Thurn and Taxis: Fun with an Unofficial Solo Variant
Revisit an older classic where postal routes and simple mechanics pave the way forward in Thurn and Taxis.
Long ago, when I first started getting into modern board games in the early 2000s, Thurn and Taxis was one of my first purchases. Good news: An unofficial solo variant exists! I enjoy it so much that this continues to edge out a lot of newer solo games in terms of my enjoyment level. Huh?! That’s correct. Get ready for the joy of creating postal routes!
Game Overview
Game Name: Thurn and Taxis
Publication Year: 2006
Designer: Andreas Seyfarth and Karen Seyfarth
Artist: Michael Menzel
Solo Mode: Unofficial Solo Variant
Simple mechanics make way for deep strategies as the wooden houses representing the postal routes spread out across Bavaria. The map is still one of my favorites! It has little details everywhere, along with a very natural appearance. Beautiful. All 4 colors are used to craft a unique kind of solo puzzle. I’ll say it again: I love it!
First Play
August 27, 2017
Complexity
2
Latest Play
September 18, 2023
Expansions
0
Setup Time
5 Minutes
Lifetime Plays
54
Play Time
25 Minutes
High Score
80
Game Area
32" x 24"
Low Score
22
Sparsely Populated
Depending on the difficulty level, the map takes shape with 7-10 wooden houses for each color. These random locations change with each play for plenty of variety.
I’ve been playing solo for years and know certain things to look out for, yet this has never felt routine nor repetitive.
The order of the city cards creates an unpredictable set of decisions. Routes must be carefully crafted for every color in an order that takes time to master. Even I’m not there!
With a non-confrontational goal and scenes of typical daily life, this game is truly cozy and happy all-around.
Historical Cities
The map and city cards showcase historical buildings. Along with the included reference booklet, it’s a wonderful way to look at the start of the modern postal system!
Although most cities have multiple ways in and out, the choice of city cards takes a lot of careful thought.
Houses may be placed based on the route’s provinces. But is it worthwhile to place houses only in a single province, or 1 house in every province included in the route?
The rules take a little time to adjust to, yet I can never recommend this unofficial solo variant enough!
Rambling on the Benefits of Unsleeved Cards
You don’t have to look closely at these cards to see some wear on almost every edge. You’re also probably wondering why I’m not pointing to how sleeves could have prevented this. Just the opposite! And now you’re likely confused…
The sleeves vs. no sleeves debate can be a heated one, and I’m not here to say which is better overall. I avoid sleeves in most games. In this case, the wear brings back happy memories. My family played this together early on and didn’t always treat the cards as well as I do nowadays. Yet those echoes of laughter and good-natured jokes are still there!
All of these chipped edges also remind me of how many times I’ve enjoyed this game solo. It’s rather surprising! I often pick it up over some fancier, shinier titles. Could these cards be in better shape? Definitely. Yet the minor wear isn’t a sign of damage to me. It’s a reminder of the past and all the joy I’ve experienced with the game that I won’t forget.
Session Overview
Play Number: 45-48
Solo Mode: Unofficial Solo Variant
Play Details: Advanced Difficulty Level
Required Play Space: 28″ x 24″
Setup Time: 5 Minutes
Play Time: 25 Minutes per Play
Outcome: 44, 48, 49, and 39 (4 Losses)
My postal route skills were definitely lacking. More practice is in order! But I would like to request that all of my future board game deliveries arrive in this fashion. Horse and carriage, plus trumpet blasting? Most certainly!
%
50 Plays
Affordability
Price & Value
10
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
10
Originality
Design & Theme
7
Quality
Components & Rules
9
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
9
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
4
+ Pros (Positives)
- Every play presents a different puzzle with the way the setup process distributes the wooden houses.
- Although the rules change with the unofficial solo variant, it does a great job of incorporating all components.
- The simple set of rules and mechanics allow for a wide range of strategic decisions that feel important.
- Creating postal routes is a rather calm sort of theme, and the experience often provides a cozy atmosphere.
- All of the components are high quality with wooden houses and a beautifully illustrated map of Bavaria.
- A separate booklet of historical information provides an interesting way to understand the game’s setting.
– Cons (Negatives)
- The setup process can feel a little lengthy with the need to reshuffle the cards back into the deck over and over.
- A lot of luck is needed in terms of the city cards order, particularly towards the end when options dwindle.
- Poor planning with the route lengths can come back to result in impossible situations in rare instances.
- It might simply be my copy, but the cards have a noticeably musty odor when not used for months at a time.
Continue the Conversation
Do you still own a copy of Thurn and Taxis? It’s not a particularly common game in the solo world, yet I’m still playing it! The puzzle is very challenging, and at the highest difficulty level, I still don’t hit my victory threshold very often. Are there any other older solo games you enjoy? There’s something to be said about these games that stand the test of time!
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