Matthew BaileyIn the last few months, the number of people asking for solo games you can enjoy on your own has gone up loads, so I made a note to try and play more solo games I could recommend.
Now, by the rules of anything I review here, at least one of my kids has to play the game too. Which throws up a bit of a logistical issue when reviewing solo games, because not only do I need to play it myself, but I’ve also got to sit and watch one of the kids play it and get their feedback while they’re doing so. Basically, I’m reviewing a solo game that I’m not really the main player of, if that makes sense?
Either way, the first solo game we’re diving into this summer is One Card Dungeon from Alley Cat Games. This is a lovely little travel-friendly, mini dungeon crawler. Essentially, you set up with some white ability dice that act as your ongoing stats, a green dice that represents your health, and a red dice for the enemy you’re fighting. The game is split into 12 levels, and you’re trying to see how far through the dungeon you can get. It starts off pretty doable but gets noticeably trickier around the mid-point. Full disclosure: I’ve never even got close to finishing all 12 levels. But that’s part of the appeal – the more you play, the more your strategy and tactics improve.
The layout of the card stays the same each time, but your dice rolls don’t, so there’s a bit of rogue-like replayability. On your turn, you roll three black “energy” dice, and use them to boost your movement, attack, or defence depending on what the situation calls for. Monsters then move and attack in a very predictable way – no dice rolls for them – and that’s actually a good thing because it lets you plan ahead and factor their movements into your decisions.
At its core, this is more of a puzzle game than a traditional dungeon crawler. It’s about working out the best strategy to survive and progress, level by level, with your stats increasing if you manage to defeat your foe. There are also four different classes that each give you a special ability you can use once per level, adding a bit of extra variety.
Now, this isn’t going to blow anyone’s mind. It’s fairly simple, and the core mechanics stay the same from game to game, but if you want something compact that’ll keep a mid-to-older child busy on a plane or car journey, One Card Dungeon is definitely worth a look. Jack and I both enjoyed seeing how far we could get, and it’s a fun little solo challenge with great value for money. It doesn’t have massive long-term appeal, but as a travel solitaire game, it really does the job.
Disclaimer: This game was kindly provided by Alley Cat Games for the purposes of review. Opinions, as always, are honest and our own.
*Great for travelling but probably not ideal for long-term play.
