Northwest - Campfire & Solo Expansion
🐸 Dettagli da BoardGameGeek
Consiglio BGG sul numero di giocatori
Categorie
Meccaniche
Design & Art
Lingua
Pairs well with
The FroGames Card
You're looking at the grid; the cube you want is there. But the move you make now will decide where the next one can go. And the Tale Cubes whisper to you: invent, embellish, take a risk. Someone wins. Someone tells the best story.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Campfires, solitary peaks, and new stories to tell
Rick Hou returns to Northwest with two modes that expand the base game without weighing it down. The Tale Cubes are dice that allow you to embellish or invent parts of your journal, bringing a narrative and strategic component to the tableau that wasn't there before. Illustrated by Isaac Lefever, Brickhouse Games' Pacific Northwest gains a personal dimension: each die is a choice between truth and myth.
The Solo Summits mode, on the other hand, is designed for those who want to tackle the trails alone, with dedicated objectives and a structure that rewards optimization. This expansion doesn't ask you to change the game you know: it gives you two different ways to experience it, one collaborative and narrative, the other meditative and challenging.
What they say abroad
"Two exciting new ways to play, each offering a unique twist on your journey."
Two exciting new ways to play, each offering a unique twist on your journey.
— Brickhouse Games
First impression: an expansion that adds depth without adding complexity. The Tale Cubes promise to transform Northwest into something more personal, while the solo mode is convincing on paper. Card updated after launch.
— FroGames
Northwest: Campfire & Solo Expansion
Solo Summits is an official mode with dedicated objectives and progressive challenges on the peaks. Still to be tested, but it promises a pure optimization experience. It loses the indirect interaction of multiplayer (the shared pawn movement).
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · first impression: based on rules and official presentation, updated with initial playthroughsWhat's in the expansion
Two modes, one box
Tale Cubes
Dice that let you embellish or invent parts of your journal. You roll, choose a face, tell a story. Strategy and narration blend: you decide how much to risk and how much to lie.
Solo Summits
Solo mode with progressively challenging objectives. You tackle the trails alone, optimize every move, aim for the perfect score. No opponents, just you and the peaks.
New journal cards
Additional material to integrate the two modes into the base game. The rules are learned in two minutes, applied to 15 or 45-minute games without altering the flow.
Full compatibility
Both modes integrate with Northwest without disrupting anything. You can play with the dice in multiplayer or face the solo challenges: the expansion adapts to your table.
🎲How to playThe rules in four steps▼
How to play
The flow with new modes
Northwest remains identical; the modes seamlessly integrate.
You play as always: move your pawn, take a cube, place it in your tableau. No changes to the core of the game.
On your turn, you can roll the narrative dice to embellish or invent a part of the diary. Choose a side, tell a story, earn bonuses. It's a tactical choice: when to use them, not if to use them.
If you play solo, follow the dedicated objectives on the Summit cards. Each peak has a different challenge; the final score tells you if you've conquered the summit.
The victory conditions remain those of Northwest: completed tableau or exhausted moves. The dice and solo mode don't change how it ends, only how you get there.
⏱️Your first gameThe chronicle, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Setup and first cubes
Add the Tale Cubes next to the board. Explain the two modes: narrative dice or solo. Someone immediately chooses the dice, someone else prefers to try the solo challenges later. The setup is identical to Northwest, just with an extra bag.
The first die rolled
Someone rolls the Tale Cubes and invents a story: "I saw Bigfoot behind that mushroom." Laughs, places the cube, earns points. The others understand: the dice are not mandatory, but when you use them, they change the game. The narrative enters the tableau.
Tactical tension
Mid-game, the table is divided: those who use the dice to unlock impossible moves, those who play clean and optimize every pattern. The luck of the dice can offer unexpected combos or ruin a plan. Someone curses, someone laughs.
The memorable moment
A player rolls a die, gets exactly the symbol needed to complete a perfect set. Tells an absurd story, everyone applauds. The Tale Cubes offer moments that basic Northwest didn't have: small narrative victories that remain.
End of game
Points are counted. Those who used the dice have stories to tell; those who played only have a clean and symmetrical tableau. Both have won something. Next time someone will try Solo Summits, to see if the game holds up even solo.
🐸To know beforehandThree honest things, from friends▼
To know beforehand
Three true things
Requires the base game
This is an expansion, not a standalone game. Without the Northwest base game, it makes no sense: the Tale Cubes and Solo Summits build upon mechanics and materials you must already own. Make sure you possess the original game before ordering.
Dice add luck
The Tale Cubes introduce a random element that wasn't there before. If your table dislikes luck or wants total control, this mode might not appeal. Northwest purists might prefer to play without it.
First print, feedback to verify
The expansion has just been released, and reviews are few. Solo Summits looks promising on paper, but we don't yet know if the solo mode holds up in the long run. The product page will be updated after more games.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat the ending rewards▼
How it ends
How to win (and how to lose)
The victory conditions are those of Northwest, with small twists.
Victory
- Multiplayer: highest score when someone completes the tableau or moves run out (as in the base game, dice can give extra points)
- Solo Summits: reach the target score of the Summit challenge you chose (each peak has a different difficulty and objective)
- Tale Cubes: use the dice to unlock narrative combos and earn bonuses that others don't have (but you need to roll well)
Defeat or failure
- Multiplayer: finish last because you used the dice poorly or because you ignored the important patterns (luck helps, but isn't enough)
- Solo Summits: don't reach the target score of the peak (you can retry with an easier challenge or optimize your strategy)
- Bad luck: you roll the Tale Cubes and don't get the symbol you needed, losing your turn or forcing you into a suboptimal move
Northwest: Campfire & Solo Expansion asks you: do you prefer to tell stories or climb peaks? Both answers are right. Available on FroGames.it
💬Frequently Asked QuestionsQuick answers before checkout▼
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about Northwest: Campfire & Solo Expansion
Can I play this expansion without the Northwest base game?
No. Northwest: Campfire & Solo Expansion is an expansion that requires the base game to function. You need the main board, memento cubes, player tableaux, and all original Northwest components. The Tale Cubes and Solo Summits cards are additions, not replacements.
Are Tale Cubes mandatory or can I play without them?
They are completely optional. You can choose to use the narrative dice in some games and ignore them in others. If your table prefers pure Northwest, without added luck, you can certainly play as always. The expansion gives you choices, not obligations.
Is the Solo Summits mode deep enough for experienced players?
It depends on your expectations. Solo Summits is designed for optimization, with progressive challenges and target scores to beat. If you're looking for a narrative solo game or a campaign, you won't find it here. If you like Northwest and want a way to play it solo with clear objectives, it shows promise. We'll discover the depth after more games.
What mechanics does Northwest: Campfire & Solo Expansion use?
It adds Dice Rolling (the Tale Cubes for creating stories), Push Your Luck (deciding when to roll the dice), and an official Solo / Solitaire mode. The base game mechanics (Pattern Movement, Matching, tableau building) remain identical. The expansion introduces new tactical choices without overhauling the flow.
Is it available in Italian?
No, this expansion is in English. Northwest has minimal text (mainly on the dice and solo objective cards), so if you know the base game, the language impact is limited. There are currently no official Italian editions of Northwest or its expansions.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they've done.
Northwest: Campfire & Solo Expansion is the official expansion for Northwest, the cube placement and pattern matching game set in the Pacific Northwest. Designed by Rick Hou and published by Brickhouse Games, it adds two modes: Tale Cubes, narrative dice that allow players to invent stories and unlock combos, and Solo Summits, a solo mode with progressive challenges. For 1-4 players, ages 7+, duration 15-45 minutes. Requires the Northwest base game to play. Ideal expansion for those who want more narrative variability or an optimized solo play experience. Available on FroGames.it
Northwest - Campfire & Solo Expansion
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
📸Do the images match the actual product?
The photos on the website often come from BoardGameGeek and are intended to give you an idea of the game. They may vary slightly from the version you receive. The content declared by the publisher is always binding.
📦Does the content of the box match what is indicated?
We always strive to provide the correct content, but minor variations are possible due to reprints or updates. The information comes directly from the publishers. If you have any questions, please contact us!
⏳How do pre-orders work?
Pre-order the game before release, payment is immediate, and the game is reserved for you. As soon as it arrives, we'll ship it right away! If there are any delays, we'll update you promptly.
🔒Can I trust buying here?
Absolutely! Secure payments, tracked shipments, and a team that loves board games as much as you do. If something goes wrong, we'll do our best to fix it.
🛠There's a problem with my order, what should I do?
Write to us now! Whether it's a missing part, damage, or an error, we'll help you resolve it as soon as possible. Your experience truly matters to us.