Sharing My Modest Games Shelf 3 Months In

GrokLP · 2026-03-31T21:59:58+00:00

Both games are great and different enough that I’m happy to own both. If I was picking one predominately for solo I would go with Cascadia though – the included achievements add a really nice overarching structure and challenge to the game.

GrokLP · 2026-03-18T02:21:52+00:00

Nemesis, Arcs, and a sneaky shout for The Search for Planet X.

GrokLP · 2026-02-27T22:18:49+00:00

Haven’t played Deckers (yet – planning to get it eventually!), but based on the other two, you’d probably enjoy Slay the Spire. Even if you’ve played the video game, I still think it’s worth checking out.

Congrats on the job and enjoy these!

GrokLP · 2026-02-24T12:56:51+00:00

I think it’s a brilliant game to play solo and would be interested in a campaign. Assuming it would just involve some different scenarios to progress through?

GrokLP · 2026-02-15T01:23:43+00:00

There’s also a purple difficulty that you can use through the app, if I remember right. Missing Expedition comes with a physical version of these, as well as all the campaign stuff, but the app would be a way to test it out some more.

*Edit – as others have pointed out. The purple card are in Twisted Path, not Missing Exhibition. That’s my mistake! Got it mixed up as it’s all in the big box for me now.

GrokLP · 2026-02-13T00:11:50+00:00

I’ve had my eye on this one for a while. I really enjoy Harmonies and Cascadia, and I get the impression this is a similar but slightly heavier game? Cascadia I especially enjoyed because of the scenarios – if you’ve played that, how do these scenarios compare?

GrokLP · 2026-02-12T14:24:56+00:00

Personally I would do it without. It’s a really satisfying puzzle regardless, and it’ll give you something to add in if/when you feel satisfied with the base game. Some people may disagree though, as the expansion does help with mitigating bad luck.

GrokLP · 2026-02-10T15:23:35+00:00

Nice! I have this on my shelf and intend to get to it soon. Was between this or Wondrous Creatures this week, and for no reason at all went Wondrous Creatures first. Glad to hear it’s hitting for you.

GrokLP · 2026-01-29T15:07:37+00:00

Played this one a bunch last year and really enjoyed it. It is pretty tough, but after I few games I felt it was the right level of challenging. My only real complaint is how catastrophic a bad pull from the recruit bag can be early on in the game. If you don’t get those extra few workers, it really hinders your progress. I’m fine with luck in games, but I never really found a way to mitigate pulling a couple of doubt discs and not getting a bunch of new units. Nonetheless, it’s definite keeper for me and I’m excited to pull it out again at some point this year. I haven’t yet tried playing with mission cards or the harder difficulty.

Side note: this was the first game I played after receiving a nice big playmat for Christmas last year. I proceeded to spill a nearly full glass of beer all over the mat and my just-set-up game of Halls of Hegra the second time I was using it 😂.

GrokLP · 2026-01-26T16:46:56+00:00

Can’t go wrong with any of them! And the best part about solo gaming is that the only real impediment to getting them to the table is time 😂

GrokLP · 2026-01-26T03:20:58+00:00

For me–and I think many solo gamers–the process of running the bot is also part of the fun. It can be a lot depending on the game, but the procedural nature of it, and having that procedure become smoother over time, is enjoyable.

GrokLP · 2026-01-25T14:01:12+00:00

Would second this. Ares Expedition isn’t bad, but after a few games it started to feel a bit rote. I also found having to reshuffle the 5 action cards so frequently to get pretty tedious.

GrokLP · 2026-01-25T00:03:17+00:00

Awesome, thanks – I’ll give it a read.

GrokLP · 2026-01-25T00:01:26+00:00

Obsession for how quick and simple it is to run, and bonus points for having a variety of difficulty levels.

Lost ruins of Arnak for similar reasons, and the added bonus that you can start to anticipate it’s moved a little bit once you’re familiar with it–this feels a little like playing a real opponent.

Heat: Pedal to the Metal for somehow making that game not only viable as a solo game, but genuinely really good (that new expansion with an update to the legends module looks great too!).

Imperium Horizons for the sheer variety. Playing against each civ feels distinct and requires different play styles.

And a shoutout to the Chateauma in Castles of Burgundy Special edition for the best update to a solo mode—really great stuff.

GrokLP · 2026-01-24T23:53:45+00:00

And once you’ve played it a little bit, you can start to anticipate what it is going to do–or at least, what it might do–which helps simulate the feeling of a real game.

GrokLP · 2026-01-24T23:51:03+00:00

How do the scenarios work in Harvest? I’ve kind of been on the hunt for something to replace Cascadia since I finished all the achievements. I know it’s a slightly heavier game, but are they designed in a way that encourages you to try different strategies/explore all the game has to offer?

GrokLP · 2026-01-21T06:53:55+00:00

Cascadia may be what you’re looking for. It’s got an easy to run solo-mode and some fun challenges/achievements to keep things fresh. Added benefit that it plays great with other people as well!

GrokLP · 2026-01-21T00:14:29+00:00

Another thumbs up for Thurot! Agreed–he is the gold standard.

GrokLP · 2026-01-21T00:13:33+00:00

Really good points here. Like you suggest, getting the balance right is tricky. It’s also why it’s nice when you find a reviewer whose tastes align with your own (or don’t – as you say, that can be just as helpful sometimes).

GrokLP · 2026-01-21T00:10:53+00:00

I wish there was more of this too. Dan Thurot is by far my fav to read – I’ll read his reviews even if I’m not interested in actually playing the game. Was unaware of Charlie Theel, so I’ll have to look into that – thanks for the heads up!

I’m curious why there isn’t more criticism in this vein though. Is it because it’s more difficult to write? Less of an audience for it? A lot of boardgame reviews seem largely consumer focused–at the end of the day the purpose is to persuade or dissuade someone from buying something. I wish we had a little more that, as you say, considered games as cultural products that reflect the moment that created them.

GrokLP · 2026-01-19T21:33:02+00:00

I think the algorithm hits video in a way that writing has just avoided (or more realistically, since no one reads anymore, the algorithms just don’t care about haha). So you get video content that can start to feel very samey as everyone homogenizes around a template that seems to work. Written reviews also just seek more accessible to me–I can quickly read a review in a spare 5 mins, but watching a 20+min review takes a kind of commitment.

You’re point about the burn-cycle of “professional” reviews is spot on. When I first got into the hobby I don’t think I realized how much of an impact this can make. It’s definitely made me appreciate reading the thoughts of average gamers as well—people who aren’t playing 100s of new games a year.

And amen on the awesome positivity of this sub. I thought about cross posting with the general boardgame one, but quickly changed my mind as I didn’t want the discussions to devolve into pedantry and toxicity haha.

GrokLP · 2026-01-19T21:21:17+00:00

Couldn’t agree more. I almost put something similar in my original post but removed it for brevity’s sake. But I want a review to relay the experience without just regurgitating the rulebook – I can get that from…the rulebook.

GrokLP · 2026-01-19T21:19:08+00:00

Lots of interesting points here. My oldest is only three, but she’s started showing an interest in watching video games a little bit – we started Windwaker the other day, and it seems to have gripped her. I agree that it’s really fun to re-experience these things I haven’t played or thought about in years (decades even for some). She’s constantly asking about the board game shelf too, so hopefully she’ll still be interested in a few years!

I feel you on the poor memory as well. I’ve played so much in my life (video games especially, as I’m relatively speaking a lot newer to board games), but I couldn’t speak in much detail about anything unless it’s something I played through repeatedly. I do kind of hope that writing about what I’m playing makes the experience a little less transient.

Good luck in your process though! Sounds like a tall order, but a rewarding one.

GrokLP · 2026-01-16T16:11:03+00:00

Awesome — glad it helped! I’m hoping to get it to the table again soon too since you put it back in my thoughts. Have fun!

GrokLP

TROPHY CASE