21 Solo Board Games & Card Games to Play By Yourself

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Single-player RPG, adventure, and horror games to entertain you

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IN THIS ARTICLE

1 Evacuation

2 Concordia Solitaria

3 Sleeping Gods

4 Dune: Imperium

5 The Colonists

6 Spirit Island

7 Final Girl

8 Aeon’s End

9 Cthulhu: Death May Die

10 Fantastic Factories

11 Paladins of the West Kingdom

12 Legacy of Yu

13 Unconscious Mind

14 It’s a Wonderful World

15 Detective: City of Angels

16 Darwin’s Journey

17 Wayfarers of the South Tigris

18 House of Danger

19 Cascadia

20 Friday

21 Wingspan

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Co-authored by Ashton Wu and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: February 12, 2026 Fact Checked

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Sometimes, you’re in the mood to play a board game but have no one to play with…and that’s when solo board games come in! Board games designed to be played with only one person are great for when you want to challenge your mind or have fun solo. We scoured the internet and found the best solo games you can play. From solo RPGs to solo horror quests and relaxing puzzles, there’s something for everyone.

The Best Single-Player Board Games

Board game expert Ashton Wu recommends choosing a solo board game that has a compelling story, is replayable, and has an easy setup and takedown. Some great games include:

• Final Girl
• Spirit Island
• Evacuation
• Dune: Imperium
• Aeon’s End
• Detective: City of Angels

Steps

1

Evacuation

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1. 
   Evacuation puts you in control of evacuating people from the old world to the new world. With their lives in your hands, you must navigate challenging economic systems to ensure everyone has enough food and places to live. Not to mention that you have to organize everyone’s transportation, work orders, and paychecks!

   • Category: Economics
   • Duration: 90-120 minutes
   • Age: 14+
   • Evacuation can also be played with up to 4 players.
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2

Concordia Solitaria

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1. 
   Concordia Solitaria is a solo expansion pack for the popular game Concordia. In this expansion, you’re put up against AI opponent Contrarius. The cards you play determine your reactions, wins, and defeats. You must plan ahead and use strategy to outwit your opponent and take control of the empire.

   • Category: Strategy
   • Duration: 45-90 minutes
   • Age: 14+
   • Concordia Solitaria must be played with a Concordia map.

3

Sleeping Gods

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1. 
   In Sleeping Gods, you’re the Captain of a steamship lost in a strange world in 1929. You must use your resources thoughtfully and embark on expeditions to explore the mystery of the islands. But be careful: dangerous creatures hide around every corner, and you must not wake the gods.

   • Category: Campaign
   • Duration: 90 minutes
   • Age: 14+
   • Sleeping Gods can be played with up to 4 players.
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4

Dune: Imperium

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1. 
   Dune: Imperium is a deck-building game based in the world of Dune, and as one BoardGameGeek user says, is full of “combat-y” fun. War is coming to the desert planet, and as a leader, it’s your job to assemble a powerful military. Acquire cards and build a deck that’ll give you the strength to rise above the enemies, defeat rivals, and navigate political factions.

   • Category: Strategy
   • Duration: 60-120 minutes
   • Age: 14+

5

The Colonists

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1. 
   In The Colonists, you’re the mayor of a colonial village. It’s your job to develop an environment and community rich in growth. Create new jobs, build houses, and educate your citizens to ensure your village will survive.

   • Category: Resource management
   • Duration: 30-180 minutes
   • Age: 12+
   • The Colonists can be played with up to 4 players.
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6

Spirit Island

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1. 
   Spirit Island is a complex and thematic game that puts you in control of defending your island home. Invaders are coming, so it’s time to raise your magical defences and fight! Use power cards and elemental affinities to protect your home and save other islands in this exciting solo game. One Reddit user says that Spirit Island is “the best solo game of all time.”

   • Category: Strategy
   • Duration: 90-120 minutes
   • Age: 13+
   • Spirit Island can be played with up to 4 players.

7

Final Girl

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1. 
   In Final Girl, you’re put in the shoes of a female protagonist of a horror movie. How would you describe this game? A Reddit user says, “campy fun.” You must do anything it takes to escape your attacker and survive. Track your character’s movements on a physical board and roll the dice to see if the odds are in your favor.

   • Category: Role play
   • Duration: 20-60 minutes
   • Age: 14+
   • There are multiple series in Final Girl, with each series or expansion pack providing a new set of characters and villains.
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8

Aeon’s End

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1. 
   Aeon’s End is a deck-building game full of magic, monsters, and twists. Venture through the underground world of Gravehold and harness the power of gems to wield magical weapons and cast spells. Your job is to protect humanity and defeat The Nameless.

   • Category: Strategy
   • Duration: 60 minutes
   • Age: 14+
   • Aeon’s End can be played with up to 4 players.

9

Cthulhu: Death May Die

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1. 
   Inspired by the writings of H.P. Lovecraft, Cthulhu: Death May Die is a thematic horror game that’ll keep you on your toes! The year is 1920, and you’re trying to stop the summoning of Cthulhu and the Elder Gods. Collect clues and roll the dice to see if you can find a weakness in the ritual or if you accidentally ignite the summoning yourself.

   • Category: Role play
   • Duration: 90 minutes
   • Age: 14+
   • Cthulhu: Death May Die can be played with up to 4 players and has a range of expansion packs.
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10

Fantastic Factories

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1. 
   Build factories and train workers in Fantastic Factories! In this fun, hands-on game, you’re tasked with trying to build the most efficient factories yet. It’s a race against the clock as you approve plans, build new buildings, and hire the best employees.

   • Category: Strategy
   • Duration: 45-60 minutes
   • Age: 14+
   • Fantastic Factories can be played with up to 5 players and is advertised as a “family-friendly” game.

11

Paladins of the West Kingdom

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1. 
   Paladins of the West Kingdom is a strategy game that’ll keep you on your toes! Set in 900 AD, you’re a nobleman or woman trying to defend your city against Vikings. Play your cards right to build fortifications, win battles, and spread faith throughout the land.

   • Category: Strategy
   • Duration: 90-120 minutes
   • Age: 12+
   • Paladins of the West Kingdom can also be played with up to 4 players.
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12

Legacy of Yu

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1. 
   Set in ancient China, Legacy of Yu puts you in charge of a series of canals plagued by deadly floods. This nonlinear campaign game makes you a hero of the Xia Dynasty. That is, if you can protect your father’s legacy and defend your growing village and canals against barbarians and hazardous weather.

   • Category: Campaign
   • Duration: 60 minutes
   • Age: 12+
   • Legacy of Yu is known for its quick setup and teardown.

13

Unconscious Mind

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1. 
   Based on the studies and life of Sigmund Freud, Unconscious Mind is an euro-style game that features engine building, multiple rondels, and twists and turns. In this game, you’re a therapist interpreting your clients’ dreams. You must use the resources you’ve collected for the best interpretation.

   • Category: Role play
   • Duration: 60-120 minutes
   • Age: 12+
   • Unconscious Mind can be played with up to 4 players.
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14

It’s a Wonderful World

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1. 
   It’s a Wonderful World makes you an expanding Empire, and you must choose which path to take to make the best of your future. This card drafting and engine-building game has you pick, swap, and recycle cards to become the best Empire possible. Not only will this game challenge your skills, but it’ll also test your resolve.

   • Category: Strategy
   • Duration: 45 minutes
   • Age: 14+
   • It’s a Wonderful World can be played with up to 5 players.

15

Detective: City of Angels

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1. 
   Detective: City of Angels uses an ARC (Adaptive Response Card) System to make it feel like you’re interrogating a real-life suspect. In this thematic game, you’re the detective typing to solve a slew of homicides. When you bring in a victim, it’s your job to make them crack. The case is difficult, but if you ask the right questions and find the right clues, you may just solve it.

   • Category: Role play
   • Duration: 30-150 minutes
   • Age: 14+
   • Detective: City of Angels can be played with up to 5 players.
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16

Darwin’s Journey

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1. 
   Darwin’s Journey is a worker-placement eurogame that follows the life and story of Charles Darwin. You’re on an exploration of the Galapagos, where you hope to expand your knowledge of the natural sciences. With each new discovery, you learn something new, and you must find ways to contribute your newfound knowledge to society.

   • Category: Strategy
   • Duration: 60-120 minutes
   • Age: 14+
   • Darwin’s Journey can be played with up to 4 players.

17

Wayfarers of the South Tigris

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1. 
   Set in circa 820 AD, Wayfarers of the South Tigris takes you on a wayfinding journey. You leave Baghdad to map the surrounding lands and stars. But you must be careful because with each new discovery comes a new mystery or problem to solve.

   • Category: Strategy
   • Duration: 60-90 minutes
   • Age: 13+
   • Wayfarers of the South Tigris can be played with up to 4 players.
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18

House of Danger

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1. 
   House of Danger is a thematic choose-your-own-adventure game full of risky choices. Pick a card and move across the board to unlock the mysteries that await you! Each time you play is different, thanks to the multiple storylines possible.

   • Category: Role play
   • Duration: 60 minutes
   • Age: 10+
   • House of Danger can be played with 1 or more players—there’s no limit!

19

Cascadia

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1. 
   Cascadia is a puzzle tile-laying game that features the beautiful landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. In this relaxing game, you build your own terrain and populate it with wildlife. The more tiles you place, the more diverse and wide your terrain becomes.

   • Category: Puzzle
   • Duration: 30-45 minutes
   • Age: 10+
   • Cascadia can be played with up to 4 players and is advertised as a “family-friendly” game.
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20

Friday

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1. 
   Based on the story of Robinson Crusoe and his partner Freitag, Friday is the second game in the Friedemann Friese Series. In this deck-building game, you must help Crusoe survive on an island and help defend him against incoming pirates. The cards you pull will determine your fate, but your strategy can determine your future.

   • Category: Strategy
   • Duration: 25 minutes
   • Age: 13+
   • You don’t have to play the first game of the Friese Series to enjoy this game!

21

Wingspan

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1. 
   Wingspan is a relaxing engine-building game that’s card-driven. In this game, you’re a bird enthusiast with the hopes of discovering and attracting the rarest birds. Each bird you collect extends a chain of combinations that can help your habitats and wildlife preserve.

   • Category: Strategy
   • Duration: 40-70 minutes
   • Age: 10+
   • Wingspan can be played with up to 5 players and is labeled a “family-friendly” game.
   • Game expert Jess Hamlet recommends trying Wyrmspan if you like Wingspan, which is a longer spinoff of the latter.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  What are your favorite free solo board games?

  

  Triple S Games
  Game Experts

  Triple S Games, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, is owned by Jim, who has been teaching and developing games since 2004. The company’s YouTube channel, launched in 2014, is known for concise “how to play” videos covering the rules of over 1,000 games—and counting. Their content spans board games, card games, parlor games, puzzles, and video games, with the most popular videos translated into 11 languages. In addition to instruction, Triple S Games has designed and published original titles and produces checkered board variations for chess-based gameplay.

  

  Triple S Games

  Game Experts

  Expert Answer

  There are the classic ones like Sudoku or crosswords. There are puzzle style games like Circuit Maze, Marble Circuit, or Rush Hour where you slide cars around to free the red one. You could also go with a Rubik’s Cube, Solitaire, or Free Cell. Some electronic chess boards let you play against the computer with real pieces. There’s also One Dimensional Chess which is more of a puzzle with only one solution. Even games like Simon or Bop It work great if you just want something fun to play alone.

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• Question

  Is Gloomhaven a solo board game?

  

  Jon Purkis
  Game Expert

  Jon Purkis is a Board Game YouTuber based in London, England. For the past ten years, Jon has managed his YouTube channel Actual Lol, where he shares board game reviews and other related content to his over 136k followers. His content focuses on modern board games and is suitable for those who are new to the hobby and seasoned gamers alike. Jon previously worked as a Communications Manager for the critically-acclaimed board game, Fog of Love. He is also a freelance comedy writer with experience writing sitcoms for TV on the BBC, Cartoon Network, and Comedy Central.

  

  Jon Purkis

  Game Expert

  Expert Answer

  Gloomhaven isn’t exclusively a solo game, but you can absolutely play it that way. It’s designed as a cooperative campaign, so running it solo just means you’ll control multiple characters yourself. If you enjoy solo board gaming, it fits nicely alongside modern solitaire-style card games like Unsuremountable or Food Chain Island, as well as co-op titles like Pandemic. So, Gloomhaven isn't really built exclusively for one player, but it definitely works as a solo experience.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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