5 SOLO GAMES TO START YOUR COLLECTION in 2022

Mike

Boardgames for One

Mike is our resident solo expert, and bring to the Nexus views on games from the one-player perspective. He also creates some wild mashups and solo variants you won’t find anywhere else!

So, you want to play some board games?

But, you have no one to play with. Not to fear. Mike has rounded up a bunch of games that are perfect for all solo gamers, and specifically fitting for those new to the hobby.

Lux Aeterna

Coming in under $20, this is the only game in the list that plays solo only. This card game boasts a quick setup and a real time mechanic. Real time indicates that you have a fixed amount of time to take turns or in this case, complete the objective in order to win. This feature can be a turnoff in some games, but is sometimes welcome in solo play.

In Lux Aeterna, you are getting sucked into a black hole and you have ten minutes to survive. Prioritize what needs to get fixed, and do the best you can to not perish!

Your ship has sustained massive damage, is falling apart around you, and is drifting toward the ultimate catastrophe, a black hole. You are alone. Your challenge in Lux Aeterna is to draw and play all of the cards in the main deck, one turn after another, without the spaceship collapsing completely or falling into the black hole.

If a ship’s system collapses, the game will get harder for you; if you should repair a system, then you just might avoid the ultimate doom.

Events (called glitches) can be seeded into the main deck to make things even more difficult, as will reducing the real time that you have to play: 12 minutes -> 10 minutes -> 8 minutes, etc.

Detective-Style Games

Detective-style games can be a great way to start off in solo gaming. If you want to awaken your inner sleuth, these are some great options.

Detective: City of Angels

Detective: City of Angels, set in the dark and violent world of 1940s Los Angeles, is a game of mystery, deception, and investigation for 1-5 players. Most players will step into the shoes of LAPD homicide detectives, hungry for glory and willing to do whatever it takes to successfully close a case, even if that means intimidating suspects, concealing evidence, and hiring snitches to rat on their fellow detectives. One player, however, will take on the role of The Chisel, whose only goal is to stall and misdirect the detectives at every turn using bluffing, manipulation, and often outright lies.

Chronicles of Crime

In Chronicles of Crime, you use your phone and an app to scan QR codes as you worth through one of many cases. As you scan QR codes, you will interview suspects, and collect clues you find in various locations.

Chronicles of Crime is cooperative game of crime investigation, mixing VR experience and board gaming. With the same physical components (board, locations, characters and items , players will be able to play plenty of different scenarii and solve as many different crime stories. They will start the app, choose the scenario they want to play, and follow the story. The goal being to catch the killer of the case they have been given in the shortest short time possible.

Each session lasts around 1h to 1h30 minutes and many scenarios are connected to each others in order to tell a much bigger story.

Escape Room Games

Like detective-style games, escape room games scratch the deduction itch without requiring you to round up a group of friends and pay through the nose to enter a repurposed warehouse. Each game usually runs between $10-15, and they can be played with friends if you want to cooperate. Unlock and Exit are the two most popular brands; Unlock requiring an app which may turn folks off. Exit tends to be more challenging.

Alien Fate of the Nostromo

Alien Fate of the Nostromo is a cooperative game, meaning you can play with family and friends, or solo without learning any other rules. Simply control one or more characters with each play for a varied experience. This game is great for new gamers because it introduces lots of mechanics you will see in other games. In the game, players’ characters get scared, making the game more difficult over time. For a more intense experience, try the Director’s Cut where your character could very well perish!

In ALIEN: Fate of the Nostromo, players take the role of Nostromo crew members Ripley, Lambert, Parker, Brett, or Dallas. Over the course of the game, they collect scrap, craft items, and fulfill different objectives. The crew will lose and gain morale as they encounter the Alien and other situations. If crew morale reaches zero, players lose the game.

Once the players fulfill their initial objectives, they face one of five final missions, each with a unique set of requirements. Players must fulfill the final mission’s requirements simultaneously to win the game. Players can also introduce Science Officer Ash for a more challenging game. Ash moves through the ship, removing scrap and forcing the crew to lose morale.

Wingspan

Wingspan is the heaviest of the group of games listed here, but is extremely accessible. This is the first game in this list that introduces an AI component, or automa. This feature in many multiplayer games makes the game solo-able by giving the solo player an automated opponent to control.

You are bird enthusiasts-researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors-seeking to discover and attract the best birds to your aviary. Each bird extends a chain of powerful combinations in one of your habitats actions. These habitats focus on several key aspects of growth:

–Gain food tokens via custom dice in a birdfeeder dice tower
–Lay eggs using egg miniatures in a variety of colors
–Draw from hundreds of unique bird cards and play them

The winner is the player with the most points after 4 rounds.

So, which solo games will you get your hands on, and which have your favorite to recommend to new games? Leave some comments below and share your favorites!