An Unexpected Hidden Solo Gem in Rune and Pattern Creation
Place patterns of different runes and claim the largest areas to collect the most mana as a rune master with Rune.
Still so many games, and so little time! A tiny box and a few expansions arrived months ago, and it was certainly time to get Rune to my table. I was intrigued by a game I knew very little about, especially since its solo rules were rather hidden. Could this be a hidden gem itself?! There were some promising moments in the rulebook, and I eagerly began!
Game Overview
Game Name: Rune
Publication Year: 2019
Designer: Zemilio
Artist: Tristam Rossin
Publishers: Giga Mech Games and Little Rocket Games
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
With a selection of cards that depict 3 types of runes, patterns are formed to create connected areas. Rune masters, represented by meeples, are placed to score the most victory points. Several solo modes provide different difficulty levels and challenges in this quick sort of game!
First Play
April 15, 2022
Complexity
1
Latest Play
May 7, 2023
Expansions
3
Setup Time
Almost None
Lifetime Plays
10
Play Time
5 Minutes
High Score
45
Game Area
14" x 10"
Low Score
24
Expansion Tokens
At first, I thought there would be some interesting uses for all of the different tokens. These all tied in with added expansions, though, and none were right for solo.
The purple ones blocked certain runes, making them only useful for competitive games. Or another solo mode… More on that in a little bit, since there are options!
The double-sided green and blue tokens offered a way to make scoring well much easier. Not quite what I wanted.
Despite these lovely tokens sitting in the box, the main game itself looked rather intriguing for what it was!
Rune Patterns
With just 9 cards, these runes formed areas that I had to carefully choose how to claim with my 3 rune masters.
Each card could either be placed on an existing card if it overlapped matching runes, or fit adjacent if its sides matched all of the adjacent runes. No exceptions!
It reminded me of some of the common card-laying games in the lightweight category: Sprawlopolis or, more similarly, Orchard: A 9 Card Solitaire Game.
Gameplay flew by with interesting but quick decisions, and I found myself having a great time lining up the cards!
A Lost Sort of Gem
Although I didn’t expect too much from this little game, I only scratched the surface with the first of 3 solo modes. It surprised me in how much I enjoyed the mechanics!
My copy included an expansion with the solo rules, and it seems to be missing the classification as a solo game.
Just from a few plays, I don’t see this being something I would want to play multiplayer. It’s so light and quick, yet making it so competitive would take away the fun for me.
I ran into some rules questions, but overall, this was a rather nice surprise that had been lurking on my shelf!
Finding a Solo Game in a Multiplayer Package
In many cases, I’ve found unofficial solo modes that have led to some excellent experiences with board games I figured were only possible to play multiplayer. The rarer case is when a game actually has an official solo mode that’s sometimes not highlighted. Another case in point is Expedition: Northwest Passage, which is one of my favorites!
Surprisingly, there is very little mention of the official solo mode for this one. Actually, solo modes: There are many included, which makes me wonder why it’s so unknown. Maybe it isn’t anything groundbreaking, but I found a very pleasant sort of game in the process of giving it a chance. I wonder if it might have been stronger as a solo-only title.
Granted, I haven’t played it with my husband, yet nothing about it made us want to play competitively. It’s more of a quick little puzzle better suited to my own solo table. I actually kept it out a little longer than I intended and found myself exploring the strategies a little more than I expected. Definitely found a diamond hidden away on a lonely shelf!
Claiming the Red Runes
With this solo mode, each type of rune has a maximum in terms of a straight line. This presents a challenge so that the cards aren’t simply laid down in one direction.
The rarest rune was very difficult to form areas around. Yet I managed to pull together 12 victory points here!
My hand usually consisted of 3 cards, so there were a lot of options. Still, it didn’t feel overwhelming and I pulled off some interesting moves during each 5-minute play.
Perhaps the other solo modes will be more fun. But if not, this simple way to lay out the runes will always be great!
Session Overview
Play Number: 1-4
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
Play Details: Solo Mode 1
Outcome: 39, 28, 28, 32 (1 Win and 3 Losses)
As I mentioned, this was a quick and fun solo experience! Nothing too deep, but the puzzle aspect was enjoyable. The other solo modes, labeled 1.5 and 2 respectively, add more challenges. I’ll definitely have to check them out! In the worst case, though, this solo mode seemed fun enough to want to play fairly regularly. Sometimes, you find a great solo game where you least expect it to be!
%
10 Plays
Affordability
Price & Value
9
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
10
Originality
Design & Theme
5
Quality
Components & Rules
10
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
6
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
4
+ Pros (Positives)
- Gameplay is very quick and simple with most plays lasting a matter of a few minutes with interesting turns.
- Cards may be placed to overlap or line up with existing cards, thereby adding on a few layers of decisions.
- Various solo modes provide different levels of difficulty, but the simplest solo mode is still very enjoyable.
- Although the mechanics are very light, there are still meaningful decisions to make in creating rune areas.
- Even with all of the small expansions included, everything fits into a very compact tuckbox for easy storage.
- The card quality may not be amazing, yet it feels quite sturdy and showcases brightly colored artwork.
– Cons (Negatives)
- Not all of the rules are very clearly written, even though this is a very lightweight sort of solo game.
- The included meeples are large enough to cover an entire rune, sometimes making it hard to see underneath.
- Small expansions add nice components, yet only decrease the solo difficulty rather than adding a challenge.
- It’s very difficult to find out that this is a solo-friendly game, despite there being a total of 3 official solo modes.
Victory Conditions
Score 35+ Points
- Overall Goal Progress 75%
Goals and Milestones
Score at least 35 points in Solo Mode 1.
Score at least 40 points in Solo Mode 1.
Score at least 45 points in Solo Mode 1.
Score at least 50 points in Solo Mode 1.
Continue the Conversation
Have you ever played Rune? I wonder if it’s gone under the radar for a long time, mainly since it appears to not have a solo-friendly mode. Are there any other surprise games you’ve discovered? This is another part of the hobby I love! You never know exactly what’s in store with a new game, particularly an unknown one. So glad I got this to my table!
I’m a sucker for this sort of art (glowy saturated colours on a black field). And small box is always good. Do you think it’ll have the legs to stay in your collection, or is this more likely to be a matter of playing it out and moving it on?
Always a good question! I haven’t parted with many games over the years, and they’re always the ones that I didn’t enjoy. Anything that’s even in the mediocre category usually stays, although I’m trying to get better due to the constraints of space.
I’ve thought of this one a few times since playing it. I wouldn’t classify it as a top game, yet it feels like something I’ll want to play again. The only thing I can’t remember is if I was excited about the other solo modes or not, but even the first one seemed fun enough. It may get a bit repetitive, yet those sorts of games can be great for playing when something lightweight is in order!