July 2025 Solo Games Review: Ratings, Awards, and More
Look back at the highlights from the most memorable solo games and the lessons to carry forward in this review of July 2025.
Time for a new feature! I have a category dedicated to reviews, yet if you’re familiar with how I write, my sessions are like ongoing mini-reviews with both overall statistics and my feelings about specific plays. Now, I’m planning to pivot the section dedicated to reviews into monthly posts looking back at the greatest recent moments, starting with July 2025!
A Look at the Ratings
I tended to mostly enjoy everything I played during July, which was great! A few solo games were outside of my comfort zone, and I wasn’t surprised about not liking them.
These are my numerical ratings at the end of July, and they may fluctuate over time. Always neat to take a snapshot!
For a rough baseline, anything at or above 70% is typically something I like. Jump up to 80%, and that enters the territory of excellent. 90% and above? Something special!
My rating system is subjective to my collection, though, so this is more like a general idea of where I had the most fun.
- Vantage 97%
- Marvel Champions: The Card Game 86%
- Scythe 84%
- Jewel Box 81%
- BoxOff 80%
- Knot Dice 77%
- Roll Camera! The Filmmaking Board Game 77%
- Kabuto Sumo: Sakura Slam 76%
- Sky Towers 75%
- Drums of War 74%
- Citizens of the Spark 73%
- Kabuto Sumo 70%
- Horrified 68%
- CoLab 55%
The Award Goes To…
I last awarded special categories when I completed my own challenges years ago, yet I’ve always liked these awards!
Some are pretty standard, while others simply make me laugh. They’re not important in finding the best game ever.
Often, I don’t look back on what I recently played and can forget some of the most important moments. That’s what these awards are for: To record the fun times during play!
The same game might win multiple awards, and that’s fine. Just thinking through these categories is a nice walk down memory lane, and I hope you enjoy clicking through!
Full Listing of July 2025 Award Winners
If you would rather read a quick listing without clicking or looking through photos, here are the winners:
- Action-Packed Scene: Marvel Champions: The Card Game
- Back for More: BoxOff
- Calico Critters Twin: Kabuto Sumo: Sakura Slam
- Freshly Hatched Box: Vantage
- From the Ashes: Scythe
- Inspired by Nature: Jewel Box
- It’s a Trap!: Marvel Champions: The Card Game
- Next Gallery Exhibit: Jewel Box
- Roses are Red: Knot Dice
- Surprise Party Time: Marvel Champions: The Card Game
- The Gold Cheesecake: Sky Towers
- The Jeweled Crown: CoLab
- Uh-Oh, Hot Dog!: Horrified
- Winner of All: Vantage
Descriptions of the awards are in the photos above, but the bottom line is that they’re mostly random for some laughs!
Monthly Highlights
So many different solo games! I was thrilled to go back and experience some older titles, such as Scythe and Marvel Champions: The Card Game. Definitely more to come!
This was one of the first times I got genuinely excited about a new release with Vantage. Hyped up? Possibly, but this was more a case of me being enthusiastic for my own sake.
I went in knowing nothing more than the rules, and I can’t express how amazing it’s been to explore a new world.
BoxOff was also a surprise hit that I continue to play a lot, and the unofficial solo variant for Kabuto Sumo is silly fun!
Lessons of the Month
That sense of discovery is still there. I’ve gotten lost in feeling overwhelmed with many games, yet I had time to step back and allow excitement to lead a new experience.
Appreciating the little things is also key. I took time to just laugh during a few of these plays. There were some poignant moments that will stick with me outside of games.
Exploring this hobby with so many options might feel daunting at times, but there is no rush to play anything.
A lot of fun is still sitting on my shelves, waiting to be experienced. I’m excited to find out what’s next in August!
Continue the Conversation
What were some of your highlights of July 2025? Any particular solo game that really stood out for you as a memorable experience? This is the first time I’m looking back at a full month in a review sense like this, and it’s awesome! Lots to appreciate about the different solo games that are shaping my time with the hobby right now. And so many games to love!
I had no idea Kabuto Sumo had a solo variant! I will have to give it a try. My top solo game experiences this month were 20 Strong (new to me), and revisiting Four Against Darkness as a close second. Vantage looks beautiful, can’t wait to pick it up.
It’s an unofficial solo variant, but I had a lot of fun with it! Especially enjoyed Kabuto Sumo: Sakura Slam, which has never been played up until I gave it a whirl. Excellent games for you this month! I’ve heard great things about both. I’m still obsessed with Vantage even though it’s sidelined while I finish up the Scythe campaign. Can’t wait to keep on exploring everything it has to offer!
Two things for July:
1. Pulling out an “oldie” and re-engaging the game: Spirit Island. I had 33 plays in July. I play only one Spirit. The real treat was I beat a Level 6 Adversary for the first time with three different Spirits. My toughest moment was one game my Jungles were Explored, Built upon, and Ravaged on 5 consecutive turns – i did not survive that play.
2. I played the roll and write Motor City. I had played it twice before three years ago. For July, I played it 11 times. For my first 7 plays i just could not improve my scores – i kept trying new things without luck. Then i completely new strategy hit me and my scores dramatically improved in the last 4 plays. First plays: Average 62; Last 4 plays: Average 87 with my top score being 101. It felt good to figured out the game; but now i don’t think there is anything else to discover with the game.
Congratulations on your first win against a Level 6 Adversary! I need to check out the game eventually with all of the spirits. It’s only been played a few times, yet I expect to dive in with a lot of plays like you did. 33 plays in July sounds awesome!
I love when something clicks and you shift your strategy so much! Although I can see how that can be a double-edged sword… It’s kind of like discovering the secret to winning, and then future plays don’t offer that chance to uncover anything new. But that’s how I look at some games: It’s an ongoing puzzle to try to reach a high score or achieve something. Once that happens, it might not be something to play forever, but the journey to figure it out still made it a great game while it lasted.
Hope your gaming time in August is going well!