Playing board games is a beloved pastime, often associated with lively gatherings of friends and family. However, the joy of board gaming isn't limited to group settings. Solo board gaming has gained popularity, offering a unique way to spend your alone time. Many modern board games are designed with solo modes in mind, catering to players who enjoy the challenge and satisfaction of playing by themselves. From strategic challenges to immersive storytelling, these games provide a diverse range of experiences that can help you relax and engage your mind. Let's explore some of the best solo board games that are perfect for unwinding on your own.
TL;DR: These are the Best Solo Board Games
### War Story: Occupied France
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### Invincible: The Hero-Building Game
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### Legacy of Yu
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### Final Girl
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### Dune Imperium
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### Hadrian's Wall
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### Imperium: Horizons
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### Frosthaven
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### Mage Knight: Ultimate Edition
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### Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective
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### Under Falling Skies
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### Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island
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### Dinosaur Island: Rawr ‘n Write
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game
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### Cascadia
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### Terraforming Mars
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### Spirit Island
0See it at AmazonEditor's Note: While all the games listed here can be enjoyed solo, most of them also support up to four players. The exception is Final Girl, which is exclusively designed for single-player experiences.
War Story: Occupied France
### War Story: Occupied France
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-6Play Time: 45-60 minsWar Story: Occupied France seamlessly blends a choose-your-own-adventure narrative with tactical wargaming. As the leader of a secret agent team in World War II, you navigate through engaging text and make critical decisions that influence the outcome on miniature maps. Your agents can set up ambushes against enemy forces, adding tension and strategic depth. The game's replayability is enhanced by multiple scenarios that can be linked into a campaign, offering a challenging solo experience. Although designed for up to six cooperative players, playing solo intensifies the experience and the weight of command.
Invincible: The Hero-Building Game
### Invincible: The Hero-Building Game
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-4Play Time: 45-90 minsInspired by the comic book and animated TV series, Invincible: The Hero-Building Game offers a fresh take on superhero gaming with its gritty and perilous theme. You guide young heroes as they develop their powers, searching for effective power combinations to enhance their abilities while battling villains and saving civilians. The game's scenarios are tied to major storylines from the TV show, allowing fans to relive their favorite episodes. It can also be played as a full campaign, providing a deep and immersive experience.
Legacy of Yu
### Legacy of Yu
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 12+Players: 1-4Play Time: 60 minsSet in mythic China, Legacy of Yu challenges you to save the kingdom from floods while fending off barbarian tribes. This game brilliantly combines resource management and worker placement with narrative storytelling and military strategy. As Yu the Great, you must build canals and defend against incursions, facing strategic challenges and moral dilemmas along the way. The mix of historical flavor and strategic gameplay makes for a compelling solo experience.
Final Girl
### Final Girl
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1Play Time: 20-60 minsFinal Girl stands out as a premier solo horror game, offering a thrilling and tense experience. Designed for one player, it allows you to embody the survivor in a horror movie setting. With various expansion sets, you can choose scenarios based on classic horror films, each providing unique challenges and narratives. The game's mechanics involve managing time and resources strategically, making every decision crucial. While the core box needs a Film Box to play, the combination creates an engaging and narratively rich game.
Dune: Imperium
### Dune Imperium
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-4Play Time: 60-120 minsDune: Imperium is a standout strategy game that also offers a robust solo mode. While it shines with multiple players, the inclusion of an automated opponent, House Hagal, allows for a satisfying solo experience. You'll compete against one or two AI opponents, managing resources, territory, and troop movements. The solo mode provides a challenging and engaging way to experience this excellent game without needing additional players.
Hadrian’s Wall
### Hadrian's Wall
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 12+Players: 1-6Play Time: 60 minsHadrian’s Wall is a flip-and-write game that excels in solo play, especially with its downloadable campaign. As a Roman general, you construct walls and fortresses to defend against Pictish invasions. The game's dynamic nature, combined with strategic resource management and satisfying combos, sets it apart. The use of actual tokens for resource management adds a tactile element, enhancing the solo experience.
Imperium: Horizons
### Imperium: Horizons
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-4Play Time: 40 mins/playerImperium: Horizons brings the deck-building mechanic to civilization games, making it well-suited for solo play. You choose a civilization with a unique deck and strategy, navigating complex mechanisms like trading and economics. The challenge lies in building your civilization without overextending and risking revolt. With fourteen civilizations, each requiring a different approach, the game offers immense replay value and strategic depth.
Frosthaven / Gloomhaven
### Frosthaven
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-4Play Time: 60-120 minsFrosthaven is a vast and immersive legacy game perfect for solo adventurers seeking a grand fantasy experience. You guide an adventurer through a persistent world filled with dungeons and monsters, using card-driven tactical combat. Each decision carries weight due to the potential loss of cards, making your journey unique. For those daunted by its scale and price, Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion offers a more accessible yet equally engaging experience.
Mage Knight
### Mage Knight: Ultimate Edition
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-5Play Time: 60+ minsMage Knight has become synonymous with solo gaming since its 2011 release. Designed by Vlaada Chvátil, this fantasy epic shines in solo mode, offering a deep experience of fighting monsters, upgrading your character, and exploring a fantasy world. Be prepared for long sessions, as each turn presents a puzzle-like series of actions requiring careful optimization.
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective
### Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-8Play Time: 90 minsStep into the shoes of the legendary detective with Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective. This game offers a mystery-solving experience with various scenarios, maps, and props. You'll navigate London, gathering clues and interviewing suspects without much guidance, challenging you to live up to Holmes' reputation. The game's depth and complexity make it a rewarding solo adventure.
Under Falling Skies
### Under Falling Skies
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 12+Players: 1+Play Time: 20-40 minsUnder Falling Skies is a solo-only game that captures the essence of Space Invaders. You defend your base from descending alien ships, balancing dice rolls between shooting, building, and researching. The game's mechanics add strategic tension, as higher dice rolls yield better effects but accelerate the alien advance. With multiple scenarios and a campaign, it offers a long-lasting and engaging solo experience.
Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island
### Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-4Play Time: 90-180 minsIn Robinson Crusoe, you play as a shipwreck survivor on a hostile island. The game challenges you to scavenge, build, and explore while managing various characters. The solo variant allows you to control multiple characters, adding depth to the experience. Despite its complexity and iconography, the game rewards perseverance with a rich and engaging adventure.
Dinosaur Island: Rawr N’ Write
### Dinosaur Island: Rawr ‘n Write
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 10+Players: 1-4Play Time: 30-45 minsDinosaur Island: Rawr N’ Write elevates the roll-and-write genre with its complexity and depth. You manage a theme park, balancing resources to build attractions and ensure security. The game's strategic elements and the challenge of managing dice rolls make for a compelling solo experience.
Arkham Horror: the Card Game
### Arkham Horror: The Card Game
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-4Play Time: 60-120 minsArkham Horror: The Card Game offers a tense and thematic solo experience. You delve into cosmic mysteries, managing clues and thwarting the Mythos deck. The game's campaign system allows for long-term play, with your investigator's progress and challenges carrying over between sessions, making it one of the most immersive horror games available.
Cascadia
### Cascadia
0See it at WalmartAge Range: 10+Players: 1-4Play Time: 30-45 minsCascadia is a family-friendly game that offers a unique solo challenge. You build a nature reserve by selecting terrain tiles and animal tokens, aiming to meet various scoring patterns. The game's achievement list provides additional challenges, encouraging you to try different strategies and setups, making it a rewarding solo experience.
Terraforming Mars
### Terraforming Mars
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 12+Players: 1-5Play Time: 120 minsTerraforming Mars challenges you to make Mars habitable through resource management and tableau building. In the solo mode, you race against time to meet end-game conditions, growing your list of action cards to create powerful combinations. The game's depth and strategic complexity make it a standout solo experience, appealing to those who enjoy optimization puzzles.
Spirit Island
### Spirit Island
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-4Play Time: 90-120 minsSpirit Island is a cooperative game that translates well to solo play. As island spirits, you protect your land from colonizers using power cards to destroy settlements and heal the land. The game's robust mechanics and thematic depth make it an excellent choice for solo gamers looking for a challenging and rewarding experience.
Solo Board Game FAQs
Is it weird to play board games alone?
Not at all! Solo board gaming has a rich history, dating back centuries. It's no different from playing video games alone, where the enjoyment comes from overcoming the game's challenges and improving your performance. Solo board games also offer visual and tactile pleasures, making them a delightful way to spend time by yourself.
