Zee's Top 10 Solo Games

Zee Garcia discusses his favorite solitaire card and board games.

00:00 - Introduction
01:36 - #10
03:06 - #9
04:44 - #8
05:56 - #7
07:52 - #6
09:42 - #5
11:48 - #4
13:17 - #3
15:20 - #2
17:28 - #1

[timluc]

1:40 - 10 - The Game
3:07 - 9 - S.O.S Titanic
4:43 - 8 - Sylvion
5:58 - 7 - Race for the Galaxy (with expansion)
7:54 - 6 - Gem Rush
9:38 - 5 - Castellion
11:50 - 4 - Freedom: The Underground Railroad
13:22 - 3 - Robinson Crusoe
15:17 - 2 - Friday
17:20 - 1 - Onirim

[mr.horseshoe]

Really happy to see a solo top 10. Zee's list is solid, but my #1 go to solo game is still Mage Knight. Never get tired of playing it.

[jomiran]

This needs an update since solo games have exploded lately.

[cloud]

It's funny you get so much crap from the other two for playing solo games. The irony is not lost on me that you had to do this video yourself.

Good list, as few of these have been on my list for awhile. One reason I like co-op games is because they naturally adapt very well to solo play. My kids are far too young to play a lot of these games with me and my wife and I work and if we have time for a game at all we choose smaller shorter games. I like games that tell a story and give me a lot to manage so I've enjoyed Pandemic, Defenders of the Realm, Dead Men Tell No Tales, Elder Sign, Ghost Stories, etc. depends on what I'm in the mood for and what I feel like setting up after the kids go to bed. I've found some of those solo games are really therapeutic and a really great way to unwind after a long work day or a day chasing down two toddlers.

[cthutu]

My favourite solo game (although plays more players) is 'Mice & Mystics'. It's like you're playing a story. It's fantastic.

[sirphobos]

Love you Zee and its great to see some solo love from the dice tower. For those players not afraid of games bigger that Zee is scared of lol: Mage Knight, Warfighter, Darkest Night, Dawn of the Zeds, Viticulture, Legends of Andor, Galaxy Defenders, and Imperial Settlers with the official campaign variant.

[JamieMaltmanTube]

It was pretty cool to watch this after chatting about part of this topic last week at Snakes & Lattes! And it's cool that the Oniverse games are some of my 4 year old son's favourites to play with me, and you're the one who tipped us off to them. Thanks again!

[SharlzG]

I love, love, love, Hostage Negotiator. By no means easy, but makes winning it (if you win it) such joy. Love it.

[Rogerio_FM]

This list is perfect man, I've been searching for top solo board games for a while, thanks.

[studleygamer]

Wonderful, solid list. All of your choices are favorites of mine and would have been in my top 20. It was great to see you do this list, Zee. Thank you.

[tomhannah]

Been out of the hobby so long that ALL of these are new to me... But I'm back, and I like your presentation, you're not as boring as some guys, and you've made me really interested in some of these! Thanks!

[davidpepin]

If you like Friday, might I suggest you try Goblivion. It is similar in the way that you fight different kind of goblins and when you win, you flip them over and add the cards to your deck, giving you a special card, different depending on the goblin you killed. The goal is to defend your castle and you start with a deck containing bad cards, neutral ones and few good ones. You have money (health) and between fights, you can train one of your citizen (removing it from the game), to grab a new card from the advance units. This way, you upgrade your deck, try to win some money or not lose to much because you will have to fight the big bad bosses at the end. It is like a upgraded Friday, more fun. I have both games and I prefer Goblivion. I still play friday some times because games are a bit faster. Thank you for the video!

[SoloPlayGamer]

Thanks for making a top ten solo board games video. I had to make one a month ago because no one had made an updated one for years. Great video.

[CarboneGN]

I recommend Terraforming Mars.
Even if the game is designed for up to 5 players, the solo variant ask you to complete the terraformation in 14 turns, which is not as easy as it seems ! The 12 corporations offer a variety of different gameplay and new strategies :)

[natelinhart]

I always thought it was interesting that a lot of Zee's favorite games are from Z-Man games.

[AnimalMkIV]

Great to see a list of solo games :) I have a regular game night once a week but I want to play more and solo games are a great way to unwind after work.

My top 10 at the moment is:
10. Hostage Negotiator
9. Clacks
8. Tiny Epic Galaxies
7. Secrets of the Lost Tomb
6. Pandemic (with expansions)
5. Tiny Epic Kingdoms: Heroes Call
4. Robinson Crusoe
3. Dungeon Crawler
2. Rallyman
1. Snowdonia

[rossjaax]

Amazing Zee! Not one of these titles were familiar to me before. Looking forward to checking them out. I appreciate the recommendations.

[Jbiggsjr]

Thanks Zee for the ideas.  I'm not terribly intrigued by solo play but knowing that I have a couple now makes me want to try it sometime.

[Jonathan-rlvv]

Great list! The only one I hadn't heard of was Gem Rush. I have to check it out! I recommend Zulus on the Ramparts also from Victory Point Games. Here's my top 10 for comparison (mine's pretty close to yours):

1. Onirim
2. Tiny Epic Galaxies
3. Freedom: the Underground Railroad
4. Star Realms (with Gambit expansion)
5. Nautillion
6. Urbion
7. Hostage Negotiator
8. The Game
9. Zulus on the Ramparts
10. Rolling America

Honorable mentions: OctoDice, Castellion, Forbidden Island, Deep Space D6, Mad City, Sylvion, Space Hulk: Death Angel

[mikeo.]

Thanks Zee! I've just ordered Onirim from Amazon (wasn't available from any local game store, sadly). Also, great to know that about Race for the Galaxy! I have that already, love the game, don't get many opportunities to play it, but nice to know the solo game works. I'd just presumed it wasn't very good. Cheers!