Most of you may think that playing a board game is a group activity. But the truth is that there are plenty of board games that can even be played by a single person. Much like playing a single-player video game, these board games offer adventures and challenges that can be enjoyed on your own.
From adventure games with deep RPG elements, to mystery-based whodunits, there are single-player board games in almost every genre and category. It's a completely different experience playing a board game on your own, and is something you should try at least once. Here are our favourites.
Updated on March 8, 2024, by Sai Vsr: It's not very easy to get your entire party together for a board games night. Or, maybe none of your other friends are interested in playing a particular type of board game. Worry not, we've updated this list with more board games that can be played solo.
The Best Board Games For Solo Players
One Deck Dungeon
If you don't have too much time to spare.
One Deck Dungeon lets you step into the shoes of a courageous hero, using your wits and luck to battle monsters and overcome traps...pretty much all by your lonesome. Kinda cool.
- Solo and cooperative modes available.
- Setup is fairly quick.
- All female characters.
- Content can seem a little limited after one or two games.
One Deck Dungeon is like... a cool cardboard RPG simulator that fits in your pocket. The game was designed as a 1-2 player co-op, but it is expandable to four players if you want to bring in a few friends. Dungeoneers get to choose a unique hero with specialized skills, dice, and powers. The box is surprisingly comprehensive for such a small kit, and the story is quite well-built. However, things do get a little repetitive after a few games, so keep that in mind.
Dune Imperium
It's all about the Spice
There's only one major resource in the Dune universe, and it's Spice. In Dune Imperium, you must choose whether to form alliances and share the wealth, or obliterate your enemies and have it all to yourself. The game has a specially created automated opponent in House Hagal. This simulated opponent is almost as tough as any human player.
- Great simulated opponent for solo play.
- Artwork based on the recent movie.
Dune Imperium is one of those strategy games where the creators have included an automated opponent. This is usually done via a specific card deck or rulebook. In this case, House Hagal is the automated opponent, which acts similarly to any human player, and won't go easy on you.
Under Falling Skies
Roll for interstellar invasion
The basic gameplay loop of Under Falling Skies is pretty simple - roll dice to either defend yourself or conduct technological research. Getting a high roll isn't always great, as you'll make strides in technology, but the aliens will descend upon you faster.
- High risk high reward gameplay.
- Simple ruleset.
- Unique board design.
Under Falling Skies has a very simple ruleset, but the stakes get higher every time you roll the dice. Getting a high roll isn't always a good thing, as you may advance greatly in technology, but the aliens will also draw closer to your base.
Descent: Legends of The Dark
Let the app do all the work.
One of the best things about Descent: Legends of the Dark is its digital integration. While you have a physical board and miniatures in front of you, all encounters are decided on the game's companion app. This makes it easier to play by yourself, as the app even shows you all possible moves.
- Digital integration makes playing easier.
- Use verticality.
- Great introduction to RPGs.
Why do all the complex calculations when there's an app that can do all the work for you? Descent: Legends of the Dark boasts a companion app that not only makes it easier to play solo, but also helps resolve all encounters and showcase what moves you can make.
Cartographers
Play it solo, or with an entire army
Cartographers has one of the widest playercounts among tabletop games. Players need to draw each shape that's on the drawn card on a paper with a grid. With several modifiers and multipliers, the winner of the game is the person with the higest score after all the calculations.
- Extremely wide playercount.
- Simple rules.
Drawing shapes on a grid paper sounds simple enough - and it is. The hardest part about Cartographers is perhaps calculating the score. However, if you've placed the shapes strategically, your score will surely go higher.
Mage Knight
From the mind behind Codenames
Mage KNight is an action adventure game where players must choose whether they want to be a benevolent ruler or a ruthless tyrant. It features a morality system, but does nor penalize you for choosing either option. In the end, the best path is whichever one gets the job done,
- Features a morality system which unlocks new skills.
- Created by one of the most renowned board game makers.
A morality system shouldn't edge you towards any one side, and that's one of the best things about Mage Knight. Should you choose to be a bit evil, the game will not punish you, in fact, sometimes it's the better choice.
Spirit Island
Make them bow before the one true spirit.
Spirit Island puts you in the role of a powerful island spirit who must drive off the invading colonists before thy can pillage the land and kill the indigenous tribe. While it can be played with up to four players, you can easily pretend that the island believes in a monotheistic faith.
- Creating fear among colonizers gives you a great power trip.
- Ruleset is a bit complicated.
Sure, it's great when you cooperate with other players, but there's something about being the sole deity of an island and sending natural disasters to strike fear into the hearts of your enemies. You can spend your entire day terrorizing the colonizers in this one, and complete it with a sense of justice.
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective
For those who work best alone.
You don't really need a Watson or Scotland Yard to play Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective. The game is based on trial and error, meaning you can take your time, work every angle, and be absolutely sure before accusing them of the crime. Multiple casebooks and expansions mean you can be at it for a long time.
- Open-ended gameplay.
- Multiple casebooks and expansions.
- Unfortunately. the cases aren't replayable once you solve them.
Sure, Sherlock Holmes has Watson and a few friends at the Yard, but you're not playing Holmes, and you don't need them. Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective is based on crimes around Victorian-era London, including that of the most famous serial killer in the word, Jack the Ripper. However, you can consult the famous detective if you're stuck on a case.
Gloomhaven
For all the lone adventurers.
If you're the kind of person that loves getting lost in a fantasy RPG, Gloomhaven is the perfect one to play solo. The great thing about this one is that you can explore for as long as you want before heading to take on the BBEG. An added bonus is that you can take your time with the deep RPG mechanics.
- Huge map and multiple quests to keep you entertained.
- In depth RPG mechanics.
- Not ideal for intermediate or beginner level players.
If you like taking your own sweet time in exploring every single tile of a tabletop RPG, Gloomhaven is the perfect game for you. It offers a wide number of quests that will keep your attention for a long time. You can always invite friends to join in on a session as a companion, but playing it solo will have you getting lost in its world.
Nemesis
Don't make a sound
However, if you like exploration, and RPGs aren't your thing, you can always blast off to space in Nemesis. Evidently inspired by the Alien series, the game tasks you with surviving aboard a ship that has been taken over by Xenomorph-like aliens. The haunting atmosphere is also much thicker when you're alone.
- Brilliantly creates a tense atmosphere.
- Multiple victory conditions.
- The Sound mechanic is a wildcard.
- Certain rolls always land unfairly.
If you're a fan of the Alien series, Nemesis borrows a lot from it - right down to the appearance of its aliens. The game's Sound feature does a great job in creating a tense atmosphere. Any move you make could potentially make a sound, resulting in the alien hearing you and engaging in an encounter.
Terraforming Mars
Aim for the stars, and you'll probably hit Mars.
Capitalism comes to Mars, as corporations fight it out to make the planet habitable and carve out a chunk for themselves. However, while playing it solo, you can just ignore the effects that would have occurred on other players. There are certain other features that don't apply, but everything else remains the same.
- Multiple mechanics that are all intertwined.
- The satisfaction of beating another greedy corporation.
- Reaching Mars before Elon Musk.
- Ruleset is a bit complicated.
As much as we'd like to think otherwise, Terraforming Mars is exactly how it's going to be when we do finally reach Mars - a bunch of greedy corporations carving it out for themselves. When you're playing alone, at least you're the only corporation involved. Space is, after all, a lonely place.
Scythe
It's almost like you're playing with other people
Unlike many other games, Scythe has a separate rulebook for playing solo. While you usually have to compete with other players to take over tiles and earn money, Scythe does a great job in replicating a player, especially with the use of AI decks. It doesn't change the rules, but makes you play against imaginary players.
- Highly developed solo gameplay feature.
- Intuitive player boards.
- Beautifully designed board and UI.
- Highly complex ruleset.
It's hard not to recommend a game for solo play when it has an entirely separate rulebook for it. Scythe uses an AI deck system to simulate other players, rather than asking you to ignore certain rules, like other games ask you to. That's perfect, because it would be a shame to miss out on even a single feature of this game.
The Witcher: Old World
A Witcher works alone
Fans of The Witcher series will know how easy it is to get lost in its world, especially the third game, Wild Hunt. Creator Łukasz Woźniak succeeded in bringing the same level of immersion with the board game version. There are so many things to do and places to explore, that you may not even need another player to keep you company.
- Based on the popular books and games.
- Plethora of activities to get lost in.
- Great leveling system.
While playing with other players adds a whole new dynamic to it, The Witcher: Old World is still a great game to play solo. This is mostly down to the freedom the player is given during each turn, much like in the video game. You can choose to explore, hunt beasts, or hone your skills. Unfortunately, playing solo means you won't be able to dual with other Witchers.
Agricola
Hard work is rewarding, especially when it's simulated.
Agricola charges you with running your farm in the best way possible; at the end of all rounds, the person with the most points is the winner. However, you can just work on your farm if there are no other players. If farming sim video games have taught us anything, it's that working on your farm is a great way to pass time and de-stress.
- Non-violent way of competing.
- Simple rules, but deeply strategic.
- Perfect for fans of farming sim video games.
If your aim is to just work the farm and unwind, Agricola is the perfect way to do so. And, if you're playing solo, you don't have to worry about competing with other players, you can just take your time and build up your farm in your own way.
Elder Sign
Fright at the museum
Imagine being trapped inside a creepy museum, with the fate of the world in your hands. Unless you're Ben Stiller, things can get terrifying pretty fast, especially in your rush to find all the Elder Signs and ensure that an ancient evil isn't awakened. The dice-rolling can get unnerving if you're alone.
- Perfect for if you want a spooky night.
- You can roleplay Ben Stiller stopping Cthulhu.
Staying overnight in a museum sounds like a dream. However, in Elder Sign, instead of Teddy Roosevelt and Gaius Octavian, you'll have to deal with Cthulhu and other Lovecraftian horrors. It's safe to say that only the bravest would want to get trapped in this museum alone.
FAQ
What is the world's most famous board game?
Monopoly with its numerous editions and localizations, is undoubtedly the most popular board game in the world.
What is the oldest board game?
The Royal Game of Ur, believed to have originated 4,600 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia, is the oldest known board game in the world.
Which is the toughest board game in the world?
Chess is considered by many to be the hardest board game duer to the many strategic approaches it entails.