Enjoying board games is a fantastic way to spend your leisure time with friends and family. But what about those moments when you're alone and looking for a fun activity? Solo board gaming is not only common but increasingly popular, thanks to many modern board games being designed with solo play in mind. From strategic challenges to engaging roll-and-write experiences, there's a wide array of board games perfect for solo play. Let's explore some of the best solo board games that offer a chance to unwind while stimulating your mind.
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: Although every board game on this list can be played alone, most can accommodate up to four players. The exception is Final Girl, designed exclusively for solo play.
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 a secret agent behind enemy lines in World War II, you navigate through gripping text scenarios, making choices that influence the unfolding story of espionage and danger. These decisions also impact tactical battles on miniature maps, where you command your team against superior enemy forces. With ample difficulty and decision trees, the game offers significant replay value, and you can link scenarios into a campaign for the ultimate solo challenge. Although it supports up to six players cooperatively, it's best experienced solo to fully feel 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 popular comic and animated TV series, Invincible: The Hero-Building Game reimagines superheroism with genuine peril and intense action. This game, which scored an 8 out of 10 in our review, lets you guide young heroes learning to harness their powers. You'll search your hand for power combinations to enhance your protégés while balancing the need to combat villains and rescue civilians. Each scenario connects to major storylines from the TV show, allowing fans to relive favorite episodes. The game can also be played as a full campaign for an extended experience.
Legacy of Yu
### Legacy of Yu
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 12+Players: 1-4Play Time: 60 minsStep into mythic China and tackle the challenges faced by Yu the Great in Legacy of Yu. This game uniquely blends resource management and worker placement with narrative-driven elements and military strategy. As you build canals to prevent flooding and defend against barbarian invasions, you'll encounter rich strategic depth and moral dilemmas. The game's historical context and engaging gameplay make it a standout choice for solo play.
Final Girl
### Final Girl
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1Play Time: 20-60 minsHorror-themed games thrive in solo play, and Final Girl is no exception. This modular game puts you in the shoes of a survivor at the climax of a horror movie. You'll manage time allocations between actions, playing cards, and acquiring new ones, adding tension and strategic depth to the experience. To fully enjoy the game, you'll need a Film Box, which provides scenarios based on classic horror movies. Whether facing your favorite films or your deepest fears, Final Girl offers a thrilling and narratively rich solo adventure.
Dune: Imperium
### Dune Imperium
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-4Play Time: 60-120 minsDune: Imperium, renowned for its strategic gameplay, also excels in solo mode thanks to the inclusion of House Hagal, an automated opponent. While the game truly shines with more players, the solo version offers a satisfying challenge with varying difficulty levels. Facing off against two AI opponents, you'll experience the full depth of this excellent strategy game without needing to gather friends.
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 where players, as Roman generals, use resources from flipped cards to build fortifications and repel Pictish invasions. It's particularly enjoyable solo, especially with the downloadable campaign that adds a dynamic narrative. The game's strategic depth, resource management, and historical setting make it a compelling solo experience that stands out in its genre.
Imperium: Horizons
### Imperium: Horizons
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-4Play Time: 40 mins/playerImperium: Horizons brings deck-building mechanics to civilization games, making it suitable for solo play. Each civilization offers a unique deck and strategic approach, challenging you to build your empire from scratch while managing economic and military aspects. With fourteen civilizations to choose from, the game provides immense replay value and strategic depth for solo players.
Frosthaven / Gloomhaven
### Frosthaven
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-4Play Time: 60-120 minsFrosthaven is a grand fantasy adventure that's perfect for solo players seeking a deep, immersive experience. As a legacy-style game, you'll guide an adventurer through a vast world filled with dungeons and monsters, using card-driven tactical combat. Each decision carries weight, and the persistent world ensures a unique experience. For a more manageable yet still excellent solo adventure, consider Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion.
Mage Knight
### Mage Knight: Ultimate Edition
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-5Play Time: 60+ minsMage Knight is a classic choice for solo gamers, offering a sprawling fantasy epic with deep strategic gameplay. Designed by Vlaada Chvátil, this game shines in solo mode, allowing you to explore a fantasy world, fight monsters, and upgrade your character. Be prepared for lengthy sessions, as each turn presents a complex puzzle to solve.
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective
### Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-8Play Time: 90 minsStep into the world of Sherlock Holmes with this mystery-solving game. With various scenarios, props, and a map of London, you'll hunt for clues and interview suspects to solve complex cases. The game challenges you to think like Holmes, offering a rewarding experience for those who enjoy immersive mysteries.
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. As alien ships descend, you'll manage dice to shoot them down, build your base, and research solutions. The game's strategic depth and campaign mode make it a compelling choice for solo gamers looking for a challenging yet fun 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 minsRobinson Crusoe immerses you in the role of a shipwreck survivor on a treacherous island. With different characters to choose from, you'll scavenge for resources, build shelters, and explore the island. The solo variant allows you to control multiple characters, adding depth to the survival experience. The game's complexity is rewarding for those willing to delve into its rich mechanics.
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 deeper gameplay and strategic elements. You'll manage resources to build and operate a Jurassic World-style theme park, drawing buildings on a grid and running tours. The game's complexity and thematic depth make it an engaging 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 thrilling solo experience as you confront cosmic horrors. With a handful of scenarios in the base game, you'll build decks and navigate through mysterious locations to advance the story. The game's thematic depth and challenging gameplay make it one of the best horror board games for solo play.
Cascadia
### Cascadia
0See it at WalmartAge Range: 10+Players: 1-4Play Time: 30-45 minsCascadia, a beloved family game, also excels in solo mode thanks to a list of achievements in the rulebook. These challenges encourage you to approach the game differently, aiming for specific score thresholds. The game's simple yet addictive mechanics and varied challenges make it a delightful solo experience.
Terraforming Mars
### Terraforming Mars
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 12+Players: 1-5Play Time: 120 minsIn Terraforming Mars, you'll work to make the Martian surface habitable through resource management and tableau building. Playing solo, you race against time to maximize end-game parameters, building a complex tableau of action cards. The game's depth and optimization challenges make it a standout choice for solo players.
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'll protect your land from colonizers using power cards to destroy settlements and heal the environment. The game's robust mechanics and thematic depth make it an excellent choice for solo gamers seeking a challenging co-op experience.
Solo Board Game FAQs
Is it weird to play board games alone?
Not at all! Solo board gaming has a rich history, with evidence of people enjoying games alone dating back centuries. For instance, a 1697 French engraving shows a woman playing peg solitaire, a pastime likely enjoyed by many before then. The solitaire card game, familiar to many from computer versions, has been played solo since the late 1700s. Just as playing video games alone is widely accepted, enjoying board games solo is no different. The enjoyment comes from tackling the game's challenges and striving to improve your performance. Additionally, the tactile and visual pleasures of board games add to the solo experience, making it as enjoyable as completing a jigsaw puzzle alone.
