July 2026 Solo Games Review: Ratings, Awards, and More
Look back at the highlights from memorable solo games and the lessons to carry forward in this review of July 2026.
Such a busy month! I used to play solo games in a very steady cadence, and that started to happen again last month. It was excellent! I had a chance to sit down and learn several new games, and return to some older titles I haven’t looked at in years. So many wonderful experiences, and I’ll preface this by saying some of these awards were very difficult to hand out!
A Look at the Ratings
I shall continue to repeat myself in this introduction, only because numbers don’t tell the whole story in most cases.
The 70s equate to good, the 80s are great, and the 90s coincide with excellent. Not the best system out there, but one that works for me in understanding my preferences.
Interestingly, July was a month where nearly every solo game was at least good. I apparently chose well and had myself a grand ol’ time playing everything I chose!
But opinions do change over time, so these ratings may fluctuate in the future. Still, that’s a lot of high scores!
- Vantage 97%
- Flip Pick Towers 94%
- Ashes Reborn 90%
- The LOOP 88%
- Tenpenny Parks 85%
- Verdant 83%
- Jewel Box 81%
- Questline 79%
- Villages of Valeria 79%
- Voidfall 78%
- Earthborne Rangers 72%
- Corps of Discovery 62%
The Award Goes To…
My plays were fairly consistent, although I didn’t rush off to too many different games all the time. It was a nice time keeping something on my solo table for a little longer.
With so many great games, I had a little more trouble with these awards than usual. Lots of close calls with a number of games that easily could have shared the honors this month.
It’s still nice to think back on what happened over the last few weeks and understand where the highlights occurred.
Whether I have many or just a few games to look back on, this consistent awards ceremony is a lot of fun for me!
Full Listing of July 2026 Award Winners
If you would rather read a quick listing without clicking or looking through photos, here are the winners:
- Action-Packed Scene: The LOOP
- Back for More: Jewel Box
- Calico Critters Twin: Earthborne Rangers
- Freshly Hatched Box: Questline
- From the Ashes: Villages of Valeria
- Inspired by Nature: Verdant
- It’s a Trap!: Ashes Reborn
- Next Gallery Exhibit: Tenpenny Parks
- Roses are Red: The LOOP
- Surprise Party Time: Flip Pick Towers
- The Gold Cheesecake: Verdant
- The Jeweled Crown: Voidfall
- Uh-Oh, Hot Dog!: Voidfall
- Winner of All: Ashes Reborn
Descriptions of the awards are in the photos above, but the bottom line is that they’re mostly random for some laughs!
Monthly Highlights
I shied away from Ashes Reborn for so long, but now have it in a relatively regular rotation! Lots to discover there, and I’ll never forget the Friday evening when I played 9 times.
Diving into Voidfall required a lot of reading and effort, yet it was worth the time investment. Such a great experience!
A few new arrivals made me enjoy the thrill of the first play, like with Flip Pick Towers, Questline, and Tenpenny Parks.
Going back to old favorites was also genuinely lovely, as I rediscovered my love for Vantage, found out how much I enjoy Verdant, and could spend all of time with The LOOP!
Lessons of the Month
Being in the right state of mind is important when getting to know a new solo game, but the effort is often worth it. New rule sets can be tackled with a little patience!
It’s also OK to abandon campaigns. Sticking with a constant string of plays when the experience feels frustrating is the opposite of fun, and there’s always something else to play.
Learning is very much part of the fun for me, both in regards to the rules and the strategies to be uncovered.
That sense of accomplishment can get lost, yet I enjoy putting everything together and winning! Or trying. Ha ha!
Continue the Conversation
What were some of your gaming highlights from July? Did a new arrival surprise you, or were you glad to return to an old favorite? I haven’t had this much fun in awhile, and it was awesome to keep finding enjoyable experiences to keep the momentum going! We’ll see how August goes, as I imagine it may be a little quieter, but I have lots of adventures ahead.
0 Comments