Given Nintendo‘s proclivity for bringing gamers together and the popularity of board games, Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics was surely a no-brainer when considered for development. Board games are regularly a social experience, an opportunity for friends to chat and laugh with each other or for strangers to start the initial bonds of friendship over a hobby they all share. For those gamers that prefer to play solo, buying a game centered around board games seems like an odd choice. Even though Nintendo included options for many gaming styles, should solo gamers add Clubhouse Games to their library?
Never Alone
There are very few games in Clubhouse Games that are completely solo endeavors. Aside from a handful of games, an opponent is required to fully enjoy what is offered. On their own, those games that are specifically single player are not worth the cost of the package. Thankfully, Nintendo developed an impressive artificial intelligence system for each game. Almost every multiplayer game includes 4 levels of CPU opponents (normal, hard, amazing and impossible), but all levels higher than normal have to be unlocked. Winning a game unlocks the next highest level, so to play using the impossible level requires three wins against increasingly challenging CPU opponents.
Playing a board game multiple times increases the player’s skill level, and without the ability to adjust the CPU skill level, the player would quickly surpass the challenge provided by the CPU, especially at the normal and hard levels. Nintendo has done a wonderful job developing the AI. The amazing and impossible levels of CPU opponent are nothing to scoff at. The variable CPU opponent levels certainly adds to the longevity of Clubhouse Games. As the player’s skill level increases, it’s great that there is a persistent challenge to keep the player engaged.
Go For the Gold
The ultimate goal for each game is mastery of the game. As a player wins against each CPU skill level, the game displays a medal illustrating the highest level CPU opponent beaten, starting with bronze medal for winning on the normal skill level. When a player masters a game by winning on the impossible skill level, a trophy icon is given for the game. An achievement system is a bit of a rarity for games developed by Nintendo, but Clubhouse Games has one. The game tracks all medals and trophies as well as how many pieces of trivia a player obtains. The random facts are given out as a reward when a player wins the game against CPU opponents. Anyone trying to achieve all of the medals and trivia will spend a significant amount of hours working toward that goal.
Something For Everyone
It’s difficult to create a collection where every game is a hit. With 51 games available, it would be practically impossible to find someone who likes every game, but with the large variety of games, everyone should be able to pick out a number of games that they enjoy. Having a core set of interesting games keeps Clubhouse Games from getting stale. It’s a collection to come back to over and over when players want something casual, like taking a breather after an intense boss battle. Clubhouse Games is not likely to be played every day, but played frequently enough that the value of the collection is apparent.
Final Verdict
Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics has so many positives as a single player experience regardless of a player’s style of play. Whether a player be an achievement hunter or someone who just wants a casual game, Clubhouse Games provides extensive gameplay options to meet every player’s desires. The multiple CPU levels extend the longevity of the game collection by providing an increasing challenge. While it may seem odd to buy a board and card game collection to play alone, there is plenty here to keep solo players engaged.
Fun 4 One? Definitely
Controller For One 