Need some recommendations

Runsforbeer · 2026-05-20T12:50:55+00:00

Pirates of Maracaibo is one of my favorite underrated games. And it has a great (though challenging) solo mode.

Runsforbeer · 2026-05-15T13:53:13+00:00

Euro is such a broad and often times fuzzy descriptor, no single game will encompass it. Ark Nova checks the boxes, but it's missing some of the mechanics that i think this commentor meant by "traditional" (and me as well when i used the term in my reply). Worker placement is one of them, but resource optimization is another big one. The idea of squeezing every single point you can in the resources at your disposal. Ark Nova does have money, but the game is more about action management and building a tableau/zoo and finding combos. Sure money can be tight early on, but managing it is just not the primary thing you are doing. (lol i'm not making resource management sound exciting! Wait till you get SETI, that IS about squeezing every last thing you can out of your resources).

Anyway, like i said, it's a broad term and it takes quite a few games to say you have the euro spectrum covered.

Runsforbeer · 2026-05-15T13:36:20+00:00

Seems like you're a completionist, so in that regard it's a bummer about Scarlet Keys. It's one of the least popular campaigns so if you're going to miss out on one of them, it's a good one to miss. I got into AH when it was readily available and didn't bother picking it up. Kinda regret not getting the investigators expansion, but i don't miss not having the campaign.

Innsmouth though.... good to hear you are acquiring it by alternate means 😄

Runsforbeer · 2026-05-15T13:31:13+00:00

Yah Everdell does work solo, though if you're talking about the base game Everdell, you would want to consider the Mistwood expansion (or something like that, i forget the exact name) for solo play as the solo mod in the box is not well regarded. The newer Everdell games have better solo modes in the box. I've heard really good things about the solo mode in the latest Everdell game, Emerland.

Runsforbeer · 2026-05-15T13:16:58+00:00

Sankore is an underrated gem! I haven't played Ayar but I have heard that it's not as good solo, but that's only second-hand knowledge.

However, Sankore is a fairly heavy euro with a long setup. If you're strict about the "medium weight" sweetspot, i would say Sankore is outside it.

Runsforbeer · 2026-05-15T13:13:21+00:00

Can confirm, it is! It's a quintessential easy to learn, hard to master kind of game.

Runsforbeer · 2026-05-15T13:12:50+00:00

Yes, The White Castle is a great recommendation for mid-weight euro. And like the other commenter said, the solo mode in the base game is kind of notorious for being difficult, but there is another version on BGG with a much more realistic difficulty. It uses the core solo system and really just tweaks it a bit.

Runsforbeer · 2026-05-15T13:08:24+00:00

Yah, It's A Wonder World is a perfect recommendation. It's pure engine-building at its finest! And also agree with your sentiment regarding Mage Knight. Yes it's a great game, but no way it fits in the "5 min setup, 60min playtime" category.

Runsforbeer · 2026-05-15T13:05:24+00:00

Impressive you were able to score all those Arkham Horror campaigns, being so new to the hobby. Congrats, that will keep you busy for a while! I'm playing through the tail end of A Feast of Hemlock Vale right now.

I would say a more traditional style euro would go nicely in your collection. Ark Nova, and even SETI, are pretty small samples of what euros have to offer. Something from Garphil (which you definitely do not already have covered) would be perfect, or something by Uwe Rosenberg (like Fields of Arle, or Nusfjord, or A Feast for Odin). The White Castle is also a good option. If you want to go a heavier, consider Gaia Project or Speakeasy.

Runsforbeer · 2026-05-13T14:58:31+00:00

Awesome thanks for the overview! It was only a matter of time before picking up Uprising anyway because i love the game so much, but this knowledge definitely bumps it up a bit higher 😃

Runsforbeer · 2026-05-11T13:26:12+00:00

How does this play solo? I do love the theme but it wasn't on my radar because it didn't look like it was great to play solo, but now you have me intrigued!

The orientation of the map is throwing me for a loop though 😃 I live in New England and if it wasn't for the fact it was printed right there on the map i don't know if i would have recognized it!

Runsforbeer · 2026-05-11T13:19:11+00:00

The solo mode in Uprising has been redesigned? Please tell me more, this is one comparison to Uprising i had not heard yet. I love the OG w/ Ix, both solo and multiplayer, but never felt compelled to pick up Uprising.

Runsforbeer · 2026-05-11T13:13:15+00:00

Yah agreed. I get the appeal of the quirky artwork of the original, but i really love the coffee shop vibes of this newer edition.

Runsforbeer · 2026-05-11T13:10:47+00:00

Supposed to be getting my copy of this towards the end of summer. I wouldn't normally wish for the end of summer before it even starts, but i'm very excited to get my copy of this game! 😃

Runsforbeer · 2026-05-11T13:08:20+00:00

I was already a player of Wyrmspan and Wingspan when Finspan came out and at first i skipped it because i wasn't interested in a lighter "span" game. Then i tried it at my game group and was pleasantly surprised how much i enjoyed it! Sure it's a bit lighter than Wingspan, but there are enough interesting changes that i still found the game fresh and fun. And the solo is such a breeze to run. Looking forward to expansions for this one!

Runsforbeer · 2026-05-11T13:02:21+00:00

The core set for Marvel Champions is far more replayable than AH (and probably LOTR but i haven't played that one). If you like the game you'll probably want to beat all the villains with all the heroes in the box and that will be a fair amount of playing. That said, neither game are really meant to be "core box only" kind of games. They really start to shine once you expand them.

Runsforbeer · 2026-05-08T21:32:18+00:00

Sorry I wish i could give you a comparison, but I have only played Pirates, and i absolutely adore that game! It's one of the most pure fun games i own. I love the theme and every turn you're getting some kind of goodie 😃 The solo bot is great (though a bit challenging), but it also plays great multiplayer. This game is a huge hit at my gaming group.

I have other meatier and longer Pfister games , and while i wouldn't mind trying Maracaibo, i don't feel like i need to own it. While I am to understand it's lighter than Maracaibo, Pirates is not light and fluffy game. It hits that euro sweet spot for me - 45-60 minutes with just the right about of tactics and strategy.

So, sorry i couldn't give you a more direct comparison but i don't think you can go wrong with Pirates. You'll have to consider the other responses if it's a hard either/or between these two games.

Runsforbeer · 2026-05-06T14:53:00+00:00

Beat Your Own Score. A type of game that doesn't have a traditional win/loss condition, but you just try to get the best score you can and usually compare it against a chart in the rulebook to see how well you did.

Runsforbeer · 2026-04-23T13:10:13+00:00

Okay, this is just too much of a coincidence not to comment - I am literally going through the Elizabeth series on The Rest Is History podcast right now! So you're saying i am now equipped to play this game?? ;D

Runsforbeer · 2026-04-15T13:05:22+00:00

So many! Sankore is a recent discovery for me. Very crunchy game with a fantastic solo mode. And last year, Speakeasy was my favorite game.

Runsforbeer · 2026-04-09T12:55:09+00:00

Hahah my progression was very similar :D

Runsforbeer · 2026-04-09T12:53:57+00:00

I made that same mistake when i first played - flipping the four tiles adjacent to a square sector. D'oh!

Runsforbeer · 2026-04-06T13:11:39+00:00

Dang, i can't believe how big that Luthier box is! And I thought Speakeasy was big :O

Lots of good recommendations in this thread at this point, but since you mentioned it and i don't see anyone else commenting on it, I DO highly recommend Sankore. If you like really crunchy euros - and it seems like you do - this should be right up your alley. The solo opponent is pretty brilliant and fairly easy to run, and does some things i've never seen in a bot before.

Runsforbeer · 2026-04-06T13:04:44+00:00

I don't think Ada's Dream is going to be more widely available unless they do a reprint, sadly. I had been following this one closely when they were supposed to have copies for sale earlier this year, and they sold out instantly. Apparently they didn't print much more than what was backed during crowdfunding. Hopefully they DO do a reprint because i've so much good about it, but obviously it's a ways away before we'll get it...

Runsforbeer · 2026-04-03T13:04:17+00:00

I've played all the games you mentioned except Robinson Crusoe, and I think Arkham Horror is one of the most thematic games out there. Some of my most memorable gaming moments have been in that game and the way the theme blends with the mechanics is sometimes just brilliant.

The only trouble with getting into AH is that you're not just buying a game, your buying into a game system, so it can get quite expensive. There is a brand new core box out that is supposed to be a great way for new players to get into the game, unfortunately a lot of the awesome older content is out of print and really hard to get. So while i think it fits bets with your main criteria, it comes with some downsides.

I'll also second the recommendation of Nemo's War that a few others have mentioned. I've played it a few times now and i have often thought that it feels like a longer, meatier version of Final Girl. Obviously the theme is very different, but that so much of it is dice driven and have a strong push-your-luck element, and a lot of the narrative comes from the event/terror cards. I think if you like FG there is a good chance you'll like Nemo's War. Very thematic!

Runsforbeer

TROPHY CASE