Overview
Solstis is a 1-2 player tile laying game that sees you make a delightful panorama to score points. You and your opponent will play tiles with matching colours or numbers to those in a shared display. If you get a match, you will put the tiles in front of you to start building a beautiful mountain peak. As the panorama grows, you may encounter Spirits which help you along the way or boost your score at the end.
Preparing to embark
This is a small box game that only takes a couple of minutes to set up, making it ideal for those who like to take games on their travels. My only issue with the box is that a small insert or divider would stop the tiles flying around between games to keep everything neat.
The ‘how to play’ video came in handy for this game so I do recommend using it. While the rule sheet is lovely to look at, I found it difficult to follow as it’s very busy and colourful. It was just a little overwhelming with it all being on one piece of paper. The rules are pretty straightforward once you have read them through, however, I did have to go searching in the community to find what to do if the display is empty while tiles are still available to draw. We played as though Second Chance rules (which I will explain shortly) applied and this seems to be how other players have interpreted it too.
I think the artwork is simple yet effective. It suits the theme very well and when you put enough tiles together, it offers an attractive vista. The Spirit tiles show beautiful images of animals and other critters along with the bonus or action they offer. I like that the Spirit tiles are not the same material as it gives them a unique feel and finish. The game comes with a small reference card explaining the Spirit abilities which is nice and clear. The back of the card also shows the full image the tiles create which can be used to assist with planning your plays.
Time to hike
During set up, a display is arranged for both Panorama and Spirit tiles. You will begin with 3 tiles in your hand and on your turn, will pick one of your tiles to play and reveal it. If the number or colour in the bottom left corner matches one of the tiles you can see in the display, you can ‘capture’ it. If there are multiple tiles that match, you will only be able to pick one so will need to decide which will benefit you the most. Taking both the tile you revealed and the captured tile from the display, you place them in their panorama position in front of you.
If there are no tiles in the display with matching colours or numbers as one in your hand, the Second Chance mechanic is there to help. You will still reveal a tile from your hand, however, you will add it to the display. You will then draw and reveal a tile from the deck. If there is a match at this stage, you capture both the newly drawn tile and one from the display to add to your picture. If you still don’t get a match, you add the tile you revealed from the deck to the display and take a Rainbow tile to place instead.
Rainbow tiles come in very handy. While they don’t count for points at the end (unless a particular Spirit allows them to), they do help fill gaps. It may be your opponent has already captured a tile that you needed, but the Rainbow can fill that space you need it to. If you later capture a tile that goes where a Rainbow is placed, you can swap it provided a Spirit hasn’t been played on top of it. You can then place the Rainbow in another gap so it is not lost or wasted.
As there are only enough tiles for one full panorama, you and your opponent will be looking for the same colours or numbers. If your opponent is claiming 3s and 4s, you might want to slow them down but also work on 7s or 8s to keep you on track. There is strategy and tactics involved if you choose to pay attention but it's still fairly light.
In order to score high, you want to have the biggest completed section of the image. There are also Fires on some tiles which are scored if they are lit by the end of the game. Fires are only considered lit if there is a continuous path (including Rainbows) from the bottom row of the mountain. You will need to pay attention to what your opponent takes or what Spirits they have in play, as you may need to start looking for ways to scupper their plans.
Speaking of Spirits, these are helpful creatures you obtain whenever you complete a 2x2 area of your panorama. You can either pick from the Spirits on display or draw from the deck and pick one. The Spirit is placed in the middle of the 2x2 grid meaning the 4 tiles underneath cannot be removed or replaced. Spirits offer a variety of helpful boons. These may be extra tiles in your hand, points for having tiles that don’t connect to others or taking tiles from your opponents display. Spirits will be part of the end game scoring so they are worth obtaining. Spirits offer multiple ways to acquire points with the exception of the Evil Spirit.
The Evil Spirit can be left out of the game or added to bring some chaos as it can eliminate a Spirit on your panorama if you have it at the end. In solo mode, you play against the Evil Spirit who acts as the second player. Instead of capturing one tile from the display during its turn, it can capture all eligible tiles of number and colour. If the Evil Spirit has to take Rainbow tiles they do not get placed until the end of the game, maximising its scoring potential. Solo mode is tricky because of this mechanic but it is a good challenge.
Final Push
When a player can no longer claim a tile from the display, the game ends. This usually occurs when the deck is empty and only a couple of tiles remain in the display. Once the game is over, it’s time for the end game scoring which takes your largest connected panorama area count, any lit fires and Spirits modifiers to see who has the most points. We've had some close games with only a point or two in it. There is a Firefly Expansion that can add quite a points boost to your score as well as an interesting alternative win condition, as well as new Spirits.
In solo mode, scoring is the same however you will have to place the Rainbow tiles for the Evil Spirit in spaces that will benefit it the most. I find that the Evil Spirit beats me the majority of the time but it makes the victory much sweeter when I manage to win. I have found that I either get completely decimated or win by a large margin, there doesn't seem to be an inbetween in solo mode!
Reflection
Solstis is a light tile laying game with a mixture of luck and strategy. I’ve found it’s a pretty relaxed game overall which suits my needs nicely. I think this game is very much suited for those who want a quick solo challenge or duel game. As it plays in about 15-20 minutes, it is ideal for a quick starter option, a coffee shop date or a wind down after a long day at work. I personally like the addition of the Firefly Expansion when I play but it isn’t needed to enjoy the game. I just like to have extra win condition options, especially when it comes to solo mode.
I do feel the luck element will put some people off but would argue that most games have some luck involved. There is a sense of satisfaction in revealing the perfect tile for the gap you have during a Second Chance! The only other element that might not appeal is the limited player interaction. There are a couple of Spirits that allow you to affect your opponent and you can take tiles they may need, but for the most part you are just working on your own panorama.
Solstis won't be for everyone as it may not offer the challenge some players are looking for. For me, it predominantly serves as a nice, short, solo option during a lunch break. However, it isn’t the first game I reach for when we want a short 2 player game unless I'm looking for a low conflict option. I have found the solo mode challenging due to the way the Evil Spirit gains tiles and, having seen it collect every tile left in the display in one turn, it can be difficult to take on. I have been known to finish a game and immediately reset to go again though! Solstis would certainly be a welcome addition to any collection but will be best suited to those who prefer light, cosy game options. You can see more about this title over on the BoardGameGeek page
