- BGG rating
- 7.6
20 Strong: Hoplomachus Victorum
- 1 player
- 30–40 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,332
- BGG rating
- 7.3
20 Strong
2023
Rules assistance for 20 Strong
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1 player
- 30–40 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.4/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for 20 Strong
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
20 Strong is a board game released in 2023 for 1 player, 30–40 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Josh J. Carlson and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Solo / Solitaire Game, and Move Through Deck.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.2
20 Strong: Solar Sentinels
- 1 player
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2023
- BGG rating
- 7.5
20 Strong: Too Many Bones
- 1 player
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2023
- BGG rating
- 7.6
20 Strong: Tanglewoods Baba Yaga
- 1 player
- 30–40 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2025
- BGG rating
- 7.6
20 Strong: Tanglewoods Gold
- 1 player
- 40–60 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2025
- BGG rating
- 7.4
20 Strong: Tanglewoods Red
- 1 player
- 40–60 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2025
- BGG rating
- 7.5
20 Strong: Tanglewoods Rose
- 1 player
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2025
- BGG rating
- 7.4
20 Strong: Tanglewoods White
- 1 player
- 40–60 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2025
20 Strong: burncycle
- 1 player
- 30–45 min
- 2026
- BGG rating
- 8.0
20 Strong: Cloudspire
- 1 player
- 30–40 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2026
- BGG rating
- 8.6
20 Strong: Etherfields
- 1 player
- 40–60 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2026
- BGG rating
- 7.4
20 Strong: Nemesis
- 1–3 players
- 40–60 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2026
- BGG rating
- 8.3
20 Strong: Tainted Grail
- 1 player
- 40–60 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2026
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #37
- BGG rating
- 8.3
Too Many Bones
- 1–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.9/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #167
- BGG rating
- 8.7
Too Many Bones: Undertow
- 1–2 players
- 60–180 min
- Complexity 4.0/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #889
- BGG rating
- 8.3
Hoplomachus: Victorum
- 1 player
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,574
- BGG rating
- 7.9
burncycle
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- 45–180 min
- Complexity 4.1/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,425
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Hoplomachus: Remastered
- 1–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,490
- BGG rating
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- 1–2 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,015
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One Deck Dungeon
- 1–2 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,617
- BGG rating
- 7.1
One Deck Dungeon: Forest of Shadows
- 1–2 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
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- BGG rating
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Spire's End: Hildegard
- 1–2 players
- 30–180 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
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- BGG rank
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The Last of Us: Escape the Dark
- 1–5 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,283
- BGG rating
- 8.8
Too Many Bones: Unbreakable
- 1–4 players
- 60–180 min
- Complexity 3.9/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,567
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Hoplomachus: Origins
- 1–2 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2015
About the game
20 Strong is a new deck-based game system from Chip Theory Games, capable of being played in about 30 minutes or less. We say “game system” because the idea behind 20 Strong is a small nucleus of simple, adaptable rules that can then be applied to a variety of unique decks, each with their own set of mechanics. We are launching 20 Strong with three such decks – one set in the world of Too Many Bones, one set in Hoplomachus: Victorum, and one in the new universe of the space-faring Solar Sentinels. We have more decks in development and plan to release them regularly if our customers are excited by them. For now, 20 Strong is a solo-only game, but even that could differ in future decks using the ruleset. The object of a game of 20 Strong is to progress through a shuffled deck of cards, each card bearing a unique challenge. This challenge could be in the form of an enemy, a unique scenario, or some other requirement (for example, players of the Too Many Bones deck might expect to see a Lockpicking challenge or two). Challenges usually require a certain number of successes to complete, which you earn by rolling a set of 17 dice with different odds for a hit (these dice, along with three adjustable stat dice, make up the “20” in 20 Strong). If you roll enough successes, you complete a card’s challenge and gain its rewards. If you don’t, you take damage and move on to the next card – unless, of course, your HP stat is reduced to 0, costing you the game. If you manage to make it through an entire deck, you take on one of the deck’s final bosses, attempting to score enough hits against this powerful enemy to claim ultimate victory. Of course, it’s never so easy that you’d want to spend all of your dice on a single card. In addition to your HP Stat, you’re also keeping track of your Strategy (which controls how many rerolls and items you have) and your Recovery, which controls how many dice return to your pool after taking on a challenge. If you roll more dice than your Recovery, those dice are exhausted, lowering your pool for your subsequent challenges. It’s a game of pressing your luck, strategic decision-making, and resource management. We think you’re going to love it! —description from the publisher
Designers
Publishers
- Lavka Games
- Frosted Games
- Lucky Duck Games
- HIT Games
- Chip Theory Games
- Juegorama
Questions and answers
20 Strong supports 1 player according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for 20 Strong is 30–40 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists 20 Strong for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
20 Strong has a complexity rating of 2.4 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
20 Strong belongs to these categories: Card Game and Dice. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Solo / Solitaire Game, and Move Through Deck. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of 20 Strong are: Josh J. Carlson. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists 20 Strong as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.