Have you ever tried to play board game by yourself and notice it is not the same fun as when played with groups of family and friends? Even though the manufacturer recommend player from 1 to 4, sometimes the gameplay feels inadequate.
Does it mean your choice of board game is not suitable for single player? Let’s find the best board games that are actually fun to play alone.
What are the best board games to play alone? Playing board game with multiple players is really fun, but there are benefits or playing alone. You can easily develop independence and individuality, feel relaxed and calm being alone, and also help boost your imagination and creativity.
The best board games to play alone are:
- Onirim
- Gloomhaven
- Sprawlopolis
- Exit: The Forgotten Island
- Castle Panic
- Wingspan
- Chronicles of Crime
- Spirit Island
- Mage Knight Board Game
- Scythe
There are specific board games that are fun to play solo, and these are the recommended from game experts as being fun to play without other players. Having me time to entertain and develop strategy and memory can take you a step away from stress or concerns commonly dealt with.
With work and constant business, taking time alone for some excitement, entertainment, and casual pastime becomes essential. Having the best board game to play alone can fill this slot, particularly in times of quietness.
Playing board games alone can still kick fun and energy into the gameplay in different genres. In this article, we will see some of the best board games to play by yourself.
What board games can you play by yourself?
Most games will let you win by getting a high score and can be played in 20 minutes or less to achieve a quick fun time by yourself.
Let’s review these best board games to play by yourself:
- Wander in different dream chambers hoping to reveal oneiric doors.
- Linger in each room type.
- Deal with slithering nightmares haunting the labyrinth hallways.
- Work to garner 8 door cards before running out of the deck.
- Door cards can be obtained by playing the same color cards, 3 in a row, or discard the key cards.
- Gameplay about nightmares.
- Comes in 8 door cards of brown, red, green and blue colors
- Includes 58 labyrinth cards, 10 nightmare cards, 15 blue chamber cards, 16 red chamber cards, 13 brown chamber cards, and 14 green chamber cards.
- 15 minutes average gameplay
- Ages 10 and over.
The Onirim game is a quick 10 to 20 minute solo game that can easily change into a two-player game. There are numerous expansion that add to the difficulty, so you can easily ramp up as you get used to the game.
- Enhance the abilities with loot and experience.
- Discover new spots to plunder and explore.
- Expand ever-branching storyline by making decisions.
- Fight against monsters that are automated making use of a card system.
- Player selects 2 cards with the top card determining their round initiative.
- Recommended age is 12 years and up.
- Duration of gameplay is between 60 to 120 minutes.
The Gloomhaven can be played alone as long as you are comfortable to control two or more characters. If you can’t get another player to join the game, this board game playing solo can be just as fun.
It is fairly easy to learn and play, so if you are looking for lengthy game to kill the time for an hour or two, this game will be perfect.
- Goal is to build a brand new city from the scratch.
- Includes 18 cards with intricate scoring system.
- Game is different each time.
- Players play a card from the ones in the hand to add to the developing city.
- Try to score as many points as possible.
- The city hates road maintenance pay up, which ends up costing you points at the finish.
- Construct the metropolis in the best way by following the rules in this 18 deck card.
- The gameplay is 15 to 20 minutes and can be played for ages 8 and over.
Sprawlopolis game is good for your brain since each game is completely different and requires strategy to build the city from ground up. If you enjoy puzzle, you will love this solid and tricky game.
It may look easy to build the city with big sized puzzle pieces, but each card can take you steps toward winning or backward to another goal. City planning is all in your hands.
- Escape with intensity and excitement.
- Goal is to escape by solving the clues.
- Recommended for ages 12 years old and over.
- The gameplay is 60 to 120 minutes.
- Perfect game for single-time use only. Once the game is played, you’ll need to mark, fold, and tear the material to crack the codes.
Whether you are playing alone or not, this game is family friendly board game. There are 5 other version of The Exit game depending on the skill level and age.
So, if you already mastered the Forgotten Island, then go ahead and jump to the next expansion versions for continued entertainment.
- Hit the monsters and slay them by matching board positions to the cards.
- Move a space closer to the castle.
- Recommended for ages 10 years and up.
- Gameplay is around 60 minutes.
- Requires less competition.
- Similar to a solitaire game.
This Castle Panic game is an excellent strategy and clever game. If you are experienced gamers, then you won’t favor this for solo play since it is quick and easy to beat.
As solo player, the expansion version Wizard’s Tower will challenge your skills and strategy to the next level.
- Recommended for ages 14 and over.
- Includes deck of 170 cards of illustrated birds, 26 bonus cards, 103 food token, 75 egg miniatures, 5 wooden dice and player mats.
- Won Kenner Spiel des Jahres title-winning awards.
- Play lasts around 40 to 70 minutes.
For solo players, the Wingspan game come with an Automa which is automated opponent designed specifically to play alone.
This deck of cards is drawn to determine the next action to be taken. When you play this game alone, you will notice the additional features won’t make you feel like any of your power cards are wasted.
- Select the scenario to play with each storyline.
- Objective is to catch the case killer in as brief of time as possible.
- Can play with scan and play methodology.
- Each physical component has a QR code to be activated.
- Solve as many stories as you want.
- Play duration ranges from 60 to 90 minutes.
- Ideal for ages 12 years and up.
This game is very similar to the Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective game.
The app helps to select the scene that you would like to play and will provide you with introduction on characters, locations, with some evidence to look for. It is a very interactive solo game that uses the app and Q code to talk to characters and find out more information to solve the crime.
- Ideal for 90 to 120 minutes of gameplay.
- Game is a thematic and complex cooperative game.
- There are 8 variant spirits, and each has 4 specific power cards.
- Includes 50 variant minor and major power cards.
- Consist of 4 island boards for different layouts with 100 invader cards to play with.
This game is perfect to play alone, however the more players you have the bigger area you get to play with.
Features a wide range of availability to play with, you will experience more interesting cards and interactions. If you like difficult games with puzzle-like theme, this is your game to play!
- Critically acclaimed and award-winning board game.
- Blends deck building, RPGs, and traditional games capturing the mage knight history.
- Incorporates all 3 expansions: Shades of Tezla, The Lost Legion, and Krang.
- Recommended ages 14 and above.
- Includes 240 cards, 8 miniatures, 196 tokens, 20 map tiles, 54 crystals and 7 dice.
- To play solo, single game can last between 2 to 3 hours long.
This game comes with a variety of campaign options to select from, which allow you to play both individually or as a team.
Perfect for solo play but the more players you have the longer the game will last. The best part of playing solo is that it helps you practice making the right decision to achieve a goal.
- Recommended for ages 14 and over.
- Engine building aspect to it.
- No elimination of players in this game.
- Duration of gameplay is 90 to 120 minutes.
- Stunning artwork by Jakub Ròżalski of history in 1920s Europe.
If you are planning for solo board game play, make sure to buy this game with the “Automa” system. It keeps the game interesting and adds challenge to already great game.
For single players, you won’t play against the computer and instead it comes with rules that allow you to play by yourself.
Board Games to Play by Yourself: Conclusion
Playing board game alone can be fun when you have the right game. Knowing which board games are fun to play solo is important in this equation.
In fact, playing board games by yourself offers a number of huge benefits.
It can help you become independent and individualize your personality. Also, help you to relax and calm by being alone. Playing board games alone can increase your imagination and creativity to the next level.
Not every board games can be played alone, and have fun with it. The best board games to play by yourself are Onirim, Gloomhaven, Sprawlopolis, Exit: The Forgotten Island, Castle Panic, Wingspan, Chronicles of Crime, Spirit Island, Mage Knight Board Game and Scythe.
Try these recommended games to get through the spare time and entertain yourself. Release stress, boost creativity and entertain yourself in a peaceful manner.