Board Games are a great group activity that can really bring friends together. Sometimes, though, you just want to pour yourself a nice warm mug of cocoa, snuggle up in bed, and enjoy a nice single-player experience. Archives of the Fallen World is a Christmas game, but it definitely isn't a cozy one. Set in a fictitious war-torn Eastern European town, the game enables you to "roll and write your own dark Christmas tale!"
Archives of the Fallen World invites players into the life of Leon, a librarian who is struggling to save as many books as possible from the bombs tearing his town apart.
Over 72 turns, split over 12 in-game days, you'll scavenge for resources, wrestle with moral decisions, and run for shelter in a single-player experience played only with several sheets of paper, a pencil, and some dice.
Buildings in the town are destroyed as the game progresses, locking away actions and ramping up the difficulty. For example, without the market it will be a lot harder to secure food.
Archives of the Fallen World is currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter. Its designer Denis Kurdiukov, or "Nuka Zombee", has made several prior print and play experiences, including Doomsday Manager, and Feudal Rise. Since the game only requires paper to play, and there are no wooden meeple or expansive boards, the campaign aims to deliver in time for Christmas next month.
The base game costs nine New Zealand dollars, which is $5.15 (£3.91). The "Overseer edition" adds four additional stories and is available for 23 New Zealand dollars, roughly $13.16(£10).
Are you a solo board game player, or do you prefer your games to involve as many other people as possible? Let us know in the Wargamer Discord.
If you're looking for some other great single-player experiences, why not try some of the titles from our list of the best solo board games.