Solstis is one of those small games that hits the table a lot, so I didn’t want to settle for just any insert.
But for such a small game, it doesn’t take long before the box turns into a loose pile of tiles and tokens.
I printed two different Solstis insert designs until I found one that works for me.
Here’s how they compare, and which one I ended up keeping.
Inside This Post
- What Is Solstis? (Quick Overview)
- Why You Need a Solstis Insert
- Laualo Insert (Thingiverse)
- BoardGameMeta Insert (MakerWorld)
- Best Solstis Insert: Laualo vs BoardGameMeta
- Which Solstis Insert I'm Keeping
- What's Next for Solstis
- Final Thoughts
What Is Solstis?
Solstis is a 1-2 player tile-laying game by Bruno Cathala and Corentin Lebrat. You build a mountain landscape from a shared grid of tiles, connecting peak to valley while grouping tiles to attract spirits that score points or grant abilities.
It’s quick to learn, plays in about 20 minutes, and has just enough components to benefit from a bit of organization.
Why You Need a Solstis Insert
Solstis comes in a small box, but there’s still a fair number of tiles and tokens inside. Very quickly, the Land and Rainbow tiles get mixed together, Spirit and expansion tokens get separated, and setup takes longer than it needs to.
For a game that feels quick and zen, I wanted an insert that keeps setup just as smooth.
Laualo Insert
This was the first Solstis insert I printed. It organizes the components well and even includes space for tile stands, which I’ll cover in a separate Solstis Upgrades post.
Print Details
It is available on Thingiverse from designer Laualo in two versions: one for the base game only and one for the base game plus the Firefly expansion.
I printed the expansion version in Overture Matte PLA in Light Green.
On a Bambu Lab P2S with a layer height of 0.24mm, the print used approximately 41g of filament with a print time of an hour.
How it fits the game
This insert does a nice job separating everything:
- 48 Land tiles - separated into two wells
- 19 wooden Spirit tiles with a special spot for the red Evil Spirit token
- Firefly expansion tokens (only 6 of my tokens fit, leaving 2 tokens out)
- Some empty space remains along the length of the box
- No box lift
Everything has a defined place, which already makes setup and cleanup smoother than the base box.
What I like
- Simple and effective - It organizes everything without overcomplicating the design.
- Room for upgrades - The empty box space for tile stands is a big plus if you plan to upgrade the game with small tile stands.
- Special Spot for Evil Spirit Token - This special token sits in a special spot in the insert and can be easily left out of the game if you prefer.
What didn’t work
- Doesn’t fit all my Firefly tokens - It only fits 6 of the 8 Firefly tokens from the expansion. The description is in French, so it might fit non-USA editions better.
- Have to remove Insert out of the box to grab the tiles - You have to pull the whole insert out to access tiles. There's no way to grab them from above unless you dump everything out. Once you remove the insert, there are cutouts to allow accessing the tiles. (See image below)
Overall Thoughts
This is a good insert, especially for a free file. It improves organization and adds flexibility for upgrades.
But after using it, I started looking for something that could fit my version of the game and make it easier to access the game components.
BoardGameMeta Insert
Recently, one of my favorite board game insert designers released an insert for the game.
Print Details
It is available on MakerWorld from designer BoardGameMeta in two versions: single-color and two-color.
I printed the two-color version in Bambu Lab PLA Basic Jade White and Matte Sky Blue.
On a Bambu Lab P2S and AMS 2 with a layer height of 0.24mm, the print used approximately 106g of filament with a print time of 3 hours and 17 minutes.
How it fits the game
This design fills the whole box, leaving room at the top for the instructions and Player Aid.
- Land tiles stack vertically in one column and are easy to remove
- Firefly expansion tokens have a dedicated cutout
- Everything sits snug with very little wasted space
- No box lift
It turns the small Solstis box into something that feels much more intuitive and organized.
What I like
- Excellent use of space - It fully uses the box, and everything fits cleanly without shifting around.
- All components fit properly - Unlike the first insert, this one handles all the firefly tokens without any issues.
- Looks great - The design is clean, and the two-color print really makes it stand out.
What was Meh
- Multi-color printing waste - This was a two-color print, which means more filament waste. I included a photo below of the purge just to show how much that adds up. If that matters to you, you can print the one-color option to save time and filament.
- More print effort. Between its size and the multi-color setup, this one takes more time (3.2 hours vs 1 hour) and effort to print than the first insert.
### A Note on 2-Color Purging
If you're printing the BoardGameMeta insert in two colors with an AMS (or similar multi-color device) and a single nozzle, expect a significant purge pile. The color changes between white and blue add up fast - 28 grams of poop plus a 7 gram purge tower.
It's still worth it for me, and luckily, it's quite a small insert. But if filament waste is a concern, you can print the whole thing in a single color, and it still looks great.
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Overall Thoughts
From one of my favorite insert designers, BoardGameMeta, this insert has a stylish, deluxe look. Everything fits cleanly, including the Firefly expansion tokens.
The white body with sky blue accents matches the Solstis color palette almost perfectly, which is a nice bonus. There are finger cutouts throughout so you can grab components easily, dedicated wells for the firefly tokens, and separate sections for each tile type. The insert and components can stay in the box during your game.
Best Solstis Insert: Laualo vs BoardGameMeta
Here’s how the two Solstis inserts compare, side by side.
| Category | Laualo Insert (Thingiverse) | BoardGameMeta Insert (MakerWorld) |
|---|---|---|
| Box Fit | Has extra space for small upgrades | Uses the full box space |
| Organization | Could be improved; must take the insert out of the box to remove tiles | Intuitive design and easy access to components |
| Firefly Tokens | Doesn’t fit all tokens for US edition | Fits all tokens |
| Setup & Cleanup | Faster than base box | Excellent. Insert stays in box and can be used during game. |
| Print Difficulty | Simple, easy print | More complex (if printing multi-color) |
| Filament Use | Uses less filament | More waste in multi-color (multi-color purge) |
| Aesthetics | Functional | Best-in-class aesthetics |
Quick Take
- Laualo is a simple insert, easy to print, and gets the job done. Bonus space for Tile Stand upgrades.
- BoardGameMeta requires more effort and filament for the 2-color version, but offers a more stylish, more component-accessible design.
Both are simple, one-piece designs that slide easily in the box. Neither of these Solstis inserts has any box lid lift.
Which Solstis Insert I'm Keeping
I am keeping the BoardGameMeta insert.
It simply uses the box better, and I can take the tiles out without removing the entire insert. Everything fits cleanly, nothing shifts around, and it looks absolutely great.
What's Next for Solstis
The insert is just the start. My next post covers some must-have Solstis upgrades that make your game experience so much better.
Final Thoughts
Small games benefit from inserts just as much as big ones, especially games you play often.
If you want something simple, efficient, and quick to print, the Laualo insert gets the job done and leaves room for tile stand upgrades. If you want something that fits every component cleanly and looks great doing it, the BoardGameMeta insert is worth the extra print time.
Either way, your box will be in much better shape than it was to start.
Have you played Solstis? If you use a Solstis insert, which one are you using?
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