September 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 September 2026.
Back to at least reasonably on track with my monthly reviews! September was a quiet month for a couple of weeks, but the solo plays have returned to a regular pace. It was interesting to play through the games I chose, with old favorites returning and others that languished having a bit of a last hurrah. Enjoy looking back and finding out where the awards went!
A Look at the Ratings
More than ever, I recognize that a single number doesn’t tell the whole story behind a game. My system is far from great, but it holds meaning for me, and it accomplishes that goal!
Games rated in the 70s are good, those in the 80s are excellent, and any in the 90s are often long-time favorites. There are outliers, of course, yet this usually holds true.
I typically know a solo game isn’t for me when it’s rated in the 50s or lower, and anything in the 60s can be a wildcard.
Remember that numbers change, and I often re-rate a game lower when I feel like I’ve seen everything it has to offer.
- Orchard: A 9 Card Solitaire Game 85%
- Forage: A 9 Card Solitaire Game 84%
- Grove: A 9 Card Solitaire Game 82%
- The Siege of Shaddis Horne 66%
- Café Baras 66%
- Tranquility 65%
- Tranquility: The Ascent 61%
- Oathsworn 57%
The Award Goes To…
Not too many games came to my table during the latter half of the month, and it might look like a few were repeated!
I tried out a couple of series to understand if I could pare down my collection just a bit. There were a lot of nice moments overall, so the awards headed all over the place.
Actually, this might be a rare month when each game I played earned at least one of these silly awards. Very cool!
These categories don’t hold a lot of weight. They’re more like a fun way to recap some of the best moments and recognize features related to gameplay, art, or components.
Full Listing of September 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 Siege of Shaddis Horne
- Back for More: Orchard: A 9 Card Solitaire Game
- Calico Critters Twin: Café Baras
- Freshly Hatched Box: The Siege of Shaddis Horne
- From the Ashes: Orchard: A 9 Card Solitaire Game
- Inspired by Nature: Forage: A 9 Card Solitaire Game
- It’s a Trap!: Oathsworn
- Next Gallery Exhibit: Tranquility
- Roses are Red: Tranquility: The Ascent
- Surprise Party Time: Grove: A 9 Card Solitaire Game
- The Gold Cheesecake: Café Baras
- The Jeweled Crown: Oathsworn
- Uh-Oh, Hot Dog!: The Siege of Shaddis Horne
- Winner of All: Orchard: A 9 Card Solitaire Game
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 cases of 9 cards! To save on space, I’ll simply name them all by their single names: Orchard, Grove, and Forage. I thought I was done with them, but they were all awesome!
I managed to find a lost dog and immediately recruit Ol’ Loggart in The Siege of Shaddis Horne, which is a memory I won’t soon forget. Loved the little stories that popped up!
Sometimes, it’s fine to say farewell after a time. I enjoyed Tranquility, yet felt like I reached the end of the experience.
Finally, I drew a card titled Bean There Done That in Café Baras, which summed up how I felt in perfect fashion!
Lessons of the Month
Some solo games sit on a shelf for a long time, but it isn’t a certainty what it will be like to come back to them. They might bring back the enjoyment, or be ready to move on.
My ratings only show part of the picture, and I’m leaning more into this concept that every game has a story. Just because I lower a rating or part with it doesn’t make it bad.
There are good memories to hold onto that don’t require holding onto the physical game boxes. Save the space!
Finding simple solo puzzles with little overhead makes for a comfortable game session, which can be simply wonderful!
Continue the Conversation
Which solo games did you play in September? Did you part ways with any you once played a lot? I loved revisiting some of these older titles, some of which will continue to be played regularly! Others that didn’t work out anymore are still captured in at least one old post so I can look back and remember the great times. Onto October and, hopefully, lots of games!
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