Solenia
- Players
- 1-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 3 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 45 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 10+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.2 / 5
- Year
- 2018
About the game
Solenia sends players across a tiny planet frozen into permanent day and night, delivering essential goods between the two hemispheres by placing cards onto a modular 5x5 board. Playing a card either produces resources on a floating island or fulfills a delivery on a floating city, and a central airship's advance eventually flips the board's edge strip from day to night. Over sixteen rounds, players race to fulfill deliveries and collect the most gold stars, all set against Vincent Dutrait's gorgeous artwork. A solo mode makes it playable regardless of group size.
Hobbli's Notes
Solenia is one of the more visually striking card-placement games we've come across, with Dutrait's art doing a lot of heavy lifting for the atmosphere. The day-night cycle mechanic is a clever structural device that keeps the sixteen rounds feeling like they're building toward something. It's a calm, cerebral puzzle rather than a cutthroat one, which suits players who like efficient planning over direct confrontation. A lovely, easy-to-love mid-weight pick.
What we like
- Gorgeous artwork and an evocative day/night theme.
- Elegant card-placement puzzle with simple, teachable rules.
- Solo mode makes it flexible for any group size.
- Satisfying pick-up-and-deliver scoring loop.
Keep in mind
- The modular board can feel a bit fiddly to set up.
- Limited direct interaction between players.
- The scoring bias mechanic takes a play or two to fully grasp.
Who it's for
Good for groups of 1-4, ages 10 and up, who enjoy calm, efficient card-placement puzzles with beautiful artwork.
