The card specifies the target, how many bombers you can assign to the mission, and the number of escort fighters. You begin by determining your mission by a random card draw. The game is played on a map sheet of northwest Europe and a flight formation card sheet. Designed by Erik von Rossing and published in 2016, the object of the game is to gain victory points by successfully bombing your assigned targets while minimizing bomber losses. But rather than simulating an individual B-17, in A Wing and A Prayer (from Lock ‘n Load Publishing) you command an entire formation of bombers. This game draws on some of the same concepts first seen in B-17, Queen of the Skies. A Wing and a Prayer: Bombing the Reich (Complexity Rating 2.14) I’ve listed them in increasing levels of complexity as rated on the BoardGameGeek 5-point scale. They are also lower in complexity than some other solitaire wargame titles on the market, making them easy to master for a new wargamer. All of these games are fairly new and can still be purchased from the publisher or on the secondary market.

That said, here are my picks for the top six wargames designed to be played solitaire. I have not played every solitaire wargame out there. This storytelling is one of their chief appeals. You’re not just the general in the rear area giving orders, you’re the commander of an aircraft or ship making life and death decisions for you and your crew. In addition to placing the player into the role of the commander, these games tend to be more intimate and personal. Published in 1981 by Avalon Hill, it was one of the very first games designed to be played solitaire. A good example is B-17, Queen of the Skies.

They are designed to put you into the action in a way that is different from traditional multi-player wargames. Purposely designed solitaire wargames also tend to be very thematic. It also makes it possible to play at your leisure when time permits. You may never want to play that game again. Why? Well, it’s not very fun getting whooped by an experienced wargamer. Regardless of the mechanics, this is good news for the novice wargamer who may be learning to play wargames for the first time.

How the AI works varies from game-to-game. In a designed-for-solitaire game, the designer has created an artificial intelligence (AI) engine that regulates the actions of your opponent. While it is true many wargames are solitaire friendly, more and more wargames are being published today that are designed to be played solitaire, either exclusively or both solitaire and against an opponent. The player just plays both sides – most wargames are designed for two players – to the best of their ability. But whatever the reason, most wargames can be played solo, especially if there is no hidden information. And sometimes you just want to play alone, just like you’d want to play solitaire card games or do a jigsaw puzzle. There’s also the time commitment required to play and finish some wargames because they can’t be played in a single evening. For many, it’s difficult finding others interested in the hobby. Perhaps more than other types of boardgames, wargames are often played solitaire. Whether you’re relatively new to wargaming or an old grizzled Grognard, you will likely play a game solitaire at some time. Can you really have fun playing a wargame by yourself? Here’s a list of wargames designed for the solo player that put you right in the middle of the action.

Hardwood solitaire ii deck press