Top Solo Board Games to Enjoy Alone in 2025

Most of us enjoy playing board games with friends and family, but have you considered the joy of diving into a solo board game session? It's not as odd as it might sound—many modern board games are designed with solo play in mind, offering engaging experiences that can be enjoyed alone. Whether you're into strategy, narrative-driven games, or something more casual, there's a solo board game out there for you. Let's explore some of the top picks that can help you unwind and challenge your mind on your own time.

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 every board game listed here can be enjoyed solo, most can also be played with 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 blends the excitement of a choose-your-own-adventure with the intensity of a tactical wargame. You take charge of a secret agent team operating behind enemy lines during World War II. The game unfolds through well-crafted narrative passages, punctuated by critical decisions that impact your team's fate on miniature maps. Whether setting ambushes or confronting superior forces, the game's replayability and campaign mode make it a thrilling solo experience, especially when you shoulder the burden of command alone.

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 offers a fresh take on superheroism with its focus on young heroes mastering their powers. You'll strategize to combine powers effectively, manage upgrades, and tackle villains while saving civilians. Each scenario ties into the show's major storylines, allowing you to relive your favorite episodes or play through a full campaign, making it an immersive solo or multiplayer experience.

Legacy of Yu

### Legacy of Yu

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 12+Players: 1-4Play Time: 60 minsSet in mythic China, Legacy of Yu challenges you to save the kingdom from floods and barbarian invasions as Yu the Great. This game masterfully combines resource management, worker placement, and narrative elements. You'll strategize to build canals and defend against incursions, all while navigating moral dilemmas and historical richness, making it a deeply strategic and engaging solo experience.

Final Girl

### Final Girl

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1Play Time: 20-60 minsHorror games thrive in solo settings, and Final Girl delivers a chilling experience. Designed for one player, you navigate through horror scenarios inspired by classic movies, managing time and resources to survive. The game's modular nature and various expansion sets cater to different fears and themes, ensuring a tense and thrilling solo ride through horror's dark alleys.

Dune: Imperium

### Dune Imperium

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-4Play Time: 60-120 minsDune: Imperium, known for its strategic depth, includes a solo mode that holds its own. Playing against the automated House Hagal, you'll experience the game's rich mechanics, from resource management to troop deployment, without needing other players. With varying difficulty levels, it's a satisfying challenge to conquer the world of Dune alone.

Hadrian’s Wall

### Hadrian's Wall

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 12+Players: 1-6Play Time: 60 minsHadrian’s Wall offers a dynamic solo experience through its flip-and-write mechanics. As a Roman general, you'll construct fortifications to repel Pictish invasions, using resources from flipped cards. The game's strategic depth, combined with a downloadable campaign, makes it a standout in the genre, offering a living, breathing slice of history.

Imperium: Horizons

### Imperium: Horizons

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-4Play Time: 40 mins/playerImperium: Horizons brings deck-building to civilization-building games, making it an excellent solo option. Choose a civilization with a unique deck and strategize to grow your empire while managing the threat of revolt. With fourteen civilizations, each requiring a distinct approach, you'll find endless replay value and depth in this solo challenge.

Frosthaven / Gloomhaven

### Frosthaven

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-4Play Time: 60-120 minsFrosthaven offers a grand fantasy adventure perfect for solo play. As an adventurer, you'll explore a vast world filled with dungeons and monsters, engaging in tactical combat and making impactful decisions. For a more compact experience, consider Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion, which still delivers an excellent solo journey.

Mage Knight

### Mage Knight: Ultimate Edition

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 1-5Play Time: 60+ minsMage Knight is renowned for its solo appeal. This fantasy epic lets you explore, fight monsters, and upgrade your character in a deeply immersive experience. Prepare for long sessions and intricate decision-making, as each turn presents a puzzle to solve, making it a favorite among solo gamers.

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 minimal guidance, you'll use maps, directories, and newspapers to unravel complex cases. It's a challenging and rewarding solo experience that lets you test your detective skills against some of literature's toughest 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. You'll manage dice to defend against descending alien ships, balancing base-building and research to find a way to end the threat. Its simple yet engaging mechanics offer a compelling long-term solo challenge.

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'll survive as a shipwrecked castaway on a hostile island. Manage resources, build shelters, and explore dangerous locales, taking on multiple characters for a richer solo experience. Despite its complexity, the game offers a rewarding adventure that beckons for repeated play.

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 more complex roll-and-write experience ideal for solo play. You'll manage resources to build and operate a Jurassic Park-style theme park, drawing out buildings and managing tours. It's a strategic and immersive solo game that challenges you to balance growth and safety.

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 is a thematic and tense solo experience. As an investigator, you'll navigate cosmic mysteries, manage clues, and combat eldritch horrors. The game's campaign structure and deck-building elements make it one of the most engaging solo horror experiences available.

Cascadia

### Cascadia

0See it at WalmartAge Range: 10+Players: 1-4Play Time: 30-45 minsCascadia, while great for families, also offers a compelling solo mode. Build your nature reserve by choosing terrain tiles and animal tokens, aiming to meet various scoring patterns. The game's achievement list adds depth and variety, making it a satisfying challenge for solo players.

Terraforming Mars

### Terraforming Mars

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 12+Players: 1-5Play Time: 120 minsTerraforming Mars is a heavy Euro-style game where you'll transform the Martian landscape to support human life. In solo mode, you race against time to optimize oxygen levels, temperature, and ocean coverage. The game's deep strategy and expansion scenarios make it a top choice for solo gamers seeking a complex challenge.

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'll use power cards to protect your land from colonizers, combining strong thematic elements with strategic gameplay. It's a robust and engaging solo experience that showcases the power of cooperative board games.

Solo Board Game FAQs

Is it weird to play board games alone?

Not at all! Solo board gaming has a rich history, dating back centuries. From the 1697 French engraving of a woman playing peg solitaire to the modern digital solitaire games, playing alone is a common and enjoyable pastime. Just like video games, solo board games offer a challenge to overcome and a chance to improve, all while providing visual and tactile pleasures. It's no stranger than enjoying a jigsaw puzzle on your own.