Top 10 Solo Games I played in 2024 Q1 - Straight Up Solo with John LaRuffa

[@charlesnye6193]

I am very excited for the continuation of this series! I am also primarily a solo gamer so this kind of stuff is right up my alley. I also love that this is not focused solely on new releases. Thanks for your time and all your hard work.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

You got it! I have added a lot of smaller, lighter solo games to my collection over the last couple of weeks so I would expect an interesting change of pace for Q2 when the dust settles.

[@altabob1]

John, I just wanted to thank you. I've bought 1862, my first 18xx game because of you, and it's a home run for me. Keep talking board games, I'm always interested in your take.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Thank you so much! Very glad to hear you like 1862!

[@healthytouch101]

This first quarter I tried It's a Wonderful World for the first time and have played over 60 games. That one is so satisfying, including the scenarios. Really enjoy your videos.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Wow! That is awesome that you have played that game so much. I also enjoy it as well and need to get it back to the table.

[@deemich1815]

i love your kid in a candy shop vibe. same for me with this hobby. cheers!

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Thanks! Just being me I guess 🤪

[@jamessherman7797]

Thanks for the ideas, John. Now that summer is here, my regular game groups seem to be on hiatus. While I’ve only sporadically played solo games, usually to learn a new game before teaching it to others. I think I need to truly delve into the solo game playing mode. Just curious what brought you into solo play?

[@GuppyJ]

Great video. Agree with many of the games here...love Inventions. One I am really enjoying as a card game for solo is Ashes Red Rains. There is a core set for Ashes, and now there are solo PvE expansions coming out that are a LOT of fun. Heaps of content available out there for it too with at least 5 more PvE expansions to come.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I sold Ashes a long time ago before there was anyway to solo play it…too bad.

[@didierj3836]

Here i played Sankore, Salton Sea (a must !) the Transcontinental (strange and very original gameplay) , Come Sail Away (japanese, more of a puzzle game, awesome) , Pandemain (Spanish traditional worker placement but fun theme), and Scholars for sure , a must have.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I have Salton Sea and really like that one as well!

[@Wonderflonium]

Great video! I've been diving back into the LOTR LCG recently. Very tense! I'm intrigued by 1862, sounds like it would be a fairly unique solo experience.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

1862 is very unique. Feel free to check out my videos on it to get a feel if it is for you or not.

[@pincao]

Thanks John !

[@laurencesingh3948]

Some great games here and some more that you've put on my radar to intrigue me - such as 1862 and World Wonders. I'm working on my 10X10 Challenge for the year so the games on that list have been my most played so far: The White Castle (12 - 10 solo), Sankore: The Pride of Mansa Musa (10), Nucleum (10), Scholars of the South Tigris (9), Amritsar: The Golden Temple (9), Voidfall (8), Barcelona (6), and Zhanguo: The First Empire (4). Terracotta Army and Ezra and Nehemiah are going to fill out my 10X10 but I haven't played TA yet this year and I'm waiting to receive E&N.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

That’s a great 10X10! I love everyone one of those games you listed there!

[@realdealastrology9]

Not a fan of TA. I sold that one off. That's one Turczi solo mode that isn't good, in my opinion. Very convoluted rules.

[@rubenvanhouts5785]

Great video again, thnx. Got 2 question for you. How does Sankore compare to Merv? And how would you compare Imperium Classics to Horizons?

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Sankore’ is much more fun and much better from a solo standpoint in my opinion. Imperium Horizons is much better than Classics because it adds the Trade mechanic as well as balances out and makes the solo more enjoyable.

[@wizardofoz6811]

Sankore Is awesome. Fabio Lopiano is a very exciting designer, love his ideas

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Agreed!

[@realdealastrology9]

For the solo mode, that's David Digby who's probably the most underrated solo designer out there. He's in David Turczi's shadow right now, unfortunately, but you have to keep an eye on him. He's the solo designer of Distilled.

[@wizardofoz6811]

@@realdealastrology9 Yes, totally

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I like his work a lot as well!

[@GregHu77]

Scholars you should first play it multi (even two handed simulation) to understand your(human) actions and flow, and then get the automa out.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Agreed that it would have been easier to do it that way off the bat.

[@rowenn1729]

Great vidéo I want to play to world of Wonder and Sankoré. ❤

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Both are very fun!!!

[@wizardofoz6811]

John, agree with Scholars, what about Wayfarers, did you like it?

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I really like Wayfarers a lot and the only reason I don’t play it more is due to my love of Scholars.

[@bookaddict777]

Great list, John! On the other hand, my solo gaming has gone down significantly since my husband retired in December. Of course, that just means my 2-player gaming has gone up :)

[@JohnLaRuffa]

That’s good that he plays with you!

[@GarthPlamping]

Where would you say Skymines would sit with this group of games as a solo experience?

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I really like that game a lot solo, but it has not made it into the rotation for a bit. However, seeing your comment, I think it is time to change that.

[@michaelrichard1320]

Got Railroad Revolution to the table again and Newton. Don't think i want to play Newton anymore but I'll be coming back to RR every year or so. I set up 1862 and read The rules for solo play but ended up packing it up for a different game night so hopefully I'll get to that soon. I guess I've been playing gloomhaven buttons and bugs too which isn't half bad

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Gloomhaven is on my shelf of shame, not because I have not played it but rather because I have not come close to finishing it at all.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Multihanded on RR I assume?

[@michaelrichard1320]

@@JohnLaRuffa There's a solo variant for Ultimate Railroads

[@kosterix123]

please add timestamps.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Trying to see if I can do that with the app. I do everything from my iPhone as I don’t own a laptop and cannot use my work computer to do this for obvious reasons.