Top 10 Solo Games with an Automa - Straight Up Solo with John LaRuffa

[@SilverFear]

Excuse me sir, you are not good for my wallet. You recommend games that look amazing that nobody else mentions. Nice work!

[@ramyahoo]

This guy's got a hand on everyone's wallet, it's just sad!!

[@JohnLaRuffa]

It’s a double edge sword I guess. :)

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Thanks! They certainly are amazing to play!

[@jedisith3864]

Right!? I actually was not buying or checking much content since like 2017 and decided to update my games. Found this channel and immediately could tell this is a REAL PLAYER and not just some shill content creator parroting bgg. I can read and navigate late 90's forums comfortably so the current landscape of boardgame youtube channels is just such a hilarious clown show with maybe half a dozen new creators that aren't faking it.

[@allison2525]

John is great. I’ve recently gone back to his older stuff and my husband isn’t happy with my recent purchase of Gaia Project 😬 then he played it, we’re good lol thanks for the great content John. I really enjoy how you analyze the games for us. You definitely deserve more followers.

[@dannyverbraeken3829]

Love this video. Learned to know some games, I didn't know the automa's are that good. Thanks John for taking time for this.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

My pleasure!

[@stephens2401]

The anachrony solo bot by David Turci is for me the best solo mode that I've played. It not only simulates an actual player very well but it also works with different modules.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I thought hard about that one but it did not make the cut due to me having not played it in a very long time. It’s a great game though!

[@ironartur]

Chronobot or chronossus?

[@JohnLaRuffa]

@@ironartur I didn’t include those only because it has been a very long time since I have played with them. Additionally, they do take some extra learning to operate them. Mostly though, it is because it has been a long time.

[@joellen5984]

Well now I've gone and got Excavation Earth. It was at the top of my list as I usually love a Turczi bot! Thanks for the great list - many I also love. I have Sabika but have not played yet. I will break the shrink and give it a go! I love Gaia project's automa, Great Western Trail, and Viticulture. I didn't like Dwellings at all - big surprise for me. Probably my favorite though is Rail Baron's to play with the Railways of the World (and other maps) - I find it incredibly relaxing with just enough tension to keep me interested and it can be tough to win! Thanks for the awesome content John!

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I have never played Rail Baron’s or Railways of the World. I will need to check that out. I do love 1862 solo, but I am guessing that is a very different game from what you are talking about.

[@george_castle]

Excellent list John. Love that you add detailed reasons of your choices. Automa can be intimidating so I'm always looking for the ease of play. I just got Excavation Earth and I think it's very underrated. I passed up on Sabika, just didn't give it that much attention, but I'm going to try it now. Thanks!

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Good deal. Thanks for the positive feedback. I hope you enjoy Sabika!

[@4815matt]

Thank you for your list, John. My favourite automa is actually from Viscounts as well. I believe the solo mode for Weather Machine is only available in the Kickstarter Edition or you'll have to get the Upgrade Pack if you get the base game for 2-4 players.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

You are right! I forgot to mention that since I kickstarted that one.

[@joshcapehart8269]

Nice list. I have 4 of these and enjoy the solo opponent in them. Will look into Sabika, as I haven't heard of that one.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Good deal!

[@pincao]

Big fan of your channel. Glad you enjoy 14:36 Kanban and Weather machine. 2 games I developed.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Thank you! Wow! It must have been fantastic to work on those amazing games! Thanks for putting in the effort so folks like me could enjoy them!

[@johngoodwin9606]

Great video. I like solo games with a unpredictable automa. I prefer Paladins over Viscounts, since once you see the Viscount Automa board you know what they will focus on. Paladins has lots of automa cards with many opportunities to reshuffle. Pax Pamir 2nd ed - probably had my best solo experiences with drama to the last few cards. Sierra West "apples" theme is enjoyable. Gaia Project is great too, but I've not played it lately. A quick but "clunky enough" game is Zapotec.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I like all of those that you mention as well. Zapotec is kind of clunky. I need to figure out if I am OK with that or not. Pax Pamir is fantastic, but I find the solo a little bit too confusing sometimes to make a top 10 list. Sierra West just did not seem to click with me and I eventually sold it. I don’t know why but I just wasn’t feeling it with that game. Paladins is probably a better solo mode overall bit I think I enjoy Viscounts just a little bit more because it is just a bit more fun of a game for me to play. Gaia project is also quite good! Thanks for watching!

[@albinoorkalbertson]

Your top 2 is certainly a surprise along with the absence of Anachrony’s Chronossus (although I may be a biased 😉). Overall a very solid list.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I almost put that one in but it has been so long since I have played it that it didn’t make the cut.

[@ronjapoes]

Great video, thanks! I have Cooper Island, just not the solo mode alas. (I did find the PnP files, but that's not the same) You made me interested in Glenn Moore 2 and Great Western Trail (though the theme for the last one isn't really my thing) I was already interested in Dwellings of Eldervale, good to see it on your list! And I'm also glad to know Weather Machine is so complex.. not for me. 🙂

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Very happy to be of service!

[@popgas3821]

Ah so Weather Machine was somewhere in your videos I see 😄. David Turczi is just a brilliant designer, and pair him with Vital Lacerda. Both of them are default heavy designers so I'm not so surprised that they are your cup of tea. Then they got Ian O'Toole to give life to to their designs. Just a Trifecta collaboration 👌

[@idjester]

interesting list and good idea for a video.. thanks for sharing your thoughts... love some of those games for sure.. not sure I would put Terracotta army so high on my list..

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I think the thing I like so much about that game is the novelty of it all in regards to the rest of my collection. It’s just so much different from other games I have played in the last couple of years.

[@idjester]

@@JohnLaRuffa don't get me wrong I think Terracotta Army is an underated game and I love it.. just not sure the AI is as complex and detailed as you see it..

[@JohnLaRuffa]

@@idjester ah. Got it!

[@mattmeola]

Just ordered Sabika based on your thoughts of it. Wasn't on my radar either but sounds right up my alley.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I was so shocked at how good it is when I played it the first time and with subsequent plays, I enjoy it more and more! I hope it meets your expectations!

[@boriskirov3953]

Loved seeing Excavation Earth and Terracotta Army in your list! GlenMore 2.... meh, very unbalanced bot, had many rage-quits with that game, especially when I tried to go against multiple modules. I only play this game against the base version of bot, maybe the landscapes module which is not too swingy. Sabika as the number 1? Can't agree more - fantastic automa and a massive surprise hit of 2022 for me!

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I did get slaughtered by the Glen More 2 bot…but I still enjoyed the plays I had.

[@keithnemes5466]

Awesome video. Loved fact I only have two games. Got 8 on my wish list now. 🎉

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Awesome! Which two games do you have?

[@keithnemes5466]

I have Cooper Island and Weather Machine. From the list I think I would like to try Excavation Earth the most. Then Sabika and Viscounts.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Cool! They are all good games and I think you should be able to find copies of them fairly easily.

[@Crabdust1]

Great list, John. Right up my alley as a gamer who doesn't want to deal with a huge amount of AI overhead. I like when automa produces interesting game states, but I don't want to be a human computer to run them. I've run a few that distract so much that I'd rather be two-fisting 😂 Lately I stick with Dune and Arnak for AI and a bunch of others that are score beaters. Terracotta army looks interesting, good to know the solo is solid. Sabika was completely off my radar. Cheers.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I am glad you liked it and it put a few new titles on your list to check out!

[@billyguinigundo4849]

Fwiw, I picked up Cooper Island over Thanksgiving in the States and the Cooper deck was included. :-)

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Cool. I couldn’t remember!

[@ronjapoes]

It was only included in reprints. I bought my copy after seeing a playthrough of the solo mode, assuming it was included. Alas it wasn't, still haven't been able to find it. 😞

[@billyguinigundo4849]

@@ronjapoes That stinks. It does look like the Cooper deck is available as PnP. Not the same but at least an option: capstone-games.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/5323507-001_Cooper-Island_Promo-Solobot_USA.pdf

[@bankingonmoney8224]

I agree Great Western Trail SE is great but is a table hog. Recently obtain Viscount and Sabika can't wait to play. I had to watch a few videos including your to feel this one would be a great fit. I also really enjoy the automa for skymines. Did not play it's predecessorbut man I really enjoy playing with an easy to manage with player like competition. My other would say is Dune Inperium which has either a love or hate relationship in the community. Glenmore does look intriguing but I went away spending money on games that requires multiple game purchases for solo. Plus this one is very expensive in my opinion for both. Great top 10 video really enjoyed! Until next time.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Great comments. Thanks! I do enjoy Dune Imperium but don’t love having to run two opponents. I can see what you are saying with Glen More 2, but there is a LOT of replayability in the box due to the 12 modules. Skymines was my number 11!

[@bankingonmoney8224]

@@JohnLaRuffa are all 12 modules in Glenmore soloable? To my understanding they were not.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I think only one or two were not but most of them are.

[@bankingonmoney8224]

@@JohnLaRuffa Good to know John. Thanks for the valuable feedback like always! 😉

[@IskandarStrategist1689]

100% agreed, weather machine fun solo mode. The more I play thr more i like, weather machine 100% fun solo mode

[@JohnLaRuffa]

It’s such a good game. I need to get it back to the table ASAP!

[@topgun5054]

I'm surprised Scythe did not make this list.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I still like Scythe, especially because of the last expansion. However, it would be in my Top 20, not Top 10.

[@jean-francoischarette9809]

You should check City of the Great Machine, is is a very good game for solo !

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I will! Thank you!

[@Dragonnox]

Great choices! Nice to see Excavation Earth getting some attention, it is underrated imo. I also would add Pax Pamir. Once you get the Wakhan flow down, it plays really nicely. PS You don't pronounce the first S in Viscounts, its Vie (rhymes with Pie)-counts :)

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I did not know that about Viscounts. Thanks!

[@shrekage]

Excellent list! Have you tried perseverance by Mindclash games? I would say that solo mode compares with Weather Machine.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I have not but I do want to! Good to know it is up there with Weather Machine! Thanks!

[@nathansutterfield]

Great list- has got me more interested indeed. Curious on your thoughts on Architects of the West Kingdom with all of the expansions and the revamped solo? Have you played it - I believe it was based on the solo of viscounts but I can't remember. I really enjoy that one and hope to see your lists for other solo modes as well. I think automa is my 1st preference as well but I am curious to hear your experiences and perspective on non-automa games.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I did not play Architects because of peoples’ relative ratings on that game vs. Paladins and Viscounts from a solo perspective. For a while, I was not the biggest fan of Shem’s games, have sold a few of his earlier titles. When Architects first came out, I was cautions. Now, I have a different problem of having just too full of a collection to pick that one up. In regards to your other question, I am planning on making a Top 10 video on solo games without an automa in a week or so. As to my preference, I actually prefer no automa where it is not needed (say in most Uwe Rosenberg games). However, when a game needs one, I like automas that are streamlined versions of the same rules vs. having to learn a completely different rule set to execute the bot. Ex. Tekhenu is a great game, but I hate that the solo bot is so different to play than the rules you use.

[@fbdalian]

Nice list! Don't you forgot Projet Gaia which also has an excellent Automa? :D And what about Wakhan, the Pax Pamir's Automa? (this last one is not the easiest to manage)

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I agree about Gaia Project. While I do like Wakhan, I have a hard time running it which is why it didn’t make my top 10.

[@Darthcarp]

Catching up on your older stuff. Probably not your theme looking at what your play through. What’s your opinion on Gaia project. Just recently got into this. The automa is top level in regards to simulation of real player. Enjoying it so far myself

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Gaia Project is great! I only sold my copy because I have the iOS app and I like Age of Innovation just a smidge more. However, I will miss out on the expansion for Gaia Project now. Either way, it is a fantastic solo game, albeit fairly challenging to beat, but I really enjoy it.

[@akalkendi]

Interesting list that I need to check out 👍what are your thoughts on Anachrony automa?

[@JohnLaRuffa]

It is good but it takes a LOT of effort to run. I find myself having to relearn that game a lot because I don’t play it often enough.

[@tylercook5761]

I'm late to the party, but I would throw Xia: Legends of a frift system in there

[@mjeff1414]

Thanks for your list. There's a lot of games that I didn't know were solo or even heard of. I find it interesting that none of the games had an "Automa Factory" Automa. Is there a particular reason these don't make your list?

[@JohnLaRuffa]

Just a matter of preference really.

[@anab0lic]

Maybe do a fan made automa/solo list aswell, assuming you have played enough of them. Would be good to know which games are worth picking up that don't have an official one.

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I don’t think I have played enough to make a video on those.

[@jeffzlatkin469]

Consider entertaining us with a review or EVERDELL

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I have several of them posted on my channel. Just search for them or look on BGG for the posts there as well.

[@mabos555]

I'm kind of OK now with autmoas only if the theme of the game is cool. So I can only recommend on comic hunters right now, great simple automa. One nitpick : why all of thoae games that you mentioned are huge heavy boxes? Can you recommend on shorter ones or even smaller boxes? I own some big boxes but I don't have enough room anymore I'll get rid of some... For sure I'll get rid of Orleans currently

[@JohnLaRuffa]

I wish I could! Viscounts is the only small box game I seem to have with an Automa. Thanks for the tip on Comic Hunters!

[@mabos555]

@@JohnLaRuffa small? not so sure, complex? a lot! didn't understand a shit from this game :( just not into the complex stuff don't have the time for that... if you can do some solo video for smaller games (euro or not) let me know

[@JohnLaRuffa]

@@mabos555 I will.