Ironically, I have not played any of your top 10 and actually enjoyed ISS Vanguard quite a bit. Definitely interested in most every game on your top ten list and appreciate your coverage. Appreciate the video and your insight! Anxious to see coverage of new games in 2024!
Thanks and ain’t that the way with boardgames? 😂 It’s great that people’s tastes vary so wildly and I think it’s awesome that you (and many others) liked ISS Vanguard - it’s obviously a great game for those who like it. Thanks for your kind words - have a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
I recently bought Voidfall and Halls of Hegra (neither of which I have gotten around to playing, as I am busy getting started with Hoplomachus: Victorum at the moment), with sleeves. "Hundreds of NOK" is not exactly how I would label that purchase, I think we are in the "thousands" territory 😀 The only good news is I spent so much on board games the last couple months (essentially clearing the whole backlog of games I have been drooling over), that those couple games become a (somewhat large) drop in the bucket. Now to start _playing_ some of those games, rather than spend time buying more ...
Voidfall is also my number 1, both for solo game and just overall top game of the year. Nucleum comes in at #2 for me. The others that would be on my list (no particular order): Revive, Darwin’s Journey, GWT: New Zealand, La Granja Deluxe Master Set, Scholars of the South Tigris, and Distilled.
Final Girl series 2 was my most played solo game this year, and I didn't play series 1, so I think I can claim that as my favourite solo game of 2023! Enjoyed your list, thanks.
Fantastic list! I found it to be very entertaining and I think that you presented the information on these games very well. Always enjoy your channel! Have a great Christmas season, and God bless!
Nucleum was on my table for about a month! I kept wrecking the AI until the last game where I tuned up the difficulty a bit too much haha. I’m waiting to play Voidfall…and I have a feeling it’ll be on the table for at least 2 months lol
I had not heard of Paperback Adventures before this video, but based on your review I think I would really enjoy this one. It’s unlike any other of the games I have on my shelf.
I feel you on your review of ISS Vanguard, I felt that way fairly quickly. I have to say that their newest game, Tamshii, is top notch and not a bit "flabbly". Kind of Awaken Realms light and it works very well.
Wow, Nucleum made it to your top 3. I'll get my copy very soon and I bought it to play it mainly solo. I'm glad it works well as a solo game. I really love the mechanics, the theme and the components
ISS Vanguard is my most played game this year and it was a blast for us. I started as a solo campaign, but I could convince my husband (who isn’t into board games!) to join me. We take our time and don’t rush through the game which feels perfect for us. I don’t know if I would enjoy it that much as solo game, but as two player experience this is definitely my game of the year! ❤
great list mark. Voidfall is my #1 of the year and according to pubmeeple my #2 all time which seems about right. Nigel and David really created something special. i also agree with Septima. feels like the entire game is heading towards something big and that big thing never happens. 1. Voidfall 2. City of the Great Machine 3. Deliverance 4. Scarface 1920 5. The Warp 6. Hegemony 7. Apiary 8. Arborea 9. Expeditions 10. Trailblazers: The John Muir Trail
Many thanks Marc for making this top 10. I'm still waiting for some games to arrive (which you mentioned), like ISS Vanguard. Wait and see what it brings. At the end of the video, you mentioned to watch some smaller content creators, but can you give a list. It would be nice to have a taste.
Really enjoyable list! We have some overlapping taste but also some divergence. But like you said that's one of the fun aspects of this hobby! Here's my top 9 of 2023 (Voidfall will undoubtedly make my top ten but I haven't played it yet. It's tabled in my game room right now, though). 9. Micro Cosmos 8. Darwin's Journey 7. Amritsar: The Golden Temple 6. Expeditions 5. Barcelona 4. 3 Ring Circus 3. Scholars of the South Tigris 2. Nucleum 1. The White Castle
haha glad I backed out of ISS vanguard, and also didn't back Septima.. probably won't get Expeditions as well (don't have Scythe, played it, liked it, that's it).. :) 3 bullets dodged! ^^ so far enjoying your top 10 of 2023, top 5 inc. - let's see if there will be a game I need to get.. a few of 6-10 are on my radar but nothing that I really need to get. too many games yet to play, recently & finally digged into Too Many Bones, loved it! will try to get in a lot of plays of TMB soon, along with act 1 of Middara, and splash in some new games from time to time.. :)
Great list! I really enjoy your passion; I can tell you genuinely enjoy these games. Have you tried The Isofarian Guard? For me, it is my number 1 solo game of the year.
Thank you for this video - and all the others also :-) love your change and i can always say for solo playing i like your channel the most :-) exactly ma taste :-) Thanks to you i bought halls of hegra .- and what can i say - its great - played it i think 17 times or so - really great game And yes also voidfall is sitting on my shelf - but it fears me the size of the box and the rules - but i plan to get into it in 2024 So thanks for all and all the best for 2024 and keep going with your channel at it is :-D
I feel the exact same way about ISS Vanguard. Gorgeous game, started off great - I love the ship book mechanic - but the gameplay gets very grindy and repetitive and all the cool stuff is unlocked before the halfway point.
Thank you for your content I find it helpful and enjoyable to listen to! There is a new game from Uri Rosenberg that I don't hear almost anyone speaking about called Planta Nubo. Have you seen it at all? Thank you
Dude THANK YOU for the heads up Halls of Hegra I had never heard of that game, just ordered me a Late Pledge copy. Thumbs up and a Sub P.s. I love Robinson Crusoe and when you said it was better and you where bored with RC (blasphemy), my ears perked up. =)
I have to try Halls of Hegra! Do you prefer Solar Sentinels, TMB or Victorum version from 20 Strong? Pretty weird that I never received Senjitsu battle for Japan, it happens.
Never tried a solo game yet but i will do that soon because I have some great games that should be good solo and friends and girlfriend can’t always be there to be my AI 😅
I'm with you on ISS Vanguard. Big miss for me. Maybe others loved it for its story, but that's the least important aspect of a game for me. I found the game's mechanics boring and repetitive. I did like Tainted Grail, but so far that's the only AR campaign game that I have enjoyed (unfortunately, I didn't like Etherfields either).
bite my ass, I didn't back 20 strong.. probably need to get it next time it is available.. :) I only played voidfall multiplayer yet, need to get it to the table solo soon as well.. let's see if I can make this happen!? :)
It was a preview copy. I enjoyed it for a space skirmish game. The rules were a little clunky but I know that they are sorting that. However, it played well and I’m interested to see how the final version turns out.
Hum, you call Expeditions too expensive, themeless and abstract (??? It’s one of the most thematic games I’ve played personally) and you add 20 Strong in your top ?? An abstract overpriced themeless game ? I don’t get it. The main box of 20 Strong + one expansion is already more expensive than Expeditions. 2 small deck of cards with average art and dice more expensive than a huge box full of beautiful tiles, dozen of cards, several mechs and boards. Obviously you like what you like, but a bit of logic doesn’t hurt anybody.
It’s great that you are enjoying Expeditions - however, I totally disagree on theme for expeditions - there is zero theme. It’s very loosely (by artwork only) tied into the Scythe world but is ostensibly an abstracted optimisation puzzle game and, whilst ok, it doesn’t do anything that excites me. The game could have been far smaller in footprint and still delivered the same experience. The solo, whilst ok, is off playing its own game and just hoovering up resources - I found it unengaging as a solo mode - a little too pedestrian. 20 Strong, for me, offers a far better solo gameplay experience. In the base game alone you are getting the system which can be added to with additional packs at a low price which all provide a different experience. You can get the base game and both current expansions for roughly the same price as expeditions (bear in mind each box had to have its own rules developed to fit in with the system). Again, art is subjective so that’s not really an issue between the two. I would have much preferred expeditions to be a smaller footprint game with tokens, that would have worked better for me. Logic in a list is always down to many factors but ultimately it’s about how much I enjoy the game. I enjoy 20 Strong far more than I enjoy Expeditions which, after multiple plays, still fails to excite me.
@@NotBoredGaming For the price, maybe it depends on where you live, cause 20 Strong + both available expansions are more expensive than Expeditions in France : 109 € vs 71 € where I live. More than 100 € for 3 decks of cards and 20 dice is a scam for me. I much prefer Under Falling Skies or Heredity for instance, for solo experiences. Of course, price shouldn't be too much of an issue as long as you enjoy it. And both might look expensive if not enjoyed. Personally, the more I play Expeditions, the more I love it, the more I feel engaged in the world, maybe because it reminds me of Stalker (the Tarkovsky's film, my favorite) and I hope the first expansion will be a campaign.
Thanks for your kind words about Voidfall, glad you liked it 😊
Thanks Nigel - it’s an amazing game which hits every button for me. Congratulations.
Thank you so much for the inclusion Mark!!! This was a great holiday present!
Ironically, I have not played any of your top 10 and actually enjoyed ISS Vanguard quite a bit. Definitely interested in most every game on your top ten list and appreciate your coverage. Appreciate the video and your insight! Anxious to see coverage of new games in 2024!
Thanks and ain’t that the way with boardgames? 😂 It’s great that people’s tastes vary so wildly and I think it’s awesome that you (and many others) liked ISS Vanguard - it’s obviously a great game for those who like it. Thanks for your kind words - have a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
Another positive voice here for ISS Vanguard, but can see how it can grate for others.
Great list, Mark!
After waiting for I don't know how many years, ISS Vanguard is finally about to be delivered to me - I'm hoping for the best.
@normstewart546 I hope you enjoy 👍
So grateful to see Kinfire Chronicles on here! Thank you so much for the mention!
Thanks for the review copy. I’m having a great time with it and the full review will be up in January.
You just made me spend hundreds of Norwegian Krone. Love your reviews as I solo a lot and our tastes overlap. Have great Christmas and New Year!
#sorrynotsorry 😂😂. Thanks for watching and have a great Festive Period.
I recently bought Voidfall and Halls of Hegra (neither of which I have gotten around to playing, as I am busy getting started with Hoplomachus: Victorum at the moment), with sleeves. "Hundreds of NOK" is not exactly how I would label that purchase, I think we are in the "thousands" territory 😀 The only good news is I spent so much on board games the last couple months (essentially clearing the whole backlog of games I have been drooling over), that those couple games become a (somewhat large) drop in the bucket. Now to start _playing_ some of those games, rather than spend time buying more ...
Voidfall is also my number 1, both for solo game and just overall top game of the year. Nucleum comes in at #2 for me. The others that would be on my list (no particular order): Revive, Darwin’s Journey, GWT: New Zealand, La Granja Deluxe Master Set, Scholars of the South Tigris, and Distilled.
I bought Voidfall and was worried about getting it to the table but now I'm just going to play it solo. Thank you for the idea!
Hands down: best 2023 list I've heard! Thank you for making this!
Thanks for watching 👍👍
Final Girl series 2 was my most played solo game this year, and I didn't play series 1, so I think I can claim that as my favourite solo game of 2023! Enjoyed your list, thanks.
Great list. Nice to know I’m not the only one who calls Frosthaven Frostpunk when I talk about it.
😂
Fantastic list! I found it to be very entertaining and I think that you presented the information on these games very well. Always enjoy your channel! Have a great Christmas season, and God bless!
Thanks Mark - best wishes to you and yours
I’m also not drawn to modern war themes, but between your recommendation and Shaggi’s, I think I might have to try out Halls of Hegra
Nucleum was on my table for about a month! I kept wrecking the AI until the last game where I tuned up the difficulty a bit too much haha.
I’m waiting to play Voidfall…and I have a feeling it’ll be on the table for at least 2 months lol
I had not heard of Paperback Adventures before this video, but based on your review I think I would really enjoy this one. It’s unlike any other of the games I have on my shelf.
I feel you on your review of ISS Vanguard, I felt that way fairly quickly. I have to say that their newest game, Tamshii, is top notch and not a bit "flabbly". Kind of Awaken Realms light and it works very well.
Wow, Nucleum made it to your top 3. I'll get my copy very soon and I bought it to play it mainly solo. I'm glad it works well as a solo game. I really love the mechanics, the theme and the components
Great list Mark. I need me some halls of hegra!!
The last weeks I played Final Girl, Castle Itter and Warfighter and I liked those games.
ISS Vanguard is my most played game this year and it was a blast for us.
I started as a solo campaign, but I could convince my husband (who isn’t into board games!) to join me.
We take our time and don’t rush through the game which feels perfect for us.
I don’t know if I would enjoy it that much as solo game, but as two player experience this is definitely my game of the year! ❤
It absolutely works for a lot of people - really glad you are having a blast with it.
Great list!! Dig your taste! Ty!!
Great list Mark! Hope your Christmas, Holidays and New Years are great. 🎉
The me Adam - much love to you and your family this Christmas
@@NotBoredGamingSame to you my friend 😄
great list mark. Voidfall is my #1 of the year and according to pubmeeple my #2 all time which seems about right. Nigel and David really created something special. i also agree with Septima. feels like the entire game is heading towards something big and that big thing never happens.
1. Voidfall
2. City of the Great Machine
3. Deliverance
4. Scarface 1920
5. The Warp
6. Hegemony
7. Apiary
8. Arborea
9. Expeditions
10. Trailblazers: The John Muir Trail
Great list
Many thanks Marc for making this top 10. I'm still waiting for some games to arrive (which you mentioned), like ISS Vanguard. Wait and see what it brings. At the end of the video, you mentioned to watch some smaller content creators, but can you give a list. It would be nice to have a taste.
Really enjoyable list! We have some overlapping taste but also some divergence. But like you said that's one of the fun aspects of this hobby! Here's my top 9 of 2023 (Voidfall will undoubtedly make my top ten but I haven't played it yet. It's tabled in my game room right now, though).
9. Micro Cosmos
8. Darwin's Journey
7. Amritsar: The Golden Temple
6. Expeditions
5. Barcelona
4. 3 Ring Circus
3. Scholars of the South Tigris
2. Nucleum
1. The White Castle
I’ve only played Expeditions and Nucleum on your list. I have White Castle but haven’t played it yet
Awesome list. Thanks for sharing! Definitely hitting that follow button
Thank You
Always enjoy hearing your take.
haha glad I backed out of ISS vanguard, and also didn't back Septima.. probably won't get Expeditions as well (don't have Scythe, played it, liked it, that's it).. :) 3 bullets dodged! ^^ so far enjoying your top 10 of 2023, top 5 inc. - let's see if there will be a game I need to get.. a few of 6-10 are on my radar but nothing that I really need to get. too many games yet to play, recently & finally digged into Too Many Bones, loved it! will try to get in a lot of plays of TMB soon, along with act 1 of Middara, and splash in some new games from time to time.. :)
Great list! I really enjoy your passion; I can tell you genuinely enjoy these games. Have you tried The Isofarian Guard? For me, it is my number 1 solo game of the year.
Thanks and no, unfortunately I didn’t back it. 😢
As always great video Mark! Happy New Year!
Thank you - same to you and yours
Thank you for this video - and all the others also :-) love your change and i can always say for solo playing i like your channel the most :-) exactly ma taste :-)
Thanks to you i bought halls of hegra .- and what can i say - its great - played it i think 17 times or so - really great game
And yes also voidfall is sitting on my shelf - but it fears me the size of the box and the rules - but i plan to get into it in 2024
So thanks for all and all the best for 2024 and keep going with your channel at it is :-D
Thanks for watching and I’m glad you love Halls of Hegra. I hope you’ve managed to tackle Voidfall - it’s so worth it.
Thrilled to make top 10....what an honor.
Congratulations on a great game Stephen - it’s so much fun to play.
I feel the exact same way about ISS Vanguard. Gorgeous game, started off great - I love the ship book mechanic - but the gameplay gets very grindy and repetitive and all the cool stuff is unlocked before the halfway point.
I'm disappointed about ISS Vanguard and I haven't even received it yet.
Just discovered your channel….very good….. I subscribed
Thank you and thanks for Subscribing 👍
Thank you for your content I find it helpful and enjoyable to listen to! There is a new game from Uri Rosenberg that I don't hear almost anyone speaking about called Planta Nubo. Have you seen it at all? Thank you
I haven’t played it but know someone who played it multiplayer and they found it too fiddly.
Agree so much on Expeditions…it could have been a compact card game
I know, right. It just feels like a shrewd marketing exploit to package it up as it is.
Dude THANK YOU for the heads up Halls of Hegra I had never heard of that game, just ordered me a Late Pledge copy. Thumbs up and a Sub
P.s. I love Robinson Crusoe and when you said it was better and you where bored with RC (blasphemy), my ears perked up. =)
Congrats to Dead Alive Games for a top 10 ranking!!
Thank you for this nice list. Anyway I‘m still waiting for my ISS Vanguard German edition. :-(
I hope you enjoy it - many people do. Remember, mine is just one opinion.
I have to try Halls of Hegra!
Do you prefer Solar Sentinels, TMB or Victorum version from 20 Strong?
Pretty weird that I never received Senjitsu battle for Japan, it happens.
Thanks for watching, my 20 Strong preference is Victorum>TMB>Solar Sentinels
Great list!
Never tried a solo game yet but i will do that soon because I have some great games that should be good solo and friends and girlfriend can’t always be there to be my AI 😅
Curious of your thoughts on Middara on your shelf. I sold it last year but I'm kinda regretting it now.
I like it a lot BUT it’s a hard game to get to the table because of its sheer size. I want to play it more but I don’t have the time.
3 weeks ago and you've got HW on your shelf? Or maybe that was a preview copy. Is NA fulfillment so behind the UK?
Hi - yeah, it’s a preview copy not the final release.
would love to get kinfire chronicles but it's so expensive.. I can buy 3-4 other games for the same price.
I'm with you on ISS Vanguard. Big miss for me. Maybe others loved it for its story, but that's the least important aspect of a game for me. I found the game's mechanics boring and repetitive. I did like Tainted Grail, but so far that's the only AR campaign game that I have enjoyed (unfortunately, I didn't like Etherfields either).
bite my ass, I didn't back 20 strong.. probably need to get it next time it is available.. :) I only played voidfall multiplayer yet, need to get it to the table solo soon as well.. let's see if I can make this happen!? :)
Man. I fear for ISS. I was hoping it's good. 😥
I see homeworld in the background, how is it?
It was a preview copy. I enjoyed it for a space skirmish game. The rules were a little clunky but I know that they are sorting that. However, it played well and I’m interested to see how the final version turns out.
what?! no mention of Powdered Wig Con!?
That’s not a Con - it’s an exclusive, invitation only Lifestyle event. A very select crowd of highly uninfluential people 😂
@NotBoredGaming that is quite literally the only acceptable answer.
Hum, you call Expeditions too expensive, themeless and abstract (??? It’s one of the most thematic games I’ve played personally) and you add 20 Strong in your top ?? An abstract overpriced themeless game ? I don’t get it. The main box of 20 Strong + one expansion is already more expensive than Expeditions. 2 small deck of cards with average art and dice more expensive than a huge box full of beautiful tiles, dozen of cards, several mechs and boards. Obviously you like what you like, but a bit of logic doesn’t hurt anybody.
It’s great that you are enjoying Expeditions - however, I totally disagree on theme for expeditions - there is zero theme. It’s very loosely (by artwork only) tied into the Scythe world but is ostensibly an abstracted optimisation puzzle game and, whilst ok, it doesn’t do anything that excites me. The game could have been far smaller in footprint and still delivered the same experience.
The solo, whilst ok, is off playing its own game and just hoovering up resources - I found it unengaging as a solo mode - a little too pedestrian.
20 Strong, for me, offers a far better solo gameplay experience. In the base game alone you are getting the system which can be added to with additional packs at a low price which all provide a different experience. You can get the base game and both current expansions for roughly the same price as expeditions (bear in mind each box had to have its own rules developed to fit in with the system). Again, art is subjective so that’s not really an issue between the two.
I would have much preferred expeditions to be a smaller footprint game with tokens, that would have worked better for me.
Logic in a list is always down to many factors but ultimately it’s about how much I enjoy the game. I enjoy 20 Strong far more than I enjoy Expeditions which, after multiple plays, still fails to excite me.
@@NotBoredGaming For the price, maybe it depends on where you live, cause 20 Strong + both available expansions are more expensive than Expeditions in France : 109 € vs 71 € where I live. More than 100 € for 3 decks of cards and 20 dice is a scam for me. I much prefer Under Falling Skies or Heredity for instance, for solo experiences. Of course, price shouldn't be too much of an issue as long as you enjoy it. And both might look expensive if not enjoyed. Personally, the more I play Expeditions, the more I love it, the more I feel engaged in the world, maybe because it reminds me of Stalker (the Tarkovsky's film, my favorite) and I hope the first expansion will be a campaign.
@vincentgaliano a campaign for Expeditions would absolutely elevate it - I hope that’s the case.
Not a single interruption by Bambi? This must be made with AI
She was asleep downstairs
No KDM?
It’s my favourite solo game of all time but this is just 2023 releases.