Description
Splendor is a game of chip-collecting and card development.
Players are merchants of the Renaissance trying to buy gem mines, means of transportation, and shops—all in order to acquire the most prestige points.
If you’re wealthy enough, you might even receive a visit from a noble at some point, which of course will further increase your prestige.
On your turn, you may (1) collect chips (gems), or (2) buy and build a card, or (3) reserve a card.
All of the cards you buy increase your wealth as they give you a permanent gem bonus for later buys.
Some of the cards also give you prestige points.
In order to win the game, you must reach 15 prestige points before your opponents do.
Splendor – How To Play, by Watch It Played
Note : The video below describes the multiplayer version. By applying your selected solo rules (listed below), you can play a good solitaire game.
Solo Variants
There are several solo variants available for this game. They are listed below. (Click headings for detailed rules)
Solo variant against AI opponent (requires one d6)
This variant sets up the game as a two-player game, but with only three chips of each color (not possible to take two chips of the same color in one turn).
The player takes their turn as usual.
The AI does one of the following:
1. Get a level 3 development if possible.
2. Get a level 2 development is possible.
3. Throw a d6 and on 1-4 get one of the level 31 developments and on a 5-6 get gold.
For most of the game only point 3 is in effect, but once the AI builds its tableau it can quickly acquire the more expensive developments.
Quick variant by LocutusZero
This is a very quick variant that uses only the green level one cards.
The player starts with three chips in each color (including gold).
Four cards are dealt as normal and replenished when one of them is bought.
If the chips are used they are out of the game.
The player wins when he acquires four cards of each color. If the player cannot buy any card he loses.
Solo Play Splendor
The gems get depleted by 1 each turn.
The player has to reach 15 VPs before the gems run out.
Solo Dice Variant
In this game, a two-player game is set up and dice are used to determine what card is acquired by the AI and what gems are not available.
The goal is to have 15VPs in the lowest number of turns (or the most VPs in a set number of turns).
Solo Variant Closest to Standard 2 Player Rules
This variant has an AI which mirrors the actions of the player (with a twist).
When a player acquires gems, the AI gets gems (but not the same ones)
When a player gets a card – the AI gets a card (whether it can pay for it or not)
The first to 15VPs wins.
Solo Variant – The “5” Nobles
In this variant, the green deck is stacked on top of the yellow deck and two rows of four cards are dealt.
When a player acquires a card from one of the four cards, the remaining three are discarded.
Only the five 5-point blue cards are dealt and 5 random Nobles.
When the green/yellow deck runs out (or the 5 point cards are bought) the points are counted.
Files
A selection of files from BoardGameGeek. Links will open in a new window or tab.
Splendor Solo Automa
For those that need an extra challenge. These 9 cards can be shuffled in to provide that.
>> Click to download PDF <<
Splendor Marvel Redesign
Marvel Splendor is a custom Splendor game with Marvel Skin, every card is a different hero. The victory points cards are the most powerful Marvel characters.
>> Click to download PDF <<