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I have bought the Solo But Not Alone 4 bundle (available to 9 March) and am (very) slowly going through the games. I have only played three of them yet. Here's my thought about them after my first playthrough. These are all solo journaling games, in which you are writing a fictional character's account in response to given prompts.
Hamsters and Himbos:
Summary: Hamsters and Himbos has a wacky premise: "The town is under attack by giant hamsters. You play a self declared detective to solve the mystery of giant hamsters with the help of three himbos." You need a 8 faced dice, a 10-face dice & a 12-face dice (or dice roller app) to play. When assigning the himbo to the task, you roll the dice to see if it goes over 5+ to get a clue. If you roll under the number, the next time you'll use a smaller dice. For example, if you starts with an 8 faced dice and rolled 3, next time you'll have to roll a 6-face dice. Failure is a feature, as the game encourages you to throw characters into mishaps and suffer. If you think you have enough clues, you string together a theory and roll to decide whether you solve the mystery.
You, Beyond the Pale:
Summary: You plays a lonely monster a world full of mortals. "Observe them. Learn about them. Scare them, or leave gifts for them. Make a friend. And brace for when your friend tells the rest of the mortal world about you." You draw playing cards to randomly generate mortals your character come across in their long life. (24 pages)
Thought: I like how contemplative the game experience is. My character has mostly observed the confusing and intriguing mortals that get in their way. She also explores abandoned mortal dwellings that can be dangerous, comforting or confusing. Making friend (drawing the first joker) feels significant as I develop my character's relationship and experience with them
Hamsters and Himbos:
Summary: Hamsters and Himbos has a wacky premise: "The town is under attack by giant hamsters. You play a self declared detective to solve the mystery of giant hamsters with the help of three himbos." You need a 8 faced dice, a 10-face dice & a 12-face dice (or dice roller app) to play. When assigning the himbo to the task, you roll the dice to see if it goes over 5+ to get a clue. If you roll under the number, the next time you'll use a smaller dice. For example, if you starts with an 8 faced dice and rolled 3, next time you'll have to roll a 6-face dice. Failure is a feature, as the game encourages you to throw characters into mishaps and suffer. If you think you have enough clues, you string together a theory and roll to decide whether you solve the mystery.
Thought: I like this premise, which's ripe for comedy. I have fun creating the three himbos with "Big Thigh", "Big Heart" & "Big Arm". The random table for clue has interesting items. However, I wish there was a random table to help me generate what kind of mishaps and hijinks my characters will get into. (20 pages)
Hiria: the Eternal City:
Summary: In Hiria, you play a character trying to track someone down through different versions of the same city with an Invisible City vibe. The city changes in every turn, along with things happening around you. Can you trace your querry's tracks and catch up with them? (24 pages)
Thoughts: I love Invisible City and the designer's previous game "A Visit to San Sibilia", so I was excited about playing the game. The game delivered on its promise and beyond. I enjoy rolling to see how the city changes with time. The art and the writing are evocative. There are a lot of tables to randomize the querry and the city. The game premise gives me a purpose while remaining flexible about what kind of stories to tell: looking for a missing heir, an inhuman fugitive, a missing family member, etc.
Hiria: the Eternal City:
Summary: In Hiria, you play a character trying to track someone down through different versions of the same city with an Invisible City vibe. The city changes in every turn, along with things happening around you. Can you trace your querry's tracks and catch up with them? (24 pages)
Thoughts: I love Invisible City and the designer's previous game "A Visit to San Sibilia", so I was excited about playing the game. The game delivered on its promise and beyond. I enjoy rolling to see how the city changes with time. The art and the writing are evocative. There are a lot of tables to randomize the querry and the city. The game premise gives me a purpose while remaining flexible about what kind of stories to tell: looking for a missing heir, an inhuman fugitive, a missing family member, etc.
You, Beyond the Pale:
Summary: You plays a lonely monster a world full of mortals. "Observe them. Learn about them. Scare them, or leave gifts for them. Make a friend. And brace for when your friend tells the rest of the mortal world about you." You draw playing cards to randomly generate mortals your character come across in their long life. (24 pages)
Thought: I like how contemplative the game experience is. My character has mostly observed the confusing and intriguing mortals that get in their way. She also explores abandoned mortal dwellings that can be dangerous, comforting or confusing. Making friend (drawing the first joker) feels significant as I develop my character's relationship and experience with them
