Engaging in board games with friends and family is a beloved pastime, but what about enjoying these games solo? It's not as unusual as it might seem. Many modern board games are crafted to offer engaging solo play, ranging from strategic challenges to immersive roll-and-write experiences. Whether you're looking to unwind or sharpen your mind, there's a variety of solo board games designed to keep you entertained and engaged.

TL;DR: These are the Best Solo Board Games

### War Story: Occupied France

0See it at Amazon### Invincible: The Hero-Building Game

0See it at Amazon### Legacy of Yu

0See it at Amazon### Final Girl

0See it at Amazon### Dune Imperium

0See it at Amazon### Hadrian's Wall

0See it at Amazon### Imperium: Horizons

0See it at Amazon### Frosthaven

0See it at Amazon### Mage Knight: Ultimate Edition

0See it at Amazon### Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective

0See it at Amazon### Under Falling Skies

0See it at Amazon### Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island

0See it at Amazon### Dinosaur Island: Rawr ‘n Write

0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Card Game

0See it at Amazon### Cascadia

0See it at Walmart### Terraforming Mars

0See it at Amazon### Spirit Island

0See it at AmazonEditor's Note: Although every board game on this list can be played alone, most of them can be played with up to four players. The only exception to this is Final Girl, which was designed to be a single-player game only.

War Story: Occupied France

### War Story: Occupied France

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-6Play Time: 45-60 minsWar Story: Occupied France combines choose-your-own-adventure storytelling with tactical wargame mechanics, immersing you in the role of a secret agent during World War II. You navigate through compelling narrative paragraphs, making crucial decisions that impact the storyline. Simultaneously, you execute strategic moves on miniature maps, setting up ambushes and engaging enemy forces. The game offers significant replay value through varied difficulty and decision trees, and can be linked into a campaign for a comprehensive solo challenge. While it supports up to six cooperative players, it shines brightest when played solo, intensifying 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 series, Invincible: The Hero-Building Game reimagines superheroism with a gritty twist. You guide young heroes as they learn to harness their powers, strategically combining abilities to confront villains and rescue civilians. Each scenario ties into the show's major storylines, allowing fans to relive iconic episodes. The game can also be enjoyed as a full campaign, offering a deep and engaging solo experience.

Legacy of Yu

### Legacy of Yu

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 12+Players: 1-4Play Time: 60 minsJourney back to mythic China in Legacy of Yu, where you must fend off barbarian tribes and manage resources to prevent a kingdom from flooding. This game blends strategic resource management and worker placement with narrative-driven military campaigns. Despite its unique mix, it offers a rich strategic challenge, historical immersion, and moral decisions that enhance the solo experience.

Final Girl

### Final Girl

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1Play Time: 20-60 minsHorror thrives in solo gaming, and Final Girl delivers an intense experience. As the last survivor in a horror narrative, you must allocate time between actions and card play to survive. The game's modularity, supported by various Film Box expansions, allows you to tailor your experience to classic horror themes. Final Girl offers a thrilling, albeit challenging, solo adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Dune: Imperium

### Dune Imperium

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-4Play Time: 60-120 minsDune: Imperium, a standout strategy game, includes an automated opponent, House Hagal, for solo play. While it excels with multiple players, the solo mode offers a satisfying challenge against two AI opponents at varying difficulty levels. This allows you to experience the game's depth and strategy 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 you construct fortifications in Roman Britain to fend off Pictish invasions. The solo mode is particularly engaging, enhanced by a downloadable campaign. With its strategic depth and dynamic gameplay, Hadrian’s Wall stands out in its genre, offering a historical and immersive solo experience.

Imperium: Horizons

### Imperium: Horizons

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-4Play Time: 40 mins/playerImperium: Horizons brings deck-building to civilization games, offering a unique solo experience. Each civilization has its own starting deck and development path, challenging you to manage complex mechanics like trade and economics. With fourteen civilizations, each requiring a different strategy, the game provides immense replay value and depth for solo players.

Frosthaven / Gloomhaven

### Frosthaven

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-4Play Time: 60-120 minsFrosthaven offers an expansive fantasy adventure, perfect for solo play. As a legacy-style game, you guide an adventurer through a persistent world filled with dungeons and monsters. The card-driven combat system adds weight to each decision, making Frosthaven a vast yet personal experience. For those seeking a more manageable option, 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 renowned for its solo gaming potential. This fantasy epic allows you to fight monsters, upgrade your character, and explore a rich world. Set aside ample time, as games can last over three hours, offering a deeply engaging puzzle-like experience for solo players.

Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective

### Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-8Play Time: 90 minsImmerse yourself in the role of the famous detective with Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective. This game includes various scenarios and props, including a map of London, that enhance the mystery-solving experience. With minimal guidance, you navigate the city to solve complex mysteries, offering a challenging and 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 inspired by Space Invaders. You defend your base from descending alien ships, balancing dice rolls between shooting, building, and researching. The game's mechanics, including a campaign mode, ensure long-lasting engagement and strategic depth.

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 challenges you to survive on a hostile island. With multiple characters to choose from, you scavenge, build, and explore. The solo variant allows you to control multiple characters, offering a rewarding and immersive experience with ample replayability.

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 offers a deeper roll-and-write experience, perfect for solo play. You manage resources to build and operate a Jurassic-themed park, balancing attractions and security. The game's complexity and strategic depth make it a compelling solo challenge.

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 provides a tense solo experience as you confront cosmic horrors. With scenarios that evolve into a campaign, you build decks and navigate through mysteries, making it one of the most thematic and immersive horror games available for solo play.

Cascadia

### Cascadia

0See it at WalmartAge Range: 10+Players: 1-4Play Time: 30-45 minsCascadia, a family-friendly game, shines in solo mode thanks to its list of achievements. These challenges encourage you to approach the game with different setups and objectives, providing varied and satisfying solo play.

Terraforming Mars

### Terraforming Mars

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 12+Players: 1-5Play Time: 120 minsIn Terraforming Mars, you work to make the planet habitable through resource management and tableau building. The solo mode challenges you to optimize your actions against a time limit, offering a crunchy and rewarding experience for those who love strategic puzzles.

Spirit Island

### Spirit Island

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-4Play Time: 90-120 minsSpirit Island is a cooperative game that excels in solo play. As island spirits, you protect your land from colonizers using power cards to destroy settlements and repair the land. The game's theme and strategic depth make it an ideal solo 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 dating back to the 17th century. Just like playing video games alone, enjoying a board game by yourself is a common and enjoyable way to challenge yourself and appreciate the game's tactile and visual elements.