Gloomhaven and Beyond: Best Solo Campaign Picks
Solo board games are more popular than ever, with Gloomhaven leading the pack. Whether you’re into deep storytelling, tactical combat, or strategic puzzles, there’s a game for you. Here's a quick breakdown of the top solo campaign games:
- Gloomhaven: Offers rich storytelling, tactical card-based combat, and 95+ scenarios. Perfect for solo players who love RPG-style progression.
- Mage Knight: A strategic, open-world experience focused on resource management. Great for those who enjoy solving complex puzzles.
- Arkham Horror: The Card Game: Immersive Lovecraftian storytelling with "fail forward" mechanics. Ideal for fans of narrative-driven gameplay.
- Too Many Bones: A dice-builder RPG with quick sessions, unique characters, and high-quality components. Perfect for players with limited time.
Quick Comparison
| Game | Gameplay Depth | Replay Value | Setup Time | Campaign Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gloomhaven | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Mage Knight | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ |
| Arkham Horror: Card Game | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Too Many Bones | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ |
If you’re new to solo games, start with Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion for a simpler introduction. For experienced players, Mage Knight offers unmatched strategic depth. Choose based on your playstyle, available time, and space.
Comparing Gloomhaven, Mage Knight and Dungeon Alliance
1. Gloomhaven
Gloomhaven is a standout choice for solo campaigns, offering a rich mix of strategic combat and an evolving storyline. Its 52-page rulebook hints at the depth and complexity awaiting players.
The game’s card-based combat system combines tactical decision-making with a dynamic monster AI, making every encounter unpredictable and engaging. With around 95 scenarios in total , each playthrough only scratches the surface of the content, thanks to its branching narrative. Your choices shape the story, locking or unlocking paths and adding weight to your decisions.
For solo players, running a two-character party strikes a great balance between challenge and strategy . As you progress, characters grow through personal quests, perks, and leveling up, giving a real sense of advancement and individuality.
Here are a few tips to make solo play smoother:
- Organize components: Keep commonly used items separate to save setup time.
- Protect your cards: Sleeve ability cards to handle frequent use .
- Start small: Try Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion for an easier introduction with a tutorial system built-in .
Once the main campaign is complete, the random dungeon generator keeps the adventure alive with fresh challenges. The variety of character builds and story paths ensures the game stays engaging for the long haul. Gloomhaven’s depth and replayability set a high bar for solo board games.
2. Mage Knight
Mage Knight offers a solo campaign that feels like solving a strategic puzzle. Instead of Gloomhaven's tactical combat, the focus shifts to resource management and strategic decision-making in an open-world RPG-like setting.
Each card in the game serves multiple purposes, creating a tactical challenge that rewards smart planning. You'll need to carefully manage your hand, balancing movement, combat, and influence to meet your scenario goals.
The game's reputation system adds another layer of complexity. Choosing good deeds can earn you strong allies, while darker choices bring different rewards. Combined with varied scenarios, this system ensures that your decisions carry weight.
The Ultimate Edition enhances the experience with:
- A range of scenario types, lasting 60 to 120 minutes
- Unique character decks with specialized abilities
- Random map generation for endless replay options
- Advanced actions, artifacts, and spells for deeper character customization
"When trying to sell people on Mage Knight, I tell them it's the Skyrim board game without the Skyrim; another board game I really enjoy. Mage Knight does a great job of encompassing that open-world role-playing game feel." - Matt Sall
This quote captures why Mage Knight resonates with players seeking an immersive solo adventure.
For the best solo experience, keep these tips in mind:
- Time your resources: Use per-turn skills right away since they don't carry over.
- Balance your deck: Ensure a mix of movement, combat, and influence abilities.
- Plan ahead: Think several turns ahead when choosing rewards or managing resources.
The Lost Legion expansion is particularly well-suited for solo play, offering scenarios that challenge even seasoned players. BoardGameQuest.com gave it a strong 4.5/5 rating , solidifying Mage Knight as a top choice for fans of deep, strategic solo games.
One common critique is that the starting characters feel somewhat similar. However, this becomes less of an issue as you unlock advanced abilities and artifacts, allowing for unique strategies. This solo mode highlights the game's depth in ways that differ from multiplayer sessions. Up next, we'll dive into how Arkham Horror: The Card Game approaches solo campaigns.
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3. Arkham Horror: The Card Game
Set in 1920s Arkham, Massachusetts, Arkham Horror: The Card Game offers a captivating solo campaign experience with rich storytelling and unique "fail forward" mechanics. Unlike the open-world style of Mage Knight, this Living Card Game (LCG) immerses players in the mysterious world of H.P. Lovecraft, blending strategy with narrative twists.
The campaign structure ensures your decisions have lasting effects. Even when you fail, the story continues, making every choice feel meaningful and keeping the gameplay engaging.
For solo players, there are two main ways to play:
- True Solo Play: You control one investigator, requiring careful deck building.
- Two-Handed Solo: You manage two investigators, adding strategic depth but also increasing complexity.
These options allow players to tailor the challenge to their preferences while following their investigator's journey through the campaign.
The revised core set is designed as an accessible starting point, with simplified setup and a clear progression system. Each campaign offers surprises for first-time playthroughs and deeper layers to explore on subsequent attempts. Your choices are recorded in a campaign log, influencing future scenarios and outcomes.
"What I get back is unrivaled in terms of storytelling. Unparalleled storytelling, narrative immersion, and impactful decisions with consequences that carry across games – further enhanced by 'failing forward'" - Stidjen
As your investigator progresses, you'll face evolving challenges, including:
- Earning experience between scenarios
- Managing physical and mental trauma
- Dealing with permanent outcomes like death or insanity
- Introducing new investigators when necessary
While the game is highly praised , some players criticize the "autofail" token, though it adds to the tension and Lovecraftian atmosphere. And while the deck-building aspect isn't as deep as Magic: The Gathering, the focus here is on narrative-driven strategies rather than crafting the perfect deck.
4. Too Many Bones
Too Many Bones is a tactical dice-builder RPG that offers engaging gameplay in manageable sessions of 60–90 minutes . This makes it perfect for players with tighter schedules.
The game boasts top-tier components, including neoprene playmats, PVC plastic cards, and 139 custom dice (138 heat-transfer imaged dice plus one black D6) . While the $129.00 price tag for the base game might seem high, the craftsmanship and attention to detail justify the cost for many.
What sets Too Many Bones apart is its character development system. Each Gearloc character comes with 16 unique dice and distinct progression paths . The "backup plan" mechanic adds an extra layer of strategy, letting players make use of missed dice rolls in creative ways.
"Playing Too Many Bones feels like wandering around in a world that's bigger than the game itself... Clearly a lot of thought went into shaping the world; setting the stage for the Gearloc race and their unique adventures." – Stidjen
Combat encounters are designed like tactical puzzles, and Tyrant cards determine both the difficulty and the length of sessions . Each character brings a different playstyle, ensuring plenty of variety:
| Content Type | Cost | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Base Game | $129.00 | 4 Gearlocs, Core Campaign |
| Gearloc Expansions | $25.00 each | New Characters, Skills |
| Undertow | $90.00 | Standalone Experience |
| Splice & Dice | $40.00 | Additional Content |
One of the game's strengths is how quickly it can be set up and packed away, despite requiring a fair amount of table space . This makes it less of a hassle compared to other games in its category.
The game also shines with its emergent storytelling. Instead of relying on lengthy narrative text, it creates memorable moments through meaningful choices during encounters, leading up to the final battle with the Tyrant. While the rulebook can be tricky to navigate for quick answers, the game's excellent customer support and active community make the learning process much smoother.
Check out the comparison chart in the next section to see how Too Many Bones measures up against similar games.
Game Comparison Chart
Here's a quick look at how these games stack up in terms of gameplay and campaign features:
| Game | Gameplay Depth | Replay Value | Setup Time | Campaign Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gloomhaven | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Mage Knight | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ |
| Arkham Horror: The Card Game | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Too Many Bones | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ |
This table gives a snapshot of each game's approach to solo play, helping you decide which one matches your preferences.
Key Insights:
- Gloomhaven: Known for its tactical gameplay and branching narratives, it offers a rich solo campaign experience.
- Mage Knight: Focuses on strategic planning and resource management. It brings a unique mix of challenges:
| Strengths | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Thought-provoking tactical turns | Time-consuming setup |
| Variety in scenarios | Complex rulebook |
| Strong narrative elements | High learning curve |
The main difference between these games lies in how they handle solo play. Gloomhaven excels in character progression and storytelling, allowing players to experiment with character combinations independently. On the other hand, Mage Knight leans heavily into tactical decision-making, rewarding careful planning.
For replayability:
- Gloomhaven offers branching storylines.
- Mage Knight shines with its ever-changing tile setups.
- Arkham Horror emphasizes deck-building strategies.
- Too Many Bones provides unique character paths.
Next, we'll dive deeper into how these features can help you pick the perfect game for your solo sessions.
Which Game Fits Your Style
Find the perfect solo campaign game by aligning features with your playstyle. Based on the comparison above, here are some tailored suggestions:
If you enjoy complex strategy, Mage Knight offers intricate challenges that demand time and focus. However, its steep learning curve can be daunting .
For newcomers, Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion is an excellent starting point. It features a streamlined setup and an integrated tutorial system. The original Gloomhaven scenarios vary in length - from 45 minutes to 3 hours - so managing your time is key.
Fans of tactical combat will find Gloomhaven highly rewarding. Its card-based system allows for strategic plays, whether you're using the beginner-friendly Inox Brute or the more nuanced Orchid Spellweaver .
Here’s a quick breakdown of recommendations based on player type:
| Player Type | Best Match | Why It Fits |
|---|---|---|
| New to Solo Games | Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion | Easy tutorial system, reduced setup time |
| Experienced Strategists | Mage Knight | Deep tactical puzzles, high complexity |
| Space-Conscious Players | Arkham Horror: The Card Game | Portable design with simpler setup |
| Story-Driven | Gloomhaven | Rich narrative and evolving campaign |
If table space is a concern, consider Arkham Horror: The Card Game for its compact design. Alternatively, Gloomhaven: Buttons & Bugs offers a smaller footprint while maintaining depth.
Keep in mind that Mage Knight can be overwhelming for beginners. As one reviewer put it:
"Rulebook is atrocious and lots of random rules to remember" .
