solo-llp313640

[@markc8401]

@@thegimpygamer thank you sir!

[@arekkrolak6320]

2:15

[@DaveDennisJr]

Do you only play solitaire or do you also play FtF?

[@thegimpygamer]

Dave Dennis Primarily solo for wargames. I have a group for Xwing and the wife does Euro/Ameritrash with me.

[@FreeFragUK]

Battle Hymn sounds fantastic, it's a shame that no company has picked it up to re-print or put together a modern iteration of it. Great video, keep up the excellent work.

[@sadzolot2]

Unconditional Surrender Solo ???

[@horrido666]

Three fisted. It plays every well, and is very interesting throughout.

[@jimsmith7445]

I'm rather surprised you don't play the DVG games??? What about "B-17, Queen of the Skies"? "Ambush"?

[@thegimpygamer]

What do you mean? Sherman Leader by DVG is on this list and Battle Hymn is the sequel to Ambush...

[@killersalmon4359]

None of the games you listed were DVG games. B-17 Queen of the Skies was by Avalon Hill and Ambush was by Victory Games.

[@craigclemens986]

How can a hidden movement game be good for solitaire??

[@thegimpygamer]

Which game are you referring to?

[@craigclemens986]

@@thegimpygamer the first one

[@thegimpygamer]

@@craigclemens986 I have no idea what you are talking about then because Silent Victory is a solitaire only game.

[@Quaagin]

"Top 5 Solitair WWII Games"

[@christiandeutch74]

PODRIAN HACER UNO DE LOS ROMANOS Y GRIEGOS

[@e-4airman124]

OK I jumped the gun video came on.

[@Beery1962]

Did I see that right - your top five solitaire games are all set in WW2? Dude, you need to get out more. There are more than 6 years in wargaming.

[@thegimpygamer]

You read it wrong and there is a second top 5 list. Not to mention my current series is set in the age of sail, and just prior to that it was gladiators and medieval times. I think I am fully aware of what's avaliable in wargaming.....

[@craigclemens986]

For solitaire?

[@e-4airman124]

no video just talk

[@uncletimo6059]

Unconditional Surrender - REALLY? So over a million Romanians and Hungarians serving on the Eastern Front in SU are just waved away by this game, huh? Play it without that stupid rule.

[@kevinwilson5515]

Your too wordy. Be to the point PLEASE

[@thegimpygamer]

In the description is the list for people who can't wait sooo...

[@kevinwilson5515]

@@thegimpygamer good content just a bit much

[@thegimpygamer]

@@kevinwilson5515 this is some of my older stuff from when my channel was a lot newer. Also the sound quality is horrible!🤣