Solo Playthroughs' Top 10 Important Games

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Greetings from afar! No livestreams this week (or next week either! ) but had a chance to get this one edited and wanted to get it published while I had a good internet connection. Note I used the new camera to record this and I realize I've got some work to do with the coloration and auto-light adjust settings. I'll have another go at the settings for January's Top 10 list - speaking of which, make sure to let me know what Top 10s you'd like me to do in the future! Happy Gaming! Greg

[@danielmarlett1421]

Nice list. It is telling the most important games are rarely your favorites. Mine would be in ascending order: UNO, Monopoly, Key to the Kingdom, Yahtzee, Coup, Bohnanza, Sentinels of the Multiverse, Betrayal at House on the Hill, Chess, and Spirit Island.

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Thanks, Daniel! And that’s a great distinction between “important” and “favorite”. Appreciate you sharing your list, too!

[@lenakimarctaedius3056]

Top ten list suggestion.. top ten characters you like to play in boardgames..

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Thanks for the suggestion, LenaKim! I’ve thought about doing something like that for Spirit Island specific. 🙂

[@sarahsloot2290]

Also, I think you mentioned FL once, there is a 20/40 limit O8/stud8 mix once a week at the hard rock Tampa.

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Oooh, that’d be amazing. My wife’s grandparents used to live in Sarasota but not there very much in recent years. There is a 6-12 OE game at a casino somewhat near me if I am ever feeling the itch.

[@sarahsloot2290]

I’m really enjoying this video. Your scythe thing, my partner learned a hard lesson with the game Set, they’re better at it than most people that fancy themselves good at it, and compulsively do as well as they possibly can. Really ruined a friendship by the other person bringing set as an icebreaker, and we played about 4 games, and my partner didn’t have the insight to let us be part of the game, 17-1-0, 15-2-1. Games like that. One goal of a multiplayer game if you like it, is for others to also want to play! :)

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Thanks, Sarah, and that’s such a relatable story. In games I am more experienced at, I do at least try to experiment with different strategies and not crush peoples’ souls. That’s no fun for anyone! 🤣

[@idjester]

Well Solo... based upon your love and passion I ended up getting Gaia Project... Even though I think Terra Mystica is a better game with more in the big box edition I went ahead and got Gaia Project just so I could try that one out... almost the same game but different... which I like... so thanks...

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Awesome! The learning curve for the automa can be a bit steep but you’ll likely have an easier time with your Terra Mystica background. Hope you end up loving it!

[@idjester]

@@SoloPlaythroughs thanks...

[@TonioLagoule]

Mille Bornes, it brings back memories! Played that a lot in my youth, in France. I didn't know they kept the french name for the english version?!

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Oh yeah - always been Mille Bornes, and the rules always came in English and French. I remember being fascinated by the French score aid card as a kid! 🙂

[@XHuntinatorX]

Hey Greg... If you get a chance check out "Halls of Hegra". I think it's still on KS but I've been playing it on Tabletopia. It is on TTS also. Great, great pure solo game. A lot of people are comparing it to RC X States of Siege. I agree with that minus the F U over of RC. I think you would enjoy it for sure. Too bad it won't be available for awhile.

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Thanks for the heads-up, Huntinator. I’ll put Halls of Hegra on my radar!

[@yerel_nimni_avni]

I would love to see a top ten games that you liked in the past, and duo to change in your taste are not for you anymore (i.e., what are the top ten games that you will recommend other but will not play yourself again)

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Thanks for the idea, Yerel. I did a Top 10 games I’ve cooled on with Broken Meeple a couple months back but 10 games I don’t like to play but would recommend to others is an interesting suggestion that would indeed lead to a very different list!

[@mrsamtheman80]

Great list! I am shocked that Spirit Island was nowhere though! My young career looks fairly similar to yours, and we are the same age. Great list!

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Thanks, Sam! Mrs. Playthroughs actually said the same thing about Spirit Island. 🤣 Honestly, it could have been on there but it came after all of these other games and I’m not sure I would have given it as much of a chance to grow on me without the games before it, esp Mage Knight. 🙂

[@sarahsloot2290]

We have very different problems with the nuclear that may be related. I used to play a ton of scrabble and various similars, and nuclear and unclear having the same letters and rye “clear” part being pronounced differently annoys the heck out of me.

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

I like this theory and I now share your annoyance! 🤣

[@lenakimarctaedius3056]

I like you make the list personal. For me the list would be ticket to ride, takenoko, chess, poker, terraforming mars, bridge, spirit island, fire in the lake, root and 1st place scythe

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Awesome! Fire in the Lake is the only one I never played, as I’ve still yet to dive into GMT stuff much. I’m hoping to fix that a bit next year!

[@johnathankokoski]

Fun list! Mine would have Monopoly, Risk, Magic the Gathering, Ascension, Scythe, Mage Knight, Spades, Codenames, Root, Andean Abyss all in there somewhere. I don’t think I’ll ever play another game as much as I did MtG even though I haven’t played much over the past decade. A MtG draft or Commander game is my groups ‘Catan’ even though most of us prefer other games at this point.

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Awesome list, Johnathan! I have only played MtG once and hope to do so again. Never even heard of Andean Abyss, as the list of GMT titles I hope to try one day continues to grow. 🙂

[@xcpenguin9954]

Dude! Pictionary? Milles Bornes? Philadelphia? I think we might be brothers.

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Ha! I grew up in Staten Island. Not sure if that meshes with your theory but happy to explore it…

[@tzera_rhuon]

M:tg - my introduction to t/ccgs via my father. I used to play quite a lot and loved deckbuilding. I've since grown to despise WotC and how they've managed the game these past years, however mtg's influence fueling my love of the genre can't be ignored Catan - whilst not my favourite game I'd rank it very highly as it's so approachable for casual players and easy to get to the table. Also, it's my most purchased game as I've gifted several copies lol Mage Knight - lockdown restrictions during the pandemic necessitated a shift from multiplayer to solo gaming. After seeing MK on your channel I knew it was a game I'd love for the collection. Also, it became difficult to find and/or ridiculously expensive, however in time I finally obtained a copy and can likewise laugh at the terrible Braevelar mini Spirit Isle - similar to MK, it's your fault I own this 🤣. The fact someone described me it as 'catan but you play as catan' certainly helped. Ocean best spirit (not biased) Terra Mystica - crunchy euro goodness. I've been debating purchasing Gaia Project, which is mechanically similar and better for solo play, however I don't care for the modular board as much as the static maps of TM Nemesis - this game....Aliens is among my favourite movies and this game perfectly captures that vibe. I've played this 10 times, with each experience being radically different and worthy of being it's own movie script lol. Emergant gameplay at its best imo. Arkham lcg - I list this mainly to address your comment of bloat as it's something I'm in agreement with and conscious of as I begin collecting LotR/Marvel Champions (the same could be said of Spirit Isle, as I own base/claw/jagged and adding more is just adding more). Arkham itself is obviously awesome and a testament to what is possible with a handful of cardboard and a creative mind.

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Thanks for sharing, Tzera! What a cool list, and glad the channel’s been able to connect you to some new faves - and one particularly crappy mini. 🤣 Still need to try Nemesis for sure. Meanwhile, I really appreciate the bloat comment. I’m hopeful that Spirit Island continues to add to the game in a way that feels like you are just learning more about the island as opposed to being overladen with mechanics. I’m cautiously optimistic though, as Reuss really hit homeruns with the first two expansions.

[@mabos555]

Wow never expected this list, thought it would contain solo only modern games

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Yeah - definitely could have gone that direction with a different definition of important. This list was actually way more fun for me and ended up a lot more meaningful. 🙂

[@mabos555]

@@SoloPlaythroughs nice can't wait for the other video as well

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

@@mabos555 I will be considering it! We’ll see if I feel like I can separate out my biases enough to not just make another version of my Top 10 favorites. 🙂

[@mabos555]

@@SoloPlaythroughs well it won't be the same list... Probably only arkham lcg and mage knight will be on the same list, other then that the rest of your list that you've mentioned are games for more than 2 players

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

@@mabos555 Oh yeah - not much overlap with this list. Was more talking about my annual Top Solo Games list. But you’re right that sticking to solo would even further make a much different list than this one.

[@jonathanpickles2946]

Cool list is so different to mine. I'd say Cosmic Encounter, D&D, Squad Leader, Star Fleet Battles, 1830, Shadowfist, Totaller Krieg, Warmachine, Agricola. Spirit Island maybe, as something less than a decade old. Or Die Macher as representative early Euro. That should probably be Modern Art.

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Thanks for sharing, Jonathan. Lot of titles I’m not very familiar with, which is cool. I have a friend’s copy Cosmic Encounter sitting in my basement - still need to try it one day!

[@coachbayonnejoe]

I am with you on Mage Knight. I’m just as crazy!

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Nice! That game somehow keeps getting better to me over the years…

[@yerel_nimni_avni]

"it's a railroad game, it's not an 18xx game" made me laugh so hard

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Ha! I’m glad someone found that funny other than me!

[@Dratio]

Getting back into Arkham solo 2 handed and loving it. got Dunwhich Carcossa and Forgotten Age so far. Are there any cycles or standalones besides those you would recommend?

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Great question, Dratio! Campaign-wise, I would only recommend Innsmouth. That said, the Innsmouth player cards are kind of garbage unless you lean into the bless/curse mechanic, a playstyle I personally don’t like. But the scenarios are all really good. For the standalones, Miskatonic and Blob are both great, and I would also recommend Carnevale and Rougarou. Barkham Horror is also surprisingly excellent but probably not worth what it costs to buy it secondhand.

[@bryanscollick8305]

OMG my family LOVED Mille Bornes. I I cannot calculate how many times we played that game. I tried to get my wife to play, and it was a car crash! Oh well, you can't go home again.

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

That’s awesome! Of course, if it was indeed a car crash, perhaps next time you should be sure to put the Driving Ace at the top of the deck! 🤣

[@bryanscollick8305]

@@SoloPlaythroughs Happy Coupe Fourre!

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Indeed! 🤣

[@robertdascoli949]

Of course Spirt Island is going to be #1 ... OH, Catan. Of course.

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Ha! Went the exact opposite thematically on you! 🤣

[@jinsoloboardgames]

Wait, you went to law school? That’s crazy!! I found board gaming during law school and I have been watching you for solo plays. So interesting!!

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Yep! Graduated in 2012. And I tell everyone I meet who is thinking of going to not do so. 🤣

[@Sajatzsiraf]

I think you mixed up #1 and #4.

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Nah. Where was Mage Knight in my 20s?? 🤣

[@Sajatzsiraf]

@@SoloPlaythroughs i have been playing it since my early 20s... :P

[@xcpenguin9954]

Awhoooof!

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Got to love a unprompted ambiguous version of “Woof!” 🤣

[@xcpenguin9954]

@@SoloPlaythroughs I just like that you have several different woofs that mean different things. You should try out for the next Pokemon game. I'm also a big fan of squadoosh. I haven't heard that anywhere else.

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Ha! Squadoosh is something I got from my dad. 🤣 Btw, love that Simpsons “foilage” clip! Not sure if you deleted the comment before I could reply but I can’t find it right now. Hilarious!

[@xcpenguin9954]

@Solo Playthroughs It's on your 7th Island video. Maybe it went away while I edited it? More hilarity happened when I kept watching. 😁

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

@@xcpenguin9954 Yeah - it appears the comment went away during your editing as I just checked the 7th Continent video and it's not there. :) Still, foilage forever!!