The Best Games of 2024 (solo RPGs, dungeon crawls, and adventure games)

[@blackoathentertainment]

Oh wow, I made the list! Thank you so much for your kind words!

[@wildape3210]

Bought Ker Narthalas after watching Daniel's video. It is a fantastic game! The best solo rpg I've ever played. This would have been my game of the year.

[@RoyOlsen-uf3tp]

Black Oath some great stuff! You missing out if you are not paying attention to them.

[@FredPilarczyk]

I just ordered a copy. Very excited to check it out.

[@theteacher7136]

Just ordered my copy

[@derekrgrote]

I also ordered my copy and the two zines. I really look forward to playing this!

[@scottdemers9442]

Humbled and honored, Daniel. Thank you for selecting Dragons Down as your GotY 2024. Wow!

[@thecivitasuniverse]

It looks like a wonderful game!

[@DanWebb_BoomerManDan]

Looking forward to seeing more copies printed!!

[@SamBalducci]

Looking forward to a new print run

[@derekrgrote]

I hope I’ll be able to pick up a copy to play some day with the next print run!

[@Dravok]

I found this channel a few months ago, and I love it. I'm still trying to find the right game for me, but I'm enjoying the ride. Here's to a great 2025 for everyone. 🎉

[@StakeFromJateFarm]

This channel is a perfect reminder that KZbin has not completely devolved into slop if you know where to look. Love the videos!

[@thecivitasuniverse]

Oh yay, number 2, yippee!!!!! 🎉 Have a great 2025 Dungeon Dive!!!!

[@Genghis-Pawn]

Well deserved!

[@TheDungeonDive]

So when can we expect a reprint? People want it!

[@thecivitasuniverse]

​@@TheDungeonDive I believe a second edition with improved cards, more diverse crimes, and much clearer, substance-over-style instructions will be crucial. I've always envisioned a "tin travel version" of Civitas Nihilium. If I can build enough excitement through my KZbin channel and other platforms, I'll definitely consider making it happen! 😄

[@thecivitasuniverse]

@@Genghis-Pawn Thank you so much 🥰

[@finbob6762]

You do great work! Best wishes for the new year!

[@TheDungeonDive]

Thank you!

[@SeekersHollow]

It's been a stellar year for RPGs! Thank you Daniel!

[@Deltium5683]

Thanks for a great year of videos and info from you this year !

[@TheDungeonDive]

My pleasure. Hope you have a great new year!

[@Deltium5683]

@ you too !!

[@simon64301]

I really appreciate the channel and your recap of your favorites. I always enjoy your enthusiasm.

[@TheDungeonDive]

Thank you. My pleasure! Hope you enjoyed the video.

[@waclawtraier1900]

Such great picks! I especially like the Cyberlesh thing! Thanks for all the great videos this year and Happy New Year!

[@disciple012]

Since you mentioned that Legend of Zelda game, you should look into Forgotten Ballad. Another really neat rules-lite Legend of Zelda inspired RPG.

[@TheGreypuffin]

Thanks for putting this together and the great content you make and share! A Dungeon Dive video is something to look forward to!

[@bigdaddygamebot]

Love the channel and love the content. Can't wait to get my hands on some of these!

[@Scotch5ailor]

Great year Daniel. Thanks for all the content and work!

[@TheDungeonDive]

Thanks for always being supportive! :)

[@loarnchilcote9895]

Yaaay! Stupid pumped for the upcoming Dragons Down video. You rule Daniel!

[@stogrady]

Thanks for this list and all of your great videos this year!

[@TheDungeonDive]

You're welcome! My pleasure!

[@xSean0607]

I never clicked a video so fast in my life!

[@clvrswine]

Lame.

[@arcubal]

Cyber Flesh reminded me of a low key version of SHEOL. On a sidenote: I resubscribed cuz I feel I need to look at tabletop experiences (be they board games or RPGs) from different angles than my preferred way of playing adventure games. As I reboot my own Story Tiles after a full year hiatus, I feel again emboldened by your indie spirit of 'covering what you like, how you like it'. I may come at it from the exact opposite side (sprawling pre-written narrative campaigns as opposed to emergent stories from randomized smaller games) but the drive to cover ADVENTURE STORIES from our own unique perspective (which we both do) in whatever shape or form they come, is something I feel you have re-energized me in. So, thank you Daniel, have a great start of 2025 and... keep exploring!

[@TheDungeonDive]

There are positives and negatives to both perspectives, and I think each can work to inform the other.

[@ceberuss_yt8266]

Thank you for your content ! Happy newyear and best wishes ! Kudos

[@TheDungeonDive]

Happy new year!

[@andrewlavery3974]

A big thank you for all the great content! I hope you keep it coming for 2025! Happy new year :)

[@TheDungeonDive]

Happy new year!

[@doanepoole6640]

Thanks for the review...really appreciate your videos, especially as a newcomer to solo RPGs and boardgames!

[@thewizned]

Commenting to feed the algorithm. Keep up the great work. Looking forward to another year of cool solo gaming content.

[@Capefear83]

Great list thanks!

[@capnbob0618]

Thanks for the list! Excited to try Forgotten Depths sometime, I’m intrigued.

[@giannisc.5254]

I am so intrigued by Forgotten Depths, really unfortunate that I missed the campaign :( Thank you Daniel for the video and I wish you a Happy New Year !

[@corgibuttz2550]

Happy New Year! Great video. I might have to man up and order a copy of Cyberflesh. It looks awesome.

[@gregorycook3550]

I have the upcoming KS for DD: Natives saved. I don't have the core but a reprint is listed so ... yeah I'll check out other vids of the game and read up on it a little more. Thanks! Happy New Year. 🎉🥳

[@dashboardco]

Thank you so much for your work in 2024 Daniel! This video caps off another year of invaluable content from The Dungeon Dive 👏 👏 👏

[@frederickcallen]

Thanks for a great year of reviews.

[@the_Mike_d]

Just picked up a copy of Troika - looking forward to hearing more from you on it! This is a great list of things for the end of the year and I'm also looking forward to Arydia arriving soon. Here's hoping 2025 is just as great for gaming!

[@TheDungeonDive]

Troika seems pretty cool. Love the world.

[@allanoipistoupe4843]

Oh shit ,here we go again, my solo shelf is full already...

[@Genghis-Pawn]

Great list, great year! (For the channel, I mean, obviously a waking nightmare in other respects). More and more I find that something like the DD "Adventure Journal" is key for me in any game where I want to care about the narrative -- some way of looking back at the end to re-imagine it. Journaling is one option but slows things down. DD's lack of flavortext actually helps it in this regard -- in a game that has flavortext I would like to be able to skim and reinterpret it all at the endgame, but DD doesn't have that invitation/problem. For Civitas Nihilium I usually keep resolved cards off to the side instead of shuffling them back in, for this purpose. I've thought about doing the same for Spacers, too.

[@TheDungeonDive]

Yeah - there's a lot about 2024 that SUCKED. :) Thanks again for bringing CN to me attention!

[@isaacq517]

I have been a lurking fan for a long time, but I'm finally in a comfortable enough position to be able to support you on Patreon, and I am definitely doing so today so I can read your Best of 2024 list. The occasional times you've referenced music here on the channel, I've always appreciated your taste. :) Also your channel music (presumably self-produced?) is all awesome. Is that Eurorack?

[@TheDungeonDive]

Thanks! Yes, the music is self produced. Most of the stuff you hear was done on an OP-1.

[@markwinnington1426]

Awesome for Flying Ostriches & Floating Castles! It's great fun, and the author is friendly and responsive. There's a Discord for the game now, but I don't know if the link is up in the wild yet.

[@genedean29]

Mertwig's Maze is a deep cut mention for me...I think it was a Dragon Magazine free game, right? It was so random and I only really got to play it once. lol

[@TheDungeonDive]

I think the Dragon Magazine one was Search for the Emperor's Treasure. Mertwig's Maze was a folio game. Although they might have released MM in an issue of Dragon, I don't know.

[@Thomas-kx9op]

Have #1, interested in Ker Nethalus. Thanks for the video!

[@TheDungeonDive]

Ker Nethalus is awesome.

[@kurt-the-viking]

thank you! that was a wonderful recap to watch

[@TheDungeonDive]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@benh4390]

I'd somehow missed your no.3 despite that sounding like the ideal follow on from D100 and 4AD for me. Great list as always

[@simonealbertogrifone]

Thank you, I am truly honored to be part of this 8:23 💀

[@TheDungeonDive]

Right on! Are there any plans for any expansions for Cyberflesh?

[@blairblack281]

it's great to see KN ranked so high - happy new year!

[@dangarthemighty0980]

These all look amazing. 😊

[@rhubahb]

So excited for this video, Daniel

[@benja6902]

I can't wait to back the new Dragons Down!

[@flyfishincrazy]

Good stuff! Thanks!

[@COOPFORTWO]

I always discover new and super interesting games from your videos! I love seeing the weird gems you find. Great stuff. -jesse

[@TheDungeonDive]

Thank you!

[@dretokdan3020]

BIG FAN FROM MEXICO THANKS FOT YOUR VIDEOS

[@kumarsalib722]

How can i get the smaller box for Forgotten Depths? The collosal size of the box made me store it in an out of the way place, which leads to it getting played less.

[@TheDungeonDive]

Yep. It was available during the last KS campaign.

[@mooker5600]

Cyberflesh looks great but the cost.

[@cives]

Thank you for The unseen world recommendation. It's the most interesting solo rpg game of the list, in my opinion.

[@jkwatcher47]

I picked with Spacers and KN with the cards based on your reviews this year.

[@TheDungeonDive]

That’s awesome! Hope you’re enjoying them.

[@XimCines]

Best of 2024 solos RPGs: • Forgotten Depths • Flying Ostriches & Flying Castles • Heroes of Cerulea • Cyberflesh • Stalagbite • Spacers • Unseen World • Ker Nethalas: Into the Midnight Zone • Civitas Nihilium • Dragons Down Will serve to make a wistlist.

[@spartif]

Have a great new year thanks for what you provide

[@photonsword]

Looking forward to more from nethalas!

[@LorenMJ]

A few I didn’t know. Thanks.

[@TheDungeonDive]

You're welcome!

[@endrickdonitz6669]

O man, the unseen world rpg I forgot about that one! I'm just going to buy it now. And happy New Year!

[@TheDungeonDive]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@TheCrisses]

Oh, Spacers is EV Nova?

[@xgrowlingjAnx]

Great Video. I would add Worldspanner Factions :)

[@TheDungeonDive]

Still haven't played that one.

[@garethmason7920]

Really good video. Surprised ShadowDark not mentioned as this has grown huge this year.

[@TheDungeonDive]

Never played it. I already have so many OSR style games and tools that I passed on it.

[@garethmason7920]

@TheDungeonDive trust me my friend this is one you don't want too. It took me away from 5e it's that good for both solo and multiplayer

[@TheDungeonDive]

A lot of things took me away from 5e. :) Like all the stuff I've covered over the years!

[@Johnnied4life]

Woo hoo, thanks for sharing. Needed a good vid get lost in.

[@TheDungeonDive]

My pleasure! Hope you enjoy it!

[@abandonedlighthousegames]

Great list! A lovely set of diverse, original and steering away from the obvious. Fantastic selection!

[@TheDungeonDive]

Thank you kindly!

[@jonathana6298]

I maintain a very small collection, but in 2024… 1. 2d6 Dungeon 2. Marvel Champions 3. Cthulhu: Death May Die 4. Arkham Horror: The Card Game 5. D100 Space 6. Forgotten Depths 7. Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy 8. Dominion 9. Escape the Dark Sector 10. Skyrim: The Adventure Game 2d6 Dungeon is just great. I haven’t played 2d6 Realm yet, but I don’t think I need any other solo dungeon crawls. Arkham Horror: The Card Game is still my favorite game of all time. I just didn’t play it that much this year.

[@mihastupar]

Hmm so paupers ladder didnt make it to top 10?

[@TheDungeonDive]

It's my favorite adventure game of all time. Want to give some other games the spotlight in this video. :) Please remember, these lists have no scientific basis. :)

[@AlwayzFresh]

I wanted to buy Cyberflesh but $160CAD was not in the budget for such a small game despite the very awesome theme. I did however purchase Spacers & Heroes of Cerulea(almost same price for 2 games) since I was an 80's kid and have fond memories of Legend of Zelda.

[@TheDungeonDive]

Ouch. Yeah. Thats too much for this game.

[@paolovigneri6000]

⚔️⚔️⚔️

[@madyak6669]

Dragons down would be my kind of game but even if it wasn't out of print, the core game would be 150 pounds. Way out of my league.

[@grimstuff1]

Love Dragons Down, but damn the cheap CGI art is a bit of a turn off

[@TheDungeonDive]

The look of the game is not it's selling point.

[@mattrenyard]

Ohhh more games to empty my wallet! lol

[@zerosum789]

How are people in the us getting forgotten depths? Seems like it doesn't have us distribution.

[@TheDungeonDive]

It was recently delivered from Kickstarter. Not sure what the retail plans are.

[@movingcardboard8254]

When I see him talking about forgotten depths I feel like I'm on crazy pills, I found that game to be extremely shallow and one dimensional.

[@TheDungeonDive]

Hopefully you've discovered something this year that you love! That's what it's all about.

[@allanoipistoupe4843]

Well i watched it, and since i am not ( yet) into solo rpgs, or books based game i would say this year video had no waow game like it use to happen before, so 2024 not a great year for dungeon dwellers... no iron helm or pauper's ladder... ( my second edition just came in and it is fantastic) but hey still great video, and thanks again for your works , and i wish you all the best for the year to come!

[@TheDungeonDive]

Maybe you'll get there someday! But games like Dragon's Down, Stalagbite!, and Forgotten Depths are good as any other game I've ever covered!

[@DustinDustin00]

Cyberflesh sounds cool, but I pass on games with so much gore in the art. I'm fine with splashes of red, but I just don't care for guts and insides.

[@RoyOlsen-uf3tp]

Gotta stop putting up Civitas since there is zero way to get it. You are killing us. Ugh 😩