Top Solo Board Games for 2025: Enjoyable Alone

Spending time with friends and family playing board games is a cherished pastime, but what if you're alone and looking for a way to enjoy your free time? It might seem unusual at first, but many modern board games are designed with solo play in mind, offering engaging experiences that allow you to relax and challenge your mind. From strategic games to roll-and-write adventures, the variety of solo board games available can cater to any taste. Let's explore some of the best board games that you can enjoy alone, providing a perfect way to unwind while keeping your mind active.

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 Amazon

Editor's Note: While all the board games listed here can be enjoyed solo, most of them also support up to four players. The exception is Final Girl, which is designed exclusively for single-player gameplay.

War Story: Occupied France

0See it at Amazon Age Range: 14+ Players: 1-6 Play Time: 45-60 mins

War Story: Occupied France blends the thrill of a choose-your-own-adventure with tactical wargaming, placing you in command of a secret agent team during World War II. The game guides you through a narrative filled with espionage and danger, punctuated by strategic decisions on miniature maps where your team executes ambushes against enemy forces. With multiple scenarios that can be linked into a campaign, this game offers rich replay value and a deeply immersive solo experience. Although it supports up to six players cooperatively, it's at its best when played alone, intensifying the sense of command.

Invincible: The Hero-Building Game

0See it at Amazon Age Range: 14+ Players: 1-4 Play Time: 45-90 mins

Based on the popular comic and animated series, Invincible: The Hero-Building Game introduces a unique take on superheroism with its focus on young heroes mastering their powers. You'll search for power combinations to enhance your characters while balancing the need to combat villains and protect civilians. Each scenario ties into the show's storyline, allowing you to relive favorite episodes or play through an entire campaign, offering a dynamic and engaging solo experience.

Legacy of Yu

0See it at Amazon Age Range: 12+ Players: 1-4 Play Time: 60 mins

Step into ancient China and tackle the role of Yu the Great, fighting to save the kingdom from floods and barbarian invasions. This game seamlessly blends resource management and worker placement with narrative-driven elements and military strategy. It's a rich, strategic experience that offers historical depth and moral challenges, making it a compelling choice for solo gamers.

Final Girl

0See it at Amazon Age Range: 14+ Players: 1 Play Time: 20-60 mins

Horror thrives in solo play, and Final Girl delivers an intense experience as you navigate through scenarios inspired by classic horror movies. As the lone survivor, you'll manage time allocations to take actions and play cards, adding tension and strategic depth. To play, you'll need the core box and a Film Box, which offers a variety of horror themes, ensuring a thrilling and narratively rich experience.

Dune: Imperium

Dune Imperium

0See it at Amazon Age Range: 14+ Players: 1-4 Play Time: 60-120 mins

Dune: Imperium, known for its strategic depth, includes a solo mode that challenges you against an automated opponent, House Hagal. This mode maintains the game's interactive essence, allowing you to experience its excellence without needing multiple players. With varying difficulty levels, solo play is both satisfying and rewarding.

Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian's Wall

0See it at Amazon Age Range: 12+ Players: 1-6 Play Time: 60 mins

Hadrian's Wall is a flip-and-write game where you play as Roman generals building defenses against Pictish invasions. It shines in solo play, especially with its downloadable campaign, offering a dynamic and strategic experience. The game's use of physical tokens and its historical setting elevate it above typical roll-and-write games.

Imperium: Horizons

0See it at Amazon Age Range: 14+ Players: 1-4 Play Time: 40 mins/player

Imperium: Horizons brings deck-building to civilization games, making it suitable for solo play. Choose a civilization and navigate its unique challenges, balancing growth with the risk of revolt. With fourteen civilizations, each demanding a different strategy, this game offers immense replay value and depth.

Frosthaven / Gloomhaven

Frosthaven

0See it at Amazon Age Range: 14+ Players: 1-4 Play Time: 60-120 mins

Frosthaven is a vast legacy game where you embark on a grand fantasy adventure. With card-driven tactical combat and a persistent world, each decision carries weight. For a more manageable solo experience, consider Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion, which offers a condensed yet equally engaging adventure.

Mage Knight

Mage Knight: Ultimate Edition

0See it at Amazon Age Range: 14+ Players: 1-5 Play Time: 60+ mins

Mage Knight is a landmark in solo gaming, offering a deep fantasy experience where you fight monsters, upgrade your character, and explore a vast world. Be prepared for lengthy sessions and complex decision-making, as this game delivers a rich and rewarding solo adventure.

Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective

0See it at Amazon Age Range: 14+ Players: 1-8 Play Time: 90 mins

Step into the world of Sherlock Holmes with this mystery-solving game. With scenarios and props that immerse you in the detective experience, you'll navigate London, interview suspects, and solve cases. The game challenges you to live up to Holmes' reputation, offering a deeply engaging solo experience.

Under Falling Skies

0See it at Amazon Age Range: 12+ Players: 1+ Play Time: 20-40 mins

Under 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 offers a challenging and rewarding experience with various scenarios that can be combined into a campaign.

Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island

0See it at Amazon Age Range: 14+ Players: 1-4 Play Time: 90-180 mins

In Robinson Crusoe, you're a shipwreck survivor on a dangerous island. Managing resources, building shelters, and exploring perilous locations, this game offers a rich and immersive solo adventure. With multiple characters and expansions, it's a game that invites repeated play.

Dinosaur Island: Rawr N’ Write

Dinosaur Island: Rawr ‘n Write

0See it at Amazon Age Range: 10+ Players: 1-4 Play Time: 30-45 mins

Dinosaur Island: Rawr N’ Write is a roll-and-write game where you manage a dinosaur-themed park. Balancing resources to build and operate your park, this game offers a deeper and more satisfying solo experience than typical roll-and-write games.

Arkham Horror: the Card Game

Arkham Horror: The Card Game

0See it at Amazon Age Range: 14+ Players: 1-4 Play Time: 60-120 mins

Arkham Horror: The Card Game offers a tense and thematic solo experience as you face cosmic horrors. With scenarios that advance a narrative and the ability to customize your investigator, this game provides a deep and engaging solo challenge.

Cascadia

0See it at Walmart Age Range: 10+ Players: 1-4 Play Time: 30-45 mins

Cascadia's wildlife-themed gameplay is elevated by a list of solo achievements that challenge you to meet specific scoring goals. With varied setups and rule tweaks, this game offers a satisfying and diverse solo experience.

Terraforming Mars

0See it at Amazon Age Range: 12+ Players: 1-5 Play Time: 120 mins

In 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 the clock, offering a complex and rewarding experience with multiple expansion scenarios.

Spirit Island

0See it at Amazon Age Range: 14+ Players: 1-4 Play Time: 90-120 mins

Spirit Island is a cooperative game that excels in solo play, allowing you to control multiple spirits to protect your land from colonizers. With its strong theme and strategic card play, this game offers a robust and immersive solo experience.

Solo Board Game FAQs

Is it weird to play board games alone?

Not at all! Solo board gaming has a long history, with evidence dating back to the 17th century. Just like playing video games alone, enjoying board games by yourself is a common and enjoyable way to challenge yourself and appreciate the tactile and visual pleasures of the game. It's no stranger than solving a jigsaw puzzle on your own.