
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,796
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Shipwrights of the North Sea: Redux
- 1–5 players
- 60–80 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2024

Rules assistance for Raiders of the North Sea: Solo Variant
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Raiders of the North Sea: Solo Variant is an expansion for Raiders of the North Sea: Viking Edition released in 2018 for 1 player, 30–50 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Shem Phillips and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Worker Placement.
This is a solo variant for Raiders of the North Sea. It is also compatible with Hall of Heroes, Fields of Fame and all promo materials. This variant includes 23 scheme cards which drive the decision making process of the AI opponent. You will always take your turn first, followed by your opponent. Your turns function just as they would in the standard game (with the exception of 1 Village location being blocked each turn). Your opponent’s turns operate differently. On their turn, reveal the top Scheme Card from the Schemes Draw Pile and follow its instructions. Your opponent will always attempt to Raid if they can. Otherwise, they will Work.
Raiders of the North Sea: Solo Variant 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 Raiders of the North Sea: Solo Variant is 30–50 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 Raiders of the North Sea: Solo Variant for ages 12 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.
Raiders of the North Sea: Solo Variant 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.
Raiders of the North Sea: Solo Variant belongs to these categories: Medieval, Nautical, and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Worker Placement. 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 Raiders of the North Sea: Solo Variant are: Shem Phillips. 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 Raiders of the North Sea: Solo Variant as an expansion for Raiders of the North Sea: Viking Edition. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Raiders of the North Sea: Viking Edition to use it. Check that your edition of Raiders of the North Sea: Viking Edition is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.