this was by far the best video for a board game beginner. so easy to understand and enjoyable to listen to. thanks very much i have ordered half of these games based on this video
I watch your videos quite a bit already. But you definitely went up a notch in my book with that intro about the importance of social distancing. Good stuff.
@@BoardGameCo with y”t coming and a lot of down time, I am looking for something that won’t be overwhelming for a newbie but will take up some of that solo time.
I found Alex's channel in 2021,a and when I clicked this link it was so fun to see how the channel has evolved. Still the same well-reasoned, thoughtful without being preachy, commentary on board games and more. I loved seeing a different room of the house. Also a throwback to the early days of the pandemic: the link to an article when there were only 2000 cases in the US and now we have 76 million and almost 400 million worldwide. I really hope Alex keeps making videos after the pandemic.
I started off with spirit island and I love it, have all the expansions, amazing, since then I have gotten scythe and I'm looking to get another game because along with catan and risk those are all that I have. I was thinking about getting mage knight next, I think this video helped me seal the deal on getting that. Great video!
Thank you for mentioning Oniverse!!! It doesn’t get nearly enough love. I don’t see it mentioned a lot and it blows my mind because it is my gold standard for solo gaming.
@@elijaht.wreckingball5532 just run 2, 3 or as many characters as you need to beat Volkaire. Usually it’s 2-3 for me depending on where I set his level.
I loved this video! Thorough, reasoned, and logical, all of the things I've come to expect from your videos, Alex. Three of my favorites that didn't make the list are Nemo's War (like you mentioned), Thunderbolt Apache Leader, and, my 3rd favorite solo of all, Robinson Crusoe. I absolutely love that game, especially solo. I can go through a scenario (and usually lose, though I can always point to what I did wrong; I've never felt like I lost due to RNG) between 45 and 75 minutes solo, and it is more rewarding than probably any other game. The only reason it's not #1 is that it doesn't have that epic scope or a sandbox feel of a Mage Knight or a streamlined experienced and ease of setup-play-takedown as Marvel Champions.
@@BoardGameCo I get that. It has SUCH a great and well thought out experience in that box, though. Yes, the set-up is a bit of a pain and so are the rules if you're out of practice. However, what makes me admire the game so much is how elegant and common sense the copious amounts of cards, the token, and the rules are once I understand their purpose. (This is the only game I can think of that I never had to check the rulebook twice for the same rule; they made sense after one question, which says to me there's an elegant design philosophy at work)
This helps me, I'm probably gonna pick up Robinson also! I think once my son and I co-op through the game a few times he'll be able to enjoy solo as well.
I'm new to the hobby and only really play solo games. Great video. A really clear summary of why you've chosen each, and what each offers. I've been putting off mage knight because I think it will be a big undertaking but I think I've got to do it. Plus some of the Onirim universe stuff.
One of my favorites too. Not overly complex but tons of depth. The game can be a real brain burner if you solo 3 or 4 spirits with an adversary on level 5 or 6. The digital (base) game recently released on Steam and is very well-done IMO. Gets rid of all the set up and tear down and can play on the couch (with a laptop). I just hope they continue to support it and add the expansions and promos. I would buy it all a second time
Very interesting. Since I know and like a lot Arkham Horror, Marvel Champ and 7th continent like you, you make me want to try Spirit Island that I already heard about and Too many bones that I didnt know about.
Actually Spirit Island is just some proper antihispanic propaganda sponsored by the republics who also sponsor the proper democrat "candidate" who everybody knows is not gonna beat Trump. America needs 4 more years to settle the diametrical change in its point of view towards the hispanic culture. Columbus day won't be celebrated ever more. Year 4 a.T.
This video is the straw that broke the camel's back. I finally need to try "that expensive game with all the fancy chips and dice". Ordering Too Many Bones and a couple extra characters for the february restock.
This is very rich context review, one of the best opinions I found about solo games. I played Marvel Champions Card Games for over 12 times, which is kinda addictive if you're into Marvel since the characters feel real to their persona. I'm buying Friday and waiting for it to arrive. Hopefully will try some more on this list in the near future. Thanks a lot for the lists! Solo boardgame, in my opinion, is becoming more popular as we go to work and have smaller groups of gamers... But those gamese shine in their own marvelous ways. Cheers! 😉👍
Great list. My favorite solo game is Mage Knight followed by Gloomhaven, I own : Sylvion, friday, sprawlopolis, arkham horror, and Onirim. Just bought Spirit island and 7th continent. Your rating of these games is excellent. Because I think we have similar taste in game, you gave me no choice to buy Too many bones. :-) . Other solo games I like are : Palm island, Orchard (9 cards) and Flee. But for me Mage Knight rules
2nd lockdown here... time to dive in Mageknight again... got a shrinkwrapped Lost legion expansion too! i've heard that it makes solo experience a LOT better...
My solo game repertoire- bear in mind I play these as multi hand solitaire. Spirit Island. This is great due to the incredible variety provided by the combinations of spirits and card based powers. Shadow Rift. This is a cooperative deck builder. Each player builds a hand that represents their RPG-esque character, and collectively you build a deck that represents the town your team is defending. Monsters attack the town and slay its townsfolk, and you injure yourself fighting them, in both cases clogging the relevant decks with corpses and wounds. But you also gain experience over time, upgrade your decks with specialized skills and items, and recruit new townsfolk to assist in your defense. Its from early on in the evolution of cooperative games, but its held its place as a cult favorite for a reason. Sentinels of the Multiverse. Less variety than Spirit Island because each hero is a fixed deck, but still, loads of variety overall.
Nice! Spirit Island opened my eyes to the potential of solo gaming too. Before that one, I just couldn't get into it. I have most of the games you mentioned, but Too Many Bones is one I've considered for awhile but never pulled the trigger on due to price (despite owning Gloomhaven and Mageknight).
Dungeon degenerates is a great game to play solo and is my current favourite, love the 80s style art and is currently keeping gloom haven off the table.
Just got Gloomhaven this past weekend. Watched a few 'learn how to play' vids, downloaded a few helper apps, and purchased the forteller audio narration . Thee scenarios in and loving it solo, I should be set for many months. Plan to pick up Too Many Bones during the upcoming Cloudspire Kickstarter. Also have Folklore with expansions and Cthulhu Death May Die lined up.
The only game I’ve played solo is The Lost Expedition. It’s a fun tense puzzle that can play out in about 20 minutes, and also works as a 2p fairly well. There’s several games I have w/solo options, like Spirit Island, but I’ve only played multiplayer. Thanks for the video!
Nice video! Thanks! I only have two off the list: Mage Knight is my #1 solo game absolutely love it. Onirim is my favourite quick-fix solo game! I’m tempted with Warhammer Quest now :) I’ve also been mulling over Gloomhaven but feels like it’ll be too much hard work playing on my own. Cheers!
I have a few of these, including 7th Continent and Star Trek: Frontiers (basically Mage Knight), but another one i love to play, which is branded on the box as a solo game, is Under Falling Skies. So fun.
Mage Knight... I remember the rules were written in such a miniscule lettering that I never read more then the first teo pages. Such a sheme. Must be a great game, but I don't have it any longer ^^
I can't really find Too Many Bones anywhere at a reasonable price. Is that because it is no longer being sold in stores? Will it likely be re printed/sold? I'm just getting into the hobby and learning how the releases/re releases work.
Star Trek Frontiers is makes more thematic sense then Mage Knight (if you're a ST TNG fan) and thereby easier to learn. The removal of night and day (in space, it's always noon!) make it slightly more streamlined as well.
I haven't played either solo yet. PL I wouldn't as I love the discovery aspect together. TM I plan on playing solo soon actually, a friend finally convinced me.
Spirit Island is one of the hardest things I ever tried to do. I just can't wrap my head around the fast and slow powers and anticipating everything that will happen. I've only tried it solo, and it's beautiful and rewarding and I will try it again soon. I think I'd rather play with someone else just to see the synergy between different spirit powers.
But that's what makes it a great solo experience; since it is a co-op game you can play multiple Spirits by yourself. In fact, if you're trying to play the game "true solo" with just 1 spirit, it is very hard and comes down to a lot of luck. That is not how the game was designed to be played Also, try to think of Fast powers as playing offensively and Slow powers as defensively. Generally speaking the Slow powers have stronger effects, but you have to wait until the invaders ravage, build and explore. So you either take to the offense and use Fast powers to stifel the spread, or go ahead and let them spread and then do damage with Slow powers (you can get more fear that way too since you're usually destroying more towns/cities)
@@G0F15H It's more calculating the board state at multiple points during each turn that overwhelms me a bit. Honestly I still haven't given it another go :)
I find a lot of 2 player games can be solo played well as well as multi-players to 4. Just okay as two players 😀. I solo play 7 Wonders Duel, Race for the Galaxy, Azul, Forbidden Desert, Forbidden Island, Marvel Legendary is awesome solo. I will occasionally solo play Castles of Burgundy, Alhambra or Village plus expansions because I find them puzzle-like. Clans of Caledonia might be a meatier game to consider as well. I am soon getting into Imperial Settlers and Gloomhaven. Awesome review! Stay safe!
Good video. Now I'm staying home I'll try to get my unused new games to the table. Mage knight and arkham horror. I also have gloomhaven, love it but takes time (not easy with a baby). I usually play 3 characters when I play solo. Do you recommend only 2 ?
Your list is almost exactly the same as my list. I'd throw in Death Angel the Card Game and would choose Arkham Horror the Card Game over Marvel Champions, but that's just a theme preference. Also, I'm looking forward to what Shadi Torbey comes up with next for his Oniverse series - all those are great (my favorite is Onirim). I just started watching your videos and think your game preferences are very similar to mine. I'm currently trying to not think about your recent comments on why we should back Massive Darkness 2. Four more days to hold out and not spend $400... thanks a lot.
Personally, I'd recommend Elder Sign and the board game version of Arkham Horror. Easy to learn, difficult to master, and just as engaging solo as they are with others. Granted, a single game can take several hours for either of them.
Nice video as usual. My favorites and the ones that get to the table the most often are Terraforming Mars (by far my favorite), Marvel Legendary, and Spirit Island. I feel like my brain needs to take a nap after playing Spirit Island, but it such a rewarding experience.
Legendary was sadly a pass for me....I just didn't feel it. Terraforming Mars, while one of my favorite games, isn't one that I have played solo yet which is why it didn't make this list.
only very few talk about warhammer quest the card game. this one is competitive and very hard isnt it? just wrong not enough dmg to beat your target on 1 turn and the mobs will start flooding you with attacks and curse. no matter what strategy I make, Im always having trouble avoiding the unavoidable.
Great video and list. Too Many Bones always in these kind of lists... maybe I should try to get it. I have and enjoy Spirit Island, Gloomhaven, Arkham LCG, and 7th Continent.
I looked into warhammer quest the card game at one point, but some folks said it was extremely similar to Street Masters, so I passed on looking into it more. Do you feel it’s different enough I should look into it though? I keep seeing it pop up on top solo lists and wonder if it’s as similar to street masters as people say, why isn’t that one mentioned more on the solo lists?
I do want to get Gloomhaven, but its too expensive. Do u think Gloomhaven Jaws of the Lions is worth it? Like over Mage Knight. Anyhow, great vid, keep it up!
Wow I'm surprise you rate warhammer adventure card game above Marvel champions. I have been trying to decide which one to get, i know marvel champions have more expansions maybe higher replayability since it's a lcg. But I'm more into getting one complete box and enjoy the high replayability without worrying missing out lot's of expansions that i have to pay a lot more with lcg. Which one is better Warhammer adventure card game or Terrinoth? This is very well put together video 👍🏻
@@BoardGameCo What is your current opinion in regards to WQACG vs Terranoth vs Marvel Champions lcg? Is WQACG still a good stand alone card games compare to marvel champions?
Mage Knight ultimate and Spirit Island are both on my want list, I had never given much consideration to the rest of the list due to cost (Gloomhaven) and/or availability (7th Continent) although I'm going to check out Too Many Bones, you've whetted my curiosity. Yeah Nemo's War 2nd, an absolute wonderful solo experience, do try it. I would recommend using any one or all three of the small expansion packs to elevate the experience.
Yep, Nemo's is definitely on my short list. Gloomhaven is a major beast, takes a large investment, 7th Continent is fairly unique and worth getting....plays like no other game I've tried.
From an immersive experience (rather than a strategic win/mastery perspective) I've taken the liberty to 'upgrade' your Top 10 Solo Games to more intuitively inclusive games that really pull you in, thematically speaking: 10: Button Shy Games > Unlock series : as a simple card game, the Unlock series offer so much variety, a true story to follow and a simple set of mechanics that applies to every genre of Unlock that you play. 9: Friday > Robinson Crusoe : thematically the same, but obviously different in size and scope, RC has the best thematically designed components and mechanics-theme synergy going on. Hard to beat and variety galore. 8: Oniverse Games > Elder Sign expansions : if you're looking for a simple set of rules in a tiny box, ES offers a good challenge while also immersing the player into a world of narrated horror - not as much as other games on this list, but more than the Oniverse games do. 7: Marvel Champions > Arkham Horror:LCG : Having more story and the strongest Character-Location-Event trifecta of storytelling in any card game, AH:LCG beats MC hands down, although I've understood that FFG might be adding more story in future expansions 6: Spirit Island > Vindication : strong eurogame/Amerithrash blends are hard to come by but Vindication wins as the art is more evocative, the player's journey & goal is different each time you play it with tons of solo modes to boot! 5: 7th Continent > Tainted Grail : I love both games, but 7C feels like a rough draft for TG, which is incredibly rich in colors, has a deeply evocative setting and offers the same survival and resource management with a lot more window dressing and characterization 4: Warhammer Quest / Heroes of Terrinoth > Descent 2nd ed (and soon Descent 3?) : this is where miniatures and tiles add much more to the immersion than cards ever could. The adventures in D are also more diverse than WQ/HoT. 3: Too Many Bones > Dawnshade : having had the privilege to have played D, it is prettier, more accessible (read: less complex or rule-fiddly which detracts from the immersion) and more intuitive, despite using similar components. 2: Mage Knight > Hexplore It : whereas both games can be rule-heavy and complex in administrative upkeep, Hexplore It has the advantage of feeling more organically RPG-ish with more variety in its 3 flavors of settings. 1: Gloomhaven > Folklore: the Affliction : the story is richer and bountiful in F:tA compared to G, while offering the same amount of game hours, adventuring through atmospheric dark lands with tiles, standees (or optional minis) and is just as addictive.
I had the reverse experience: Too Many Bones rules book was fine while Mage Knights rules book was a beast. Aeon's End is high on my list. To introduce someone to cooperative/solo games, Castle Panic and Pandemic are my best ones.
Aeon's End is my number one. I have every expensions and base games (except the very first one, can't find it during covid). Mage Knight and Gloomhaven are tied for number 2. I had never heard of too many bones before today, will have to look it up!
base game for sure. more bang for your buck plus the characters are more approachable. best way to decide for yourself tho, is to look into the characters that come with each respective set. I bought the base, played a few games and then spent more money to buy undertow and a few characters. Top 5 game for me
I have every game on that table except for three of them. I haven't played all of them though. I have enjoyed Gloomhaven, Marvel Champions, and Friday. Hostage Negotiator is a solo game I really like. I just played Raxxon solo a couple of nights ago. I think I should try 7th Continent soon since I own it.
Couldn't stand Gloomhaven for the same reason I didn't back Hel by Mythic. When I play a campaign based game, I want to play A character for the length of the story. Not be told which character I can play for which mission or be forced to play a class I'm less interested in because the game forces me to retire characters.
I love Gloomhaven with a small group, never tried it solo. Marvel Champions I also played with 2 other people. Liked it but not one I'm too concerned about playing again. Love the Oniverse games, I even have Urbion but it's not as good as the others. Hard to say which one I like the most. Really want to try Spirit Island. A friend has it but we of course haven't had a meetup since March so haven't played it yet! The rest I don't know a lot about so can't say.
Gloomhaven and Mage Knight are my Favs. You mentioned that Gloomhaven can be played with 1 character solo??? Is it meant to be played that way?? I have Jaws of the Lion and Im using 2. Its FUN. But I cant imagine being able to complete with only 1 character. Have you tried? Great review!! Id try Bones but its not really my cup o' tea I think. Im looking forward to playing my Gloomhaven BIG box then Frosthaven after it comes out (if Im not burned out on it by then LOL).
I’ve just recently learned you can play Marvel Champions without doing deck construction. I sadly hate deck construction, so the fact that you can skip it interests me, but I don’t see it brought up much in reviews. Do you feel it would be as good without any kind of deck construction? I’m also wary because it’s FFG, which I’ve learned tend to make games that... aren’t my thing. Lots of rules questions, rules lookups, rules mistakes, exceptions, exceptions to exceptions etc. seeing it on your solo list makes me interested though.
Warhammer Adventure Card Game has been out of print for over 4 years, and is never coming back into print due to FFG no longer having the Warhammer licenses. Is it ever worth praising or recommending something that no-one can buy? (Unless they drop a lot of money on a second-hand copy)
Thanks for the video, I will probably go with some of your recommendations. :) Wouldn't recommend Gloomhaven for soloing, though. I tried it for a while and had great fun, but after a few scenarioes it's too much work playing 2+ characters having to do all of the setup, monster movement and combat by yourself. Gloomhaven Digital would be a better choice.
For purely solo stuff, there's also legacy of dragonholt from fantasy flight, its meant to be 1-4 players, but I can't even imagine playing it with 2 players, it's basically a choose your own adventure game, with character stats and stuff, so there is a TON of reading, if you were playing it with more than 1 player, you will just be reading to each other for hours on end. Though back when I got it I played it in a 2 day long car ride, since it was basically a few choose your own adventure books, it worked great to pass the time solo, and has a great story, just wouldn't recommend it for anything other than solo
Works great as something to buy, and just stick away until you are really bored alone or something, and its technically repayable, you just probably wanna give yourself a few months so you forget to majority of the stuff
V-Commandos has recently replaced Space Hulk: Death Angel as my favorite solo game. It's the "meatiest" solo game that i own, but it's also one of the quickest. You can play a single scenario in under 30 minutes easily, and it's one of the most thematic games i know. Regarding Friday: I've played that game probably 30 times and only ever won it 2 times... on the easiest difficulty. It's a very cool idea for a game, but at this point it's more frustrating than fun for me.
Now I'm wondering if I'm playing Friday wrong :) And for V-Commandos I own and love it...I hadn't played it in so long that I didn't put it on the list but I wanted to :)
Mage Knight is tied with Eldritch Horror for my favourite solo game. Roll Player is just underneath them. I have been on the fence with Too Many Bones for awhile. I would love to play it a few times solo before putting forth the cash. Same goes for Spirit Island. Over the years I've spent a lot of money purchasing games without knowing whether or not I like them, only to sell them afterwards. These include 7th Continent, Arkham Horror 3rd Edition, Runebound 3rd Edition, Heroes of Terrinoth, etc. Not to say that they are bad games, they're just not a right fit for me.
Totally with you. Shameless plug here...but at BoardGameCo we specifically buy and trade used games....so even if it isn't for you, think of it as a rental fee instead of a complete loss :)
Coming back to this during our second lockdown. Sad occasion, but it's a great video. I adore V-Commandos. It's only fault for me is that it's way too tense to be relaxing!
While I very much enjoyed my few plays of Set a Watch, at the end of the day I didn't feel I was making that many decisions, most of the time it felt like the game was playing me rather than I was playing the game. Don't get me wrong...very much enjoyable, but in the end I got rid of it because of the lack of meaningful decisions (in my opinion).
@@BoardGameCo That's very fair. It does feel like more of a puzzle that is just different each time you play, but I am enjoying it. I understand the not many decisions to make though.
1st. Great vid. I would say the same games as you mentioned. What i also did enjoy, but costs way more is LOTR the card game and dawn of the zeds (pretty expensive because it's mainly solo only but you can find it online as well). Great video!
Lord of the Rings is too big that I'm already scared off from it, trying Marvel and Arkham to be "in from the beginning". For Dawn of the Zeds, hasn't been on my raider...I'll take a look thanks!
Bit old but the games on your list I own are Mage knight and Gloomhaven but my fav game to play solo is Kingdom Death monster, which is a game that works excellent with up to 3 players but you get a very different experience playing solo. If playing with other people there are fights and situations you simply aren't able to overcome as well, you can play the long game and can see the bigger picture where any member of the team is expendable if it means a bigger success from the lantern year.. both experiences however are great I just love KDM solo as much as I love it with other people... I also enjoy Sword and Sorcery solo, but that's something I prefer playing with multiple people but I can run 5 heros solo when the mood takes me. :D
One of the better done top 10 solo board game evals...well done my friend.
Thank you!
this was by far the best video for a board game beginner. so easy to understand and enjoyable to listen to. thanks very much i have ordered half of these games based on this video
Awesome, glad you found it useful!
Would love to see an updated video on this topic
I plan on one soon :)
@@BoardGameCo this is awesome news! 🙂
Great video! Glad to see Mage Knight here - it is currently my favorite game, but it seems like Too Many Bones will be worth a shot!
I watch your videos quite a bit already. But you definitely went up a notch in my book with that intro about the importance of social distancing. Good stuff.
Appreciate it :)
Lost me there
@@wafflequiz4967 Up to you, your loss.
Great reviews. Your enthusiasm and passion really comes through. Thanks for the pointers. I'm quite new to solo gaming and this looks like great fun!
Thank you! Solo gaming is its own magical adventure. Really enjoy it.
This has been so helpful to me for starting out. It’s great that you shared in this order. Thank you! Would you consider an updated solo game top 10?
Funny you should ask, I literally started putting one together today
@@BoardGameCo with y”t coming and a lot of down time, I am looking for something that won’t be overwhelming for a newbie but will take up some of that solo time.
I started with Friday and Sprawopolis from your suggestions and both are a lot of fun!
I found Alex's channel in 2021,a and when I clicked this link it was so fun to see how the channel has evolved. Still the same well-reasoned, thoughtful without being preachy, commentary on board games and more. I loved seeing a different room of the house. Also a throwback to the early days of the pandemic: the link to an article when there were only 2000 cases in the US and now we have 76 million and almost 400 million worldwide. I really hope Alex keeps making videos after the pandemic.
I started off with spirit island and I love it, have all the expansions, amazing, since then I have gotten scythe and I'm looking to get another game because along with catan and risk those are all that I have. I was thinking about getting mage knight next, I think this video helped me seal the deal on getting that. Great video!
Check out Ricky Royals playthroughs/rule guides here on youtube! And I hope you like it! Best game I ever played.
Thank you for mentioning Oniverse!!! It doesn’t get nearly enough love. I don’t see it mentioned a lot and it blows my mind because it is my gold standard for solo gaming.
Been playing Mage Knight for years now, fun game solo and with a friend. Just bought 7th Continent and Gloomhaven, thanks for the review.
MK is excellent :) So many solid games out there.
Love playing Mage Knight, even though I stink at it and still haven't managed to win it solo yet.
@@elijaht.wreckingball5532 just run 2, 3 or as many characters as you need to beat Volkaire. Usually it’s 2-3 for me depending on where I set his level.
Terraforming Mars is my favorite solo game at this point. It gives all of the flavor of the multiplayer game with a nice challenge to it.
TM is absolutely amazing, I hadn't played it back when I did this list.
The phone app version isn't too bad
I loved this video! Thorough, reasoned, and logical, all of the things I've come to expect from your videos, Alex. Three of my favorites that didn't make the list are Nemo's War (like you mentioned), Thunderbolt Apache Leader, and, my 3rd favorite solo of all, Robinson Crusoe. I absolutely love that game, especially solo. I can go through a scenario (and usually lose, though I can always point to what I did wrong; I've never felt like I lost due to RNG) between 45 and 75 minutes solo, and it is more rewarding than probably any other game. The only reason it's not #1 is that it doesn't have that epic scope or a sandbox feel of a Mage Knight or a streamlined experienced and ease of setup-play-takedown as Marvel Champions.
I keep going back and forth on whether to get Robinson to the table vs get rid of it...I've had it for awhile and I just never pull it out sadly :(
@@BoardGameCo I get that. It has SUCH a great and well thought out experience in that box, though. Yes, the set-up is a bit of a pain and so are the rules if you're out of practice. However, what makes me admire the game so much is how elegant and common sense the copious amounts of cards, the token, and the rules are once I understand their purpose. (This is the only game I can think of that I never had to check the rulebook twice for the same rule; they made sense after one question, which says to me there's an elegant design philosophy at work)
That wasn't very well written. Hopefully, you get what I mean. :)
This helps me, I'm probably gonna pick up Robinson also! I think once my son and I co-op through the game a few times he'll be able to enjoy solo as well.
I'm new to the hobby and only really play solo games. Great video. A really clear summary of why you've chosen each, and what each offers. I've been putting off mage knight because I think it will be a big undertaking but I think I've got to do it. Plus some of the Onirim universe stuff.
Thanks! Oni verse is great, I always enjoy pulling those out when I have 20 minutes. And yes, Mage Knight is a beast but worth it :)
Thank you that you combine these solo games with your distancing info - Regards from Germany, Gerd
Of course!
Everdell is one of my favorites. It moves so quickly and I always want to jump right back into it after losing.
Excellent breakdown. Spirit Island, 7th Continent and Gloomhaven keep popping up in top 10 lists. Guess these are coming to my shelves soon!
Oh they're all great!
I just think it's amazing that one could even contemplate playing these heavy weight games. SOLO! Kudos to your focus and patience!...♥️
Spirit Island is my favorite game, period, let alone favorite solo game.
While not that high from me, I do love it :)
One of my favorites too. Not overly complex but tons of depth. The game can be a real brain burner if you solo 3 or 4 spirits with an adversary on level 5 or 6. The digital (base) game recently released on Steam and is very well-done IMO. Gets rid of all the set up and tear down and can play on the couch (with a laptop). I just hope they continue to support it and add the expansions and promos. I would buy it all a second time
You must be an antihispanic fanboy, period
@@pedro_navarro Yea, screw all those hispanic, 18th century Swedes, Prussians, and especially English. =P
@@Phalanx167 English? Shhh, you cannot say that. They are the owners of the company you live in.
Very interesting. Since I know and like a lot Arkham Horror, Marvel Champ and 7th continent like you, you make me want to try Spirit Island that I already heard about and Too many bones that I didnt know about.
Both excellent 👌
Actually Spirit Island is just some proper antihispanic propaganda sponsored by the republics who also sponsor the proper democrat "candidate" who everybody knows is not gonna beat Trump. America needs 4 more years to settle the diametrical change in its point of view towards the hispanic culture. Columbus day won't be celebrated ever more. Year 4 a.T.
This is a near perfect list (for me). You nailed it. I’d have swapped Aeon’s End for Warhammer Quest; now I have to check that out, too. Subscribed!
This video is the straw that broke the camel's back. I finally need to try "that expensive game with all the fancy chips and dice". Ordering Too Many Bones and a couple extra characters for the february restock.
Nice! It's awesome, one of my favorites.
Just did that myself... super excited to play
This is very rich context review, one of the best opinions I found about solo games. I played Marvel Champions Card Games for over 12 times, which is kinda addictive if you're into Marvel since the characters feel real to their persona. I'm buying Friday and waiting for it to arrive. Hopefully will try some more on this list in the near future. Thanks a lot for the lists! Solo boardgame, in my opinion, is becoming more popular as we go to work and have smaller groups of gamers... But those gamese shine in their own marvelous ways. Cheers! 😉👍
Exactly! Marvel is great :)
Great video, you perfectly answered my question on best solo game right on time! 😄 you are my favorite board game youtuber now! Stay safe
Thank you!
What has happened to " Robinson Crusoe, The Cursed Island " ? 😕
Please list the games you talked about.
Thanks from the UK.
Not sure what you mean?
Great list. My favorite solo game is Mage Knight followed by Gloomhaven, I own : Sylvion, friday, sprawlopolis, arkham horror, and Onirim. Just bought Spirit island and 7th continent. Your rating of these games is excellent. Because I think we have similar taste in game, you gave me no choice to buy Too many bones. :-) . Other solo games I like are : Palm island, Orchard (9 cards) and Flee. But for me Mage Knight rules
Excellent :) And I'm sorry! Let me know how they work out for you!
2nd lockdown here... time to dive in Mageknight again... got a shrinkwrapped Lost legion expansion too! i've heard that it makes solo experience a LOT better...
Nice!
My solo game repertoire- bear in mind I play these as multi hand solitaire.
Spirit Island. This is great due to the incredible variety provided by the combinations of spirits and card based powers.
Shadow Rift. This is a cooperative deck builder. Each player builds a hand that represents their RPG-esque character, and collectively you build a deck that represents the town your team is defending. Monsters attack the town and slay its townsfolk, and you injure yourself fighting them, in both cases clogging the relevant decks with corpses and wounds. But you also gain experience over time, upgrade your decks with specialized skills and items, and recruit new townsfolk to assist in your defense. Its from early on in the evolution of cooperative games, but its held its place as a cult favorite for a reason.
Sentinels of the Multiverse. Less variety than Spirit Island because each hero is a fixed deck, but still, loads of variety overall.
Sadly I moved on from Sentinels, and I haven't tried Shadowrift yet.
Nice! Spirit Island opened my eyes to the potential of solo gaming too. Before that one, I just couldn't get into it. I have most of the games you mentioned, but Too Many Bones is one I've considered for awhile but never pulled the trigger on due to price (despite owning Gloomhaven and Mageknight).
If I had to keep only 2 from this list it would likely be TMB and Spirit Island :)
Dungeon degenerates is a great game to play solo and is my current favourite, love the 80s style art and is currently keeping gloom haven off the table.
Which solo games would you recommend for an 8 year old boy? Loves battlelore 2e, sheriff of Nottingham, the alpha, monopoly, 7 wonders duel, etc.
Solo for that list? Tough one...that's a varied list. Maybe Marvel Champions especially if a Marvel fan.
@@BoardGameCo I think I'm gonna try Friday. Looks fun and different
Just got Gloomhaven this past weekend. Watched a few 'learn how to play' vids, downloaded a few helper apps, and purchased the forteller audio narration . Thee scenarios in and loving it solo, I should be set for many months. Plan to pick up Too Many Bones during the upcoming Cloudspire Kickstarter. Also have Folklore with expansions and Cthulhu Death May Die lined up.
How weird is it that I'm jealous....but I have all those games :) They're just that good!
The only game I’ve played solo is The Lost Expedition. It’s a fun tense puzzle that can play out in about 20 minutes, and also works as a 2p fairly well. There’s several games I have w/solo options, like Spirit Island, but I’ve only played multiplayer. Thanks for the video!
Yes! Played that one. I enjoyed it but didn't keep it.
Is 7th Continent out of print? It's not on Amazon and it's $280+ Canadian on ebay
It's a kickstarter, you can get the base game from the publisher directly but otherwise it's pretty expensive.
@@BoardGameCo ahh thank you. Kept seeing it online for super expensive and started getting worried
I can't find Spirit Island. Is it oops or just waiting for reprinting?
Nice video! Thanks! I only have two off the list: Mage Knight is my #1 solo game absolutely love it. Onirim is my favourite quick-fix solo game! I’m tempted with Warhammer Quest now :) I’ve also been mulling over Gloomhaven but feels like it’ll be too much hard work playing on my own. Cheers!
Gloomhaven is definitely a beast :) Iv'e been playing a lot of Terraforming Mars Solo recently.
Hi. I'd like to know, please, what do you think about Robinson Crusoe. Is it a good BG to play solo? Thanks in advance!
I have a few of these, including 7th Continent and Star Trek: Frontiers (basically Mage Knight), but another one i love to play, which is branded on the box as a solo game, is Under Falling Skies. So fun.
Spirit island is a must have I see... everyone love it
Yep :)
Very nice evaluations of the games. Thank you.
My pleasure!
Mage Knight... I remember the rules were written in such a miniscule lettering that I never read more then the first teo pages. Such a sheme. Must be a great game, but I don't have it any longer ^^
Great video, subscribed!
Thanks for the sub!
I can't really find Too Many Bones anywhere at a reasonable price. Is that because it is no longer being sold in stores? Will it likely be re printed/sold? I'm just getting into the hobby and learning how the releases/re releases work.
Too Many Bones is only sold through the publishers website: chiptheorygames.com/store#!/Too-Many-Bones/c/22721100/offset=0&sort=normal
Well done list and video. Keep up the excellent content!
What about Zombicide Second Edition as SOLO?
Thanks.
Star Trek Frontiers is makes more thematic sense then Mage Knight (if you're a ST TNG fan) and thereby easier to learn. The removal of night and day (in space, it's always noon!) make it slightly more streamlined as well.
Ya Night and Day was unnecssary. I almost feel lke we need a Mage Knight Jaws of the Lion treatment.
Great vid. Thoughts on Pandemic legacy and Terraforming Mars solo?
I haven't played either solo yet. PL I wouldn't as I love the discovery aspect together. TM I plan on playing solo soon actually, a friend finally convinced me.
@@BoardGameCo Good answer. Thanks
Awesome tips, thanks!
Happy to help :)
Spirit Island is one of the hardest things I ever tried to do. I just can't wrap my head around the fast and slow powers and anticipating everything that will happen. I've only tried it solo, and it's beautiful and rewarding and I will try it again soon. I think I'd rather play with someone else just to see the synergy between different spirit powers.
The synergy is great...but also just makes it more overwhelming :D
But that's what makes it a great solo experience; since it is a co-op game you can play multiple Spirits by yourself. In fact, if you're trying to play the game "true solo" with just 1 spirit, it is very hard and comes down to a lot of luck. That is not how the game was designed to be played
Also, try to think of Fast powers as playing offensively and Slow powers as defensively. Generally speaking the Slow powers have stronger effects, but you have to wait until the invaders ravage, build and explore. So you either take to the offense and use Fast powers to stifel the spread, or go ahead and let them spread and then do damage with Slow powers (you can get more fear that way too since you're usually destroying more towns/cities)
@@G0F15H It's more calculating the board state at multiple points during each turn that overwhelms me a bit. Honestly I still haven't given it another go :)
Hmmm I have Gloomhaven and Mage Knight... I was actually thinking of buying Too Many Bones, so to hear that it's solo friendly is fantastic!
OMG, Too Many Bones is amazing :)
I find a lot of 2 player games can be solo played well as well as multi-players to 4. Just okay as two players 😀. I solo play 7 Wonders Duel, Race for the Galaxy, Azul, Forbidden Desert, Forbidden Island, Marvel Legendary is awesome solo. I will occasionally solo play Castles of Burgundy, Alhambra or Village plus expansions because I find them puzzle-like. Clans of Caledonia might be a meatier game to consider as well. I am soon getting into Imperial Settlers and Gloomhaven. Awesome review! Stay safe!
I've tried it once or twice but can't really get into it....I feel like I'm fighting with myself :)
Good video. Now I'm staying home I'll try to get my unused new games to the table. Mage knight and arkham horror. I also have gloomhaven, love it but takes time (not easy with a baby). I usually play 3 characters when I play solo. Do you recommend only 2 ?
I can't answer that having never done 3 solo :) If what you're doing is working, go for it!
3 is better, IMO. More work, but more variation and reward.
Great list, a lot of these games are on my purchase list too. I love playing Arkham Horror solo, such a challenging and rewarding experience.
Omg it's the first time I see someone with my pic in the wild! Hello fellow GF fan :)
@@NoFuckingMind Sorry for the wait, Mr TwistedNerve, I am ready to take you now.
I had this avatar for nearly 11 years now :).
Your list is almost exactly the same as my list. I'd throw in Death Angel the Card Game and would choose Arkham Horror the Card Game over Marvel Champions, but that's just a theme preference. Also, I'm looking forward to what Shadi Torbey comes up with next for his Oniverse series - all those are great (my favorite is Onirim). I just started watching your videos and think your game preferences are very similar to mine. I'm currently trying to not think about your recent comments on why we should back Massive Darkness 2. Four more days to hold out and not spend $400... thanks a lot.
Lol, not just 4 days...they usually let you late pledge a bit too :)
Personally, I'd recommend Elder Sign and the board game version of Arkham Horror. Easy to learn, difficult to master, and just as engaging solo as they are with others. Granted, a single game can take several hours for either of them.
What do you think about Tainted Grail solo, will be this in your list?
What do you rate Mage Knight out of 5?
5.
Nice video as usual. My favorites and the ones that get to the table the most often are Terraforming Mars (by far my favorite), Marvel Legendary, and Spirit Island. I feel like my brain needs to take a nap after playing Spirit Island, but it such a rewarding experience.
Legendary was sadly a pass for me....I just didn't feel it. Terraforming Mars, while one of my favorite games, isn't one that I have played solo yet which is why it didn't make this list.
Very straight overview! No blabla .. Thanks! 👍👍👍 Maybe timemarks to jump to the several games would be helpful.
Yes! I started adding time marks to videos, I may go back to some older ones and start adding.
only very few talk about warhammer quest the card game. this one is competitive and very hard isnt it? just wrong not enough dmg to beat your target on 1 turn and the mobs will start flooding you with attacks and curse. no matter what strategy I make, Im always having trouble avoiding the unavoidable.
Yes, definitely hard but I've so far enjoyed it a lot.
Great video and list.
Too Many Bones always in these kind of lists... maybe I should try to get it.
I have and enjoy Spirit Island, Gloomhaven, Arkham LCG, and 7th Continent.
I looked into warhammer quest the card game at one point, but some folks said it was extremely similar to Street Masters, so I passed on looking into it more. Do you feel it’s different enough I should look into it though? I keep seeing it pop up on top solo lists and wonder if it’s as similar to street masters as people say, why isn’t that one mentioned more on the solo lists?
Been tryin to buy too many bones for nearly a year now. Seems impossible
Oh man, have you tried secondhand?
any update on this list?
I do want to get Gloomhaven, but its too expensive. Do u think Gloomhaven Jaws of the Lions is worth it? Like over Mage Knight. Anyhow, great vid, keep it up!
Yes! Go for Jaws of the Lion for sure.
@@BoardGameCo ok, thanks!
Watched this video and jumped into gloomhaven as my first solo game!
Nice!
Wow I'm surprise you rate warhammer adventure card game above Marvel champions. I have been trying to decide which one to get, i know marvel champions have more expansions maybe higher replayability since it's a lcg. But I'm more into getting one complete box and enjoy the high replayability without worrying missing out lot's of expansions that i have to pay a lot more with lcg. Which one is better Warhammer adventure card game or Terrinoth? This is very well put together video 👍🏻
I don't anymore :) This is an older video :)
@@BoardGameCo What is your current opinion in regards to WQACG vs Terranoth vs Marvel Champions lcg? Is WQACG still a good stand alone card games compare to marvel champions?
It was cool to see half the list the list being games I have
Good choices I guess :)
Mage Knight ultimate and Spirit Island are both on my want list, I had never given much consideration to the rest of the list due to cost (Gloomhaven) and/or availability (7th Continent) although I'm going to check out Too Many Bones, you've whetted my curiosity.
Yeah Nemo's War 2nd, an absolute wonderful solo experience, do try it. I would recommend using any one or all three of the small expansion packs to elevate the experience.
Yep, Nemo's is definitely on my short list. Gloomhaven is a major beast, takes a large investment, 7th Continent is fairly unique and worth getting....plays like no other game I've tried.
Spirit Island is amazing with 3-4 players. Solo idk but I'd imagine it's good.
@@Judge_Jon SI is too fiddly with 4 imo. Solo 2handed/3handed >>> multiplayer
From an immersive experience (rather than a strategic win/mastery perspective) I've taken the liberty to 'upgrade' your Top 10 Solo Games to more intuitively inclusive games that really pull you in, thematically speaking:
10: Button Shy Games > Unlock series : as a simple card game, the Unlock series offer so much variety, a true story to follow and a simple set of mechanics that applies to every genre of Unlock that you play.
9: Friday > Robinson Crusoe : thematically the same, but obviously different in size and scope, RC has the best thematically designed components and mechanics-theme synergy going on. Hard to beat and variety galore.
8: Oniverse Games > Elder Sign expansions : if you're looking for a simple set of rules in a tiny box, ES offers a good challenge while also immersing the player into a world of narrated horror - not as much as other games on this list, but more than the Oniverse games do.
7: Marvel Champions > Arkham Horror:LCG : Having more story and the strongest Character-Location-Event trifecta of storytelling in any card game, AH:LCG beats MC hands down, although I've understood that FFG might be adding more story in future expansions
6: Spirit Island > Vindication : strong eurogame/Amerithrash blends are hard to come by but Vindication wins as the art is more evocative, the player's journey & goal is different each time you play it with tons of solo modes to boot!
5: 7th Continent > Tainted Grail : I love both games, but 7C feels like a rough draft for TG, which is incredibly rich in colors, has a deeply evocative setting and offers the same survival and resource management with a lot more window dressing and characterization
4: Warhammer Quest / Heroes of Terrinoth > Descent 2nd ed (and soon Descent 3?) : this is where miniatures and tiles add much more to the immersion than cards ever could. The adventures in D are also more diverse than WQ/HoT.
3: Too Many Bones > Dawnshade : having had the privilege to have played D, it is prettier, more accessible (read: less complex or rule-fiddly which detracts from the immersion) and more intuitive, despite using similar components.
2: Mage Knight > Hexplore It : whereas both games can be rule-heavy and complex in administrative upkeep, Hexplore It has the advantage of feeling more organically RPG-ish with more variety in its 3 flavors of settings.
1: Gloomhaven > Folklore: the Affliction : the story is richer and bountiful in F:tA compared to G, while offering the same amount of game hours, adventuring through atmospheric dark lands with tiles, standees (or optional minis) and is just as addictive.
Great list :) I don't personally agree with the priority....but from those that I've played, those are all great :)
@@BoardGameCo So true. And I just saw that you have a 'Play This, Not That' series! I should've posted this there! Take care, Alex.
@@arcubal lol yes, this kind of response is perfect for the concept to play this not that
I had the reverse experience: Too Many Bones rules book was fine while Mage Knights rules book was a beast.
Aeon's End is high on my list.
To introduce someone to cooperative/solo games, Castle Panic and Pandemic are my best ones.
Mage knight's rulebook is definitely a beast as well. I found it clear, but just sooooo much information.
Aeon's End is my number one. I have every expensions and base games (except the very first one, can't find it during covid). Mage Knight and Gloomhaven are tied for number 2. I had never heard of too many bones before today, will have to look it up!
Agree on too many bones. I just picked up 40 Days in Daelore from the last KS campaign.
Such a solid game!
How would yould you enter too many bones via base game or via undertow? Also I would really like to see you do a multiplayer tmb session and review!
base game for sure. more bang for your buck plus the characters are more approachable. best way to decide for yourself tho, is to look into the characters that come with each respective set. I bought the base, played a few games and then spent more money to buy undertow and a few characters. Top 5 game for me
Nice list. MK is still my favourite solo game. Gloohavem is a great game, but It takes too long for me.
I have every game on that table except for three of them. I haven't played all of them though. I have enjoyed Gloomhaven, Marvel Champions, and Friday. Hostage Negotiator is a solo game I really like. I just played Raxxon solo a couple of nights ago. I think I should try 7th Continent soon since I own it.
I keep hearing mixed things about Hostage Negotiator...some love it and some say it's just rolling dice with no real decisions. I'm torn :)
Couldn't stand Gloomhaven for the same reason I didn't back Hel by Mythic. When I play a campaign based game, I want to play A character for the length of the story. Not be told which character I can play for which mission or be forced to play a class I'm less interested in because the game forces me to retire characters.
Nice list! I’ve always wanted to try to many bones, but the cost was just too much for me.
It's worth it, try Undertow first.
I love Gloomhaven with a small group, never tried it solo.
Marvel Champions I also played with 2 other people. Liked it but not one I'm too concerned about playing again.
Love the Oniverse games, I even have Urbion but it's not as good as the others. Hard to say which one I like the most.
Really want to try Spirit Island. A friend has it but we of course haven't had a meetup since March so haven't played it yet!
The rest I don't know a lot about so can't say.
Spirit island is so much fun :)
I haven't played any of these games, but I would like to play Mage Knight. Legendary Encounters Alien is my go to solo game at present.
I never loved Legendary Marvel and it stopped me from trying the rest. Mage Knight is a lot to get into but totally worth it!
MK is on my shopping list.
Gloomhaven and Mage Knight are my Favs. You mentioned that Gloomhaven can be played with 1 character solo??? Is it meant to be played that way?? I have Jaws of the Lion and Im using 2. Its FUN. But I cant imagine being able to complete with only 1 character. Have you tried? Great review!! Id try Bones but its not really my cup o' tea I think. Im looking forward to playing my Gloomhaven BIG box then Frosthaven after it comes out (if Im not burned out on it by then LOL).
Too Many Bones is my fav also! Good video!
I would've also added Final Girl to the list if it had come out earlier.
I’ve just recently learned you can play Marvel Champions without doing deck construction. I sadly hate deck construction, so the fact that you can skip it interests me, but I don’t see it brought up much in reviews. Do you feel it would be as good without any kind of deck construction? I’m also wary because it’s FFG, which I’ve learned tend to make games that... aren’t my thing. Lots of rules questions, rules lookups, rules mistakes, exceptions, exceptions to exceptions etc. seeing it on your solo list makes me interested though.
Too many bones and strangely Viceroy are my favorite solo games. Viceroy is like a cool sudoku puzzle. Have you tried Shadowrun Crossfire?
Warhammer Adventure Card Game has been out of print for over 4 years, and is never coming back into print due to FFG no longer having the Warhammer licenses. Is it ever worth praising or recommending something that no-one can buy? (Unless they drop a lot of money on a second-hand copy)
Of course! They used game market is huge. You can buy either of those games pretty affordably.
The page to buy became my favorite. No more eBay overpriced items.
Nice!
Did you have Palm Island under consideration and fell out?
I must be the only person in the world that thinks that Too Many Bones is highly overrated. Anyway, great selection and great video. Congratulations.
There's at least one other :)
Don't worry, a lot of the top 100 are games I thought were only ok.
I might have to try too many bones on tts now!
It's so good :)
Thanks for the video, I will probably go with some of your recommendations. :) Wouldn't recommend Gloomhaven for soloing, though. I tried it for a while and had great fun, but after a few scenarioes it's too much work playing 2+ characters having to do all of the setup, monster movement and combat by yourself. Gloomhaven Digital would be a better choice.
Totally hear that, for myself I'm still enjoying gloomhaven solo.
What did you think of Cloudspire for solo?
Haven't played it yet :(
@@BoardGameCo would love your insight vs TMB, as having Cloudspire was wondering if I should get TMB
For purely solo stuff, there's also legacy of dragonholt from fantasy flight, its meant to be 1-4 players, but I can't even imagine playing it with 2 players, it's basically a choose your own adventure game, with character stats and stuff, so there is a TON of reading, if you were playing it with more than 1 player, you will just be reading to each other for hours on end. Though back when I got it I played it in a 2 day long car ride, since it was basically a few choose your own adventure books, it worked great to pass the time solo, and has a great story, just wouldn't recommend it for anything other than solo
Works great as something to buy, and just stick away until you are really bored alone or something, and its technically repayable, you just probably wanna give yourself a few months so you forget to majority of the stuff
V-Commandos has recently replaced Space Hulk: Death Angel as my favorite solo game. It's the "meatiest" solo game that i own, but it's also one of the quickest. You can play a single scenario in under 30 minutes easily, and it's one of the most thematic games i know.
Regarding Friday: I've played that game probably 30 times and only ever won it 2 times... on the easiest difficulty. It's a very cool idea for a game, but at this point it's more frustrating than fun for me.
Now I'm wondering if I'm playing Friday wrong :)
And for V-Commandos I own and love it...I hadn't played it in so long that I didn't put it on the list but I wanted to :)
Mage Knight is tied with Eldritch Horror for my favourite solo game. Roll Player is just underneath them.
I have been on the fence with Too Many Bones for awhile. I would love to play it a few times solo before putting forth the cash. Same goes for Spirit Island. Over the years I've spent a lot of money purchasing games without knowing whether or not I like them, only to sell them afterwards. These include 7th Continent, Arkham Horror 3rd Edition, Runebound 3rd Edition, Heroes of Terrinoth, etc. Not to say that they are bad games, they're just not a right fit for me.
Totally with you. Shameless plug here...but at BoardGameCo we specifically buy and trade used games....so even if it isn't for you, think of it as a rental fee instead of a complete loss :)
@ehngel We have similar tastes. MK is my #1 and EH is my #2
Coming back to this during our second lockdown. Sad occasion, but it's a great video. I adore V-Commandos. It's only fault for me is that it's way too tense to be relaxing!
Nice list! I would be curious about your thoughts on Set a Watch! I have been having fun with that solo lately.
While I very much enjoyed my few plays of Set a Watch, at the end of the day I didn't feel I was making that many decisions, most of the time it felt like the game was playing me rather than I was playing the game. Don't get me wrong...very much enjoyable, but in the end I got rid of it because of the lack of meaningful decisions (in my opinion).
@@BoardGameCo That's very fair. It does feel like more of a puzzle that is just different each time you play, but I am enjoying it. I understand the not many decisions to make though.
Great vid
Thanks :)
תודה רבה!!
נהנה מכל אחד מהתוכניות שלך!!
Anytime! Glad you enjoy them :)
1st. Great vid. I would say the same games as you mentioned. What i also did enjoy, but costs way more is LOTR the card game and dawn of the zeds (pretty expensive because it's mainly solo only but you can find it online as well). Great video!
Lord of the Rings is too big that I'm already scared off from it, trying Marvel and Arkham to be "in from the beginning". For Dawn of the Zeds, hasn't been on my raider...I'll take a look thanks!
Bit old but the games on your list I own are Mage knight and Gloomhaven but my fav game to play solo is Kingdom Death monster, which is a game that works excellent with up to 3 players but you get a very different experience playing solo. If playing with other people there are fights and situations you simply aren't able to overcome as well, you can play the long game and can see the bigger picture where any member of the team is expendable if it means a bigger success from the lantern year.. both experiences however are great I just love KDM solo as much as I love it with other people... I also enjoy Sword and Sorcery solo, but that's something I prefer playing with multiple people but I can run 5 heros solo when the mood takes me. :D
Our tastes are so similar! Which makes me think you might enjoy Set a Watch. Give it a try!
I did! Not enough to keep it in the end sadly but it gave me a few plays that I really enjoyed.