Unwind and engage your mind with the best solo board games. Whether you prefer strategic challenges, the satisfying roll-and-write mechanic, or immersive storytelling, there's a perfect solo game waiting for you. Below, we highlight some top contenders for your next solo gaming session.
TL;DR: The Best Solo Board Games

War Story: Occupied France
See it at Amazon
**Age Range:** 14+
**Players:** 1-6
**Play Time:** 45-60 mins
A unique blend of choose-your-own-adventure and tactical wargame, *War Story: Occupied France* places you in command of secret agents during World War II. Navigate a compelling narrative through text choices, while simultaneously executing strategic maneuvers on miniature maps. The branching storylines and challenging decisions offer high replayability, especially in the immersive solo campaign mode. While playable with up to six players cooperatively, the solo experience truly magnifies the weight of command.

Invincible: The Hero-Building Game
See it at Amazon
**Age Range:** 14+
**Players:** 1-4
**Play Time:** 45-90 mins
Based on the popular comic book and animated series, this game offers a unique take on superheroism. Guide young heroes as they learn to control their powers, balancing upgrades with the urgent need to defeat villains and save civilians. Each scenario connects to a major storyline from the show, allowing fans to relive favorite moments. The game can also be played as a full campaign for an extended experience.

Legacy of Yu
See it at Amazon
**Age Range:** 12+
**Players:** 1-4
**Play Time:** 60 mins
Journey to mythic China as Yu the Great, battling barbarian tribes and preventing devastating floods. This game expertly blends resource management, worker placement, and narrative elements. Manage resources, build canals, and defend against incursions in an engaging campaign that offers strategic depth, historical flavor, and moral choices.

Final Girl
See it at Amazon
**Age Range:** 14+
**Players:** 1
**Play Time:** 20-60 mins
Designed specifically for solo play, *Final Girl* delivers a thrilling horror experience. The modular game system allows for countless variations, with numerous expansion sets offering diverse scenarios and themes. Manage actions, play cards, and build tension in a narratively rich game that will test your survival skills. Note: Requires a separate Film Box for scenarios.

Dune: Imperium
See it at Amazon
**Age Range:** 14+
**Players:** 1-4
**Play Time:** 60-120 mins
While best enjoyed with multiple players, *Dune: Imperium* offers a surprisingly satisfying solo experience thanks to its well-designed automated opponent, House Hagal. This challenging AI opponent provides a robust and engaging experience, allowing you to enjoy this strategic masterpiece without needing other players.

Hadrian’s Wall
See it at Amazon
**Age Range:** 12+
**Players:** 1-6
**Play Time:** 60 mins
A compelling flip-and-write game where you manage resources and construct Roman defenses against Pictish invasions. The downloadable campaign adds significant replayability, making this an excellent choice for solo players.

Imperium: Horizons
See it at Amazon
**Age Range:** 14+
**Players:** 1-4
**Play Time:** 40 mins/player
A unique civilization-building game that incorporates deck-building mechanics. Choose a civilization with a unique starting deck and strategically expand your empire. The solo mode offers a significant challenge and high replayability with fourteen diverse civilizations.

Frosthaven
See it at Amazon
**Age Range:** 14+
**Players:** 1-4
**Play Time:** 60-120 mins
A sprawling legacy-style game offering a grand fantasy adventure. Guide your adventurer through a persistent world, engaging in tactical combat and making impactful decisions with lasting consequences. The scale of the game makes for a deeply immersive solo experience. Consider *Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion* for a smaller, standalone option.

Mage Knight: Ultimate Edition
See it at Amazon
**Age Range:** 14+
**Players:** 1-5
**Play Time:** 60+ mins
A classic solo game, *Mage Knight* offers a sprawling fantasy adventure with deep strategic choices. Fight monsters, upgrade your character, and explore a rich fantasy world in a challenging and rewarding experience.

Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective
See it at Amazon
**Age Range:** 14+
**Players:** 1-8
**Play Time:** 90 mins
Step into the shoes of the famous detective and solve challenging mysteries. Use provided materials like maps and newspapers to gather clues and interrogate suspects. The game's open-ended nature provides a unique and immersive experience.

Under Falling Skies
See it at Amazon
**Age Range:** 12+
**Players:** 1+
**Play Time:** 20-40 mins
A solo-focused game where you defend your base against descending alien ships. Manage resources and balance actions to survive and ultimately defeat the alien threat. The various scenarios and campaign mode provide ample replayability.

Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island
See it at Amazon
**Age Range:** 14+
**Players:** 1-4
**Play Time:** 90-180 mins
Survive a perilous island adventure as a castaway. Scavenge for resources, build shelter, and explore dangerous locations. The solo mode is particularly engaging, allowing you to control multiple characters.

Dinosaur Island: Rawr ‘n Write
See it at Amazon
**Age Range:** 10+
**Players:** 1-4
**Play Time:** 30-45 mins
A roll-and-write game where you manage resources to build and operate a dinosaur theme park. The strategic depth and satisfying gameplay make this a great solo option.

Arkham Horror: The Card Game
See it at Amazon
**Age Range:** 14+
**Players:** 1-4
**Play Time:** 60-120 mins
Face down eldritch horrors in this tense and immersive card game. Investigate mysteries, gather clues, and battle cosmic entities in a challenging and atmospheric solo experience.

Cascadia
See it at Walmart
**Age Range:** 10+
**Players:** 1-4
**Play Time:** 30-45 mins
Build a nature reserve by strategically placing tiles and animal tokens. The solo mode features a list of achievements that provide additional challenges and replayability.

Terraforming Mars
See it at Amazon
**Age Range:** 12+
**Players:** 1-5
**Play Time:** 120 mins
Help terraform Mars by managing resources and building infrastructure. The solo mode offers a challenging and rewarding experience, especially for those who enjoy optimization puzzles.

Spirit Island
See it at Amazon
**Age Range:** 14+
**Players:** 1-4
**Play Time:** 90-120 mins
A cooperative game where you protect your island from colonizers. The solo mode allows you to control multiple spirits, creating a rich and engaging experience.
Solo Board Game FAQs
Is it weird to play board games alone?
Not at all! Solo gaming offers a focused and rewarding experience, allowing you to challenge yourself and enjoy the strategic and thematic elements of the game at your own pace. It's a perfectly acceptable and enjoyable pastime.