I totally agree with your opinion on Bloc by Bloc, it's very original for a cooperative/semi-cooperative game, and I love the theme. Thanks to that game I discovered your channel and you're one of my favorites!
Hey, that's amazing! I'm glad you found us and enjoy the channel. I'm very surprised Bloc by Bloc isn't more well known. I think the longer I'm in the hobby, the more I appreciate games like Bloc by Bloc that give me a unique experience or feeling. Thanks for watching!
@@TotallyTabled For me it is because i had trouble finding it at my usual shopping haunts. For others looking, AK Press has it in the US in the 'definitive 3rd and final edition' for $54 and shipping. There are also Canada and UK vendors selling it. Not your usual big box store shopping. Board Game Oracle shows it OOS and over $100 US, all that kind of put me off for a while. Back on the list!
I found your channel a couple of days ago, very good work. Featuring Block by Block on this list just earned you a subscriber, keep it up! "Whose streets, our streets!"
Thanks for the sub! I really appreciate that. Yeah, Bloc by Bloc is terrific. Have you checked out their newest game, Defenders of the Wild? I made a sponsored overview for that one and it should be out later this year if I'm not mistaken. Again, thanks for supporting the channel and I hope you have a fun day!
It's an awesome game. I would love to see an iteration on that system again, maybe with a different theme. I think it is very clever and satisfying to play. I really appreciate you checking out my channel, David. Love your games!
I also love Merchants of the Dark Road. I think it’s a game that needs multiple plays to understand and on first play you can feel very restricted. Sometimes reviews are made on first impressions and I think this game excels with multiple plays when you can work the board to your strategy. Excited to see what the expansion might bring.
That is a good point. I suspect a lot of "reviews" are made after one or two plays, and that really showed on this one. My philosophy is -- first game is a learning game and doesn't count as a true play. Second play is the first play, not enough data. Third play you can start comparing previous plays, incorporating experience and knowledge to see deeper into the design. This is the bare minimum for giving a legitimate "first impression" of a game. For a proper review I'd want double, give or take depending on complexity. This is my rough guide. I think we have a glut of quick opinions based on single plays from both reviewers and hobbists, and that is harming many great games, especially heavier ones. Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much. That is very kind. I'm glad you enjoy the channel. I try to make every video special in some way, using my limited knowhow to the best of my abilities. Thank you for watching and supporting the channel!
Thank you so much for your videos: always well crafted, the sound is very good, the tutorials are the best, the filming and the details are amazing as well, I really think you have the best boardgaming TH-cam channel. On top of that the focus is really on the games, not on yourself. Fantastic job, thank you for the time you put into this.
That is very kind and generous of you to say. I'm very much an amateur doing the best I can with the limited skills I have, trying to balance quality and quantity of videos. I'm happy you find the final product enjoyable. I feel very lucky to have found such a supportive and engaged community. Thank you for giving your time to watch and comment on the video. I really appreciate it!
I love Merchants of the dark Road. I also know that there were definitely some issues I had with it and I just want more game out of it, which is why I’m very excited about whatever expansion they have planned. It needs more cards, more variability, more items just more stuff, to make it more replayable.
I agree. More variety would be nice. I'm also curious to see what it will add. I'm generally a bit meh on expansions. Thanks for checking out the list!
I'm really happy to hear that. I'm glad you find these list video interesting. I also love hearing other people's recommendations. There are so many games, inevitably some good ones are going to fall through the cracks, which means there's always something new and exciting to discover. Thanks so much for watching!
Great video. I only get Libertalia played like once a year with 5-7 players. Feels like such a waste of great production. You have completely convinced me to pull it out and play solo! Thank you. Also, Bloc by Bloc and On Tour are now on my list.
Another great list! I like knowing about others' hidden gems as they are usually games not already on my radar. Or that I may have dismissed without doing enough research. That is definitely the case here. I will throw two of my own out there: Sabika (507) and 3 Ring Circus (unranked).
Great video! It's so cool to hear about Bloc by Bloc and Merchants of the Dark Road. I discovered both games thanks to you, got them and each one definitely ranks into my top 5! I can't wait for Defenders of the Wild to come out, knowing through Bloc by Bloc how original and clever Outlandish Games' AIs are. You really triggered my curiosity about Carnival Zombie and Ginkgopolis, I'll go check your playthroughs again. Thanks as always for the great videos! :D
That is so awesome to hear! I'm very happy you enjoyed Bloc by Bloc and Merchants so much. I always get nervous recommending games. I need to include a disclaimer on all my videos -- "Just because I like something doesn't mean you will." I am happy it worked out this time. Thank you so much for watching and supporting the channel for so long!
Love Auztralia and Hit Z Road solo, Auztralia has a little bit more set up but both easy to learn and a fun quick experience, glad to see I'm not the only one. Will have to try some of the others on this list. Another strange but fairly straight forward and fun solo experience, The Bloody Inn! Love your channel, Thank you for the great content!
I love the art direction for Carnival Zombie. Plus, creepy carnivals and zombies are two of my favorite settings/themes, ha ha. I checked out the game before....maybe I'll give it another look. Side note: I recently discovered a solo only card game called Arkham Noir. Really enjoying it. Challenging to pull off a win. Thanks for another great video! I'm a big fan. (P.S. Oh, and plan to check out your PT of Hit Z Road too...)
Another fantastic video thankyou. I bought Ginkgopolis on a big sale based on how good it looked in your playthrough. I can't wait to get it to the table. Your channel is my favourite place for game recommendations because of your amazing production quality and the way you explain the games.
Ginkgopolis is a great game. It is a favorite for my wife and me. I played it solo a couple of times, and it does play well. Couldn't agree more about TT, always looking forward to a new video.
That is so nice of you to say. Thank you. I hope you enjoy Ginkgopolis. It scales very well, 1-3 players especially. Very clever design. Thanks for watching!
My favorite co-op game that can also be played solo is The Captain is Dead, simple rules, very challenging, lots of fun. Lux Aeterna is a great solo only game that I don't think many people know of. But my pick for a solo hidden gem is a game called In Too Deep, it has a unique theme with an incredible artwork, and the solo bot runs very smoothly and replicates a human player. It has a clear win/loss condition so it's not a beat your own score. If you like puzzly games, I think you'll love this one.
I've wanted to play The Captain is Dead for a while, but it fell through the cracks. And I haven't heard of In Too Deep, I'll have to look into that one more. Thanks for the recommendations! And thanks for checking out the video!
Great to hear Libertallia has a solid solo mode. Never tried it out bc of the reasons you stated 😅. That TaZmania expansion for AuZtralia is great for solo gamers. Thanks for the other recommendations!
Yeah, the Tazmania expansion is great -- I forgot to mention it, but I use it in my playthrough. Definitely give Libertalia a whirl. I'd be curious to hear what you think of it. The solo game is not trying to replicate the multiplayer game, but provide a different experience that is still fun in my book. Thanks so much for watching!
I played Merchants of the Dark Road 1x (3p) and loved it! Did not know it had a solo mode. I Auztralia-when my game group played it (one mom: "I hate this game.') Have not played it again in years. I only liked the 1st half, not the second combat phase. Hit Z Road-only played it once and it was a solo play. My thoughts as a Euro player were that this is the epitome of the kind of game I do not like. I put it on the sell pile, but it's still on that pile. This review makes me want to revisit it. I need to try it again.
Merchants of the Dark Road is fantastic. just another example of the loudest voices not being the most accurate. its a shame it didnt get more attention
A new crowdfunding campaign is launching soon I believe, so it might get more attention from that. I remember the Dice Tower having a really weird review -- I watched it and was like, did we play the same game? Ha, that happens a lot with them to be fair. Unfortunately, their influence is strong, so I don't know if that played a part? Hard to say. Thanks for watching!
Yeah, it is stupid fun. I want to make a top 10 of games that shouldn't work on paper but actually work in practice and this might top the list. I love it. Thanks for watching!
Libertalia is great fun, especially with a group but also solo. For me, it fits in that category of "gamer's party game" like Cosmic Encounter. Too many rules for a mainstream audience, but with the "take that" goofiness of one of those games. Definitely check out my playthrough. Thanks for watching!
I'm glad you found us! Yeah, Bloc by Bloc is great fun. I try to mention it whenever I can because it definitely deserves more attention. Thanks for watching!
I really enjoy Burgle Bros. That's a good call! It was 174 on the People's Choice 200, so definitely lower than it should be. I have not played Red Rising or Sanctum, so I'll have to give those a look. Thanks for the recs!
Another for Auztralia, it still amazes me the mismatch of the mechanics somehow seem to work well together. I also play a semi co-op version of it solo, which is really just pledging in my head to do the best for each different player when I do it because the co-op part defeating the old ones is the aim. Some good games here Shaggy, a few I didn't even think they were good solo.
Thanks for checking out the video! I think Martin Wallace is a sneaky quirky designer. Everyone thinks of Brass and Age of Steam but his gameography is full of weird experimental stuff that I tend to enjoy. I hope he does more stuff like Auztralia, Hit Z Road, and A Study in Emerald in the future.
Merchants of the Dark Road has been on my watch list for a few months. Been on the fence deciding if I wanted to buy. I might just give it a try. Thanks!
It’s a fantastic game. L love it and my group does as well. It’s fun, thinky and well done. I’m still confused why many folks didn’t care for it, but to each thier own.
Definitely check out my full solo playthrough if you haven't. That should give you a good idea if it is something you would enjoy. Thanks for watching!
Merchants of the dark road is still on my shelf of opportunity. I bought it because I like a lot of Elf Creek’s published games…. I will bump it up my list now.
Yeah, it works really well and makes for a fun solo experience. I guess the change in art style was controversial and maybe that has kept people away? Not sure. Thanks for checking out the video!
I hope you enjoy it. I'm glad you watched the playthrough first. If it looked fun there then you'll probably have fun. It's a unique and stunning game. Thanks for watching!
Great perspective, great approach, great games, and a great channel that I've just found. What are your thoughts of Alexander Pfister's Blackout Hong-Kong? I've heard it's a gem...
Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I've played Blackout a few times, all 2-player, never solo. I enjoyed it very much, but I do remember feeling that I preferred Mombasa's gameplay. I really want to try Skymines, the reimplementation of Mombasa with a new solo mode. I need to try Blackout solo as well. Thanks!
Thank you for this list. I never realised steampunk rally fusion was soloable. Would you recommend it over Heat pedal to the metal (I know they aren't quite the same or similar but thinking in regards to a racing game)? Also, once again awesome video.
Steampunk Rally doesn't feel as much like a racing game, but more a card drafting, engine building, dice rolling, puzzle game. Heat feels like a pure racing game that uses cards in a subtle way with some push your luck. Steampunk is bombastic and crazy while Heat is more subdued and straightforward. I think they are both brilliant in their own way. I do think Heat is a better solo game, due to the AI, and 5-6 player game. I like Steampunk Rally better at 2-4. I'd definitely watch my solo playthrough of Heat if you haven't. It really depends on what you are looking for. Thanks for watching!
@TotallyTabled Got Steampunk Rally Fusion on sale after remembering your hidden gem video - you were so right! The way machine parts interact and create powerful combinations is brilliantly designed. Quick solo question though: the 6-turn limit and terrain damage forces me to keep machines small instead of building epic contraptions. how do you play the game to balance survival vs building those awesome machines in solo play?
I think merchants of dark road has rules explanation issues, my group was perpetually confused about the animal and yellow/orange crystal connection and how the triggers happen around that
Awesome list! I really need to find a copy of Auztralia. When i watched your playthrough it just looked like a ton of fun! Have you tried Fallen Land 2nd edition?
@FatherPaolo-zx4ps The quantity and variety of cards the game offers is extraordinary. With 95 characters to choose from in the base game combined with the hundreds of cards for location encounters, items, actions, missions and more, replayability is definitely one of the biggest positives of this game in my opinion. When you combine that with multiple solo and co-op variants and the campaign mode that's available, I'm quickly starting to understand why there is such a rabid fan base for the game.
Thanks for the video! I have to ask, it’s been bothering me for a bit now but are you the same content creator as AiDrivrClips? Your voices sound identical!
Ha, that's a new one. I'll have to check it out, but no, I'm only here on this channel. All my other outside work is written, so my voice is nowhere else on the internet but here. Thanks so much for watching the video!
Hi Shaggy, many thanks for the list. At least Ginkgopolis I will give a try. Of course I know the top 100(200) list... but where do you find all the games the guild voted for? I only find the 200 which make the list. I would be very interested to see what else the users recomment.
That's a good one. I need to play Black Angel more. It has been a while. I play a lot of Troyes multiplayer and tend to forget about Black Angel. I should explore the solo mode. Thanks for the recommendation!
Thanks for shining light on these lesser known games! I've been trying to look for a copy of Café but it seems I couldn't find it anywhere (whether online or in physical stores). Might you know where I could reliably pick up a copy?
Ah, that is unfortunate. I had no idea Cafe was hard to find. If you search Board Game Oracle, a few stores pop up, but I've never used them and I cannot vouch for their services. BGG has a few in the geek market and ebay has some copies as well. Not ideal but possible options. Good luck and thanks for watching!
I'm a big fan of Nautilion, part of the great Oniverse series of games. My favorite dice placement games are multiplayer -- but Grand Austria Hotel with the expansion has a solo mode. Maybe look into Steampunk Rally Fusion and Merchants of the Dark Road from this video. I've done playthroughs for Bitoku and Wayfarers of the South Tigris, so you could check those out. I also enjoy a solo/co-op game called Endangered. Castles of Burgundy Special Edition is kind of dice placement adjacent. I'm sure I'm missing something but I can't remember off the top of my head.
Good call! I intended to mention the Tazmania expansion, but I forgot. I really like that one for solo and I used it for the playthrough. I haven't tried the other expansion yet. Thanks so much for watching!
@@TotallyTabled yeah the other one you don't need so much for solo but it's a good addition for your board game group if you like the base game I saw the Tasmania board but yeah still had to mention it for any soloers skimming thru the comments, it's almost a must have for the game if you want it for solo
Ah, definitely give it a go with the Tazmania expansion. You can check out my playthrough to see both of those in action. Very fun. Thanks so much for watching!
Euro everywhere. I'm not the straberry collector alike gamer. Some of them are not underrated, you overrate them. Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Legends of Andor, Hero Realms, Posthuman Saga, Folklore: The Affliction, K2, and some others are so underrated.
I consider solo board games as games specifically designed for one player. You presented multiplayer games with an attached single player mode. Not the same.
I think this list is what most people were expecting. It was for me. I generally consider solo board games as any game that can be played solo: verse an automa, beat your own score, co-op, or solo only. I think what you were describing and expecting most people would consider "solo ONLY" board games - Under Falling Skies, For Northwood, Warp's Edge, Legacy of Yu, etc.
I totally agree with your opinion on Bloc by Bloc, it's very original for a cooperative/semi-cooperative game, and I love the theme. Thanks to that game I discovered your channel and you're one of my favorites!
Hey, that's amazing! I'm glad you found us and enjoy the channel. I'm very surprised Bloc by Bloc isn't more well known. I think the longer I'm in the hobby, the more I appreciate games like Bloc by Bloc that give me a unique experience or feeling. Thanks for watching!
@@TotallyTabled For me it is because i had trouble finding it at my usual shopping haunts. For others looking, AK Press has it in the US in the 'definitive 3rd and final edition' for $54 and shipping. There are also Canada and UK vendors selling it. Not your usual big box store shopping. Board Game Oracle shows it OOS and over $100 US, all that kind of put me off for a while. Back on the list!
I found your channel a couple of days ago, very good work. Featuring Block by Block on this list just earned you a subscriber, keep it up! "Whose streets, our streets!"
Thanks for the sub! I really appreciate that. Yeah, Bloc by Bloc is terrific. Have you checked out their newest game, Defenders of the Wild? I made a sponsored overview for that one and it should be out later this year if I'm not mistaken. Again, thanks for supporting the channel and I hope you have a fun day!
@@TotallyTabled Actually I had not and I could swear that I was on their newsletter, thanks for the heads up!
So glad you dig Switch & Signal! Thanks for the kind words!
It's an awesome game. I would love to see an iteration on that system again, maybe with a different theme. I think it is very clever and satisfying to play. I really appreciate you checking out my channel, David. Love your games!
I also love Merchants of the Dark Road. I think it’s a game that needs multiple plays to understand and on first play you can feel very restricted. Sometimes reviews are made on first impressions and I think this game excels with multiple plays when you can work the board to your strategy. Excited to see what the expansion might bring.
That is a good point. I suspect a lot of "reviews" are made after one or two plays, and that really showed on this one. My philosophy is -- first game is a learning game and doesn't count as a true play. Second play is the first play, not enough data. Third play you can start comparing previous plays, incorporating experience and knowledge to see deeper into the design. This is the bare minimum for giving a legitimate "first impression" of a game. For a proper review I'd want double, give or take depending on complexity. This is my rough guide. I think we have a glut of quick opinions based on single plays from both reviewers and hobbists, and that is harming many great games, especially heavier ones. Thanks for watching!
I just want to say you are one of my top 3 board game channels. You can tell love and effort you put into content you make. Appreciate that a lot!
Thank you so much. That is very kind. I'm glad you enjoy the channel. I try to make every video special in some way, using my limited knowhow to the best of my abilities. Thank you for watching and supporting the channel!
Thank you so much for your videos: always well crafted, the sound is very good, the tutorials are the best, the filming and the details are amazing as well, I really think you have the best boardgaming TH-cam channel. On top of that the focus is really on the games, not on yourself. Fantastic job, thank you for the time you put into this.
That is very kind and generous of you to say. I'm very much an amateur doing the best I can with the limited skills I have, trying to balance quality and quantity of videos. I'm happy you find the final product enjoyable. I feel very lucky to have found such a supportive and engaged community. Thank you for giving your time to watch and comment on the video. I really appreciate it!
I love Merchants of the dark Road. I also know that there were definitely some issues I had with it and I just want more game out of it, which is why I’m very excited about whatever expansion they have planned. It needs more cards, more variability, more items just more stuff, to make it more replayable.
I agree. More variety would be nice. I'm also curious to see what it will add. I'm generally a bit meh on expansions. Thanks for checking out the list!
Fun list! Some of my favorite lesser known solo games in no particular order:
1. Arkham Horror: Final Hour
2. Set a Watch
3. Fields of Arle
I always look forward to your picks and plays. It's always good to see solo games that other people are excited about. Thank you!
I'm really happy to hear that. I'm glad you find these list video interesting. I also love hearing other people's recommendations. There are so many games, inevitably some good ones are going to fall through the cracks, which means there's always something new and exciting to discover. Thanks so much for watching!
Great video. I only get Libertalia played like once a year with 5-7 players. Feels like such a waste of great production. You have completely convinced me to pull it out and play solo! Thank you. Also, Bloc by Bloc and On Tour are now on my list.
Another great list! I like knowing about others' hidden gems as they are usually games not already on my radar. Or that I may have dismissed without doing enough research. That is definitely the case here. I will throw two of my own out there: Sabika (507) and 3 Ring Circus (unranked).
Great video! It's so cool to hear about Bloc by Bloc and Merchants of the Dark Road. I discovered both games thanks to you, got them and each one definitely ranks into my top 5! I can't wait for Defenders of the Wild to come out, knowing through Bloc by Bloc how original and clever Outlandish Games' AIs are.
You really triggered my curiosity about Carnival Zombie and Ginkgopolis, I'll go check your playthroughs again. Thanks as always for the great videos! :D
That is so awesome to hear! I'm very happy you enjoyed Bloc by Bloc and Merchants so much. I always get nervous recommending games. I need to include a disclaimer on all my videos -- "Just because I like something doesn't mean you will." I am happy it worked out this time. Thank you so much for watching and supporting the channel for so long!
Love Auztralia and Hit Z Road solo, Auztralia has a little bit more set up but both easy to learn and a fun quick experience, glad to see I'm not the only one. Will have to try some of the others on this list. Another strange but fairly straight forward and fun solo experience, The Bloody Inn! Love your channel, Thank you for the great content!
I love The Bloody Inn. I've actually made two full solo playthroughs of it on the channel. They are a lot of fun. Thanks for checking out the video!
I love the art direction for Carnival Zombie. Plus, creepy carnivals and zombies are two of my favorite settings/themes, ha ha. I checked out the game before....maybe I'll give it another look. Side note: I recently discovered a solo only card game called Arkham Noir. Really enjoying it. Challenging to pull off a win. Thanks for another great video! I'm a big fan. (P.S. Oh, and plan to check out your PT of Hit Z Road too...)
Another fantastic video thankyou. I bought Ginkgopolis on a big sale based on how good it looked in your playthrough. I can't wait to get it to the table. Your channel is my favourite place for game recommendations because of your amazing production quality and the way you explain the games.
Ginkgopolis is a great game. It is a favorite for my wife and me. I played it solo a couple of times, and it does play well.
Couldn't agree more about TT, always looking forward to a new video.
That is so nice of you to say. Thank you. I hope you enjoy Ginkgopolis. It scales very well, 1-3 players especially. Very clever design. Thanks for watching!
Nice! I'm a big fan of Ginkgopolis and Merchants of the Dark Road, which actually has an upcoming expansion Kickstarter
Thanks, Shaggi! I love that you had such an interesting pick of games. I'm always looking for something new (to me) and unique.
Nice list, Shaggy! Thanks for sharing. I am a big Auztralia fan too.
I'm glad you liked the list! I was pleased that Auztralia has more fans than I realized. Fun game. Thanks for watching the video!
My favorite co-op game that can also be played solo is The Captain is Dead, simple rules, very challenging, lots of fun.
Lux Aeterna is a great solo only game that I don't think many people know of.
But my pick for a solo hidden gem is a game called In Too Deep, it has a unique theme with an incredible artwork, and the solo bot runs very smoothly and replicates a human player. It has a clear win/loss condition so it's not a beat your own score. If you like puzzly games, I think you'll love this one.
I've wanted to play The Captain is Dead for a while, but it fell through the cracks. And I haven't heard of In Too Deep, I'll have to look into that one more. Thanks for the recommendations! And thanks for checking out the video!
Great to hear Libertallia has a solid solo mode. Never tried it out bc of the reasons you stated 😅. That TaZmania expansion for AuZtralia is great for solo gamers. Thanks for the other recommendations!
Yeah, the Tazmania expansion is great -- I forgot to mention it, but I use it in my playthrough. Definitely give Libertalia a whirl. I'd be curious to hear what you think of it. The solo game is not trying to replicate the multiplayer game, but provide a different experience that is still fun in my book. Thanks so much for watching!
I played Merchants of the Dark Road 1x (3p) and loved it! Did not know it had a solo mode. I Auztralia-when my game group played it (one mom: "I hate this game.') Have not played it again in years. I only liked the 1st half, not the second combat phase. Hit Z Road-only played it once and it was a solo play. My thoughts as a Euro player were that this is the epitome of the kind of game I do not like. I put it on the sell pile, but it's still on that pile. This review makes me want to revisit it. I need to try it again.
I picked up Hit Z Road used. Going to get it to the table this weekend!
Taking a closer look at Merchant as well…
Thanks!
Nice pick up! I hope you enjoy Hit Z Road. Very fun solo, very brutal (but in a fun way) multiplayer. Thanks for watching!
Merchants of the Dark Road is fantastic. just another example of the loudest voices not being the most accurate. its a shame it didnt get more attention
A new crowdfunding campaign is launching soon I believe, so it might get more attention from that. I remember the Dice Tower having a really weird review -- I watched it and was like, did we play the same game? Ha, that happens a lot with them to be fair. Unfortunately, their influence is strong, so I don't know if that played a part? Hard to say. Thanks for watching!
Loving seeing carnival zombie here. Ranks on my top 10 solo as well. Had a blast solo and multiplayer.
Yeah, it is stupid fun. I want to make a top 10 of games that shouldn't work on paper but actually work in practice and this might top the list. I love it. Thanks for watching!
Another excellent video. I love Hit z Road, having bought it after watching your play through. Such a great game and thematic too.
I'm glad I didn't lead you astray! Hit Z Road is a blast to play and a very quirky design. Thanks for watching!
You have me very intrigued on Libertalia now! Great list though - I’ve only played one of them (on tour)!
Libertalia is great fun, especially with a group but also solo. For me, it fits in that category of "gamer's party game" like Cosmic Encounter. Too many rules for a mainstream audience, but with the "take that" goofiness of one of those games. Definitely check out my playthrough. Thanks for watching!
i discovered your channel from your Bloc by Bloc coverage. It's a great game and really great theme!
I'm glad you found us! Yeah, Bloc by Bloc is great fun. I try to mention it whenever I can because it definitely deserves more attention. Thanks for watching!
Burgle Bros gets my vote for one of the top hidden gems solo, closely followed up by Red Rising and Sanctum. They’re all excellent!
I really enjoy Burgle Bros. That's a good call! It was 174 on the People's Choice 200, so definitely lower than it should be. I have not played Red Rising or Sanctum, so I'll have to give those a look. Thanks for the recs!
Another for Auztralia, it still amazes me the mismatch of the mechanics somehow seem to work well together. I also play a semi co-op version of it solo, which is really just pledging in my head to do the best for each different player when I do it because the co-op part defeating the old ones is the aim. Some good games here Shaggy, a few I didn't even think they were good solo.
Thanks for checking out the video! I think Martin Wallace is a sneaky quirky designer. Everyone thinks of Brass and Age of Steam but his gameography is full of weird experimental stuff that I tend to enjoy. I hope he does more stuff like Auztralia, Hit Z Road, and A Study in Emerald in the future.
Merchants of the Dark Road has been on my watch list for a few months. Been on the fence deciding if I wanted to buy. I might just give it a try. Thanks!
It’s a fantastic game. L love it and my group does as well. It’s fun, thinky and well done. I’m still confused why many folks didn’t care for it, but to each thier own.
Definitely check out my full solo playthrough if you haven't. That should give you a good idea if it is something you would enjoy. Thanks for watching!
Thank you, you have opened my world to solo gaming! Great vid, though.
Thanks so much for checking out the video!
Merchants of the dark road is still on my shelf of opportunity. I bought it because I like a lot of Elf Creek’s published games…. I will bump it up my list now.
Definitely worth getting to the table. Great dice system and a fun scoring mechanism. Good stuff. Thanks for watching!
Libertalia is such a gem! Each time I play it solo I'm surprised by how much fun it is
Yeah, it works really well and makes for a fun solo experience. I guess the change in art style was controversial and maybe that has kept people away? Not sure. Thanks for checking out the video!
Twilight Inscription is one of my favorite solo experiences and it’s not talked about much.
Oh, I haven't tried that one. Thanks for the rec!
merchants of the dark road. i agree Mr Shaggy! great game!
Yeah, it is a well-designed game with a bunch of interesting ideas. Thanks for watching my list video!
I was intrigued with Carnival Zombie, so I watched your three-part play through and immediately bought it off eBay for 80 bucks
I hope you enjoy it. I'm glad you watched the playthrough first. If it looked fun there then you'll probably have fun. It's a unique and stunning game. Thanks for watching!
@@TotallyTabled I always watch play throughs before I but….bought Distilled based 100% on watching your play through….
Love On Tour already. Will check out Carnival Zombie and Auztralia which have the most potential to me from this list.
Those are really interesting, quirky games. Definitely worth checking out. Thanks for checking out my video!
Libertalia, Merchants, Auztralia, Gingkopolis... all killer solos! 😁👍
Finally someone with good taste! :) Yeah, very fun games that need more community attention. Thanks for watching!
Great perspective, great approach, great games, and a great channel that I've just found.
What are your thoughts of Alexander Pfister's Blackout Hong-Kong?
I've heard it's a gem...
Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I've played Blackout a few times, all 2-player, never solo. I enjoyed it very much, but I do remember feeling that I preferred Mombasa's gameplay. I really want to try Skymines, the reimplementation of Mombasa with a new solo mode. I need to try Blackout solo as well. Thanks!
Great list as always 😎✌️
Thanks so much for checking it out!
Thank you for this list. I never realised steampunk rally fusion was soloable. Would you recommend it over Heat pedal to the metal (I know they aren't quite the same or similar but thinking in regards to a racing game)?
Also, once again awesome video.
Steampunk Rally doesn't feel as much like a racing game, but more a card drafting, engine building, dice rolling, puzzle game. Heat feels like a pure racing game that uses cards in a subtle way with some push your luck. Steampunk is bombastic and crazy while Heat is more subdued and straightforward. I think they are both brilliant in their own way. I do think Heat is a better solo game, due to the AI, and 5-6 player game. I like Steampunk Rally better at 2-4. I'd definitely watch my solo playthrough of Heat if you haven't. It really depends on what you are looking for. Thanks for watching!
@TotallyTabled Got Steampunk Rally Fusion on sale after remembering your hidden gem video - you were so right! The way machine parts interact and create powerful combinations is brilliantly designed. Quick solo question though: the 6-turn limit and terrain damage forces me to keep machines small instead of building epic contraptions. how do you play the game to balance survival vs building those awesome machines in solo play?
I think merchants of dark road has rules explanation issues, my group was perpetually confused about the animal and yellow/orange crystal connection and how the triggers happen around that
I didn't run across that issue personally. Sorry to hear that. Thanks for watching!
Awesome list! I really need to find a copy of Auztralia. When i watched your playthrough it just looked like a ton of fun!
Have you tried Fallen Land 2nd edition?
@FatherPaolo-zx4ps If you're looking for a post apocalyptic Ameritrash sandbox game, it's one of the absolute best. Having a blast with this game.
Thanks for the recommendation! I'll check it out.
@FatherPaolo-zx4ps The quantity and variety of cards the game offers is extraordinary. With 95 characters to choose from in the base game combined with the hundreds of cards for location encounters, items, actions, missions and more, replayability is definitely one of the biggest positives of this game in my opinion.
When you combine that with multiple solo and co-op variants and the campaign mode that's available, I'm quickly starting to understand why there is such a rabid fan base for the game.
Thanks for the video! I have to ask, it’s been bothering me for a bit now but are you the same content creator as AiDrivrClips? Your voices sound identical!
Ha, that's a new one. I'll have to check it out, but no, I'm only here on this channel. All my other outside work is written, so my voice is nowhere else on the internet but here. Thanks so much for watching the video!
@@TotallyTabled I think it’s the Shorts where you two sound alike. Ah, sounds so similar. You’ll have to check it out and tell me I’m not crazy lol.
Just come across your channel, subscribed as I like all things solo. My hidden Gem would be Assembly by Wren Games.
Thanks for the sub! I haven't even heard of that game so I'll definitely check it out. Thanks for the suggestion!
Hi Shaggy, many thanks for the list. At least Ginkgopolis I will give a try. Of course I know the top 100(200) list... but where do you find all the games the guild voted for? I only find the 200 which make the list. I would be very interested to see what else the users recomment.
Thank you for this. Love it
nice list, would suggest 'black angel'
That's a good one. I need to play Black Angel more. It has been a while. I play a lot of Troyes multiplayer and tend to forget about Black Angel. I should explore the solo mode. Thanks for the recommendation!
Thanks for shining light on these lesser known games! I've been trying to look for a copy of Café but it seems I couldn't find it anywhere (whether online or in physical stores). Might you know where I could reliably pick up a copy?
Ah, that is unfortunate. I had no idea Cafe was hard to find. If you search Board Game Oracle, a few stores pop up, but I've never used them and I cannot vouch for their services. BGG has a few in the geek market and ebay has some copies as well. Not ideal but possible options. Good luck and thanks for watching!
Hi Shaggy, any recommandation for a dice-placement solo game? But not underfalling skies.
I'm a big fan of Nautilion, part of the great Oniverse series of games. My favorite dice placement games are multiplayer -- but Grand Austria Hotel with the expansion has a solo mode. Maybe look into Steampunk Rally Fusion and Merchants of the Dark Road from this video. I've done playthroughs for Bitoku and Wayfarers of the South Tigris, so you could check those out. I also enjoy a solo/co-op game called Endangered. Castles of Burgundy Special Edition is kind of dice placement adjacent. I'm sure I'm missing something but I can't remember off the top of my head.
@@TotallyTabled how about the white castle?
I haven't played that one.
Cool list. Did you try maximum apocalypse? The second edition.
I've never tried that one. I'll check it out. Thanks for the recommendation. And thanks for checking out the list!
Great video
Thanks for checking it out!
+1 for auztralia, expansions are pretty good as well
Good call! I intended to mention the Tazmania expansion, but I forgot. I really like that one for solo and I used it for the playthrough. I haven't tried the other expansion yet. Thanks so much for watching!
@@TotallyTabled yeah the other one you don't need so much for solo but it's a good addition for your board game group if you like the base game
I saw the Tasmania board but yeah still had to mention it for any soloers skimming thru the comments, it's almost a must have for the game if you want it for solo
Hopefully someone in marketing realises that a Fallout version of Hit Z Road would be an easy hit
Yes! This, 100%! Now that they are scrambling to cash in on Fallout, this would be so easy. Thanks for watching!
Nice work
Thanks so much for watching!
I love AuZtralia, but have never tried it solo.
Ah, definitely give it a go with the Tazmania expansion. You can check out my playthrough to see both of those in action. Very fun. Thanks so much for watching!
Also, I am kicking myself for not purchasing Carnival Zombie at the used bookstore near my house.
Ah, I feel your pain. I've definitely had moments like that. Worst might be passing on Battlestar Galactica expansions for a reasonable price. Uhhhhh.
Carnival Zombies I didn't even manage to get to the rulebook. Awful experience :(
Have you checked out my playthrough? That should help make the rulebook easier to understand. It was difficult to read, I agree. Thanks for watching!
Ginkgopolis for sure!!!
Such a great game. Xavier Georges is a genius. Thanks for watching!
Good video. I play Auztralia with my son 2 player but have not tried it solo
I like it equally solo and 2-player. Plays great. Thanks for checking out the video!
Euro everywhere. I'm not the straberry collector alike gamer. Some of them are not underrated, you overrate them. Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Legends of Andor, Hero Realms, Posthuman Saga, Folklore: The Affliction, K2, and some others are so underrated.
I consider solo board games as games specifically designed for one player. You presented multiplayer games with an attached single player mode. Not the same.
I think this list is what most people were expecting. It was for me. I generally consider solo board games as any game that can be played solo: verse an automa, beat your own score, co-op, or solo only.
I think what you were describing and expecting most people would consider "solo ONLY" board games - Under Falling Skies, For Northwood, Warp's Edge, Legacy of Yu, etc.
He did a top ten solo-only board games video here: th-cam.com/video/OMUDzdygmYM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=nRuVdLR3-AsTLztM