Solstis is all about building a mountain landscape, with each tile belonging to a specific row and column. As you draw your tiles, you’re blindly placing them in your space, and this never felt right for me.
I then discovered a couple of Solstis upgrades that solidified this game in my collection. It transformed a game I was ho-hum about into one that was very satisfying and fun to play. Without them, I don’t think I’d reach for Solstis nearly as often. Everyone who plays is equally delighted.
I’ve already covered two Solstis inserts in a separate post. This one focuses on two Solstis upgrades that change how the game feels to play: a custom player board that makes every placement feel fun, and a tile stand that keeps everything visible and easy to reach.
Inside This Post
What Is Solstis? (Quick Overview)
Solstis is a 1–2 player game by Bruno Cathala and Corentin Lebrat, where you piece together a mountain landscape from a shared grid of tiles. The goal is to connect peak to valley while grouping tiles to attract spirits that score points or trigger abilities. It’s light enough to learn in minutes and short enough to play twice in a sitting.
Why Solstis Benefits from Upgrades
Solstis comes in a small box with a simple component set. But one thing always bothered me: placing land tiles without any structure to guide you.
In the base game, you’re building your landscape by placing tiles into a grid on the table. There’s nothing to tell you where each tile belongs or how your layout is taking shape.
The player boards fix that completely. Every tile has a place, the grid is laid out in front of you, and the whole game feels like it was designed to be played this way.
The tile stands are a smaller Solstis upgrade; they keep the tiles you choose upright and visible to both players, rather than flat on the table.
Solstis Upgrade #1: Player Boards (The One That Changed the Game)
Solstis Player Board stl designed by Max1983 found on Makerworld
This is easily my favorite Solstis upgrade, and the one that made the biggest difference for me.
Each player gets their own board made up of four interlocking pieces. Once assembled, it creates a structured grid that shows exactly where every tile goes. I colored mine to match the game, so red on the bottom row, then orange, green, blue, pink, and purple on top.
Instead of loosely building your landscape on the table, you’re placing your Land tiles into a defined layout. It removes the guesswork, and you know exactly which location each tile fits. The player board grooves keep that tile locked in place.
You can quickly see where tiles belong, what’s missing, and how your path is developing from peak to valley. The same goes for your competitor’s layout; you know exactly what tiles are now unavailable to you and what tiles they’ll be looking for. Just a quick glance lets you make those strategic decisions in a snap.
It also keeps everything aligned and tidy, which fits perfectly with the game’s calm, puzzle-like feel.
Regrettably, I did not save the Print Detail information from when I printed this insert.
The player boards come in four interlocking parts and are very easy to fit together and stay in place.
I’ve created two boards, one for each player, and I can’t imagine playing without them! There’s a wonderful thrill in placing your tiles in their exact spots and seeing them perfectly aligned in your grid.
Solstis Upgrade #2: Tile Stands (Support Feature)
Solstis Land Tile Stands designed by Phil3DPrint are free on Cults3D.
These small tile stands hold the Solstis Land tiles upright so everyone can see them clearly. Instead of lying flat in a row, the tiles are now much easier to view and select from the stand.
Each tile stand comfortably holds 3 Land tiles, including 3 tiles behind them.
You’ll need at least two Tile Stands to start the game. I printed three, as sometimes people leave a tile on their turn.
Print Details
This is a 3-part print; you’ll need two legs and the holder itself. It is a quick 25-minute print that uses about 8.5 grams of filament at a 0.20 mm layer height. Supports are required. Here’s how I placed mine.
The two legs snap onto the holder and fold when not in use.
These tile stands also keep the table looking clean and organized.
They were designed to fit in this Solstis Insert.
How These Solstis Upgrades Change the Game
Both upgrades improve the Solstis game experience and work very well together.
The player boards add structure. You always know where tiles go, and the layout stays clean and easy to read.
The tile stands improve visibility. You can see all available tiles at a glance, making decisions quicker and keeping turns moving.
With both in play, the game feels more focused. There’s less fiddling with components and more attention on the puzzle itself.
It turns Solstis into a cleaner, more satisfying experience, and one I’m much more likely to play again right away.
Are These Solstis Upgrades Worth It?
For me, the answer is yes.
These Solstis upgrades make a noticeable difference, especially if you play the game often. The player boards are the biggest upgrade—they add structure, improve clarity, and make the game more satisfying to play.
The only drawback is that the player boards make a stack that is way too large to fit in the Solstis box, which is only 5 inches long.
The tile stands are a smaller addition, but they improve visibility and accessibility and help keep the table clean.
If you enjoy Solstis and want a smoother, more polished and satisfying experience, these Solstis upgrades are absolutely worth it.
Final Thoughts
These Solstis upgrades didn’t just improve the game. They changed how often I want to play it.
The player boards, in particular, made the experience feel more structured and enjoyable. The tile stands help support that by keeping everything visible and easy to manage.
Together, they turn Solstis into a cleaner, more focused puzzle that I’m always happy to bring back to the table.
Are you using any Solstis upgrades? Let me know what you’ve tried or what your favorites are in the comments.
