Measuring The Solo Experience
I decided to try and measure solo gaming experience across several games for fun and curiosity and nerdiness. Below are the metrics I've thought of thus far. Using just these four a high score of 20 would be a great solo experience with a low score of 4 being a less desirable one. I think there are other options to consider and wonder what some of my fellow gamers might think as well. I thought about a metric for the solo being similar to multiplayer but I think some games are better if that isn't the case.
What do you think of the metrics I've devised thus far? What would you add? What would you adjust?
| Initial Setup | Less than 5m = 5 | 5 -10 minutes = 4 | 10-15 minutes = 3 | 15+ minutes = 1 |
| Reset | Less than 5m = 5 | 5 -10 minutes = 4 | 10-15 minutes = 3 | 15+ minutes = 1 |
| Table Space | Standard Card = 5 | 2.5 x 6 feet = 4 | 4x6 game table = 2 | more than 4x6foot = 1 |
| R&D | Thematic = 5 | Reasonable AI = 4 | Variable Luck = 2 | Yahtzee = 1 |
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cbrady748 Premium User34 days ago
Don't get me wrong I think for most of us nerdy enough to play games solo I think they'll be pretty similar. But like you were saying with#Fantastic Factories sometimes you need that simpler game and that's not necessarily a bad thing that makes it a worse experience.
cheekydingo 31 days ago
If you were to apply these metrics to games that havce a more narrative compenent (like Nemo's War, 7th Citadel, Forgotten Waters), would you apply any additional metrics?
WadeB1977 Premium User31 days ago
Nemo's War is on my wish list so that is a great game to think about from this perspective. I might consider adding a 'thematic' metric as a game like #Firefly: The Game or #Gloomhaven would benefit. I would have to weight it toward games where the theme as intertwined with story, impacts the overall gameplay. So a game like #Brass: Birmingham while historically excellent and thematically solid would still score low as it's theme doesn't really change or influence gameplay the way Nemo would.
WadeB1977 Premium User31 days ago
| Initial Setup | Reset | Table Space | R&D | Take Down | Puzzle Factor | Components | Game Length | Sub Rating | Score | |
| Heaven & Ale | 3 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 43 |
| Wingspan | 4 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 42 |
| Paladins | 2.5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 38.5 |
| Rococo | 2.5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 37.5 |
| Trismegistus | 2 | 3.5 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 7 | 34.5 |
| Friday | 5 | 5 | 7 | 4.5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
39.5
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WadeB1977 Premium User31 days ago
https://youtu.be/aBeXun2hNNo ....Friday solo playthrough + metric key for solo (updated) and updated metric grid
| Key | |||||
| Initial Setup | Less than 5m = 5 | 5 - 10 minutes = 4 | 10 - 15 minutes = 3 | 15+ minutes = 1 | Time it takes to setup |
| Reset | Less than 5m = 5 | 5 - 10 minutes = 4 | 10 - 15 minutes = 3 | 15+ minutes = 1 | Time it takes to reset |
| Table Space | Standard Card = 7 | 2.5 x 6 feet = 5 | 4x6 game table = 2 | more than 4x6foot = 1 | Footprint |
| R&D | Thematic = 5 | Reasonable AI = 4 | Variable Luck = 2 | Yahtzee = 1 | |
| Take Down | Less than 5m = 5 | 5 - 10 minutes = 4 | 10-15 minutes = 3 | 15+ minutes = 1 | Time it takes to put away |
| Puzzle Complexity | Engaging = 5 | Decent = 4 | Simple/Harsh = 2 | Easy/Brain Smash = 1 | Pleasure of the angst of play |
| Components | Theme Solid = 3 | Not bad = 2 | Detracting = 1 | Tactile and visual engagement | |
| Game Length | Perfect to style = 3 | Average/Diverting = 2 | Too short/long = 1 | Time as relative to game type | |
| Subjective Factor | Great Game = 10 | Decent Game = 7 | Average/Good = 5 | Meh = 3 |
Subjective overall game on 1-10 scale
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WadeB1977 Premium User31 days ago
https://youtu.be/pit1ouKzZB8 - My Trismegistus solo play and below updated chart
| Initial Setup | Reset | Table Space | R&D | Take Down | Puzzle Factor | Components | Game Length | |
| Heaven & Ale | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Wingspan | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Paladins | 2.5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Rococo | 2.5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Trismegistus | 1.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 3 |
This is really cool. Although, my brain hurts looking at it all. Haha! I just go with my gut. Maybe when I have more time on my hands I'll be more into this.
I'm a huge Hockey fan and this reminds me of the analytics teams use to select players. Very cool, and helpful for the people running a team... but I never get into it when judging a player. I go with what I see (if that makes sense).
Having said all that I do think I consider some of these things in the back of my head when reaching for a solo game.
WadeB1977 Premium User34 days ago
Current Scores:
| Initial Setup | Reset | Table Space | R&D | Take Down | Puzzle Factor | Components | Game Length | Score | ||
| Heaven & Ale | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 31 | |
| Wingspan | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 31 | |
| Paladins | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 27 | |
| Rococo | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 25 |
WadeB1977 Premium User34 days ago
https://youtu.be/EuLpAusgcj0 for those interested is a solo playthrough or just seeing what the game looks like.
Below is the link to the automa I used. There appears to be a new one that can collect barrels now.
cbrady748 Premium User35 days ago
This is an interesting idea for sure. My only concern is that for some people certain metrics may be more desirable. It looks like in your second posted chart you've kind of addressed some of them with the too short/long and easy/brain smash options lol.
WadeB1977 Premium User34 days ago
I certainly won't capture the elements that satisfy every gamer but hopefully enough across several games to sort the data and see if it "feels" accurate. I'm a dork so it's fun.
cbrady748 Premium User34 days ago
I am now shouting "STATS" like Lil Jon yelling "SHOTS"
EVERYBOOODDYYY
nwrex 35 days ago
Interesting metrics to think about. I haven't played enough solo games yet to be aware of any others that might be helpful.
WadeB1977 Premium User35 days ago
| Initial Setup | Less than 5m = 5 | 5 - 10 minutes = 4 | 10 - 15 minutes = 3 | 15+ minutes = 1 | Time it takes to setup |
| Reset | Less than 5m = 5 | 5 - 10 minutes = 4 | 10 - 15 minutes = 3 | 15+ minutes = 1 | Time it takes to reset |
| Table Space | Standard Card = 5 | 2.5 x 6 feet = 4 | 4x6 game table = 2 | more than 4x6foot = 1 | Footprint |
| R&D | Thematic = 5 | Reasonable AI = 4 | Variable Luck = 2 | Yahtzee = 1 | |
| Take Down | Less than 5m = 5 | 5 - 10 minutes = 4 | 10-15 minutes = 3 | 15+ minutes = 1 | Time it takes to put away |
| Puzzle Complexity | Engaging = 5 | Decent = 4 | Simple/Harsh = 2 | Easy/Brain Smash = 1 | Pleasure of the angst of play |
| Components | Theme Solid = 3 | Not bad = 2 | Detracting = 1 | Tactile and visual engagement | |
| Game Length | Perfect to style = 3 | Average/Diverting = 2 | Too short/long = 1 | Time as relative to game type |
fortressfire 34 days ago
Honestly, these seem like good metrics for any game experience, solo or not. The main thing that jumps to mind as "missing" if applied to multiplayer would be metrics about interaction, but we all know how subjective that can be.
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Marshwiggle92 Supporter34 days ago
Very nice and nerdy. Of course, as @cbrady748 mentioned, there will be certain metrics that will be ranked a little bit differently for different people.... But, very cool nontheless.