The Best Solo Board Games You’ll Ever Play

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Believe it or not, board games don’t require a group anymore. 

Sure, it’s great fun to play a party game with a crowd. 

And there’s nothing like the intimacy of a two-player game. 

But sometimes your best challenger is… you! 

There are loads of board games you can play by yourself, and a few that are designed specifically as solitaire games. This list includes some of the best solo board games of 2021 you’ll ever play.

The Best Solo Board Games By Type

Since board games for one player are just as varied as board games at any other player count, you’ll find them organized here by “type” of game. Solo board games do tend to have similar themes. Mystery games and role-playing games, for example, are common types of board games for one.

Other games on this list, however, are organized by their type of play. You’ll win some solo games by getting a high score, for example. Other solo games can be played in 20 minutes or less if you’re looking for some quick fun. 

Role-Playing Games

Role-playing games make great solo board games because gameplay focuses more on storytelling than any sort of “win” or “lose” situation. 

In a role-playing game, the player will take on the role of a character and go on some sort of adventure. In these board games, the character often comes from a list of options or is provided. As you will see, the storyline can derive from many different genres such as fantasy, horror, or historical fiction. 

Gloomhaven

If you ask any board game enthusiast what solo board game you should play, most of them will say Gloomhaven. Since its release in 2017, it has stayed at the top of the Board Game Geek charts as the best game ever for quite some time. 

The player or players will take on a role in this fantasy game to clear dungeons and gain control over areas of the map. It plays much like a tabletop campaign in that it is best enjoyed over multiple sessions as the world constantly changes.

Gloomhaven is so widely considered the best solo board game, it has multiple spinoffs, too, such as the standalone game Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion.

Arkham Horror: The Card Game

Something horrible has come to the city of Arkham, and as the detective on the case, you need to find out what it is. You’ll use your talents and work against your flaws to uncover the mystery of the Arkham horror. Will you descend into madness, or will you make it out the share the terrible news?

Each adventure takes you farther into the story where you’ll fight others and fight to keep your own sanity. Once you play the core game, you’ll need to get the different expansions, too.

Robinson Crusoe

Based on the classic novel of the same name, the player or players will choose a character and work to survive in this cooperative game turned solo. You will build shelter, tools, and other needed goods to survive. But you will also discover mysteries, fight wild beasts, and more. It might sound simple, but it’s harder to thrive than you might think.

One Deck Dungeon

While you can explore this dungeon with two, One Deck Dungeon makes a wonderful lighter solo board game. You’ll choose a character, then dive into the dungeon. The more you overcome, such as monsters you defeat or obstacles you get past, the more dice you’ll receive, which will make you stronger. 

If you’re strong enough, you will reach the dungeon boss. Defeat them to win this rogue-like solitaire board game. Once you get the hang of it, consider adding on the Forest of Shadows expansion.

Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth

Although it’s only been out since 2019, this Lord of the Rings board game has earned its place in Board Game Geek’s Top 100 for good reasons. After all, who doesn’t love roleplaying solo board games derived from one of the best fantasy series of all time? Plus, Board Game Geek users say it plays well with fewer players instead of more. And don’t forget the detailed miniatures and maps!

Mystery Games

This category is exactly what it sounds like: you, as the player, will face a mystery you have to solve. Maybe you need to find someone’s killer, solve a kidnapping, or escape a room. Who knows what you’ll find? It’s a mystery.

Sherlock Holmes

If you’ve ever wanted the chance to be in a Sherlock Holmes story, this game gives you the chance. The player will use a number of sourcebooks, maps, and other materials provided to solve famous mysteries, like the case of Jack the Ripper. After reading a section of information, you will decide if you want to investigate any crime scenes or speak to any witnesses by finding their related code in the booklet. Once you think you have enough information, you’ll go to the back of the booklet and see if you gathered as much information as Sherlock Holmes himself did. 

Chronicles of Crime

Like Sherlock Holmes for the modern age, you’ll also play as a super sleuth in Chronicles of Crime. Instead of having booklets to read through, though, you’ll use a free app to investigate. Scan QR codes on people, locations, and objects to interrogate and investigate. The mysteries range from murders to kidnappings to stolen priceless objects. 

Once you feel confident you’ve gathered enough information to solve the crime, your police chief will ask you a series of questions. The better your answers, the higher the rating you’ll earn. You can also earn a higher rating by solving the mystery in less time. And once you’ve solved a couple of mysteries, you can check out the Noir expansion.

Unlock!

Unlock is not just one game but rather a series of games that play like escape rooms. You’ll start the timer, flip over the first card, and escape from the scenario provided to you. 

These games use a free app just like Chronicles of Crime, but not nearly as extensively. The app works as a timer, a place to input codes for locks, and as a way to get a hint when needed.

Many escape room games make great solo board games, so don’t stop at this one.

Burgle Bros.

Have you ever wanted to pull off a heist? Burgle Bros gives you the perfect chance. While not exactly a mystery game, you do need to uncover parts of the map to find the goods and escape without being caught. 

You’ll have three stealth tokens and three safes to unlock. Once you open all three safes and escape through the stairs with a token to spare (or without getting caught without one), you win the game.

Quick Games 

There’s no guarantee how long a board game will take to play, but some games simply take longer than others. These games usually take no more than 30 minutes to play, which make them great options for solo board games to play at lunch or during other breaks.

Onirim

For a solitaire card game with a unique deck of cards, Onirim is a great choice. Unlike most of the games on this list, Onirim was designed for only one player. The player will work to unlock all of the doors with sets of three colors or with keys before they run out of cards in the deck.

This game is also available as an app in the app store. Download Onirim on Google Play, on iTunes, or on Steam.

Hostage Negotiator

Like Onirim, Hostage Negotiator is only for one player. You’ll play the role of a law enforcement official working to negotiate the release of several hostages, just like the title suggests. Cards and dice will determine both the path and the outcome in this solitaire board game. And with an average playtime of 20 minutes, this will make a great addition to your solo board game collection.

Friday

While this game might take a little bit of extra time to learn, this purely solo board game will take up to 25 minutes to play. With a Robinson Crusoe-type themed (not be confused with the Robinson Crusoe game later on this list), the player will work to defeat hazards by building your deck of cards to meet the challenges. Eventually, you will build and use a flight deck in an attempt to seize a ship and escape. This game is also available as an app in the App Store for mobile playing.

The Game

The Game plays a lot like The Mind without the chaos of real-time play. In The Game, a solo player or up to 5 players will have a hand of cards numbered between 1-100. One deck will start at number one, and the other will start at 100. You will play cards from your hand to either go up from 1 or go down from 100. 

The trick is you can’t play cards out of order (unless you can play exactly 10 above or below). If you manage to get rid of all your cards, though, you win! On average, this game takes no more than 20 minutes.

Player Against an Automa

A mechanism growing in popularity, several solo board games allow you to play alone by competing against a manufactured character. These characters are often created through a deck of cards or another means that give them a score to compete against yours. Solo board games that allow you to compete against an Automa give you a similar satisfaction when you win to beating an actual person. 

Wingspan

No one was sure if a board game about bird-watching would find its audience, but Wingspan certainly did. Designed by an actual bird watcher, Wingspan entertaining, educational, and stunning. Players in Wingspan collect birds by feeding them their desired food. The birds, in turn, will lay eggs, which will help them collect more birds. 

You win this engine builder by earning the highest score, either against other players or the Automa generated by a deck of cards. To add more variety, add the European Expansion for more birds.

If you already own Wingspan and want to finally win the solo mode, make sure to check out our Wingspan strategy guide.

The Isle of Cats

What would this list be without one game about cats? While new, The Isle of Cats is gaining popularity quickly in the board game community. You must rescue as many cats as possible from The Isle of Cats before the evil Lord Vesh comes. Cats belong in families, and you must keep the families together while getting as many cats as you can on a boat. 

In the solo mode, the Automa is your sister who wants to steal the credit from you for saving all the cats! The solo mode also includes multiple difficulties for a greater challenge and to develop your skill.

Scythe

In this 1920s alternate-timeline board game, each player represents one of the five factions of Eastern Europe. You have almost complete control over your fate as you work to complete your hidden goal using the resources and location you’re given at the start of the game. This engine-builder will allow the player to grow more powerful as the game goes on.

The Automa in Scythe works as an engaging opponent who will also expand their territory and even attack you. There is also an Autometta to play against for new players, and many players find the solo version of Scythe as rewarding – if not more so – than the multiplayer version.

Spirit Island

Spirit Island makes an excellent choice for players who are a fan of other classic cooperative games like Pandemic and the Forbidden games. It does not have a specifically-designated “Automa,” but you will still compete against the game to win. 

In Spirit Island, you will work to defend your home island from invaders who wish to colonize it. You will spend energy to play power cards, some of which work faster than others, requiring different strategic thought. The game will speed up as play continues. You will win if you destroy every last settlement or city, but you will lose if they conquer you.

High Score Games

While the games in this section are not exclusively solitaire games, they do have a solo board game option. Players will win by going for a high score, much like in many mobile games. 

To “win” these games, you will most likely want to compete against yourself and do a bit better each time. Some of them also provide a scoring chart to tell you if you met the average score or went beyond it.

Tiny Towns

This 1-6 player game plays well with one player, with six, or anywhere in between. Players work to build the best “tiny town” they can by taking the resources provided to them and positioning them on their board to build different buildings. 

In the solitaire version of this board game, the player will use a resource deck. Three resources will be face up at a time, and the player will choose one to use in that “turn.” Each time, you will want to see if you can get a higher score than the last.


Herbaceous

Herbaceous is a beautiful 1-4 player card game where players grow their own herb garden. Each player has four pots they need to plant, which have different planting requirements. One pot can take only the same plant, while another pot can only take different plants. The more you plant the higher the score you earn. As a solo board game, you’ll simply shoot for a high score, which can be more difficult than it sounds.

Sagrada

Players will create a beautiful stained-glass window with colored dice in this 1-4 player drafting game. Normally, enough dice are pulled from the bag at the beginning of each round for each player to have two, plus one extra. (For example, in a 3-player game, 7 dice are pulled each round). Then, players choose from these dice to complete their window based on color and number requirements, along with goals.

In the solo version of Sagrada, the player will select two dice out of four. They also will have a different variety of goal cards to complete than in the multiplayer version. The end goal is the same, though: earn as many points as you can. This solo board game has a target score to beat, so if you beat it, you win!

Parks

Parks gives nature enthusiasts a great way to experience the great outdoors during cold winter months. The player will take on the role of two hikers in this 1-4 player game. The two hikers will collect memories as they travel on different trails over the course of four seasons. A player will be able to trade in memories to visit specific national parks and enhance their experience.

In the solo mode, you will aim for a high score as you hike alongside park rangers. A low score means you most likely missed some great opportunities to make memories, whereas a high score means you had an unforgettable experience, gaining memories that will last a lifetime.

Cartographers

In Cartographers, players will help a queen reclaim lands by mapping them out for her. In this roll-and-write style game, players will choose where to “discover” different types of terrain based on flipped up cards and goals. Just like in the full version, the player is going for a high score. Score higher than 30 and you’re a legendary cartographer.

Where to Find More Board Games for One

There’s a large community of people looking for the best solo board games out there. It might seem counterintuitive to connect with others who are playing games by themselves, but it can be a great way to find new titles and maybe not play solo every once in a while. 

On Reddit, the subreddit /r/soloboardgaming has great resources. This community has over 4,000 members and has been an active community since 2014. Topics include a weekly, “What did you play” thread, pictures of the best solo board games, and even questions about modifying group board games for solo play.

On Board Game Geek, you can join the 1 Player guild. Everyone here is interested in finding and playing the best solitaire board games. It started as a place for fans of the 1 Player podcast and grew from there.  

If you’d rather discover more of the best solo board games on your own in true solo fashion, you can also check out the list of solitaire games from Board Game Geek. Organize it by rank to see what others currently enjoy, or use a different sorting method to find something new.

Finally, if you want to play group board games but have difficulty finding a group, check out this list of online board games. Here you can find players for all kinds of modern board games all the time. Plus, playing online gives you the feeling of playing solitaire board games without actually playing alone. 

What are your favorite solo board games of 2021? Let us know in the comments!

Kristen

Hi there! I’m Kristen. I’m a game writer, a Dungeon Master, and like you, I love tabletop games. Visit our About page to learn more about me.

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