Top 10 Lighter Solo Board Games - Straight Up Solo with John LaRuffa

[@Chereebers]

I enjoy The Bloody Inn as a quick solo game 👍

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I don’t know why I have not played that game yet. Lot’s of people like it.

[@stacie_everdell]

What a great list. Cascadia, Troyes Dice, and Three Sisters are among my favorites too. It’s worth mentioning that the designers of Troyes Dice have posted solo challenges that are worth a look. I would add Coffee Roaster to this collection…a quick light game if you play one off, or a longer game if you play a three roast challenge. I’m really enjoying your videos. Thanks so much!😊

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Thank you very much! I used to own Coffee Roaster, but sold it once I got the iOS App. Great game!

[@popgas3821]

Another nice list of "solo games", though Hadrian's Wall is not exactly light, but like whatever 😅it's straight up fun and true solo IMO too. I'm so surprised when I saw Long Shot: The Dice Game. I had that game for a while and never really thought/noticed it could play solo, like whut!? While typing this it dawned to me that yeah, the mechanism works well for solo experience. Nifty! Three Sisters had been out of stock for awhile, nice game as far as I can tell from few people's reception. Also, I never paid attention to the Welcome to the Moon. Okay, considering it as well!🤣 It's such a gift that board games can be a solo experience, more so when we are growing old because most people in our lives have dozens of things to attend to personally and you just have to acknowledge that. Thanks again.

[@jedisith3864]

Came here from Reddit. Not really been researching or buying new games for like 5 years but have a been solo gaming the whole time. You are the best "new channel" and have real personal experience that is palpable. After years of play I can see through the kids parroting others or rushing through a few plays of a dozen games a week for content. Thorough and well thought out commentary/opinions are very appreciated as is the depth of your experiences in cardboard. Keep on rocking in the free world!

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Thank you very much for the kind words and the thoughtful comments! I really appreciate it! This channel has been a passion project of mine for several years and I am glad people are enjoying it! I’m always flattered to hear comments like these. Take care!

[@BoardgameLiker]

Dude, your videos are amazing. Thanks for your work and please keep it going! Also, Hadrians Wall is EASILY the best solo game I own, but it is not at all a light game IMO. But, man, every time I look at my huge wall of games, I'm pulled toward Hadrians Wall. It's SOOOOOO frkn good! (but it's not light IMO). Also, my favorite roll and write. I laminated 2 pages and use some neon color markers to play. It's absurdly underrated.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Thanks! I agree that Hadrians Wall is very underrated.

[@JeremyStratton]

Welcome to the Moon looks really fun! On my list now! I have Under Falling Skies and while it doesn't always elicit a smile while you play, what it does do is grab you and keep you really engaged. It does it in a a package that is easy to pick up, hard to master and a really surprising amount of difficulty adjusting. Under Falling Skies provides a style of thinking and strategy I find in turn based video games like Baldurs Gate 3,

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I had Under Falling Skies for a while but ended up selling it after several plays. It feel into a slot that I don’t quite care for. Difficult to win but not complex enough to justify it. When I have a game that is tough to beat, I like it to be heavy in complexity. I couldn’t tell you why that is but I have come to know that about myself.

[@danieltaylor3755]

Im really liking these videos mate. I think id like to see a solo list under 25 and a solo list under 10 dollars and maybe even a list of free solo games or pnp videos.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I might not be able to help you there. I just don’t have a lot of games that would fall under those categories and I have not really gotten into pnp games. Sorry about that.

[@elzheiz]

Ordered Hadrian's wall a few days ago, glad to see it's on your list! I really enjoyed Welcome To the Moon and Troyes Dice as well! If you haven't tried Under the Falling Skies, I really enjoyed that and it's pretty light. I also like Goblivion :)

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I ended up selling under falling skies. It was just too difficult for me to enjoy on a regular basis, and I have limited space for games as you can see from my shelves. :)

[@Aurion254]

Nice list. Definitely going to try some of these out. If you haven't played it yet, my wife bought me Alien: Fate of the Nostromo for Christmas, which I would recommend as a lightweight solo survival game. The shrinking encounter deck mechanic is really neat as it constantly raises the ante as you get nearer to the end of the game. The difficulty can be extremely varied depending on character count and the objectives you draw, but otherwise I would say it has been quite well designed. Definitely worth a go.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I will have to check that out! Thanks for the recommendation!

[@jakeehlers6303]

One of the only solo games I have played is Friday - by Friedemann Friese, I thought it was a really fun deck builder that provides a wonderful challenge, thoughtful choices, mixed with a bit of luck and card counting. I'm so glad it introduced me into the solo gaming. It is so small you could practically travel with it in your pocket!

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I sold it when I got it in iOS app form. It’s a good, but brutal game!

[@MichaliSarris]

Check out Sprawlopolis and Grove (and the older Orchard), those fit easily in your pocket and are great solo games. Great list btw, own a few of them, definitely interested in the rest!

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I have both of them and enjoy them a lot. Thanks!

[@BenBarla77]

Lately, my favourite go to light game is 'super skill pinball 4-cade', it doesn't get enough love imo. I'll take your word for it, just ordered Hadrian's wall.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I think you will really enjoy Hadrian’s Wall. I also like Super Skill pinball 4-Cade. I played that one a lot!

[@ryanbartlett672]

Long Shot is game of the year in this house. So fun. Amazing party like game (plays up to 8!) that is not as light as it looks. Fleet dice is the fishing game you were trying to think of -- love that one too. Agreed on Hadrian's Wall! -- my #2 overall game this year -- definitely towards medium and man I have a lot of room for improvement (love that challenge).

[@kosterix123]

Palm island is the best solo for me.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I have that game and enjoy it a lot.

[@kathleenstanford8431]

Your top 3 are all solo favourites of mine. I've avoided many of the other roll & writes on here because Hadrians Wall & Welcome to the Moon scratch that itch for me.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Those are top notch!

[@bankingonmoney8224]

Nice 10 light game list. Valley of the Kings and Long shots dice game we played. Valley of the Kings played solo and multiplayer. Thought in solo was too easy to beat (my opinion). Plays very good multiplayer. I would recommend to experience. Also played longshots the dice game. Very fun and easy to learn. Enjoyed solo version and easy to manage AI. Also played with my relatives who like horse racing during the 4th July holiday. It's was awesome (5 total players). Plus it was an easy teach, no one had any issues with the rules. Definitely not saying these would replace any of your top 10 games but just started playing Pentaquest and Wipers Salient pnp. Really enjoy these games at the moment. Thanks for sharing another list of wonderful games.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

As always, I appreciate your comments and insights. Thanks for watching!

[@buffybot635]

I love the oniverse games (all solo) for the straight but interesting gameplay (every player decision matters) and stunning art.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I enjoy them as well.

[@LudoTechWorld]

Hadrian's Wall seems to be very loved, I see it mentioned everywhere, really need to try it someday. I'm also more a medium/heavy board games person so I don't know a lot of them, always nice to discover new games to explore, thanks! For my part, the ones I enjoy are One Deck Dungeon which won't go anywhere in a top list for me and too luck based but still is fun (to be honest, I suspect that the really good app for this game is the reason I still play it though), and Capital Lux 2 Generation which I really love (and would probably be somewhere in my top ten board game list!): easy to learn, quick to play, with a lot of depth and replayability.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I sold my One Deck Dungeon games because the app was so much easier to play. Plus, since I have never won the game, I usually like to enjoy it from the couch to ease the beating :)

[@JohnLaRuffa]

@Father Paolo, O.Pa. I don’t mind it. I usually end up buying them since I can see situations to play either and if the app is a full replacement, I sell the board game.

[@argy8141]

Interesting collection of games, none of which I have. I've been tempted by Hadrians Wall in the past but always been put off by the cost and just the size of the pads. May look at it again, but not sure I need that itch scratching. I've got a few really small card games, Sprawlopolis/ Overstocked etc which scratch the transportable card game itch. I've invested a little bit into Roll and Writes (Sunshine City/ Aquamarine/ Voyages/ Shu's Tactics/ Doppelt so Clever [App]/ Yahtzee [App]) so not overly been inclined to get more. Been looking to get Long Shot Dice Game for a while but cannot find it in the UK at present. I've just found your solo playlist and I am picking through items in that, that peak my interest. Have fun, stay safe and keep the informal but informative format. Works well

[@JohnLaRuffa]

No need to get a game that does not call out to you. I hope my videos can be helpful in your search for the right solo game!

[@Darddo0702]

Valley of the king is a really good Deckbuilding with such interesting decisions. The solo mode I found easy, even in the hard level, but with the automa rules it becomes better. BTW, it is great hear about games that usually do not appear in other list, top solo lists are usually similars

[@kosterix123]

Kings. I streamlined the ai and there are many different types with varying difficulty.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I just like to mix in different cards sets from the 3 games to keep things interesting. That makes it somewhat tougher to master.

[@boardgamefangirl]

@@JohnLaRuffa A content creator gifted me this game eg for my kids' game group in HS but it got disbanded due to COVID and I was going to give it to someone else but now I might give it a play and see what I think. The theme looked boring to me.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

@@boardgamefangirl I think the theme is pretty pasted on here. I do enjoy the gameplay.

[@arvi8843]

Love Railroad Ink Lush Green Edition. 🥰 Hadrian's Wall looks really heavy. 😅

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I would not say Hadrian’s Wall is very heavy, but it is not light.

[@tmills1565]

Love the list! Definitely need to try some of these out! Valley of Kings looks interesting!

[@JohnLaRuffa]

It’s cool and I don’t have anything like it in my collection.

[@davidhebart-coleman8662]

And I do like the Button Shy games.

[@vegasgamedude4379]

Great list! Valley of the Kings is a really great solo game.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I agree! I never hear about it which is a surprise.

[@davidhebart-coleman8662]

A very strong roll'n'write flavour to this list. Despite my best efforts, I haven't been really able to get into them. I have played a few, but none of them managed to capture my interest enough to invest in more. I will take a look at Long Shot tho'

[@JohnLaRuffa]

To each their own I say. I think it just happens that most of my light games are roll and writes.

[@davidhebart-coleman8662]

@@JohnLaRuffa Exactly. I am always glad that there is such a rich diversity of games and themes that continue to emerge, especially with more diversity coming into the hobby over time.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Seriously! I also love it when a new mechanic is invented! It seems like there is nothing new these days in entertainment. Video games are mostly the same. Movies are just retreads. I don’t like sports, but when was the last time a new sport was invented? Board games are the last frontier.

[@resaledragon]

I have 6/10 of these, great video

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Thank you very much!

[@MrLukkyNL]

Railroad Ink is really great.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I agree. I also like the iOS app for it and that you can play it on BGA as well. Just an awesome game that gets a lot of play from me.

[@MrLukkyNL]

@@JohnLaRuffa Indeed! Just a pity not every expansion is playable in the app...

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I agree and I wish they were!!!

[@richardhutnik]

The top 10 fluff games!

[@JohnLaRuffa]

😆

[@pauls3585]

My favorite solo game is Legendary Encounters: Aliens.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I would say that is my favorite of the Legendary series and one that I have owned for years. Let’s of fun, variety and challenge!

[@booch7767]

Great video and perfect timing! I was just thinking of picking up Railroad Ink and you sold me on it! By the way, since you own all editions, which is your favorite? I have the option to pick up the Yellow or the Red. Will check out Long Shot: The Dice Game, Valley of Kings, and Welcome to… the Moon too.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Yellow is much better than Red in my opinion. If I had to chose an order, it would be Blue, Yellow, Green then Red.

[@booch7767]

@@JohnLaRuffa Thanks!

[@frabac72]

Can you link your other video with your heavier top 10 solo, please John? Thanks 👍

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Top 10 Essential Solo Board Games - Straight Up Solo with John LaRuffa kzbin.info/www/bejne/i32YeWeMeZdogJI

[@hucz]

Ehh great idea thanks for the video 👍 appreciate it

[@JohnLaRuffa]

You are quite welcome!

[@nuuqbgg]

Brilliant videos.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Thanks! Glad you like them!

[@nuuqbgg]

@@JohnLaRuffa I would suggest to have picture of the game you're talking about while you talk about it. If you have nobody to do it, and you want to do it, let me know.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

@@nuuqbgg I will do this for my next Top 10 video. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@charlesgillingham61]

I'm suprised the Onirim games aren't on here.

[@dandanita1692]

from my experience with Cascadia, after very few plays its gets boring, even multiplayer after you go through all the cards A to D you'd want to play something else. It is an OK gateway game, but it doesnt have that wow moments where newbies are like : so board games can do this ? Its cute but i think its too high on BGG. I got it to play with my niece, but in 1-2 years once she gets to play all the cards, get some games with friends her age i will be looking to sell it.

[@kosterix123]

Bullet is.. nice. But print out the fan expansions.

[@boardgamefangirl]

I heard a deep dive review on three sisters and they just trashed the solo mode. Said it was the worst solo mode ever. So interesting that makes your top list.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I guess they must have been looking for something else. To me, I find that it provides some tension to the game which you need since it is a beat your own score.

[@BlackBelt2ndDan]

QUESTION: Does anybody know what board game it is that has the strawberries, blueberries, and orange slice on the cover in the background of this video?

[@JohnLaRuffa]

That is Consumption: Food and Choices.

[@BlackBelt2ndDan]

@@JohnLaRuffa Thank you!

[@deniserouse3809]

Hey, what's the game under runebound on your shelf, please?

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Consumption: Food and Choices

[@deniserouse3809]

thank you!@@JohnLaRuffa

[@jonathanmlfagan]

Morning John, wondering if there was a good way to directly contact you? (regarding a possible game to review) Let me know if there is and thanks for the great videos! ❤

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Sure. Please email me at [e-mail]. Thanks!

[@jonathanmlfagan]

Thanks John - just floated over an email 👍

[@mabos555]

except for bullet star/heart all of the other games are just VP based games again, like really? there are a ton of great games out there not 90% of the solo games must be euro

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I agree, which is why I just picked up Dice Throne Adventures. However, I think I would say, and you can tell, that my tastes favor VP games. Most of the coops that I have though are win or lose. I will make a top video for my coop collection at some point in the future.

[@mabos555]

@@JohnLaRuffa nice can't wait for this list as well :)

[@apollonia6656]

I would not call Hadrians Wall a !might game.sorry!