Top Solo Board Games to Enjoy Alone in 2025

We all cherish the joy of playing board games with friends and family, but what about those quiet moments alone? It's perfectly normal to turn to board games for solo entertainment, as many modern games are specifically designed with solo play in mind. Whether you're into strategy, roll-and-write games, or other genres, there's a wealth of options that offer a great way to unwind and engage your mind. Let's explore some of the best solo board games that provide a fulfilling experience for those looking to enjoy a game on their own.

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: While all the board games listed here can be enjoyed solo, most are versatile enough to accommodate up to four players. The exception is Final Girl, which is designed exclusively for single-player gameplay.

War Story: Occupied France

### War Story: Occupied France

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-6Play Time: 45-60 minsWar Story: Occupied France is a unique blend of choose-your-own-adventure and tactical wargame. You lead a team of secret agents in World War II, navigating through a narrative filled with suspense and espionage. The game's text-driven scenarios offer choices that affect your tactical decisions on miniature maps, where you can orchestrate ambushes against enemy forces. Its replay value is enhanced by varied difficulty levels and the ability to link scenarios into a campaign, making it a thrilling solo challenge. Though it supports up to six cooperative players, the game truly shines when you're alone, shouldering the full 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 beloved comic book and animated series, Invincible: The Hero-Building Game offers a fresh take on superhero gameplay, complete with real danger and intense action. In this game, you guide young heroes learning to master their powers, searching your hand for powerful combinations to enhance your characters while balancing the need to combat villains and rescue civilians. Each scenario ties into the show's major storylines, allowing fans to relive favorite episodes, and the game can be enjoyed as a full campaign, providing a deep and immersive solo experience.

Legacy of Yu

### Legacy of Yu

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 12+Players: 1-4Play Time: 60 minsStep into ancient China with Legacy of Yu, where you battle barbarian tribes and work to prevent floods as the legendary Yu the Great. This game masterfully combines resource management and worker placement with narrative elements and military strategy. As you build canals and defend against incursions, you'll be immersed in a rich historical setting filled with strategic challenges and moral decisions, making it an engaging solo adventure.

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 excels in this genre. Designed for one player, you take on the role of the last survivor in a horror movie, making strategic decisions on how to allocate your time between actions, playing cards, and drawing new ones. The game requires a core box and a Film Box, which includes scenarios inspired by classic horror films. Whether facing your favorite movies or your deepest fears, Final Girl offers a thrilling, narrative-rich experience that's both challenging and immersive.

Dune: Imperium

### Dune Imperium

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-4Play Time: 60-120 minsDune: Imperium is renowned for its strategic depth, and its solo mode is surprisingly robust. While it's best with multiple players, the game includes an automated opponent, House Hagal, which provides a challenging and interactive experience. In solo play, you face two of these opponents at varying difficulty levels, allowing you to fully enjoy this excellent game without needing to gather friends. For more insights, check out our detailed review of Dune: Imperium.

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 play as a Roman general, using resources from cards to construct defenses against Pictish invaders. The game excels in solo play, especially with its downloadable campaign mode. It offers dynamic gameplay, strategic depth through various combos, and a satisfying sense of historical immersion, making it a standout choice for solo gamers.

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, offering a compelling solo experience. Each civilization comes with a unique deck, allowing you to build and manage your empire from the ground up. The game's complex mechanisms, including trading and economics, challenge you to grow without collapsing under the threat of revolt. With fourteen civilizations to choose from, each requiring a different strategy, Imperium: Horizons offers immense replay value and depth. For a detailed look, check out our hands-on review.

Frosthaven / Gloomhaven

### Frosthaven

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-4Play Time: 60-120 minsFrosthaven is a grand fantasy adventure perfect for those seeking an epic solo experience. In this legacy-style game, you guide an adventurer through a vast world filled with dungeons and monsters. The card-driven combat system requires careful decision-making, and the persistent world ensures a unique experience with each playthrough. If Frosthaven's scale and price are too much, consider the more compact yet still excellent Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion. For more details, read our review of Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion.

Mage Knight

### Mage Knight: Ultimate Edition

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-5Play Time: 60+ minsMage Knight has become a staple of solo gaming since its 2011 release. This fantasy epic from Vlaada Chvátil offers a rich experience of exploration, combat, and character development. Ideal for long sessions, each turn presents a puzzle-like challenge that demands optimization, making it a rewarding choice for solo players.

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. You'll navigate London using a map, directory, and newspaper to solve intricate cases. The game challenges you to think like the great detective, offering a deeply immersive experience without much guidance, making each adventure a true test of deduction. For more mystery game options, check out our picks for the best mystery board games.

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, where you defend your base from descending alien ships. Balancing dice rolls between shooting, building, and researching, the game's strategic depth increases as you play higher-value dice, which also accelerate the alien threat. With various scenarios and a campaign mode, this game offers long-term engagement and excitement.

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're a shipwreck survivor on a hostile island, managing resources, building shelters, and exploring dangerous locales. The game's solo variant allows you to control multiple characters, adding depth to the experience. Despite its complex iconography, the game offers a rewarding adventure that invites repeated play. Expand your experience with three different expansions available for the base game.

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 dinosaur-themed park, balancing resource generation from dice rolls to build and operate your attraction. The game's grid-based construction and tour management add strategic layers, while the threat of dinosaur escapes keeps you on your toes. For more insights, check out our review of Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write.

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 delivers a thrilling solo experience as you face eldritch horrors. The base game includes scenarios that plunge you into cosmic mysteries, using either suggested starter decks or custom-built ones tailored to your investigator. As you move through locations and gather clues, the game's thematic depth and campaign mechanics make it one of the best horror board games available.

Cascadia

### Cascadia

0See it at WalmartAge Range: 10+Players: 1-4Play Time: 30-45 minsCascadia may seem simple at first, but its solo mode is enhanced by a list of achievements in the rulebook. These challenges encourage varied gameplay and strategic tweaks, making each session engaging and rewarding. The wildlife theme and addictive gameplay make it a favorite for solo players. For more details, read our review of Cascadia.

Terraforming Mars

### Terraforming Mars

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 12+Players: 1-5Play Time: 120 minsIn Terraforming Mars, you transform the red planet into a habitable environment through resource management and tableau building. As a mega-corporation, you race against time to maximize oxygen levels, temperature, and ocean coverage. The solo mode offers a complex optimization puzzle, with the potential to expand your experience through various expansion scenarios. It's one of the best solo experiences and board games for adults.

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 defend your land from colonizers using power cards to destroy settlements and restore the environment. The game's strong theme and strategic card play make it a robust and immersive experience, perfect for solo gamers.

Solo Board Game FAQs

Is it weird to play board games alone?

Not at all! Solo board gaming has a long history, dating back centuries. It's as normal as playing solitaire on your computer or enjoying other video games alone. The enjoyment comes from tackling the game's challenges and striving to improve your performance. Solo board games offer both mental stimulation and the tactile pleasure of handling game pieces, making them no more unusual than completing a jigsaw puzzle.

For more game recommendations, explore our picks for the best party board games and the best deck-building card games.