Many new board games include a solo mode. Here are four titles from 2020 that you can learn at home, then share with your friends in 2021.
Even before the global pandemic, board games were undergoing a quiet revolution. Not only are more games coming to market than ever before, the games themselves are more complex and feature multiple modes of play. You can enjoy many of 2020’s best games solo, then share them with your friends once we can all be back together in 2021. These new solo experiences include multiple campaigns with increasing levels of difficulty that reward patience and practice. They’re also excellent ways to learn the fundamentals of play, which can help you to become an expert when it’s time to teach your friends. Here are our top four picks for great board games to tide you over this winter. Dune: Imperium plays incredibly fast — especially compared with the classic strategy game from the 1970s. This latest iteration blends worker placement mechanics (common to modern classics like Lords of Waterdeep) with deck-building (found in games like Gloomhaven and Clank!). Best of all, Dune: Imperium launched with a handy iOS and Android app. It’s not a tutorial, but a full-fledged AI that drives the action of the game for a single player. If you’re not into the app, there’s also a deck of cards inside the box that accomplishes exactly the same thing. For hobbyists, there’s also a deluxe upgrade pack with 3D plastic miniatures that could use a nice coat of paint. Prices taken at time of publishing. From Dire Wolf Digital, it’s the first modern board game implementation of Frank Herbert’s universe.
