What are the Top Solo Wargames? - Best Solitaire Wargames? - Review & List | Historical Games
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 2 июл 2024
- I rank and review my top 7 solitaire solo tabletop wargames (historical simulations). What are my favorite solo historical conflict simulations that I've played so far? I also explore ten other wargames that I will be playing soon that I think have a chance to make it into our top solitaire wargame list, and then list 5 more upcoming solitaire (solo) wargames that I think have the potential to be on our top solo wargame list.
If you'd like to support my work in creating more historical wargaming videos, I have a Patreon page. Support is greatly appreciated.
/ zillablitz
This review video and ranking list produced by Zilla Blitz.
Games Mentioned, in random order:
Save: South Vietnam - Fortress Games
Sherman Leader - Dan Verssen Games - DVG
Silent War IJN Deluxe Edition - Compass Games
Hornet Leader - Dan Verssen Games DVG
Enemy Action: Ardennes - Compass Games
Hill of Doves - Legion Wargames
American Tank Ace - Compass Games
By Stealth & Sea - Dan Verssen Games - DVG - David Thompson
CDG Solo System - GMT Games
Aces of Valor - Legion Wargames
Enemy Coast Ahead: The Doolittle Raid - GMT Games
Lanzerath Ridge - Dan Verssen Games DVG - David Thompson
20th Air Force - Fortress Games
Target for Today - Legion Wargames
Fields of Fire Deluxe Edition - GMT Games
Storm Above the Reich - GMT Games
D-Day at Omaha Beach - Decision Games
Men of Iron Tri-Pack - GMT Games
RAF The Battle of Britain 1940 - Decision Games
Western Front Ace - Compass Games
The Hunters - GMT Games
Silent Victory - GMT Games
-----
My Current Wargaming Tools-
• Oregon 2.0mm Counter Clipper: amzn.to/3SUyDX7
• Oregon 2.5mm Counter Clipper: amzn.to/3SzYJPs
• Bent Tip Lighted Tweezers: amzn.to/3CqYmAU
• Dice Tower #1: amzn.to/3EcoQHU
• Dice Tower #2: amzn.to/3RweSDS
• Black Dice: amzn.to/3dXLd92
• White Dice: amzn.to/3rmQcn1
• Laser Line Sight: (out of stock)
Amazon links are affiliate links. If you’d like to help the channel, you can use those to purchase.
-----
#wargaming #topwargames #solowargames
What are the Top Solo Wargames? - Best Solitaire Wargames? - Review & List | Historical Games 
Игры
I just wanted to help make this video more popular. Absolutely top gold choices.
Timecodes below for host's current top 7 selection:
-- Company: DVG
7) 1:05 - Sherman Leader (WW2)
3) 8:07 - By Stealth and Sea (WW2)
-- Company: GMT
6) 2:40 - Men of Iron tri-pack (Medieval/renaissance eras)
4) 6:18 - Silent Victory (WW2)
2) 10:02 - The Hunters (WW2)
-- Company: Legion Wargames
5) 4:18 - Hill of Doves (Anglo-Boer war, 1880's)
-- Company: Decision Games
1) 11:55 - D-Day at Omaha Beach (WW2)
---
Top potential contenders of released games to be in the list in future:
-- Company: GMT
1) 14:51 - Card-Driven Games line (eg. Command & Colors system, Paths of Glory, etc)
4) 18:03 - Fields of Fire 2 (WW2, Korea War & Vietnam War)
6) 20:54 - Storm Over the Reich (WW2)
7) 21:48 - Enemy Coast Ahead: Doolittle (WW2)
-- Company: Fortress Games
2) 16:20 - 20th Air Force (WW2)
3) 16:27 - Save: South Vietnam (Vietnam War)
-- Company: DVG
5) 20:04 - Hornet Leader (Modern era)
-- Company: Legion Wargames
8) 22:46 - Target for Today (WW2)
-- Company: Compass Games
9) 23:32 - Enemy Action: Ardennes (WW2)
-- Company: Decision Games
10) 24:34 - RAF: The Battle of Britain 1940 (WW2)
---
Possible contenders of upcoming releases to be in the list in future:
-- Company: DVG
1) 25:41 - Lanzerath Ridge (WW2)
-- Company: Compass Games
2) 26:29 - Western Front Ace (WW1)
4) 27:26 - American Tank Ace (WW2)
5) 28:22 - Silent War + IJN (WW2. 2nd ed.)
-- Company: Legion Wargames
3) 26:34 - Aces of Valor (WW1)
Number of mentioned/shown games set in:
WW2 = 15
WW1 = 4 (2 in CDG line)
Vietnam War = 2
Ancient era = 2 (In CDG line)
Renaissance/Pike & Shot eras = 1 (In CDG line. And partial coverage from 1-2 of 3 packs in Men of Iron tri-pack.)
Korea War = 1
Anglo-Boer War (1880's) = 1
American Revolutionary War = 1 (In CDG line)
American Civil War = 1 (In CDG line)
Medieval era = 1
Thanks for all the work in putting this together! Awesome work, I've pinned this comment to the top to make it easier for everyone to find.
Thanks again, ObiKKa!
I am deeply honored that Dan Verssen 's and my design Sherman Leader by DVG made the list!
Thanks for making such a fun game, Rick! I think I mentioned it in the video, but it was the game I used to get back into wargaming last year. If that hadn't been so much fun, I think I might have just stopped then and there. So thanks for making the gateway game that got me going again. :)
Hi, Rick! I'm happy for you, too. (See you at Game Haven next month.)
@@ZillaBlitz and this is the reason I think it’ll be my first purchase too after many years away from gaming but always in the back of my mind something I miss doing.
Except I’ve just done a search and can’t find it in stock or available anywhere 🥹
I hesitate to ask, but is T34 Leader on the horizon?
That Panzer Blitz box on the shelf brings back a lot of memories…
That'd be a fun one to bring back to the table, for sure. :)
Played that alot. Great times.
It is heartwarming to see a few original Avalon Hill games (Gettysburg, Midway, and Afrika Korps) on the shelf behind you.
I hope to revisit more of those games in the future. :)
I enjoyed your list and I especially appreciated your enthusiasm in which you discussed your choices. I'm gonna check some of these out.
Thanks Aaron! I should add links to the description for the playthroughs on the channel for the ones in the current list.
Thanks, brother. You’re too kind! And thank goodness you came back to our hobby…absolutely love having you here!
Thanks, David! That means a lot coming from you! And thanks for making such great games. You make the hobby so easy to have fun with. :)
Big David Thompson fan here. If you design it, I'll play it. I've never been disappointed.
@@wildape3210, thank you so much!
You get around, David! :-D
@@KabukiKid , I have to support my peeps! ;)
Possibly the best video I've seen on solo wargames in a long time! Thank you!
Thanks for the kind words, sentient! Glad you enjoyed it. :)
My first Zilla video. Excellent!
Really liked the enthusiasm not to mention the content!
Thanks, Ray! And welcome! Thanks for stopping by. :)
I love Zilla Blitz videos. Really appreciate his enthusiasm, quality of the choices he makes and clarity of expression.
Thanks for the kind words, Michael! Made my day! :)
Wow, first 60 seconds gave me all the info rapid fast to know I will watch this whole video so well that I had subbed just 45 seconds into finding this channel. Top notch mate!
Thanks, Jedi, I'm glad you found it helpful. :)
I don’t know why this turned up on my feed but man, I’m so glad it did. I love war gaming, live on my own and had given up trying to find some worthwhile solo games. I haven’t played for years because I just didn’t know what was out there and had no success with internet searches.
So many of the games you listed interest me. I’ll definitely be watching more of your videos too and tracking down a couple of these. Thanks so much!
Thanks for the kind words, Peter, I'm glad you found the channel too and that the video was helpful. Wargaming has progressed so much in the past decade, it's really a great time for the hobby now. I hope you can find some games that you enjoy. :)
Oh wow, I just tabled Warfighter WWII by DVG and re-learning the rules when your channel popped up on my youtube feed. I really enjoyed this video so subscribed, liked and now I'm going to check out the rest of your channel. Cheers
Hi Frank, welcome! With so many people mentioning Warfighter, I feel like it's a game I should have included as a contender. I have the same version as you, the WW2 base game. I wanted to play that before deciding on expansions, etc. I hope you enjoy the videos.
You're making me buy games again!! I've just got back into the hobby with GMT's excellent Panzer, in part because it reminds me of Panzer Blitz and Panzer Leader, my favourites when I last played board wargames in the 1970s and 80s. I also loved B-17 Queen of the Skies and the Ambush series for solitaire play. Anyway, thanks for a very useful video as I will need to concentrate on solo play (strangely, my partner is less keen on pushing cardboard counters around...) so I'll look forward to you reviewing some of the other titles you mentioned. All the best from a born again UK gamer. 🙂
Glad to hear you're finding enjoyment in the hobby again! It's a golden age for wargaming, especially solo. And Panzer is a solid choice, for sure! I love the way the game builds on complexity, so you can play and learn and add rules as you go along. Really nice system, with so much replayability, especially as you add the expansions, etc.
Enjoyed this rundown very much. And your presentation. Well done. I am embarrassed to admit that you've probably played more games since your return to wargaming than I have played since my own 17 year hiatus from wargaming which ended in 2008. Look forward to seeing more of your reviews. Oh... and welcome back to our hobby!
Thanks! I'm glad you liked this one. It's about time to update it, I've played a fair bit since this.
Love the order of 2,3 and 4 they match up to my experiences watching the series' you did with them. Cant wait to see the D-Day one and see if it lives up to your ranking no pressure ha ha. Really enjoyed this video as always great work!
Thanks, Parkera! I'm excited to play and bring many of these to the table in the next few months. Such a grand time to be a wargamer. :)
Thx for sharing! Great list,best of luck getting all the games on the table
Thanks, Robert! It's going to be a fun adventure. I'm playing Save: South Vietnam and Halls of Hegra now, so making progress. :)
Nice video. TY. Most top games lists don't show the components like you do. Helps a lot when describing your experience. Subscribed!
Thanks, Ray, I'm glad you enjoyed it. :) Yes, trying to apply the "show don't tell" rule, so I figure a bit of visual footage of the game helps. Glad you liked it. :)
I've always wondered about good solo war games, this video is perfect. Thank you!
You're welcome, cooly named Metal Blizzard. I'm happy you found it helpful, and happy gaming!
Delighted to find your channel! I am in a similar situation being away from board wargames for 20ish years and have been thinking about getting into solo gaming! You have inspired me to get back into the hobby!
Very cool, 8 of Cups, I hope you enjoy re-engaging as much as I have. I'm amazed at how much the hobby has progressed. :)
@@ZillaBlitz Now if I can just find some of these games! Most of them seem to be out of print...
Some of them, yes, some of them are upcoming. The two sub games are out of print but Beneath the Med can fill the gap nicely, I think. :)
I'm so excited about Hornet Leader gameplay videos! Can't wait!
Me too! But it might be a while, there's a pretty long list of games here and I'll be mixing in others as well. Slow but steady, we'll get there. :)
Great video. Thanks for the enthusiasm and of course, the list. Got interested in some games I´ve had off my radar.
Thanks Foxtrot! I hope you enjoy the games. It's a great time for tabletop gaming. :)
Nice collection! Since tabletop war-games (well, any time after Stratego/Battleship) are more often played solo than gamer-on-gamer, this set of recommendations is very helpful.
It's really amazing how many more solo games are out there now compared to just a few years ago. It's a renaissance in solo gaming! :)
I have several of the games in your contender list on pre-order, as well as a few others on my Wish List so am really looking forward to your take on any of them.
Thanks, Peter! I wish I could clone myself so I could play games and make videos twice as fast. But I'm looking forward to getting these to the table. :)
Just found your channel, and subscribed. I enjoyed your presentation and delivery. We agree on several of theses solitaire games. Looking forward like you to Lanzerath Ridge! Cheers!
Thanks, James! I'm very much looking forward to Lanzerath Ridge as well. Shouldn't be long now. :)
Great video Mike! Some very interesting choices! As usual, keep up the good work :)
Thanks, Panos! I'm glad you enjoyed it! :)
Great video. Also getting back into gaming after being away for 35 years. Cut my teeth on AH games 3rd Reich, Air Force/Dauntless, Squad Leader, Tobruk,…. Glad to see so many solitaire games out there now.
Nice! Welcome back! And yes, the amount and quality of solo games has blown me away. It's a whole different world than it was 35 years ago, for sure. Such a good time to get back into tabletop gaming. :)
I just found your channel. Hello! I’m just now getting into solo war games. I look forward to seeing your play through.
Hi Richard, thanks for stopping in! That's great that you're getting into solo war games. So many good ones to choose from now! I'm hoping to have more playthroughs on the way soon. Starting to play Save: South Vietnam and Halls of Hegra tonight. :)
Great list and description!
Thanks! It's time to make a new one. :)
New subscriber here, and just wanted to say I've been enjoying your videos a lot, especially the Nevsky "solo method" you came up with. This is a solid list and I've enjoyed most of these as well. Thanks again for the content!
Thanks downinahole! I'm glad you're enjoying the content, and I hope to update the Nevsky line of thought after I get a chance to play Almoravid more. Ideally I'd like to come up with something that can work for any of the Levy & Campaign games. :)
@@ZillaBlitz excellent!
I have been using the CDG System for Command and Colors Ancients and I really enjoy it! It's not true solitaire, but does provide enough of a puzzle, and cinematic experience that I am not regularly playing Command and Colors again (after moving away form my regular opponent a decade ago). Great content! Thanks for showing some other games to try for solo play!
Oh, I'm glad to hear you like the CDG Solo System. It's still on my shelf of opportunity. I'm looking forward to playing it. And thanks, I'm glad you liked the video too. :)
As someone who played Rise and Decline of the Third Reich, and Squad Leader, solo, this list is a godsend to me. Earned my sub for sure.
Thanks, Tsarn! I'm glad you've found it helpful and welcome aboard. I hope to keep updating the format as things go along. :)
I've never played these types of games however, I really dig your enthusiasm about them.
Thanks! You never know, you might try one, and then ... BOOM! Off to IKEA for more shelving. ;)
Just came across your channel - as someone who plays a lot of solo games and is getting back into wargames, this list was right up my alley. Thanks for pulling it together. I noticed from going through the videos on your channel that it does not seem that you have had the time to make the Top 10 solo wargames list you mentioned. I hope that comes out eventually. (Apologies if I missed it!) You might be interested to know, if you didn’t already, that a new (5th) printing of D-Day at Omaha Beach is due out from Decision Games this September, according to their website. That game keeps showing up on solo wargame lists, so it is now on my list to acquire once the new printing is available. I was surprised that Field Commander Rommel wasn’t mentioned at all, especially as you seem to have a real WW II bent. It is another game that shows up on a number of best solo wargame lists. Looking forward to watching more of the videos on your channel. Subscribed.
Hi! I'm glad the list was helpful, and I'm planning the update to this video for August, so it'll be a yearly, end-of-summer thing. :) The D-Day games designed by Butterfield are very strong, yes, can't go wrong there, although they are quite challenging. Field Commander Rommel is one I wasn't that aware of at the time, but it's definitely one I want to look at going forward. I've heard quite good things about it, yes. :)
Thanks, I like to keep abreast of upcoming wargames.
Sure thing, Kenneth! Glad you've found it helpful. :)
For someone who is getting back into it after also being away from playing for a couple of decades this is a great channel!
Thanks, JP Ro! I'm glad you're enjoying the channel. It's fun being back in. :)
@@ZillaBlitz A complete noob here. I'm even have a bit of a time finding the sites to peruse and possibly order some of these titles. Picking up some info as I go in great part thanks to your channel!
Fire away with questions if you've got them. I did a new video on Beginner games this past week, and in that one I linked to sites where the games can be bought, or at least have more information about them. I should add links to this one too. The wargames market can be a little fractured at the moment, with some games only available from the publisher's site, and games often go out of print.
@@ZillaBlitz Thanks I'll check it out. Yes I was confused by some availability issues.
Man, great list. I own almost all of these. I'm a big fan of the men of Iron series, and have played it solo a few times.
Totally agree on Men of Iron, just hits that perfect balance of complexity and playability. :)
I'd never really realized just how many solitaire wargames there are. Its hard to wrangle people together for something groggy, but these look really great.
It's really amazing to see how much the solo aspect of this hobby has grown in the past 10-20 years. You could count solo games on one hand at one point, now there are so many, and so many 2-player games with solo bots too. :)
I'm trying the Omaha D Day. I'm hoping it fills the void when others don't want to game.
Nice! Be prepared for some early pain. The first attempts aren't likely to go well. :)
@@ZillaBlitz Ok, thanks. That helps the frustrated period.
Excellent video!
Thank you, sir! :)
Great Video Zilla, I have not looked at D-day yet, but that may be next. My favorite solitaire games so far is Storm over the Reich (I have done a couple of video on that one) and B-17 Leader. I think you would really like those two. I am play-testing Fields of Fire's new starter guide. It does make learning much easier, but you do still have a large learning curve and need to spend some time learning. But it is a great game and a lot of fun. I like both of your pick for WWI games.
Thanks, Nerd Workshop! I've been really close on picking up B-17 Leader, a few people have pointed me towards that one, sounds like a great Leader game. :) And that's great that your testing Fields of Fire! Complexity doesn't really bother me much, but ambiguity does, so I suspect I'll be okay with the learning curve on Fields of Fire once I get started on it. But yeah, definitely waiting for the Deluxe version. :)
Great video and I love your channel!
Thanks! :)
Interesting choices. I think I may have to get one of Butterfield's solitaire games as most people really like them. I have used Stuka Joe's CDG method for Washington's War and C & C Ancients. Easy and fun to use. I bought by Stealth and Sea based on your play throughs. Two games you might want to look at are the Deluxe editions of the The African campaign and The Russian Campaign by John Edwards just published again by Compass Games. Old school war-games that are easy to learn, have enough chrome and you have to make a lot of decisions in terms of maneuvering your units. Two player games that are easy to play solitaire.
Thanks for the suggestions, Mike! I've been going back and forth about The African Campaign for a while now, and am thinking to wait to see if it goes on sale at some point. It definitely looks like a fun game that would work well for the channel, in that Afrika Korps spirit. I have the GMT Russian Campaign on pre-order, so I've been thinking about that one instead of the Compass Games one. Both look quite good, though. Thanks!
Great list, Zilla. I like them all. If you can find a copy, you might want to check out our '65 Squad Battles in the Jungles of Vietnam and its solo expansion. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Mark! I'll add '65 Squad Battles and the expansion to the list to check out, I've seen it referenced a few places now but didn't realize it had a solo expansion. With the base game out of print, it's definitely in that "challenging to find at a reasonable price" category, though. :)
Nice to see that you own at least 2 Avalon Hill games, I saw Panzer Blitz and Midway on your bookshelf.
Yep. :) I think I have a dozen or so all told. And a couple of dozen SPI games/magazines. Not a ton, but some. :)
Thanks to all for the great game suggestions for future exploration! I've been adding them to my list of games to consider and explore. :)
I wonder about the multiplayer ones (maybe after)
Yes, I will make that a goal, good idea. I'm just starting to get back into 2-player and multiplayer, so it might take a bit. :)
Love the D Day series.. have only played Iwo Jima and that was so engrossing, I just love it
Interesting, you might enjoy checking out Omaha, Tarawa, or Peleliu, as they were all done by the same designer. Iwo Jima is in the same family but quite a bit different in execution from the other 3. :)
Target for Today is fantastic and can be very addictive! I fly in 79th Squadron 509th Bomber Group and really enjoy the whole experience
So many people really seem to love this game, for sure. So many great games to play! :)
Hey Mike! Glad to see our sub games made your top 7. The 3 solitaire games I'm looking forward to are Wolfpack by GMT, Atlantic Sentinels by Compass Games where you play the escorts. The third one is also by Compass Games and it's also a submarine solo game but from the Japanese perspective. Wolfpack is a reprint but the other two are new. I'm ready for some patrols for The Hunted! Let me know when we sail!
I do think it's about time for another submarine career. I'd probably go with Raiders of the Deep next, to see how the WW1 game plays. But a few other games before that one. Sensuikan is the Compass one on Japanese submarines, which I admit does sound very interesting. I imagine that one would be pretty brutal at the end, much like The Hunted. I didn't realize Wolfpack was a reprint? I thought it was totally new. I saw a demo of some of the gameplay, and am curious to see more of that one.
I thought GMT's Wolfpack was a new first edition release. Never seen it before this P500.
@@NefariousKoel You are right. I made an erroneous connection between the GMT GAMES and a very old game from S&T.
One of my favorite solo experiences has been with 'Where there is Discord: War in the South Atlantic' (if you can find an aftermarket copy) slogging through the rules is daunting, but once I figured the game out, I found the time investment worth it for the gameplay.
Thanks, Joseph! I've not heard of that one, but I just checked it out. It looks really good, yes. Added to the list, but judging by the aftermarket prices, it might be a while. :)
Whoa. You have a copy of Panzer Blitz on your shelf. Last time I played that was in the 1970s!
I've been looking through it a bit again. It would be really fun to bring to the channel, but it probably won't be for a while. :)
Great job!! Subscribed !
Thanks much, Jon! I'm glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for subscribing. :) Welcome!
Just subscribed a few days ago but finally got a chance to watch this video. Excellent list. I got back into this hobby awhile ago but kind of drifted away again. The only ones I have from your list are Silent Victory, The Hunters & D-Day: Omaha. I went through all the comments and as expected, seen some people mention Raid on St. Nazaire. Probably my most memorable solo experience was my 3rd attempt after getting a better handle on the rules. When I played D-Day: Omaha, one thing that quickly came to mind was how great it would be to revise Raid on St Nazaire to a card driven system. I think it would be a big hit but I have no idea how much work would be involved or if the original designer would even contemplate allowing it to be modified and/or reprinted. Definitely worth checking out the The General articles available online about this great game.
Interesting to see Sherman Leader. I liked Pattons Best a lot more than B-17: Queen of the Skies because of the many more tougher decisions to make. Both were great for getting attached to your tank/plane and crews. I was playing the Canadian campaign of Pattons Best and doing fairly well until a pretty freakish set of rolls led to my crews demise. Ugh!! The one thing I didn’t like about Pattons Best was how an unidentified enemy tank or AT gun would automatically default to a pretty tough opponent. Once your crew made the ID, you then could find yourself up against a pretty lowly target but until then, a 37mm AT gun would be treated like an 88mm. It doesn’t take long for a crew to gain enough experience that ID-ing targets usually happens pretty fast but still, that game mechanic was a bit annoying.
One solitaire game that I think is worth mentioning is Victory Point Games Zulu on the Ramparts. Great little game that works well when travelling. Quick setup and easy gameplay. Also quick resetting up if the Zulus gain a quick victory. It’s out of production but supposedly a reprint is in the works.
Not sure if your aware of the Vassal computer aid for wargames? I find it idea for games like Silent War. A lot less hassle with all the counters involved. Looking forward to viewing more of your videos.
Hi Mako - I 'm glad you're enjoying the channel and the video, thanks! I actually picked up Raid on St. Nazaire and Patton's Best after making this video, because so many people mentioned them. The newly released American Tank Ace is a game in that same genre as Patton's Best.
Zulu on the Ramparts is another one that was recommended to me, but I'm hoping to play more of my existing games before adding too many new ones. :)
And yes, I like Vassal quite a bit, but have realized that I really like the tactile nature and non-screen element of playing on a real table, so I seek out those opportunities. :)
another great video mate
Thank you, Nick! :)
Great list! Pavlov’s House is great! I’m looking forward to Lanzerath Ridge.
Me too! And I've heard (and watched) a good bit of the Valiant Defense series. Really excited to explore Lanzerath Ridge. :)
Very nice piece! Old school wargamer myself, since 1980. Just got back into it again in 2019. Not solo by choice. NYC!
I'm hoping to get a lot more 2-player games in during the next year, that's one of my upcoming goals. :)
Excellent video! THANKS
Sure thing, thanks for stopping in, John! :)
Great video! You have a very good list. I might add a few suggestions.
Navajo Wars (GMT)
Nightfighter/Interceptor Ace (Compass)
Don't Tread on Me (White Dog)
The Mission (White Dog)
Stilicho (Hollandspiele)
Two old school recommendations: Patton's Best and if you ever get into ASL, Solitaire ASL.
Thanks, Tim, and thanks for the suggestions! I have Nightfighter Ace (still unplayed) and have heard good things about Navajo Wars. The others (except for Solitaire ASL) I'm not familiar with, but I've added them to my list. I'm especially unaware of some of the older games. :)
Of all the games you've played on the channel, Silent Victory & the Hunters I think were my favourite. The stories that they spun every mission, you could not predict!
Thanks! They definitely have that "could be really easy and we sink lots of stuff" to "we're all going to die!" I think it's getting close to coming back to time to break out another submarine game. :)
First (Hunted) and 11th (Hunters n Silent Victory) cruises have been where I've met my sinking fate. Only my Beneath the Med boat is still operational. Lots of fun.
You've got it! I have confidence in you! :)
They're on my list at GMT...sadly I don't know if they will make it back into print.
I'm optimistic we'll see another printing. Not that I have any inside information, or anything, but I think they'll be fine. They have such a strong and long following. :)
Really like your content and presentation.
Thanks very much, Rich! Thanks for stopping in!
I sometimes play "solitaire" chess (against myself).
The problem is that I know what the opponent is thinking
but nonetheless, I ALWAYS win !!
Ha! What about stalemate, though? And do you shake hands with your opponent at the end? So many questions. :)
B-17 QOTS. THE OG or solo air games.
Maybe not in most people's top 10 or 20 list, Compass has a few air combat games that are decent and I would say they run at difficulty levels of less complicated than B-17. They are Interceptor Ace, Night Fighter Ace, Amerika Bomber and Defending America.
B-17 QOTS is another one of those games I remember having in my hands in stores back when I was wargaming a long time ago. Never picked it up though. And I have Night Fighter Ace, probably should have added that one to the list as a contender too. :)
@@ZillaBlitz You didn't miss much. I have it and get nostlgic, get it out and then realise why it's spent the last 25 years in the attic. If you enjoy creating a narrative by rolling dice then great. There is very little decision making. Shoot not shoot, target not target but that's about it.
If you enjoy it great, but in my opinion it's not a game, it's more of a roll and write story book.
@@argy8141 Good to know, thanks! It's not been one I've thought of picking up, tbh. :)
My wallet is crying out in pain at this list. I, however, am very happy to have discovered it, and this channel. Lot of my own favorites here!
Ha! Sorry for the wallet pain, but glad you are enjoying the channel! :)
The bestest possible wargaming experience for me is to have your best friend to play against who is extremely knowledgable in all catagories of military history. Roman Napoleon Japanese WW1 WW2 modern.. I'm lucky enough to have such a friend. I've put in my time at solitaire also, as I've played Fire in the East (GDW) solitaire LOL.... Also original Squad Leader bunches Cheers 'Zilla you enthusiasm is contagious...
I really need to clone me a friend like that, sounds great! You're very fortunate! And Fire in the East solo is ... impressive! That looks like a beast of a game. I bet that was fun. I've been meaning to dig into ASL Starter Kit more, but ... time. :)
D-day is astonishing. It is complex - and I don't do complex games - but I can play that as the rule book is so good. One house rule: landed tanks can conduct a free barrage - thematic and helps a tiny bit as it can be brutal (though rightly so).
I'll be getting FoF Deluxe (too scared to attempt the original!), maybe EA Kharkov and American Tank Ace. The latter is based off Patton's Best, which I played extensively and even turned into a minis version - see BGG!
Totally agree on Omaha's accessible complexity. It took me a couple of hours of playing to start to pick up speed with the game, but everything's right there. :) I didn't realize that Patton's Best was connected to American Tank Ace, definitely looking forward to some of these upcoming games that re-envision older games. :)
Nice list,
Very much intrested in the Enemy action games, but right now it just looks to dounting to get into. Both with price & complexity.
One game I am really excited for is a new game in the Skies / storm above series. Skies Above Britain which should hopefully come out soon.
But looks like you already got enough games to go through so best of luck with that!
The Enemy Action games do have some complexity to them, in essence you're learning the 2-player rules and then how to manage the 1-player system. Fun adventure, for sure, but they do have some heft to them. :)
I've been waffling on Skies over Britain for the longest time. Into my GMT cart, out of my cart, into my cart, out of my cart. Usually I know how these things end, to be honest, but I do have a lot to play at the moment. Thanks for stopping in, N P!
Nice list. I'm a big fan of Warfighter WWII as well as Wing Leader (which is designed as a competitive game, but works fine playing both sides).
Warfighter I'm looking forward to trying, I have the core WW2 game. Wing Leader I'm trying to figure out if I'd enjoy. At some point I'll have to get a copy and give it a shot. :)
I have played Hornet Leader when it first came out and played it to death! lots of variables in the game can help or hinder the play so the same scenario will not have the same outcome. another solo game i liked was B17 queen of the skies which i also played to death! Liked your video too!
That's good to know about Hornet Leader, thanks! I've heard good things about B17 Queen of the Skies, but also that Target for Today may have eclipsed it? And glad you liked the video! :)
The Warfighter series of games are great. Im currently playing Enemy Action Kharkov - amazing good. Love the A.I in that game.
Lots of Warfighter fans about, I'm going to have to move that one up the list. :) And that's good to hear about EA: Kharkov. Given the terrain differences between Ardennes and Kharkov, I was wondering if the AIs would be equally good. :)
Night of man, for a little sci-fi action; B17 queen of the skies; Ambush/Purple Heart; Patton’s best. For some out of print goodness.
Thanks for the suggestions! I'd not heard of Night of Man, will check it out. I think Target for Today is a good option instead of B-17 Queen of the Skies? Since this video came out, I did pick up Ambush! and Patton's Best. Looking forward to giving them a shot. :)
Getting back into wargames... looking forward to a Kickstarter Halls of Hegra, solo game. Marked some of these and will pick up.
Hi Bill, welcome back to wargaming! I'm excited about Halls as well. So many good games out there now. :)
Very interesting. I've never played a tabletop wargame. Definitely going to seriously think about buying 'Hills of Doves,' looks brilliant. Are there no English Civil War games?? Will check out more of your videos. Really enjoyed your presentation.
Hill of Doves is a solid game, for sure, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it as a starting spot. Not to deter you, just be ready with some determination to learn if you go that route as a first game. :)
I'm not sure if you're looking for solitaire or 2-player, but for 2-player, GMT Games has just released this "two in one" pack where one of the games is "This Accursed Civil War". It's not a game of the whole war, but it has a number of battles from the war in it. Details are here:
www.gmtgames.com/p-626-musket-pike-dual-pack.aspx
Hope this helps!
Hornet Leader is the default go-to Leader system game in my collection. I don't have them all, but it hits a great zone in between player choices, quickness, and ease of play. Although Thunderbolt Apache Leader is also excellent, and has some great facets that HL doesn't, it also moves along more slowly in play. Can't go wrong with either. It's just so easy to break out HL and get going after having played it.
Go to know, Nefarious one, thanks! I'm excited to get Hornet Leader to the table, for sure. :)
Thanks so much for mentioning Aces of Valor! I've been thinking that someone need to make a DVG WWI Flight Leader game, and this looks at least on par with that system. I found an old prototype playthrough on RUclips and I can't tell if AoV is lacking compared to DVG Leader games, or just different. Either way I've pre-ordered it!
Also backed Tank Clash after watching your prototype playthrough, maybe it'll let me get my wife or one of my kids into the wargame genre...
I'm very much looking forward to Aces, yes. I think it'll be quite different from the Leader games. In general, I've found the leader games to emphasize gameplay, which is a solid design decision. But I think Aces of Valor will likely be a bit more grounded in historical accuracy, another solid design decision, and very different from Aces. :)
Excellent video. Anticipating more replays especially "Raiders of the Deep". It plays much differently from "The Hunters" as you have to adhere to political issues which are an integral part of the gaming experience. One of my faves.
Oh, that sounds interesting, thanks. I wasn't aware of the political considerations. Raiders of the Deep will most likely be the next submarine game, unless I'm feeling particularly up for a beating, in which case we might try a (likely very short) campaign with The Hunted. :)
I enjoyed Hornet Leader quite a lot. I'm looking forward to DVG's upcoming Spruance Leader and the pair of Eagle/Fulcrum Leader
Great to hear about Hornet Leader, thanks! There are so many in this series now! :)
I am a John Butterfield fan too. And yep Enemy Action Ardennes is my number one game. I still have to play EA Kharkov. Great video.
Thanks! And yep, I totally agree on Butterfield. :) I've been really impressed with the AI systems in both games, and with the differences in the Kharkov system.
I discovered GMT's lines decades ago and Hornet Leader is wonderfully simple but engaging. Thunderbolt and Apache Leader is a similar delight
I could probably make a video on the Leader series itself. :)
Look forward to your Leader series video.
Thank you kind sir for showing me these amazing board games, those inspired me to use my imagination and make one of my own out of cardboard 👍
Awesome! Designing board games is really fun too. Good luck!
I'm a WW II Pacific guy. So DVG's Corsair Leader is about as perfect as I can imagine. It was the last air Leader game made so the system was the most refined. Zero Leader was a further refinement. But I like the Corsair version better.
All the praise for some of the other Leader games is making me want to get them to the table sooner than later. I prefer WW2 over jets, thematically, so I'm curious to see how I might like Zero Leader and Hornet Leader. Might have to explore Corsair Leader after that. Thanks!
Excellent selection of games, I would only add Empires of The Sun with the bot for solitaire. If you have the time, check also Panzer with the 4th expansion for solitaire too. cheers
Yes, the Empire of the Sun with the solo bot is an excellent choice, isn't it. I really should have added that one from the start. I recently got the new printing, so I'm ready to explore the game as well. It'll definitely get a shot at some point. I have Panzer too, mainly have been exploring the simpler scenarios so far, but will work up to that solo system for sure. Thanks!
Excellent work. I'm very interested in those WWI flying games! And Storm Above the Reich (over the reich?) looks awesome.
Thanks! The WW1 flying games are definitely high on my radar as well. I misspoke in the video, calling Storm Above the Reich "Storm over the Reich". "Above" is correct. :)
RAF Battle of Britain 1940 is a brilliant game. Would lend itself well for a video campaign. Just a tip; get the playing order cards made by Stuka Joe from BGG. You almost can learn the game from these cards. It is the same concept as you demonstrated in Hill of Doves.
Thanks, Manuel! I'll definitely download those cards then, that sounds like a great playing aid, and I found them so helpful in Hill of Doves. They literally made the game.
Hi Zilla. Great idea for a vid. Loved some of the selections and hadn't played others. I'd like to see series of RAF, Storm Above the Reich and Paths of Glory, and can definitely give a thumbs up to Target for Today (although it is a little procedural, and I'm not sure there's a huge amount of decision making) and Hornet Leader (which is probably the most straightforward of the Air Leader games - I can also recommend Corsair Leader which introduced dogfights). I'd also suggest you looking at Star Wars Out Rim plus expansion, which although not strictly a wargame has a great solo system, as well B-17 Leader, which has a different, more strategic focus than the other Air Leader titles but still creates the same narratives...like my B-24 squadron that actually got worse as it got promoted...
As for upcoming stuff, I've got some on P500 (a reprint of Fire in the Lake and a couple of others), and I'm definitely looking out for Undaunted : Battle of Britain, which I believe has a solo bot.
Keep up the good work !
Thanks, Dave! I'm very curious to see how the list might evolve as I play some of the games that you mention. I might not bring all of these to video, but I'm hoping to get at least one checked off the list each month, and then update in six months. :) I keep hearing good things about B-17 Leader, I might really have to consider that one. I've heard rumors of a 3rd edition for it, but I'm not sure how close that might be to being a real thing.
Is Outer Rim without the expansion good? I have the base game.
Undaunted Battle of Britain sounds really good, yes. That's a whole series I've yet to check out. :)
@@ZillaBlitz If you want to get an idea of B-17, check out a channel called Poindexter Games - he does a full campaign playthrough, and explained some of the more abstract parts of the game. He also does a playthrough of Interceptor Ace as well.
Outer Rim is much improved with the expansion - it really opens out the game.
I'd like to see a Storm over Europe series, not least because I've got Skies over Britain on P500 :)
I
Thanks, Dave, I'll check that B-17 series out. I'll check out the expansion for Outer Rim then too. ... Gosh, this video is turning out to be a bit more expensive than I anticipated. :)
Cracking list and I couldn't agree more on John Butterfield games
Thanks, Billy. Yeah, I really enjoy Butterfield's games, too. :)
You have a ton of fun ahead. The latest edition of Empires of the Sun has a solo bot. Labyrinth also has solo bots.
I really should have put Empire of the Sun on this list of contenders, now that you mention it. My P500 order arrived recently, been waiting for that for a long time. :)
Good video. The Storm above the Reich looks very good. I would like to say the submarine game from WW1 from Compas (I think its title isÑ Deep Blue Sea) which you showed before could be even better than the hunters.
Thanks Ramon! That sub game is Raiders if the Deep and it will be the next submarine game I play on the channel. Probably 2-3 games before that but coming soon. :)
Fields of fire is the best solo war game I’ve ever played. Amazing.
I'm very excited for the new Deluxe version. I know they've spent a lot of time improving the learning experience.
Butterfield is a Master at solo game design, and a master at writing rulebooks. Enemy Action Ardennes is the best solo war game ever made. I am excited for Atlantic Patrol by Compass games, its the next in the Hunters series, and according to the description you will be able to combine the game with The Hunters.
I've really enjoyed everything Butterfield works on, for sure. Although it's not solo, I'm very interested in Downfall, too. ~ And that's interesting with Atlantic Patrol, I hadn't hear of that one yet. I'll add it to the list, thanks! :)
Great games!! Have you looked at Interceptor Ace or Night Fighter Ace. Both Gregory Smith games.
Thanks! have Nightfighter Ace and am looking forward to playing it. Probably could have included it in the contender category. :)
Can't wait to see Storm Above the Reich in video form instead of my written form! I have the CDG Solo system as well, though I haven't had a chance to use it yet. I thankfully have 3 of the 6 games, so I look forward to it.
I don't think my Storm Above the Reich videos would match the career of Green Guy, that's a high bar! ~ And I've been looking to pick up a couple more of the games for the CDG system, but a good number of them are out of print it seems. So I'll need some patience there. Still, so much to play and so little time. :)
@@ZillaBlitz You could have your own Green Guy! Speaking of which, I think the original Green Guy is still around, but sadly a few others have been...not so lucky.
I will catch up. I've just finished the last Pacific War book and your posts would make for a nice segue to Dune Messiah. :)
Excellent choice of solo wargames ZB! I conquer with the games and their order. Your contenders are bang on as well although I wouldn't include Fields of Fire 2 as it's just too crunchy for this old grognard's brain (that's my malfunction though, not the game's). Have not played the 3 game bundle nor the Boar War game but the rest are at the top of my list as well. I would make my contender list as: Tarawa 1943 (delightfully difficult to win), Nemo's War (not historical, but an awesome solo wargame), Thunderbolt Apache Leader, Undaunted Normandy, North Africa, and Re-enforcements (which adds the solo bot).
Thanks, Uwe! I've added Tarawa 1943 to my list of games to check out, thanks! I have Nemo's War (just got it a while ago), but haven't made time to play it yet. I want to play some of my other leader games before checking out Apache Leader, but I've heard it's good, yes. Does Undaunted Reinforcements add a solo bot to Undaunted North Africa? That's the one I have.
@@ZillaBlitz It adds additional scenarios and solo capability to both Normandy and North Africa Michael.
Thanks, I'm going to get this. I've wanted to try North Africa and it sounds like Reinforcements will add to that as a solo experience. :)
Excellent idea and some fine choices of solo games, my top three would be RAF, The Hunters & Field Commander Rommel. Samurai Battles is edging its way up since I bought CDG solo & enjoy playing Tiger Leader.. I have Zero Leader but have not yet managed to get it to the table. Awaiting delivery of Paths of Glory & Resist. Games I would like Malta Besieged, Tarawa & Target for Tonight. Currently investigating, Irish Freedom, 1759 Siege of Quebec & Jeff Davis The Confederacy at War, unfortunately the Enemy Action series is beyond my price range.
Great video thank you.
Thanks, coyi! Some excellent thoughts and choices for games in here. I've added Field Commander Rommel to my list, looks interesting and relatively fast to play. I hope you enjoy Resist, it's such a cool game. Some of your other mentions I'm not familiar with yet. So many games out there! :)
I have an idea. Maybe you could make a top 10 list in the future based on very niche wars?
Or a series of top 5-7 lists of games set in different eras (eg. Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance/pike & shot, Victorian/Napoleonic, etc)?
@@ObiKKa I think this is a great idea and something to work towards with the channel. Before I can do that, I want to get more games to the table. I've been gone from wargaming for quite a while and only back for a little over a year, so I've got some catching up to do. :) But yes, definitely something to work towards and a great idea, thank you!
Mike,
I found our next sub game! U-Boat Leader from DVG games. No crew to worry about but multiple submarines, patrol areas and events.
I have that one, yes. I haven't played it yet, but I bought back when I thought Submarine Mondays would be a regular thing. Definitely on the list of games to bring the channel, although the next submarine game will be Raiders of the Deep. :)
You touched on Storm Above the Reich and RAF... I'm very excited for the next GMT entry Skies Above Britain (soon to ship.) I've been looking for a solo game on that topic since London's Burning, and I'm hoping Skies is the one. Would like to hear your further impressions of Storm, too!
I learned how to play Storm about a year ago, and played the tutorial mission. At the time I thought I needed more experience at creating tabletop videos before attempting to shoot the game, so I decided to come back to it in the future. I'm curious about Skies Above Britain as well. :) Have you played RAF: The Battle of Britain?
@@ZillaBlitz I've looked into RAF and have been fascinated by how the map is implemented. Never got my hands on it, though.
@@browe It tends to be a bit pricey, too, to be fair. :)
Love DVG Games! I can't believe Combat and Combat vol 2 did not make this list! These games took me back to the days when Ambush and Battle Hymn were on my table almost every day! Outstanding gaming experience! B-17 Leader from DVG is another game I love; too bad Huey Leader never came out...
I'm pretty excited about the Combat! pair of games, especially with the ability to have campaigns. I'm waiting for Combat! 1 (on pre-order for the second printing) and have Combat! 2, so I'll definitely be giving the system a look.
@@ZillaBlitz Combat vol 1 did get very scarce...I pre-ordered the first printing, then went on a manhunt for a second copy for a friend as a Christmas gift
@@farpointgamingdirect For sure. I saw Combat! 1 a while back but wasn't super interested in the game until they added the campaign feature in Combat! 2. But by the time I figured all that out, only Combat 2! was available. I think the Combat! 1 second printing will be November or so, lots of other things to play until then. :)
@@ZillaBlitz I'm going to order American Tank Ace; It makes me nostalgic for games like Patton's Best and Open Fire (Ambush but with tanks)
@@farpointgamingdirect We'll have to compare notes! I think I heard that it might be getting released a bit ahead of schedule too. Fingers crossed!
Great list! :-D Have you checked out Tunderbolt/Apache Leader yet? That is my favorite from the Leader series. There is also Warfighter WWII... that's my favorite of the Warfighter series. Doolittle Raid is very cool, btw... that game is mostly about the planning on the mission. There is also another Enemy Coast Ahead game about the Dam Busters that I really want to get. :-) Maybe keep an eye out for that one too. :-)
Thanks for the suggestions, KabukiKid! I was thinking to get either Thunderbolt/Apache but went with Hornet Leader first. I've heard good things about Thunderbolt, though! I've very curious to see how the Doolittle Raid makes planning fun. I think if I enjoy that one I'll move on to getting Dam Busters next, for sure. And I have Warfighters WW2, just didn't put it on the contenders list yet because, well, only so much space. :)
great video and list. i would also suggest nato air command by hollanspiele.
Thanks, rbaynosa! I'll check that game out, adding to my list. I've been wanting to check out some Hollandspiele games.
Fields of Fire Volume 1 is hands down not just the best game I've played solo, but simply one of the best games I've ever played, period. Yes, it does take a lot of time and effort to get to grips with the rules, but boy, is it worth it ! It is so incredibly immersive, and you can tell its designer Ben Hull was once in the military as it's incredibly realistic too. I found the best way to learn it was by the rule book and through the FoF forum on Board Game Geek ; most of the questions which cropped up had usually already been posed and answered on there. I unfortunately had to sell both volumes 1 and 2 when forced to move a couple of years back, but I've just signed up on the P500 for the deluxe edition and Bulge expansion - and I WON'T be letting it go this time ! 😃
Thanks, Ryan! I'm definitely looking forward to it, and I've signed up for Bulge too, as I expect I'll like that Deluxe edition. :)
Ive tried 2 times, but just cant get to grips with it...yet
New rules are coming out soon! :)
Awesome video! Any recomendations for a good intro to solo wargames? Id really love to start exploring the genre. Thanks!
Happy to help! I want to update this video soon, but it bounces back and forth between solo and non-solo games and has some recommendations in there...
ruclips.net/video/5ikpr0MbITo/видео.html
Been solo gaming for about 50 years or so (mostly because I have usually lived in the sticks) - my first solo game was "Patton's Best." I found it enjoyable. I suspect your Sherman leader is a derivative of that.
That's a long history of solo gaming, awesome! I've been checking out Patton's Best a bit, and it seems more technical and historically accurate than Sherman Leader. I talk about it a bit in my review, but SL is very much a game about armored combat, not an accurate simulation of it. The designers very much focused on creating something fun to play. Not a bad thing, for sure, but if you are looking for accurate simulation, Sherman Leader is not your game. :)
Great video. I also only own Paths of Glory so have been reluctant to get the solo pack. Fields of Fire is great. Best thing is to watch a play through and then go for it. If you mess up a few rules, who cares?
The solo method for the individual games is available on the GMT website to print out, so it's there for free as well. :) I'm definitely excited for Fields of Fire, and that would work to get going, for sure. As much as I'm tempted, I've got lots to play at the moment and am pretty content to wait it out. :)