Top 10 Solo Dungeon Crawlers | April 2020 | With Colin 

I really appreciate the 'If you like/dislike X' format - it allows you to show your enthusiasm while helping viewers with different tastes decide for themselves. (Also hope the prominently displayed LotR boxes mean we might see some more LCG action from you soon!)

1. Sword and Sorcery 2. Folklore the affliction 3. LotR JiME app 4. Descent 2e 5. Mage knight 6. Imperial assault app 7. Runebound 3rd with unbreakable bond 8. Gear of War 9. Arena the contest 10. Gloomhaven Backed 1 Arena the contest Tanares 2 Oathsworn into the deepwood 3 Aeon trespass odyssey 4 Too many bones 5 Frosthaven

You played fitting music for each game....besides the great reviews that attention to detail is probably the most unique thing I’ve seen out of a game review. Amazing job

9:20 Love those LCD segment-styled white on blue dice...

So happy to finally see a top 10 dungeon crawlers with Sword and Sorcery at its earned #1 spot. This game does so many things right, it's absolutely amazing. Exactly because of the many rules there is so much possibility for tactical decision making. I absolutely love it.

Great list, thanks Colin. Nice to see an updated version. I am really excited for your adventure list.

I get excited about Sword and Sorcery each time I see you post it. It's a fun game but sometimes the amount of work in the setup and upkeep is just overwhelming for me solo. It's the kind of thing I'd put up with more in a coop situation. I have my eye of Arena: The Contest. I recently purchased Cthulhu Death May Die and am looking forward to trying it out.

Thanks for existing, Colin! Always glad to see when you drop new content 🙌

Great to see you Colin! You have opened my eyes to a few games. Thank you!

Thanks for another great video! The "if you" section really helps! I know I've passed on some games because of that advice and purchased others I might not have given a chance!

Hey Colin, absolutely love the way you break down these games! One thing I would ask that you add would be to let us know if the miniatures come pre-painted, especially if you show them painted in your videos. Getting miniatures painted is EXPENSIVE (if you don't do it yourself) and if they come pre-painted that is a HUGE step up in value. I find un-painted miniatures a big turn-off in games. Thanks for sharing this list!

I absolutely love your videos and share your preferences in board games (and that's how i got into Gloom & Shadows of Kilforth, cheers!) and here's an idea for your future game overview videos: how about showing the game set up on the table at the beginning? This way people could see some of the curious game details, components, etc.

Colin thanks for the list! 1. Runebound 2nd Ed 2. Dragon fire 3. Imperial Assault 4. Massive Darkness 5. Wrath of Ashardalon 6. Castle Ravenloft 7. Legend of Drizzt

Great job as always Colin. Thanks for all your work and efforts that you do.

Gears of War! God yes, it is excellent. Reichbusters is quite good. I've played it solo, and once you get over the relatively messy rulebook it is really cool. Can't wait for Oathsworn too - it looks great. Deep Madness is also really good, but man it is challenging. Another is Blackstone Fortress, which is really easy and fun solo.

When playing solo, i look for a game that dont overcharge me with a lott of methodological steps. So i still stand with Dungeon Alliance in my top 1! This game was "made" for solo!

Great list, I'm following your lead at the moment and have Galaxy Defenders on the table. So many tactical decisions to make. I really should get a hold of Swords and Sorcery...so much to play. Thanks again Colin.

Nice to hear so.e love for HB. I am embarrassed to say I havent cracked the seal on it yet after getting it a year ago. You make me want to play it finally!

Yey, Hellboy! Huge replayabilty with KS version, particularly with BRPD Archives expansion. As you say, the dice mechanisms are brill.

Very much agreed on the dragon fire criticism. I will also add the the game is really balanced around 4 people, 4h solo. Yes there are bless cards but the game which is already tough is made harder with less than 4.

You had me sold on Gears of War, then brought me down crashing hard! really tempted by Hellboy too, I love the comics. Surprised Zombicide and Descent didn't make the list.

Great video, looking forward to the next list!

GREAT job ! Love the reviews! VERY helpful !

Still a great list! LotR LCG never gets old!

I see Colin, I click!

Great production quality. Subscribed.

Colin, I really enjoy your playthroughs and reviews.

I love the inclusion of the reasons someone wouldn’t like the game. Some of them were significant drawbacks that clearly prevented them from being more successful.

Thank you Colin some really sound games on the list, although difficult to get hold of

Hey man, great video! For the record: you skipped the checkpoint / bookmark of dungeon alliance (it appears as galaxy defenders)

Thanks for the list. Heroes of Terrinoth is still my favorite Sadler brothers game. I am disappointed it didn't get expansions from FFG. Still a fun game.

Great video as usually . Wish the background music wasn’t so loud in your videos though

Awesome video. Very well done. Obviously you have not included GD with its addons, the NPCs, the epic (and much more intense in comparison to S&S) boss battles, the diggers that hide below the surface etc. etc. ;) But nonetheless amazing video. :) I have done a 1vs.1 challenge (you may remember your podcast) against myself for this genre and this became my list: 1.) Secrets of the lost tomb 2.) Sword & Sorcer - Arcane Portal + Darkness Falls with the hardcore rules from the recent Ancient Chronicles storybook (Gates of hell + Fragile) 3.) Galaxy Defenders (I argued about it in the video why this has so much exploration it it, that it counts as a DC) 4.) Machina Arcana 5.) Perdition´s Mouth 6.) Secret Unknown Stuff - Escape from Dulce 7.) Lobotomy (I argued about it why the possible to play multiple scenarios at once create a deep sense of exploration, that it counts as a DC) 8.) Shadows of Brimstone (the dull mechanics really start to stuck after a while + balance issues with Wave 2) 9.) Darklight - Memento Mori (almost the same annoying dull (although more streamlined) mechanics with balance issues) The "big" titles like Gloomhaven or Descent 2 would never made it on a top list in this genre for me. They fail on both aspects: Interesting mechanics and fluff. I am really excited about Chronicles of Drunagor, Altar Quest, S&S Ancient Chronicles in the first place, but there are so many games coming (Oathsworn etc.). Exciting times for dungeon crawl fans. :) Keep up the good work, Colin. :)

#4 Galaxy Defenders, hands down my fave game!!! Great to see it appreciated by someone else!

Awesome presentation, Colin! Always very enjoyable to see one of your videos. Quick question: if you were to brutally divide Dungeon Crawlers into only 2 categories: *Tactical Challenges* (modularly-built, hard-to-beat one-offs) and *Story Campaigns* (character-growing, unique-scenario adventures) - which one do you prefer and how would you divide up your Top 10 list into those 2 categories, in your expert opinion? My Top 10 DCs? 10 - Machina Arcana 2nd edition 9 - HEXplore it (complete trilogy) 8 - Gloomhaven 7 - Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth 6 - Folklore the Affliction 5 - Okko Chronicles 4 - Hellboy: The Board Game 3 - Skull Tales: Full Sail! 2 - Descent: Journeys into the Dark 2nd Edition 1 - Mansions of Madness 2nd Edition I backed Tanares (although I'm hesitant about the required Arena), Oathsworn (story!), Aeon Trespass (tile exploration!), Solomon Kane (most innovative gameplay), The Everrain (Cthulhu + pirates!), Middara (juicy content), Assassin's Creed (sneaking around Venice), Chronicles of Drunagor (table presence), Arkeis (OMG! steampunk Egypt? Jah!), Isofarian Guard (immersive story), Trudvang Legends (1st CMON for me - weird theme, love it!), Vampire: tM - Chapters (most promising RPG-like gameplay), and the Order of Vampire Hunters (to prep turning the hunters into vampires I can use for Vampire: tM! lol) - so yeah, I'm like Bairnt and you: an unapologetic Dungeon Crawler fanatic!

Hey Colin! Any chance on making an updated 2022 DungeonCrawler list?

1. Massive Darkness 2. Dungeon Alliance 3. Zombicide Black Plague/Green Horde I no longer own: Descent 2nd Edition, D&D Adventure System, and Sword and Sorcery. I preordered/backed Hour of Need and Altar Quest.

Nice job Colin ! I always enjoy your tops, can't wait for the Adventure top ten ! I think I recognized some Descent minis behind you (an Elemental and an Ettin for sure), it's one of my favorite dungeon crawlers ! Did you try Dark Souls the card game ? I don't know if it is a typical Dungeon crawler, but it is an ex-cel-lent card game !! You should try it, especially if you played the video game (one of the bests RPGs of all time !) In my top, I would add Heroes of Terrinoth, which was in your previous top I think, and One deck dungeon. Sylvain

Great video, loved the format! More S&S coming hopefully? (Perhaps an expansion?)

I brought your top 5 based on your play through and other reviews and Fireteam Zero was the only I felt the need to get rid of. Not that it was bad, just the 3 negatives you pointed out out weighed the good for me. S&S is definitely the best and not that expensive to tip your toe in via the base game. Of course if you loved it you're going to want all the expansions.

brilliant concept. thank's for telling both the good and bad aspects of each game.

Hello!!!! Maybe it´s time to do another list like this? I love dungeon crawlers and there are new ones in the market

Dungeon crawlers are my favourite type of game and it was good to see your update on these. Gears of War and Galaxy Defenders are two of my most played games and I love the combat systems in both. After watching this I am tempted to get Sword and Sorcery as well. Arena the contest and Tanares Adventures have been pledged on and paid for. I would love to try out Fireteam Zero but here in the UK I haven't seen the core box for sale, just the expansions?!

Thanks for the list. Thumbed up and subscribed. I very much like how you actually showed actual gameplay. Much more informative and interesting than watching a guy just talk for half an hour, like many (lazy) reviewers / top lists do. Minor annoyance: Less scenes of your green dice box would be better, imho. Really dont care for it.

Good to see you my friend! I own only one game on this list... Silly, I know!

I'm curious how far into the campaign for Galaxy Defenders you got. I found it to be fairly immersive with the branching story line based on how well you completed each mission. Plus, the follow up expansions takes the story even further into the lore. Great game!

Nice! Agree on fireteam zero!

Based on your tastes I thought we’d have more matches (only game you mentioned that I own is sword and sorcery and will be getting Arena from last KS) here but i am thinking some of the ones I was expecting to see might be on your adventure list. Looking forward to that video.

Hey Colin just curios to know if you thought S&S was a better dungeon crawler than Descent as mechanically they seem like similar games?

Great list. I hope you do a playthrough of Reichbusters. I really wish I had backed it.

S&S...hell yeah! Out of the 10 games in your list..only 3 survived my board game cull....GD, DA and S&S....I'm not very sure if FZ can rank that high as #2, but I guess you like i...For me, Machina Arcana is actually really good.

Surprised not to see Cthulhu Death May Die not on here. Lot’s of good picks though!

I see the row of LOTR LCG boxes, i hit like

Well this is how it went for me. Checked you video and decided I needed a new game. Remembered I didn’t like Shadowrun: Crossfire so checked off Dragonfire. Checked around and couldn’t really find most of the games locally. Decided to check on dragonfire since you had a playthrough. Really liked what I saw. Found dragonfire in a sale at my lfgs Bought it. Played it twice and really really enjoyed it. Thanks again

Does Tanares come with all those 3d terrain pieces? Does Gensys have terminator type threats? Do you feel like you are in danger as you would from a terminator? Or could you replace those terminators with any ol' fuzzle and it wouldn't matter? Collin can you make a video for Dungeon Alliance using all the adventure packs. It would be not only very entertaining but useful. ID like to see how this plays out.

Thank you for this list. The only game I have in this list is Gears of War. I love that game and at the same time I love the video game series.

Colin, you may want to try the new D6 game from Certifiable Studios. The theme is a light silly take on D&D but it's so much fun. It has a solo variant that I believe you would really enjoy.

That's a heck of a lot of lotr lcg behind you! Have you played them all? Thanks for the vid :)

sword n socery was a 55 $ corebox when it came out on Amazon. very cheap. but not a huge box

Lookin forward to the 2021 version! Curious about your views on Chthulu Death May Die and Bloodborne...

How did Shadows of Brimstone not make this list!? And I would say a big negative of Dragonfire is that when you FINALLY do get character upgrades, they feel SO weak, and not worth it :(

Terminator is great. It has replaced Gears of War for me. The scenarios are so much better. The expansion is also amazing.

Love these Colin. A couple I've never heard of, but when I heard the "Why you might not like this..." parts, I understood why I'd never heard of them. I love that you had galaxy Defenders and Sword & Sorcery on the list. Some people say they're the same game, just different theme, but I never found that to be true. Yes, they have some similarities, but when you play them, they feel so different. Everything you say about Dungeon Alliance, says I should like it. I may have to reacquire it and try it again. I wonder if the packs would help. You didn't like Myth, so on the other hand, maybe we'll agree to disagree :) Any particular criteria for your dungeon crawler definition or do you just go by feel? I'm not sure, I could define it. Also, I love the format of why you might or might not like each game. Well done!

Dungeon Alliance looks good. I play solo always and I like games with lots of cards and a strong fantasy theme. Would you please do a top ten for solo card only games (I.e.: no board or minis)?

Thanks for you're lists they're always interesting. Just curious why Gloomhaven isn't listed here, even with a nod. I see it listed a #3 on top all time co-op games, and there you mention it as a dungeon crawler.

Thanks a couple new ones for me. Dice Heroes funded 2017. Interestingly, I just very late pledged an old 2016 KS called Dungeon Crusader. (Think late pledge closes on 4/27) Rolling the dice on this one, but seems to about to enter production. We shall see, but looks like designed well for a solo experience.

I’m having a great time with Reichbusters.. fun solo and amazing miniatures. The Rule book could be a lot better but it’s still fun.

Great list.... Question please: Have you played/considered Middara, Death May Die and Big Trouble in Little China? Just wondering your thoughts on those... Thanks!

Great stuff! With the exception of your #4 and #1, I haven't tried these (although I've been very tempted to pick up you #3). Really looking forward to your Adventure game list (which is my favourite genre!) 😊 I don't have strong Top 10 Dungeon Crawler list (I'm more into Adventure games) but if I were to put what I had into a list it'd be... 10. Maiden's Quest 9. Gloomhaven 8. Wrath of Ashardalon 7. Mansions of Madness 2nd Ed. 6. DungeonQuest Revised Edition 5. One Deck Dungeon 4. Galaxy Defenders 3. Dark Souls the board game 2. Descent 2nd Edition 1. Sword & Sorcery Also worth mentioning (but not technically Dungeon Crawlers): -Vengeance -Street Masters

Reich Busters, a game about stealth, that has the Terminator on the cover, dual wielding Gatling Guns!!

Hi Colin! Any updates to this list you would make?

I was wondering if you have any experience with Zombicide Invader (Or other zombicides) as a fun tactical dice chucking game. I quite enjoy it!. Also it may not be on your radar as a dungeon crawl, but I put Nemesis in that catagory and even as a solo experience it's my clear nr. 1.

Great list Collin! I did not like Dungeon Alliance, and it is mainly because the endgame format. The objectives are not appealing and at the end seems like a lot of work just to have a bunch of experience points. The combat and exploration are great but seeing the 3 by 3 grid completed is not rewarding enough.

What do you think about the cooldowns and table space for ability cards in Sword & Sorcery? Personally I am a big fan of rotating cards to communicate different information or change a card state, it is simply a good way to use existing card space, just like tapping a card or flipping it over. Lightseekers and the Age of Sigmar card game both use it as well. However, those games have a lot more space between the cards, whereas in S&S they are all close together in a line.

you have the kindest face and eyes... thx for what you do!

I have all those games coming too. Other than diceborn heroes. Only thing missing is wander!

This is a good break down. I appreciate you having negatives listed as well. Or should I say possible dislikes.

No descent ;-) I just ordered printed cards for RAMV solo play so hope to get it on the table soon. What (solo/coop) dungeon crawler are you looking out for that will come out this year/early 2021?

Hey Colin! Hope you and yours are well.

Hi! What’s your thoughts about Dark Souls Board game

👍thanks, I value your opinion.

Never played Fire Team Zero, but it sounds very simplistic dungeon crawl like the D&D games (Castle Ravenloft, Legend of Drizzt, Wrath of Arshardalon etc.) Would I be correct in this assessment?

Top list man!!!

1. Mage Knight 2. Marvel: Champions 3. Shadowrun: Crossfire 4. Kick-Ass

I though it was funny when you said that the Ai is not smart in Terminator. I though skynet was suppose to be super smart :)

Have you played Mansions of Madness? I am curious to know your thoughts about this game

Good luck trying to find Gears Of War. It’s one of my grail games.

Another question Colin... I’m a health care worker, with a lot of high stress etc at the moment... so when I get in late and want to unwind I want simple, low think, quick to set up adventure/dungeon crawl for about 30-60 mins... any suggestions?

Hey Colin thank you for this video. One thing: the music was too loud and distracting for me. Please low the volume and choose a more fluent music score.

Any tips on good solos on tabletop simulator or similar you recommend if you do simulators

Are we talking about 14 Scenarios within the base game of S&S?

Interesting choices, I love Sword and Sorcery so no complaints there, personally I feel S&S is a really solid modern take on the DC genre, its AI is so well developed and the further you go though the better it becomes, I can't wait to start talking about AC as I think its both more difficult and the AI will interact with other monsters even better. I enjoy both editions of descent as well and I'm just getting into Shadows of Brimstone so I'm surprised not to seem either of them here or Gloomhaven which everyone tends to put at the top end of DC, which I don't actually agree with, I like the game and I cannot apprecaite the design enough but it doesn't do the DC itch for me. Arena looks interesting I've got a placeholder PM access pledge down but I'm not sure if I'll be ale to back or not right now but given infinate money I'd be all over it. Out of interest what sort of method did you use to determine if something was a Dungeon Crawler or not, I'm a HUGE fan of Middara but I wouldn't call it a DC but many do so I wondered if some of your choices are based because you didn't consider some titles dungeon crawlers. Regardling S&S its not just red enemies that roll defence, its just not until much later on do you meet enemies who'm roll defence dice, as monsters get harder they get better defenses.

Nice enough presentasion but more a top 10 list of what cool solo games you can no longer buy from Amazon etc :(

You forgot LotR LCG :P

Dungeon Crusade?

Why do I get the feeling this list is going to cost me money?

"Tell your friends" This is a video about solo dungeon crawlers lol