Timestamps have been fixed! Turns out when you prepare a video at 1am, you might make mistakes like forgetting to put in the correct timestamps. And by you I mean me. Hope everyone enjoys the video!
I almost jumped for Earthborne Rangers. Had it in a cart and everything. A copy of Voidfall has been staring at me at my FLGS all year. I keep picking it up and putting it back. Then I see my favourite solo playthrough guy has them as his No 1 and 2 solo games of the year. AND he has a playthrough of Voidfall coming. Oh boy, am I in trouble now! Love your channel. Great list too.
Thanks so much, Alex! I'm glad you've been enjoying the channel and I hope you like the Top 10! I'll have a new playthrough video coming very soon as well. Have a great day!
Great list! Your tastes match mine. I think my top game would be Oranienburger Kanal by a mile. I just love the endlessly replayable and variable puzzle. I think it was one of my top played solo games last year.
It's a great game for sure. Rosenberg has hit it out of the park with this one and Hallertau not that long ago. I really want to try his newest one ... I can't remember the name. Thanks for watching!
Great list! My top 3 of 2023: Voidfall, Halls of Hegra, Heat. I found learning Voidfall much easier than learning Mage Knight. Icons are intuitive and there’s a flow guide you follow from turn to turn that makes sense. Yes, still a heavy learn… but I’m one of those people that thinks “it wasn’t that bad” haha
I'm jealous. It didn't fit my brain as well as yours and I struggled. I think it was all the small bits with lengthy rules, like trading tokens for example. There is a lot of stuff like that, which was hard for me to grasp when reading the rulebook. Now it all makes sense. Thanks so much for watching!
Hit the nail on the head with your description for Voidfall. It lived on my table for over 2 months after arriving, and despite 25 plays since then (most solo), I struggle internally while picking a game to pull out, always wondering if it’s time to get voidfall back out 😂. There is a solo app available now on the BGG forums, it’ll help you get a solo Voidfall fix if you don’t have the time to fully table it yourself!
Thanks for the info on the solo app. I've used the official one to setup up and calculate the invasions, but wow. How did one fan create that so quickly? Amazing. Thanks so much for watching!
I also don't typically go for real world war themed anything, so the fact that your playthrough of Halls of Hegra inspired me to jump on the reprint was unexpected. You're right, in that it gives a very Robinson Crusoe feel. My favorites for 2023 are Legacy of Yu, Marvel Zombies, The White Castle (with some house rules for the ai), Mercurial, and Darwin's Journey. But I've got another 7 or so games that delivered in the last few months that I haven't had time to get through, including Resident Evil, Nova Aetus, and Witchcraft!. So much gaming to do this year!
Ah, I missed out on Witchcraft somehow. It just slipped by. Hopefully I can snag one somewhere. I received a copy Mercurial out of the blue, which is super weird because I never receive review copies (I don't do formal reviews) so I was surprised when it appeared. Sounds like I should give it a try. I hope you enjoy Halls of Hegra when it delivers. The game is brutal! Thanks so much, MorgaKnightGames!
@@TotallyTabled Witchcraft! should be heading to retail this year. I do prefer Mercurial with another player, but the solo is a fun puzzle. There's also challenger solo mode that I haven't tried yet that came with the deluxe edition, and that may be more my taste. I'm a bit of a dice goblin, so I really enjoy the dice puzzle part of the game. 🙂
So enjoy your channel! I started getting into board games a few years ago and have been more and more getting into solo games for the past year and some. Your channel far and away is the best specifically in the solo gaming space. Your play throughs always help me determine interest and help me learn games I do have interest in. Always look forward to these top 10 lists to see your thoughts. Keep up the great work!
That is so nice of you to say! Thank you. Hearing that makes me feels so happy. I hope you continue to feel that way about the channel for a long time. And I hope you discover great games and have a great time with them. Thanks so much for checking out the video and supporting the channel! Have a wonderful day!
Thanks for sharing. Great list. I guessed your #1, especially after reading your recent post. Your comments about it, I've heard again and again from several solo players. Looking forward to your play through. I'm sure it will help me a lot, because I've now found a copy and ordered it. Given the ruleset it may be awhile before I get to it, but hopefully I'll table it this year. Oh, a couple of my favs for last year are Kinfire Chronicles and The White Castle. And, I agree about CoB. I have the KS version and it is awesome.
Ha, yeah, I've stopped trying to treat the list as a spoiler situation and now I just give it away in the thumbnail and description and timestamps. Everyone is happier this way and I don't waste anyone's time. I almost got Kinfire Chronicles played with the fam, but it didn't work out. I'm hoping to try again this weekend. If not, I'll just play it myself. Looks cool. I think my Voidfall playthrough will really help (assuming I've not made any horrendous rules mistakes, which is a real possibility). Seeing everything in context will make digesting the rules easier, I hope. I try not to look at other videos when I'm making one, because I don't want to pass along other people's rules mistakes, but I wish I had checked out something. The learning process was pretty miserable. Definitely worth it in the end. Anyway, thanks for checking out the video, Tony!
100% agreed on Voidfall. Biggest surprise for me these past 3 years, excellent game, very heavy but extremely satisfying. I'm glad I spent a whole weekend understanding the rule without playing, just setting up, playing few rounds only, etc... I'm so glad to have the galactic box, I can't wait to play my next game because you never know what to expect, the asymetrical factions are so well done !
Not yet, but it is a video I plan on making since I get asked questions about it fairly often. I'm an amateur with very little experience or knowledge, so I have a simple, cobbled together, set up -- Canon R6 with kit lens on C-Stand, plugged into a Ninja V, free DaVinci Resolve for editing, RODE NT-USB mini for voice, random assortment of cheap LED lighting. I film at 4K, 24 frames, then place on 1080p timeline, which lets me zoom in and get the various camera angles. And that's it. Very straightforward. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching!
Hey Shaggy! Love your list!! These look like great games to try out. Of course you had me at "Oniverse" and then you said robots and I REALLY got excited, lol. I need to watch your play-thru on this one, I must have missed it. I'd love to see you do a ranking of the Oniverse family, not sure if this is the last in the series. Tamashi, sounds very interesting. Again, lots of great choices on your list I don't envy you trying to make your top 10😅
Thanks, Tracie! I plan to make an Oniverse ranking at some point. I still need to play the one before Cyberion -- I forgot the name. But I love the series and want to get more playthroughs done of the earlier titles. Hope you like the playthrough of Cyberion! Thanks!
Cool, I'll be sure to catch it when you do put it out. I haven't played "Stellarion" yet either. Looks like there are 2 more games to come in the future@@TotallyTabled
I hope the video helps, SpeedyNicole! I recommend checking out my playthroughs of any games that look interesting. I was good this year about making play videos of all my favorites. Thanks so much for supporting the channel!
You mentioned Spirit Island solo here. Do you play it true solo or do you two hand it? I feel like the latter is too much, but who knows, that might be where the gold is. I think Distilled and Yu are the ones on my purchase list at the moment. I've been getting more into solo plays, but mostly the ones that get out of your way and let you play. I don't enjoy running AIs to much.
Absolutely shared with Voidfall and Frostpunk as top games. I did get a competitive game of Voidfall in with people who already knew the game after I had a bunch of solo time in. It was still great.
Very nice top 10. Voidfall has occupied one of my tables since it arrived last year. I haven't packed it away even once and there is daily interaction with it.This is the best euro, maybe the best board game in general, I have ever played. At the moment I have Vindication as a regular installment on the side. There is a lot to discover in true solo but also in a multi hand versus. Fascinating game.
Ah, Vindication is one I've missed and wanted to circle back to, but I haven't been sure where to start. I now have Unsettled and ISS Vanguard to dig into, along with the rest of the euro backlog, so probably won't happen for a while. Vindication does seem like a fascinating game. Glad you enjoy Voidfall! Thanks for checking out the video!
Oh boy, Voidfall keeps popping up on my radar, but long setup times isn’t exactly a match made in heaven with family life. At least it has solo, unlike my TI4 dust gatherer.
I'm lucky enough to have a table where I can keep games set up, so with Voidfall I've been setting up at night while watching something or listening to music, then I play the next day. It has been out of the box for 3 weeks now. Setting up, playing, and putting away all in one sitting would be a lot, especially as you are learning. This is really a lifestyle type game, but as a Euro. So, yeah, it just won't work for a lot of people. But, board games don't have expiration dates. My copy of TI4 hasn't seen play in about 2 years, but maybe 2024 will be the year! Thanks so much for checking out the video!
I haven't played that one, but I have heard good things. Looks interesting. I need to complete a few of my campaign games, like Legacy of Yu and Earthborne Rangers, before I tackle another one. But that one is definitely on the list. Thanks for the suggestion and thanks for watching!
Good list! Halls of Hegra is on my list, everyone says it kicks ass (and kicks your ass too, haha). I've had Darwin's Journey on my shelf of opportunity unplayed since my pledge arrived...dunno why, but it intimidates me. lol My game of 2023 is definitely CoB Special Edition, love it! Have you checked out Unconscious Mind by Fantasia Games at all? Other than Fallen Land, I think I'm looking forward to playing that more than any other game this year.
Unconscious Mind was one of my most anticipated games for 2023 and unfortunately hasn't been fulfilled yet. I'm very excited to play it. Check out my playthrough for Darwin's Journey. It should help to make the game less intimidating. Thanks for checking out the video!
Thanks, yes I have your DJ vid in my long list queue of playthroughs to watch. 🙂 Unconscious Mind is supposed to deliver Q2 this year, it can't come fast enough for me. lol Looking forward to your gameplay and hearing what you think of it. Along with Before You Play and All Aboard, your playthroughs are my fave. Thanks for all you do, keep up the great work!
Yep, I'll definitely revisit the list in the future. I need to play those two, Nucleum, and Scholars primarily. But I would be flabbergasted if anything cracked the top 3. I absolutely love those games. And number is truly special in my book. Thanks for watching!
I've definitely heard different opinions about the solo. I'm getting it for multiplayer and will try the solo as well. Looks like a cool design. Thanks for watching!
@@TotallyTabled yeah, I haven't played any of those. Halls of Hegra and Earthborne Rangers have been a bit difficult to get in English where I am. Voidfall I just can't bring myself to buy. It feels like it'll be too big to play consistently, like Sleeping Gods has been.
Earthborn Rangers second print goes up on Gamefund in a few hours, and I think it might be the first game I back! Saw your play through and the vibes of a laid back Sleeping Gods with characters that have a personality seems perfect! We have our second campaign of Sleeping Gods on the table right now and really loving it. So Distant Skies and Earthborn Rangers are definitely games that should enter our home in the future!
Yesss I knew Voidfall was going to be a hit for you. Great list! There's a bit of crossover but you've also put some new ones on my radar. What would you say are some of your biggest blindspots from this past year - any games you haven't had a chance to play yet but think will rank highly with you? My top ten solo for 2023 would be: 10. Micro Cosmos 9. Darwin's Journey 8. Amritsar: The Golden Temple 7. Expeditions 6. Barcelona 5. 3 Ring Circus 4. Scholars of the South Tigris 3. The White Castle 2. Nucleum 1. Voidfall And I'd say my biggest blindspot is Zhanguo: The First Empire. I plan on getting it soon and I think I will love it.
I have a long list of games I still need to play -- but Nucleum, White Castle and Scholars are the big three. Also Mr. President. I've played the original ZhanGuo a lot and love it. This reprint has a new solo mode that I would like to try. I'm curious about Amritsar. Haven't heard much about that one. Thanks for checking out the video!
@@TotallyTabled It's funny - your big three are my #'s 2, 3, and 4 for 2023 right behind Voidfall. I've heard crazy good things about Mr. President. Did you see that a second edition is coming out this year, according to BGG? Might be worth waiting on that, I would think. Amritsar is historical euro set in India. It's main mechanism is mancala, which is a mechanism previously not in my collection. It's fun with lovely production quality and the solo mode is challenging and easy to manage. Not stellar but very solid, I would say.
It is one of those games where if you like this sort of thing, then you will have a blast. A lot of board games are like that, but this one is so specific in tone and targeted in the experience it provides, many people will bounce off of it. I've been having a great time and I plan to get it back on my non-filming table this week. Thanks for checking out the list and supporting the channel for so long!
@@TotallyTabled no problem my friend! You're content is superb! Void fall is also a neat game judging by those amazing b-rolls, but man I'm not in the mood to spend so much time learning a new game. I think I'm in a context in life where less is more and that also applies to rules haha. But I appreciate your effort to shows us how it works and I'm looking forward to watch your playthrough!
@@UmouMais That is 100% understandable. I think a lot of gamers are feeling the same way. Life is busy and stressful and sometimes these heavy games are just too much. I know I appreciate those nighttime games that I can bring out and play when I'm feeling mentally and physically drained. I hope you enjoy the playthrough when it comes out!
Yeah, that is a great feature of the solo game, along with the crisis cards. Voidfall is a fantastic solo experience. I can't wait to dig in more. Thanks for watching!
I've heard of it but not really looked into it much. I have a feeling it will be difficult to get my hands on, but I'll keep my eyes open. Thanks for the suggestion! And thanks for checking out the video.
Ooh surprised Sleeping Gods Distant Skies didn’t make the cut. Was it disqualified because it’s a reimplementation of a game from a previous year, or were you just not as thrilled with it as the other games? I just went all in on the Earthborne Rangers reprint. I’m really excited to play that as I think I’m going to love it.
i know i bagged Expeditions. Some of stonemaier's rule books are so vague to me. but with your help i have mastered the rules. give me a Lacerda anyday. However, expeditions is a great! and is nice a quick.
I've definitely had that experience with certain rulebooks. Something about them just doesn't work well with your mind, even if the game isn't that heavy. Or the writing is just bad. I've seen all sorts. I agree, I usually find Lacerda games understandable, but dense. I'm glad my video helped! Thanks for watching!
Hopefully my playthrough video will help. You just need to pull off the Band-Aid, as they say, and it eventually feels like you are playing a Lacerda game. It feels nice to play. Learning, setup and teardown ... that's a different story.
Never would have thought Voidfall would be on 1. especially with the time it takes to set up… I guess it depends if you own a dedicated boardgame table…
Late to the video, but I wanted to say that although I have not gotten to play Distilled solo (I've only been able to play it on BGA) - it is hands down my favorite game to play. It seems simple at first glance, but it really isn't! I'm hoping to get a physical copy in the near future so I can play it solo (and introduce it to friends). :)
That's awesome. Have you checked out my full solo playthrough of Distilled? The production of the physical game is through the roof. Absolutely beautiful and a joy to get to the table. I still need to introduce it to my friends on our weekly BGA game night. The solo mode works great as well. Thanks so much for checking out the video, Jennifer!
Sure. Make sure to check out my instructional playthrough video and my more in-depth first impressions videos. Those should also help if you are on the fence about the game. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the heads up. I'll check those out and fix as soon as I get my kids to school. I'm glad you enjoyed the Distilled playthrough. That was fun. Thanks for checking out the top 10!
I've thought about it. I've even scanned the rules and components and got a bit scared. :) It is on my massive to-do list, but I'll need to get brave. The hardest part of making videos about heavy games is knowing how many rules mistakes I'll make and the comments I'll endure for years. Also, the editing is a nightmare. But one day I'll tackle it. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the heads up. Something has gone weird, because I think I have the numbers correct, so I'm going to get in there and fiddle around and hopefully not break anything. Thanks!
question for you... I don't see endless winter in this list... is there a reason.. I am thinking about getting that game as you rated it really well and talked about it highly but its make your top 10 list... so now I am worried its not as great a game as I was thinking....
Endless Winter was #5 in my Top 10 Solos of 2022 behind Frostpunk, Ark Nova, Weather Machine, and Carnegie. When I revisit that list, Heat might sneak above it or right below it, not sure. I really like it. Some people are bothered by the kitchen sink design where you have multiple mini games stitched together by a central light deckbuilding plus worker placement mechanism. I enjoyed that aspect, but I understand the complaint. It is a big box, maximalist Euro design that won't appeal to those who desire streamlined classic Euro experiences -- which is more what Carnegie provides. I enjoy both approaches. Also, people complain that solo is too easy, but I believe that has been addressed with an official variant. I haven't looked into it closely. It is a hit or miss kind of game that I enjoy and is staying in my collection, but isn't for everyone. Thanks!
@@TotallyTabled thanks.... that is what I thought... I will get the game.. it looks great and I like deep euros and deck management/building... its worth the shot to see if I like it... thanks for the replay... I didn't realize it was a 2022 list game as I was looking at your 2023 list games but I was thinking I watched a video where it was in your top lists... I got Heat (not a big fan...) and I haven't got Carnegie yet so that games doesn't look interesting to me at all... I know you rate it high, and love it but I am still trying to figure out why...
@@TotallyTabled BTW... I have watched some of the other reviewers thoughts and comments about EW... and just so you know I hear from them that the official variant is good and helps make the game way better but making players focus more because with the official variant you start with one less worker which means you have less to do and less you can do so it makes players stay more focus instead of doing everything... hope that makes sense...
@@idjester That's great info. Thanks. I really want to try it out. Sounds like a great change -- although I never found hard mode to be a complete walk in the park. Having one less worker would really mean you couldn't accomplish everything.
VOIDFALL... hum... I do like your other picks like Hall of Hegra, Distilled, Darwin's Journey, Legacy of Yu... and I was surprised to see Voidfall as your #1.. I know you like the puzzles and figuring out your turns but man oh man does this game seam like work... I have not played it because of the commitment so I can't comment on it but all I can say is that when you have a game as deep as Voidfall, with such a big learning curve I am getting to the point in my life where I just do not want to deal with that... Yeah it can be a great game and all but there are other great games that I can play instead of Voidfall and play them several times... Maybe someday but for now I will wait to see your playthrough and make a decision but right now its a hard pass for that even through its your #1... makes me sad to pass it up... but let's see how your playthrough inspires me... thanks for the list...
Voidfall for a couple reasons. Robinson Crusoe and This War of Mine can fill the hole that Frostpunk would leave. And heavy Euros are my first love, so Voidfall just appeals a bit more. I also think there is more replayability in Voidfall. But I'm glad I don't have to choose! Thanks for watching!
Forgive me if I’ve mentioned this before. But thank you so much for the time stamps. There are some games I have zero interest in. With others, I want to go back and watch the review many times. Too many reviewers don’t use time stamps. That’s their right, of course. But I skip over those videos.
i think you miss, europa universalis and mr. president. but no problem at all, cause this year so many great game like, septima, age of innovetion and nucleam. all great solo. that i dont have a change to play it, in my country very small community board game. malaysia. so it maybe slow to get a new game.
Yeah, I haven't played those. Mr. President is one I really want to try. But there is no way to play all these great games. Just far too many coming out far too fast. Thanks for checking out the video!
I have Heat as a 2022 game, so that is why it isn't on this list. When I revisit my Top 10 of 2022 it will for sure make the list. Can't wait to try the expansion! Thanks for watching!
your captions are shown over the edited-in title banners, rendering both illegible. Maybe better to put those banners align to the top border of the videos.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention and I will look into what I can do to improve the experience in the future. As a temporary fix, you are able to change the style of captions in videos to create a solid background behind the captions to make them legible. Thanks for watching!
@@TotallyTabled I meant the chapter headings that react to time stamps (those appear and usually are very welcome) you cannot change them in youtube, if they appear then always below the progress bar (the one you use to slide across content). I know you can drag the language / auto translation across the screen, I don't mean subtitles. Watch your own video with [cc] turned off. You'll see what I mean.
Ok, I see what you mean. I am having a slightly different experience to what you describe. That bar goes away for me and doesn't come back for each chapter. It reappears if I scroll down to that region but I get a clear pop up when selecting chapters, so I'm not experiencing issues with legibility. If that bar were to always be visible then that would be annoying, but mine disappears almost immediately once the video begins. I don't know. I'll think about possible solutions. Maybe just not having the banner up all the time would help.
@@TotallyTabled it's a hidden gem. It's a bit hard to learn but so worth it. The best euro coop/solo I've tried in a while. Very crunchy and puzzly. It's what I would have wanted spirit Island to be.
![Natanael Cano x Nueva H - Amapola [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6Q4mnRD5jCw/mqdefault.jpg)
Timestamps have been fixed! Turns out when you prepare a video at 1am, you might make mistakes like forgetting to put in the correct timestamps. And by you I mean me. Hope everyone enjoys the video!
LOL at "by you, I mean me" ! Thanks for another great video. Your presentation is top-notch. Tone and pace are perfect.
I almost jumped for Earthborne Rangers. Had it in a cart and everything.
A copy of Voidfall has been staring at me at my FLGS all year. I keep picking it up and putting it back.
Then I see my favourite solo playthrough guy has them as his No 1 and 2 solo games of the year. AND he has a playthrough of Voidfall coming. Oh boy, am I in trouble now!
Love your channel. Great list too.
Yesss a new video!! You’ve been my go to channel since I discovered it a couple months ago! Love the content- keep it up!
Thanks so much, Alex! I'm glad you've been enjoying the channel and I hope you like the Top 10! I'll have a new playthrough video coming very soon as well. Have a great day!
Voidfall is so tempting as a solo board gamer but my favourite solo game of the year was Legacy of Yu BECAUSE it’s so east to get to the table!
Voidfall is a big investment in money, time and effort. If it won't hit the table, then it is definitely not worth it. Thanks for watching!
It would, but it’s getting it back to the table after initial excitement that worries me the most….. Tough choice!
Great list! Your tastes match mine. I think my top game would be Oranienburger Kanal by a mile. I just love the endlessly replayable and variable puzzle. I think it was one of my top played solo games last year.
It's a great game for sure. Rosenberg has hit it out of the park with this one and Hallertau not that long ago. I really want to try his newest one ... I can't remember the name. Thanks for watching!
Great list! My top 3 of 2023: Voidfall, Halls of Hegra, Heat.
I found learning Voidfall much easier than learning Mage Knight. Icons are intuitive and there’s a flow guide you follow from turn to turn that makes sense. Yes, still a heavy learn… but I’m one of those people that thinks “it wasn’t that bad” haha
I'm jealous. It didn't fit my brain as well as yours and I struggled. I think it was all the small bits with lengthy rules, like trading tokens for example. There is a lot of stuff like that, which was hard for me to grasp when reading the rulebook. Now it all makes sense. Thanks so much for watching!
Hit the nail on the head with your description for Voidfall. It lived on my table for over 2 months after arriving, and despite 25 plays since then (most solo), I struggle internally while picking a game to pull out, always wondering if it’s time to get voidfall back out 😂. There is a solo app available now on the BGG forums, it’ll help you get a solo Voidfall fix if you don’t have the time to fully table it yourself!
Thanks for the info on the solo app. I've used the official one to setup up and calculate the invasions, but wow. How did one fan create that so quickly? Amazing. Thanks so much for watching!
@@TotallyTabled I guess when a game is this good people will go out of their way to spread the love!
the creator of the app works with David. He was the designer of the app that the Imperium play testing team used.
I also don't typically go for real world war themed anything, so the fact that your playthrough of Halls of Hegra inspired me to jump on the reprint was unexpected. You're right, in that it gives a very Robinson Crusoe feel.
My favorites for 2023 are Legacy of Yu, Marvel Zombies, The White Castle (with some house rules for the ai), Mercurial, and Darwin's Journey. But I've got another 7 or so games that delivered in the last few months that I haven't had time to get through, including Resident Evil, Nova Aetus, and Witchcraft!. So much gaming to do this year!
Ah, I missed out on Witchcraft somehow. It just slipped by. Hopefully I can snag one somewhere. I received a copy Mercurial out of the blue, which is super weird because I never receive review copies (I don't do formal reviews) so I was surprised when it appeared. Sounds like I should give it a try. I hope you enjoy Halls of Hegra when it delivers. The game is brutal! Thanks so much, MorgaKnightGames!
@@TotallyTabled Witchcraft! should be heading to retail this year. I do prefer Mercurial with another player, but the solo is a fun puzzle. There's also challenger solo mode that I haven't tried yet that came with the deluxe edition, and that may be more my taste. I'm a bit of a dice goblin, so I really enjoy the dice puzzle part of the game. 🙂
So enjoy your channel! I started getting into board games a few years ago and have been more and more getting into solo games for the past year and some. Your channel far and away is the best specifically in the solo gaming space. Your play throughs always help me determine interest and help me learn games I do have interest in. Always look forward to these top 10 lists to see your thoughts. Keep up the great work!
That is so nice of you to say! Thank you. Hearing that makes me feels so happy. I hope you continue to feel that way about the channel for a long time. And I hope you discover great games and have a great time with them. Thanks so much for checking out the video and supporting the channel! Have a wonderful day!
Thanks for sharing. Great list.
I guessed your #1, especially after reading your recent post. Your comments about it, I've heard again and again from several solo players. Looking forward to your play through. I'm sure it will help me a lot, because I've now found a copy and ordered it. Given the ruleset it may be awhile before I get to it, but hopefully I'll table it this year.
Oh, a couple of my favs for last year are Kinfire Chronicles and The White Castle.
And, I agree about CoB. I have the KS version and it is awesome.
Ha, yeah, I've stopped trying to treat the list as a spoiler situation and now I just give it away in the thumbnail and description and timestamps. Everyone is happier this way and I don't waste anyone's time. I almost got Kinfire Chronicles played with the fam, but it didn't work out. I'm hoping to try again this weekend. If not, I'll just play it myself. Looks cool. I think my Voidfall playthrough will really help (assuming I've not made any horrendous rules mistakes, which is a real possibility). Seeing everything in context will make digesting the rules easier, I hope. I try not to look at other videos when I'm making one, because I don't want to pass along other people's rules mistakes, but I wish I had checked out something. The learning process was pretty miserable. Definitely worth it in the end. Anyway, thanks for checking out the video, Tony!
Ha Ha, just now noticed the thumbnail.@@TotallyTabled
100% agreed on Voidfall. Biggest surprise for me these past 3 years, excellent game, very heavy but extremely satisfying. I'm glad I spent a whole weekend understanding the rule without playing, just setting up, playing few rounds only, etc... I'm so glad to have the galactic box, I can't wait to play my next game because you never know what to expect, the asymetrical factions are so well done !
Your videos are always so well produced and look amazing. Do you have a video that talks about your setup and the equiptment you use? Just Curious.
Not yet, but it is a video I plan on making since I get asked questions about it fairly often. I'm an amateur with very little experience or knowledge, so I have a simple, cobbled together, set up -- Canon R6 with kit lens on C-Stand, plugged into a Ninja V, free DaVinci Resolve for editing, RODE NT-USB mini for voice, random assortment of cheap LED lighting. I film at 4K, 24 frames, then place on 1080p timeline, which lets me zoom in and get the various camera angles. And that's it. Very straightforward. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching!
Can't wait for the voidfall video!
Awesome! The video should be out within a week at the latest. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks!
Hey Shaggy! Love your list!! These look like great games to try out. Of course you had me at "Oniverse" and then you said robots and I REALLY got excited, lol. I need to watch your play-thru on this one, I must have missed it. I'd love to see you do a ranking of the Oniverse family, not sure if this is the last in the series. Tamashi, sounds very interesting. Again, lots of great choices on your list I don't envy you trying to make your top 10😅
Thanks, Tracie! I plan to make an Oniverse ranking at some point. I still need to play the one before Cyberion -- I forgot the name. But I love the series and want to get more playthroughs done of the earlier titles. Hope you like the playthrough of Cyberion! Thanks!
Cool, I'll be sure to catch it when you do put it out. I haven't played "Stellarion" yet either. Looks like there are 2 more games to come in the future@@TotallyTabled
I've been waiting for this video before I buy a new game! Thanks for making this list
I hope the video helps, SpeedyNicole! I recommend checking out my playthroughs of any games that look interesting. I was good this year about making play videos of all my favorites. Thanks so much for supporting the channel!
You mentioned Spirit Island solo here. Do you play it true solo or do you two hand it? I feel like the latter is too much, but who knows, that might be where the gold is.
I think Distilled and Yu are the ones on my purchase list at the moment. I've been getting more into solo plays, but mostly the ones that get out of your way and let you play. I don't enjoy running AIs to much.
Absolutely shared with Voidfall and Frostpunk as top games. I did get a competitive game of Voidfall in with people who already knew the game after I had a bunch of solo time in. It was still great.
Nice to hear it plays well competitively. I still think I would rather play TI4, Eclipse or Exodus if I wanted competitive. Thanks for watching!
Very nice top 10.
Voidfall has occupied one of my tables since it arrived last year. I haven't packed it away even once and there is daily interaction with it.This is the best euro, maybe the best board game in general, I have ever played.
At the moment I have Vindication as a regular installment on the side. There is a lot to discover in true solo but also in a multi hand versus. Fascinating game.
Ah, Vindication is one I've missed and wanted to circle back to, but I haven't been sure where to start. I now have Unsettled and ISS Vanguard to dig into, along with the rest of the euro backlog, so probably won't happen for a while. Vindication does seem like a fascinating game. Glad you enjoy Voidfall! Thanks for checking out the video!
Oh boy, Voidfall keeps popping up on my radar, but long setup times isn’t exactly a match made in heaven with family life. At least it has solo, unlike my TI4 dust gatherer.
I'm lucky enough to have a table where I can keep games set up, so with Voidfall I've been setting up at night while watching something or listening to music, then I play the next day. It has been out of the box for 3 weeks now. Setting up, playing, and putting away all in one sitting would be a lot, especially as you are learning. This is really a lifestyle type game, but as a Euro. So, yeah, it just won't work for a lot of people. But, board games don't have expiration dates. My copy of TI4 hasn't seen play in about 2 years, but maybe 2024 will be the year! Thanks so much for checking out the video!
Have you tried Tales from the Red Dragon Inn? Supposed to be great solo
I haven't played that one, but I have heard good things. Looks interesting. I need to complete a few of my campaign games, like Legacy of Yu and Earthborne Rangers, before I tackle another one. But that one is definitely on the list. Thanks for the suggestion and thanks for watching!
Good list! Halls of Hegra is on my list, everyone says it kicks ass (and kicks your ass too, haha). I've had Darwin's Journey on my shelf of opportunity unplayed since my pledge arrived...dunno why, but it intimidates me. lol My game of 2023 is definitely CoB Special Edition, love it! Have you checked out Unconscious Mind by Fantasia Games at all? Other than Fallen Land, I think I'm looking forward to playing that more than any other game this year.
Unconscious Mind was one of my most anticipated games for 2023 and unfortunately hasn't been fulfilled yet. I'm very excited to play it. Check out my playthrough for Darwin's Journey. It should help to make the game less intimidating. Thanks for checking out the video!
Thanks, yes I have your DJ vid in my long list queue of playthroughs to watch. 🙂 Unconscious Mind is supposed to deliver Q2 this year, it can't come fast enough for me. lol Looking forward to your gameplay and hearing what you think of it. Along with Before You Play and All Aboard, your playthroughs are my fave. Thanks for all you do, keep up the great work!
Another great video! You gave me a couple more ideas of games I would like to try. Thank you!
Nice! But look, until we have playthroughs of Apiary and The White Castle I'll consider this a 'preliminary list' :)
Yep, I'll definitely revisit the list in the future. I need to play those two, Nucleum, and Scholars primarily. But I would be flabbergasted if anything cracked the top 3. I absolutely love those games. And number is truly special in my book. Thanks for watching!
White Castle honestly isn't very good for solo
I've definitely heard different opinions about the solo. I'm getting it for multiplayer and will try the solo as well. Looks like a cool design. Thanks for watching!
@@elqord.1118 I've been playing with the unofficial rules on BGG and having loads of fun with it.
@@TotallyTabled yeah, I haven't played any of those. Halls of Hegra and Earthborne Rangers have been a bit difficult to get in English where I am. Voidfall I just can't bring myself to buy. It feels like it'll be too big to play consistently, like Sleeping Gods has been.
Earthborn Rangers second print goes up on Gamefund in a few hours, and I think it might be the first game I back!
Saw your play through and the vibes of a laid back Sleeping Gods with characters that have a personality seems perfect! We have our second campaign of Sleeping Gods on the table right now and really loving it. So Distant Skies and Earthborn Rangers are definitely games that should enter our home in the future!
Yesss I knew Voidfall was going to be a hit for you. Great list! There's a bit of crossover but you've also put some new ones on my radar. What would you say are some of your biggest blindspots from this past year - any games you haven't had a chance to play yet but think will rank highly with you?
My top ten solo for 2023 would be:
10. Micro Cosmos
9. Darwin's Journey
8. Amritsar: The Golden Temple
7. Expeditions
6. Barcelona
5. 3 Ring Circus
4. Scholars of the South Tigris
3. The White Castle
2. Nucleum
1. Voidfall
And I'd say my biggest blindspot is Zhanguo: The First Empire. I plan on getting it soon and I think I will love it.
I have a long list of games I still need to play -- but Nucleum, White Castle and Scholars are the big three. Also Mr. President. I've played the original ZhanGuo a lot and love it. This reprint has a new solo mode that I would like to try. I'm curious about Amritsar. Haven't heard much about that one. Thanks for checking out the video!
@@TotallyTabled It's funny - your big three are my #'s 2, 3, and 4 for 2023 right behind Voidfall. I've heard crazy good things about Mr. President. Did you see that a second edition is coming out this year, according to BGG? Might be worth waiting on that, I would think. Amritsar is historical euro set in India. It's main mechanism is mancala, which is a mechanism previously not in my collection. It's fun with lovely production quality and the solo mode is challenging and easy to manage. Not stellar but very solid, I would say.
Love your videos! Thank you so much.
These look like wicked fun! Legacy of Yu & Distilled especially!
They are. Check out my playthroughs of both games if you haven't. You'll get to see exactly how fun they are. Thanks so much, Big Homer!
Great list! I would love to try earthborne rangers. Seems pretty good❤
It is one of those games where if you like this sort of thing, then you will have a blast. A lot of board games are like that, but this one is so specific in tone and targeted in the experience it provides, many people will bounce off of it. I've been having a great time and I plan to get it back on my non-filming table this week. Thanks for checking out the list and supporting the channel for so long!
@@TotallyTabled no problem my friend! You're content is superb! Void fall is also a neat game judging by those amazing b-rolls, but man I'm not in the mood to spend so much time learning a new game. I think I'm in a context in life where less is more and that also applies to rules haha. But I appreciate your effort to shows us how it works and I'm looking forward to watch your playthrough!
@@UmouMais That is 100% understandable. I think a lot of gamers are feeling the same way. Life is busy and stressful and sometimes these heavy games are just too much. I know I appreciate those nighttime games that I can bring out and play when I'm feeling mentally and physically drained. I hope you enjoy the playthrough when it comes out!
really, really love the heroic focus cards in Voidfall
Yeah, that is a great feature of the solo game, along with the crisis cards. Voidfall is a fantastic solo experience. I can't wait to dig in more. Thanks for watching!
Are you going to check out Fractal? It has a great automata for solo
I've heard of it but not really looked into it much. I have a feeling it will be difficult to get my hands on, but I'll keep my eyes open. Thanks for the suggestion! And thanks for checking out the video.
Ooh surprised Sleeping Gods Distant Skies didn’t make the cut. Was it disqualified because it’s a reimplementation of a game from a previous year, or were you just not as thrilled with it as the other games? I just went all in on the Earthborne Rangers reprint. I’m really excited to play that as I think I’m going to love it.
i know i bagged Expeditions. Some of stonemaier's rule books are so vague to me. but with your help i have mastered the rules. give me a Lacerda anyday. However, expeditions is a great! and is nice a quick.
I've definitely had that experience with certain rulebooks. Something about them just doesn't work well with your mind, even if the game isn't that heavy. Or the writing is just bad. I've seen all sorts. I agree, I usually find Lacerda games understandable, but dense. I'm glad my video helped! Thanks for watching!
Awesome!!
Thanks for checking out the list!
I am waiting eagerly for the voidfall playthrough. Great list BTW
Should be really soon, depending on how smoothly the edit goes. It's a big one. I'm glad you're excited for it. Thanks for checking out this list!
bloody voidfall! i fell for it alright. no regrets. but i have sooooo many other games i need to 'master' before i dive deep into it.
Hopefully my playthrough video will help. You just need to pull off the Band-Aid, as they say, and it eventually feels like you are playing a Lacerda game. It feels nice to play. Learning, setup and teardown ... that's a different story.
Never would have thought Voidfall would be on 1. especially with the time it takes to set up… I guess it depends if you own a dedicated boardgame table…
Having a space to leave Voidfall set up is critical. That will make it a no-go for many. Thanks for watching.
Very enjoyable list as always!
I'm glad you liked it. Thanks!
Late to the video, but I wanted to say that although I have not gotten to play Distilled solo (I've only been able to play it on BGA) - it is hands down my favorite game to play. It seems simple at first glance, but it really isn't! I'm hoping to get a physical copy in the near future so I can play it solo (and introduce it to friends). :)
That's awesome. Have you checked out my full solo playthrough of Distilled? The production of the physical game is through the roof. Absolutely beautiful and a joy to get to the table. I still need to introduce it to my friends on our weekly BGA game night. The solo mode works great as well. Thanks so much for checking out the video, Jennifer!
Nucleum, Evacuation (though I think I am going to call this one 2024), and Revive. Voidfall is my #1 solo for 2023, Nucleum is #2.
Nucleum will hopefully hit my table soon. Looks great! Thanks for watching!
Woot. Thanks for your opinion before the second print campaign of earthborne rangers
Sure. Make sure to check out my instructional playthrough video and my more in-depth first impressions videos. Those should also help if you are on the fence about the game. Thanks for watching!
Great list.
I'm just curious if you played, Mr. President?
If you did, I would be surprised that it wouldn't be on your top 10 list.
Take care.
I have not been able to get Mr. President to the table yet. Definitely one I plan on tackling in 2024. Thanks for watching!
I only bought 3 "solo" games this year:
1 - Scholars of the South Tigris (Awesome)
2 - Distilled (Great)
3 - Marvel D.A.G.G.E.R. (For Trade)
I'm very excited to get Scholars to the table. High on my to-do list. Thanks for watching!
I enjoyed your Distilled playtrough soooo much... :) Save Subscription from that point... btw.: Timestamps mixed up for me...
Thanks for the heads up. I'll check those out and fix as soon as I get my kids to school. I'm glad you enjoyed the Distilled playthrough. That was fun. Thanks for checking out the top 10!
I fixed the stamps! It was my fault, of course. Thanks, Patrick!
Have you ever thought about trying Europa Universalis?
I've thought about it. I've even scanned the rules and components and got a bit scared. :) It is on my massive to-do list, but I'll need to get brave. The hardest part of making videos about heavy games is knowing how many rules mistakes I'll make and the comments I'll endure for years. Also, the editing is a nightmare. But one day I'll tackle it. Thanks for watching!
When do we get the voidfall playthrough my friend?
On Monday!
@@TotallyTabled thank you! I've been waiting for it so I can learn while you teach it ✨
The time codes are in the wrong place, great video tho
Thanks for the heads up. Something has gone weird, because I think I have the numbers correct, so I'm going to get in there and fiddle around and hopefully not break anything. Thanks!
Nope, it was me. The numbers were very very wrong. Fixed now!
question for you... I don't see endless winter in this list... is there a reason.. I am thinking about getting that game as you rated it really well and talked about it highly but its make your top 10 list... so now I am worried its not as great a game as I was thinking....
Endless Winter was #5 in my Top 10 Solos of 2022 behind Frostpunk, Ark Nova, Weather Machine, and Carnegie. When I revisit that list, Heat might sneak above it or right below it, not sure. I really like it. Some people are bothered by the kitchen sink design where you have multiple mini games stitched together by a central light deckbuilding plus worker placement mechanism. I enjoyed that aspect, but I understand the complaint. It is a big box, maximalist Euro design that won't appeal to those who desire streamlined classic Euro experiences -- which is more what Carnegie provides. I enjoy both approaches. Also, people complain that solo is too easy, but I believe that has been addressed with an official variant. I haven't looked into it closely. It is a hit or miss kind of game that I enjoy and is staying in my collection, but isn't for everyone. Thanks!
@@TotallyTabled thanks.... that is what I thought... I will get the game.. it looks great and I like deep euros and deck management/building... its worth the shot to see if I like it... thanks for the replay... I didn't realize it was a 2022 list game as I was looking at your 2023 list games but I was thinking I watched a video where it was in your top lists... I got Heat (not a big fan...) and I haven't got Carnegie yet so that games doesn't look interesting to me at all... I know you rate it high, and love it but I am still trying to figure out why...
@@TotallyTabled BTW... I have watched some of the other reviewers thoughts and comments about EW... and just so you know I hear from them that the official variant is good and helps make the game way better but making players focus more because with the official variant you start with one less worker which means you have less to do and less you can do so it makes players stay more focus instead of doing everything... hope that makes sense...
@@idjester That's great info. Thanks. I really want to try it out. Sounds like a great change -- although I never found hard mode to be a complete walk in the park. Having one less worker would really mean you couldn't accomplish everything.
Voidfall looks amazing!
It looks great on the table and plays equally well! Thanks for checking out the list!
VOIDFALL... hum... I do like your other picks like Hall of Hegra, Distilled, Darwin's Journey, Legacy of Yu... and I was surprised to see Voidfall as your #1.. I know you like the puzzles and figuring out your turns but man oh man does this game seam like work... I have not played it because of the commitment so I can't comment on it but all I can say is that when you have a game as deep as Voidfall, with such a big learning curve I am getting to the point in my life where I just do not want to deal with that... Yeah it can be a great game and all but there are other great games that I can play instead of Voidfall and play them several times... Maybe someday but for now I will wait to see your playthrough and make a decision but right now its a hard pass for that even through its your #1... makes me sad to pass it up... but let's see how your playthrough inspires me... thanks for the list...
should have had you on my top 10
Thanks, I think! :) Thanks for watching!
I have friends, you just havent met them...
Sorry? I don't understand the comment.
If you could choose only one: Voidfall or Frostpunk?
Voidfall for a couple reasons. Robinson Crusoe and This War of Mine can fill the hole that Frostpunk would leave. And heavy Euros are my first love, so Voidfall just appeals a bit more. I also think there is more replayability in Voidfall. But I'm glad I don't have to choose! Thanks for watching!
Forgive me if I’ve mentioned this before. But thank you so much for the time stamps. There are some games I have zero interest in. With others, I want to go back and watch the review many times.
Too many reviewers don’t use time stamps. That’s their right, of course. But I skip over those videos.
You sir have impeccable taste.
Sometimes. 😃 Thanks for watching!
Galdor's Grip?
I'm sorry, I don't understand.
@@TotallyTabled oh, galdor's grip was made in 2022, that's why it didn't make it into your top 10 2023 solo game
@@boeta9778 Ah, for some reason I didn't consider that was the name of a game. :) I'll have to check that one out. Thanks!
i think you miss, europa universalis and mr. president. but no problem at all, cause this year so many great game like, septima, age of innovetion and nucleam. all great solo. that i dont have a change to play it, in my country very small community board game. malaysia. so it maybe slow to get a new game.
Yeah, I haven't played those. Mr. President is one I really want to try. But there is no way to play all these great games. Just far too many coming out far too fast. Thanks for checking out the video!
For Mr it’s Heat.
I have Heat as a 2022 game, so that is why it isn't on this list. When I revisit my Top 10 of 2022 it will for sure make the list. Can't wait to try the expansion! Thanks for watching!
i find voidfall 110% easier to learn than Expeditions.
Ha, I didn't quite have the same experience, but I understand what you're saying.
your captions are shown over the edited-in title banners, rendering both illegible.
Maybe better to put those banners align to the top border of the videos.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention and I will look into what I can do to improve the experience in the future. As a temporary fix, you are able to change the style of captions in videos to create a solid background behind the captions to make them legible. Thanks for watching!
@@TotallyTabled I meant the chapter headings that react to time stamps (those appear and usually are very welcome) you cannot change them in youtube, if they appear then always below the progress bar (the one you use to slide across content).
I know you can drag the language / auto translation across the screen, I don't mean subtitles.
Watch your own video with [cc] turned off. You'll see what I mean.
Ok, I see what you mean. I am having a slightly different experience to what you describe. That bar goes away for me and doesn't come back for each chapter. It reappears if I scroll down to that region but I get a clear pop up when selecting chapters, so I'm not experiencing issues with legibility. If that bar were to always be visible then that would be annoying, but mine disappears almost immediately once the video begins. I don't know. I'll think about possible solutions. Maybe just not having the banner up all the time would help.
@@TotallyTabled behind a pc, in firefox, the timed chapters stay while your mouse is hovering over the [cc] button.
O.K. is on your list, your list is OK!
OK is much better than OK. Thanks for watching!
Have you tried Tindaya?
No, I haven't. I'll check it out. Thanks for the suggestion!
@@TotallyTabled it's a hidden gem. It's a bit hard to learn but so worth it. The best euro coop/solo I've tried in a while. Very crunchy and puzzly. It's what I would have wanted spirit Island to be.