Rainy Days & Me-Time: A Guide to Gaming Solo

The rain is battering against the windows. You just got in after a hard day of work. You’ve slipped into your very, very comfortable sweatpants. The smart thermostat has preheated the house. You put the kettle on. As you wait for the water to boil, you cancel plans with the friends you were supposed to meet in town. Why not?! There is enough (board gaming) fun to have on your own. As you let the tea brew, you make your way over to your game collection. Now, what to choose? What challenges will you go for?

A bit cuckoo? 
If you’ve bought new games in the last few years, there are bound to be multiple options for you to choose from. Including solo modes has become a staple in board game design, rather than an afterthought. Wingspan, for instance, includes a well-received solo mode. You play against an ‘Automa’, which earns actions and a variable end-game score depending on the cards drawn from its deck. You play the game as you are used to, building up your aviary to grow the number of birds (and points) you have. Can you beat the ‘Automa’?

Home is where the fur is
You might think that is too much effort. After all, the workday was tough enough. Don’t worry. You can take your mind off things and cuddle up in your cosy nest with some Super Kawaii Pets. Even if you are allergic, these cute animals are harmless. They are simply looking for some food, love, and healing. (Aren't we all?) Can you beat the turn timer and earn enough points to save the lot?

Little town, it's a quiet village
If the rain hitting the rooftops is inspiring you, then Tiny Towns might be a good way to go. In this game, you build the optimal town based on placing resources on a limited grid. Instead of battling other mayors, the solo mode challenges you to deal with the flow of random resources and optimise according to what you are given. Games are fast and earn you a title based on your end score. Can you earn the title of ‘Master Architect’?

Nom nom nom
What is this grumbling I hear? Has all this choosing and planning made you peckish? But your fridge is empty? No worries. You can fill up your plate in Buffet Boss. Solo-play strips away the normal scoring system, leaving plenty of room for your own interpretations. Train with specific character bonuses or food types, or just stack whatever you feel like. The official solo rules ask you to stack a fixed amount of food items on your plate, which is still challenging. Especially if you are so hungry you’ll try to fit the whole buffet! Will you be able to fit ten pieces flawlessly?

Don't limit your challenges; challenge your limits
If your brain is now recovered from the hard day's work, and you’re up for more of a challenge, games like Terraforming Mars and Cascadia are perfect. They can take a bit longer to set up, but both offer intricate challenges, especially for solo players. Moreover, you can mix in the expansions to mess up your overview even more. Can your brain take all this this evening?

Ready, set, take it easy.
Grab that cup of tea, and choose something that you want to play. There aren’t any other votes, so go for it! No matter what game you pick, you are about to go on an adventure. Extra tips: Some soft background music, a lit candle or two, and a cosy blanket never hurt anyone. Now it’s time to settle in and really enjoy this me time. You’ve earned it!

Author - Jim van den Bos