TCbH's Top 10 Solo Games

[@Michael-eo8ro]

Just discovering this channel and I'm quite a few videos in now. Great content and great delivery. Thanks for posting!

[@TheCardboardHerald]

Hey thank you so much, welcome and happy gaming from Alaska!

[@davidpepin3017]

Thank you for your liste. Here's 15 games I like you didnt mention, in no particular order: 1- Nemo's War 2- Robinson Crusoe 3- Sub Terra 4- Last Bastion 5- Too Many Bones 6- Mage Knight (Ultimate Edition) 7- Aeon's End 8- Helionox 9- Paladins of the West Kingdom 10- Roll Player 11- Clank 12- Goblivion 13- Raiders of Scythia 14- Pandemic 15- Descent

[@emmahunneyball2990]

Great video. Totally agree with your comments about playing Spirit Island single handed 👏🏻👏🏻

[@dinraal-mtg]

Love the video. Great list. One game I really like is Mage Knight Ultimate Edition. But one that I really would like to have a solo variant of is Aquasphere (I mean an official variant). Thanks for the video!

[@1981dardar]

Just a suggestion. U can include the title of the game at the top (or bottom) of the screen while you are introducing the game...

[@alucardjp1]

Why does everyone have to clarify it’s there opinion , what a world we live in

[@hotice88uk]

Automa Factory are indeed superb, their work on Gaia Project being my personal favourite although Wingspan is a close second! I can also recommend the card-based solo systems from the newer COIN games by GMT as a great step up from Cole Wehrle's games if you like that area control, insurgency/power struggle vibe.

[@krasimirkolev7887]

Gaia project, Founders of Gloomhaven, the castles of Burgundy, the 7th continent, eldritch horror, all Uwe Rosenberg

[@northlakeghost]

Great list!

[@Kajuber]

Thanks for another great video! With your enthusiasm for Root and the Clockwork expansion I'm surprised that it didn't pop your top ten?

[@TheCardboardHerald]

Cappahayden it was really close. On another day it might have, but I ultimately decided that I still love Root best as a 3+ player game, but Clockwork is a good stand in to facilitate good experiences at 1 and 2 player count. Additionally Root loses a couple points for it being a solo mode you have to buy into (or do the PNP yourself) and the initial solo mode designed upon release sucked. It was a hard decision though. I do really love it, but I also really love these games.

[@Kajuber]

@@TheCardboardHerald Yes that reasoning makes perfect sense. Had to ask as I just received Root with CW but have yet to play. I do play 4 of those listed regularly solo and enjoy them all (MC, WS, ED) and my all time favourite as well, Spirit Island. Great list.

[@pedrofaleiro6612]

Nice selection, got me curious about Set a Watch! I really enjoy Pax Pamir solo (it's surprising how a deck of cards can tell a story!), but there's little way around of it being so much better with a full table 🗡👌 Spirit Island was also my top solo game, but got pushed to 2nd place this past weekend by Too Many Bones 😁

[@pedrofaleiro6612]

​@Dr. D Yeah, everything can be easily abstracted if you choose to. I do like to explore the setting and learning a few bits here and there, but what I meant is how Wakhan seems to lean on a specific endeavour each game. I had some heavily economic focused games, and others where what mattered were covert operations and influence on cards. This kind of double down trend changes the game quite a bit from multiplayer, where it usually changes faster and more unpredictably. Love it either way!

[@stephanec.1994]

Great top! The trilogy of West kingdoms are in my opinion all good with solo play 👍

[@markusbiewer2756]

Hi Jack, I was wondering why Root is missing from your solo list? I've heard so many wonderful things about this game, but I'm still on the fence. My wife prefers lighter games, and my gaming group is on hiatus because of the pandemic. So, I wonder if it's worth to pick it up for solo play only? Thank you so much!

[@TheCardboardHerald]

Hi Markus. I have played a bunch of Root solo using the clockwork expansion (and a couple times without) and do enjoy it but it’s missing from my list for a couple reasons. First, it’s not good without the clockwork expansion and thus it adds another barrier to entry for solo. Second, Clockwork is designed really well but there’s still a pretty big amount of overhead in managing it, it’s not as smooth as some of my favorite solo games. Third, I already included a Cole Wehrle game on the list which has a much better solo experience baked right in. All of that said, Root is in my top 3 favorite games of all time and I find myself playing it solo from time to time because I love that world and the gameplay so much, but judged strictly as a solo game it doesn’t rate quite as high. If I did my top 20 solo games I’d include it on the list, though. Hope that helps! Cheers & happy new year from Alaska!

[@markusbiewer2756]

@@TheCardboardHerald Thank you for the fast response! And, yes, it helps a lot. Happy new year from Germany!

[@Mussar523]

Thank you for youor list. SOmce suprises and some not. Have you played Aoens ENd. II think that is a brillant solo game. Also Too Many Bones is a great solo expreience. What are your thoughts about these?

[@krysdagger]

That was great, thanks for the overview of these games. Curious, have you played Nemo's War?

[@kosterix123]

2:40 set a watch - love the art and the idea of it, but playing it i feel nothing. 7:12 storyless numbers game, as SHASD explained. I'd rather play AH:LCG 11:45 I know someone who built the pnp for PP2. It does have some charm.

[@GIVEPAUSEhobby]

Haven't finished with the video yet, but just needed to pause it to comment on the epic combo of game theme and playmat @6:46, hahaha

[@TheCardboardHerald]

GIVEPAUSE hobby dude. I told you. Love me some Anson Maddocks MTG art. Gives Tiny Towns some nice contrast. 😀

[@GIVEPAUSEhobby]

@@TheCardboardHerald haha, "where you headed, fellow animal villager?" "Oh me? To the skybathOHMYGODWHATISTHAT"

[@GIVEPAUSEhobby]

@@TheCardboardHerald nice list! I fully support a lot of what's going on here (including your crowning placement), but no Root anywhere? I know that the ROOTbots aren't for everyone, but I really do like squaring off against them OR just winding them up and letting them loose, haha Also, I really want to play some solo Pax again...

[@Coffeemaker1978]

Thanks!

[@freek204]

My top 5 is Arkham Horror LCG, Gloomhaven, Pax Pamir, Roads & Boats, and A Feast for Odin. From my collection, I haven't played the solo modes of Mage Knight, The King is Dead 2nd Edition, and Everdell, but I'm eager to. Also, I'm really looking forward to playing Kingdom Death: Monster when the late pledge arrives in Q2 (hopefully). Seeing that our numbers 2 and 3 are the same, I feel like I should really take a look at Spirit Island. And if you're into campaign games with a fail forward progression system, I'd strongly recommend Arkham Horror The Card Game.

[@freek204]

@Dr. D They brought out an anniversary edition about a year ago

[@davidpepin3017]

Mage Knight is better solo imo, it's a bit too long multiplayer.

[@DicevsCards]

Nice list Jack, I'm either really pleased with whats on it or you've given me a couple of ideas. How have I never heard of Set A Watch? It definitely looks like something I'd like and for too long now I've been sitting on the fence with Clans of Caledonia, I think maybe its time :-) Don't be too hard on yourself with LotR, they're both great games and you've reminded me I need to let Ratswoggle or whatever his name is give me a schooling at Everdell again. Good to see TM on there although I'm sad to say I'm probably only playing the app until my Big Box arrives! Althought I'm also salivating a bit over Ares Expedition. I still haven't soloed Wingspan, only Viticulture which is great so interested to hear what you said about the automa being slightly better there. Glad you mentioned Jaws of the Lion, I love me some spinal binders :-) And super props on Spirit Island, talk about smooth gaming, thats right up there for me too. In terms of recommends there's way too many I could think of but off the top of my head I've really enjoyed Underwater Cities, I just got Nemo's War and thats a wonderful experience, oh and shout out to One Deck Dungeon, the little dice rolling/placement game that could. Keep up the great content mate.

[@MidnightBoardgaming]

Great video!!! Never played Mansions of Madness solo? What about Arkham Horror LCG?

[@TheCardboardHerald]

I have not done MoM solo, but I addressed Arkham Horror in another comment. It's good but I prefer Marvel Champions and LOTR over it.

[@MidnightBoardgaming]

@@TheCardboardHerald haven’t played those, I might give them a try

[@TheCardboardHerald]

Midnight Boardgaming they are very different beasts and far less campaign focussed, but I really like them.

[@albertolopes829]

Mage Knight is still in my list, but you put set a watch on my radar

[@ben59320]

Just finished a game of Wingspan + EE solo, haven't played this one in a year. Very enjoyable even tho I lost ! I am on the fence about Oceania, not sure it's worth for solo and sometimes 2players. Btw, I don't understand the hype about "Pax Pamir 2nd ed."... I bought it a month ago and sold it few days after ! So much "checking" of the automa current situation to decide what to do, rules about the automa are way too messy and I spent more energy trying to figure out the automa action rather than trying to set up a strategy for myself... Am I missing something?

[@benjoslin3782]

Great list...Similar to mine. Additionally, I like a good Uwe solo. Nusfjord and Loyang are pretty quick. Solo Agricola allows me to take time and really plan out the cards.

[@artistpoet5253]

Honestly curious: what's the point of the b/w cut commentary? Otherwise, I liked this vid. You bring out the relevant points and even make some comparisons that further illustrate your opinion. I've been thinking of Gloomhaven. Might be my next pick up.

[@TheCardboardHerald]

Stylistic effect mainly. Some people dig it, others don’t. 😜 glad you otherwise liked the vid tho.

[@daveyoungdahl8349]

Nice video...really enjoyed it. If you get a chance to try Dune:Imperium solo I'd strongly suggest it.

[@TheCardboardHerald]

Funnily enough I just got it after filming this vid and I love it so far (both solo and 2p).

[@pilotvc]

I like Castles of Mad King Ludwig solo. Even just laying all the tiles, and not actually "playing", is fun.

[@BlueDi93]

I would add Aeon's End and Warhammer Quest: Blackstone Fortress. I think Aeon's End is similar to Marvel Legends, so I never played Marvel Legends. Blackstone Fortress is my go to dungeon crawler!

[@lgmhorus]

Automa factory is amazing, but Wingspan is truly the best of them. So elegant, easy to run and competitive!

[@tzgardner]

A game to try out that has a great solo mode is Circadians First Light

[@joshuawarren5677]

Someday I will play through my huge LOTR card game collection, so there is that. I am looking forward to trying solo Hallertau though. Seems the game almost doesn't have any big changes from 1 to 4 players.

[@TheCardboardHerald]

You should, it's super good! Hallertau is hot on my radar but I haven't picked up a copy yet. Would love to hear how it plays.

[@BeingFriends]

did you hear about the guy who on TTS played a 24 spirit solo game of spirit island? insane.

[@TheCardboardHerald]

I did not and now I’m crying in a fetal position at the thought of it.

[@janveenstra2742]

6:53 why did i think he had a 'animate dead' mtg card playmat :)

[@TheCardboardHerald]

Because I do! Anson Maddocks is my favorite MTG artist.

[@KarimTheilgaard]

I’d love to see a solo game of Brass Birmingham. I’ve been wanting to try out the solo variants for that one. Also very curious about Robinson Crusoe.

[@Mussar523]

Thank you for your list. Have yuou tried Aeons ENd. I feel as a solo experience thatis one of the best. Also how do feel about Mage Knight?

[@TheCardboardHerald]

I have not tried Aeon's End solo but it's definitely on the list. As for Mage Knight, I've owned it. Twice! And each time I've wanted to love it but it just never clicked for me. It always felt more maintenance than game with loads of niche rules. I see what people get out of it but it wasn't for me.

[@KSweeney36]

With a love of pax, you need to try a Coin game.

[@tylerbrown9797]

Clans Of Caledonia is super underrated

[@TheCardboardHerald]

Agreed!

[@tylerbrown9797]

@@TheCardboardHerald Also, if you want to onboard friends into Terra Mystica or Gaia Project, Clans is soooooo much more intuitive and approachable yet it shares many of the same core mechanisms that those games do. I am surprised more people don't recommend it as a good way to make teaching/learning TM or Gaia less intimidating.

[@davidk6269]

Do you enjoy Space Hulk: Death Angel the card game? I think it is an excellent solo experience.

[@sicsided]

Sadly an overlooked game due to time period and lost licenses :(

[@apollonia6656]

Getting fed up with board games taking over the whole of my dining room table. Big boards do not necessarily make great solo games!the Robinson Crusoe has a great gameability but has to stay out for at least a month 😕

[@amansparekh]

For me, the automa in tapestry is better than the wingspan. Less swingy, and takes 5 seconds to run

[@bettyroyer4853]

Spirit islands, quel jeu intelligent! A plusieurs, on passe trop de temps à discutailler, à 4 je n'imagine même pas! J'aimerais trop trouver une variante de Kanban en solo (snif, personne ne veut y jouer). Sur BGG il y en a une pourrie où l'on passe son temps à lancer des dés. Je sais que la derniere version inclus un mode solo; mais revendre ma 1ere version (peau de balle) pour racheter la nouvelle, ça pique un peu...

[@JulietMcArthur]

Aaahhh omg get out of my head! 💯❤️

[@crankcuffin1948]

fake house background

[@TheRealJaded]

Doubt it 😂

[@arvi8843]

First time I've seen Wingspan Automa in a top 10 solo list. I love it too. 🦜🦅🦉

[@TheCardboardHerald]

It should be on more top 10s, it's so good!