Solo board games are a somewhat strange niche of board gaming for me.
To start with, board games have always been as much about social interaction as they are about the game on the table, something that likely goes back to my dad taking the time to flick crokinole discs or play rod hockey with me, rainy days in a camper playing cribbage, or time with Grandpa smoking his pipe and thumping me at checkers.
I like having someone to chat with about other things while I board game.
Of course, that’s not always possible, so one turns to solo board games at times, usually starting with a deck of cards and a classic game of Patience.
From there, there are tons of other card games and plenty of print-and-play solo options to explore, many of them nearly free.
But increasingly, we’re seeing fully produced solo games that are frankly quite amazing right out of the box in terms of artwork and components, to the point that you almost wish you could share the experience with other players.
Legacy of Yu, from designer Shem Phillips, artist Sam Phillips, and publisher Garphill Games (www.garphill.com), is one such game.
With its stunning box art and medieval Oriental theme, something that naturally caught my attention, this was a game that interested me from the first time I came across it online.
Now, interest from afar doesn’t always translate into table joy, so there’s always a bit of hesitation when putting a new game on the table.
Thankfully, once set up and underway, after a thorough rules read-through (maybe twice) and watching a how-to-play video online, Legacy of Yu quickly shrugs off any concerns.
To be sure, there’s quite a bit going on here, but the depth adds to the overall experience.
Even with plenty of in-game choices, the box suggests a 60-minute play time, longer for your first game, certainly, but given the strong replay value, the hour mark feels about right and makes for a satisfying solo diversion.
A little flavour from the publisher explains the theme: “During the reign of Emperor Yao, the people of ancient China were constantly plagued by deadly floods along the Yellow River. Eager to put an end to the devastation, Yao selected Gun, one of his officials, to devise a plan. After nine years of failed attempts using dams and dikes, Gun’s employment came to a questionable end. After his passing, Yu inherited his father’s work. Learning from Gun’s failures, Yu set out to construct a series of canals to direct the surging river into nearby fields and smaller waterways.”
In Legacy of Yu, it’s your job to build canals ahead of the impending floods while also defending your growing village against neighbouring barbarian tribes.
The game works fine as a one-off time filler, but it rises significantly in terms of experience through its campaign feature, which includes a self-balancing system that adapts to how well you’re doing. That’s an interesting twist. The campaign concludes once you’ve either won or lost seven games.
Seven games will take you through seven-plus hours of play, and you won’t begin in campaign mode, meaning this one will see considerable table time as you explore the various options. The more hours you log, the lower the entertainment cost per hour, something that’s becoming more relevant as budgets tighten.
Provided you enjoy the solo gaming experience, Legacy of Yu comes highly recommended, from its excellent production quality to its engaging gameplay and replayability. Well worth a long look.
About Author
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
Such quality in a fine solo offering
To start with, board games have always been as much about social interaction as they are about the game on the table, something that likely goes back to my dad taking the time to flick crokinole discs or play rod hockey with me, rainy days in a camper playing cribbage, or time with Grandpa smoking his pipe and thumping me at checkers.
I like having someone to chat with about other things while I board game.
Of course, that’s not always possible, so one turns to solo board games at times, usually starting with a deck of cards and a classic game of Patience.
From there, there are tons of other card games and plenty of print-and-play solo options to explore, many of them nearly free.
But increasingly, we’re seeing fully produced solo games that are frankly quite amazing right out of the box in terms of artwork and components, to the point that you almost wish you could share the experience with other players.
Legacy of Yu, from designer Shem Phillips, artist Sam Phillips, and publisher Garphill Games (www.garphill.com), is one such game.
With its stunning box art and medieval Oriental theme, something that naturally caught my attention, this was a game that interested me from the first time I came across it online.
Now, interest from afar doesn’t always translate into table joy, so there’s always a bit of hesitation when putting a new game on the table.
Thankfully, once set up and underway, after a thorough rules read-through (maybe twice) and watching a how-to-play video online, Legacy of Yu quickly shrugs off any concerns.
To be sure, there’s quite a bit going on here, but the depth adds to the overall experience.
Even with plenty of in-game choices, the box suggests a 60-minute play time, longer for your first game, certainly, but given the strong replay value, the hour mark feels about right and makes for a satisfying solo diversion.
A little flavour from the publisher explains the theme: “During the reign of Emperor Yao, the people of ancient China were constantly plagued by deadly floods along the Yellow River. Eager to put an end to the devastation, Yao selected Gun, one of his officials, to devise a plan. After nine years of failed attempts using dams and dikes, Gun’s employment came to a questionable end. After his passing, Yu inherited his father’s work. Learning from Gun’s failures, Yu set out to construct a series of canals to direct the surging river into nearby fields and smaller waterways.”
In Legacy of Yu, it’s your job to build canals ahead of the impending floods while also defending your growing village against neighbouring barbarian tribes.
The game works fine as a one-off time filler, but it rises significantly in terms of experience through its campaign feature, which includes a self-balancing system that adapts to how well you’re doing. That’s an interesting twist. The campaign concludes once you’ve either won or lost seven games.
Seven games will take you through seven-plus hours of play, and you won’t begin in campaign mode, meaning this one will see considerable table time as you explore the various options. The more hours you log, the lower the entertainment cost per hour, something that’s becoming more relevant as budgets tighten.
Provided you enjoy the solo gaming experience, Legacy of Yu comes highly recommended, from its excellent production quality to its engaging gameplay and replayability. Well worth a long look.
About Author
Calvin Daniels
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
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