Introduction #
Ah, solo board gaming. Once seen as a niche of a niche, it has now risen to new heights with publishers actually designing games with us loners in mind. Gone are the days of slapping together an AI bot as an afterthought. Now, we can sit down and face complex challenges, immersive stories, or a quick puzzle–all without needing to bribe a friend or significant other to suffer through one more round. So, here’s a roundup of my top 10 solo board games of all time–where the table may be empty, but the game is full.
10. One Deck Dungeon #
Ever wish you could go on an epic dungeon crawl, but in a tiny package that fits in your backpack? One Deck Dungeon is your answer. It’s quick, it’s challenging, and it manages to capture that dungeon-crawling feel without all the bloat of bigger games. You roll dice to overcome traps and monsters as you descend through a dungeon, trying to survive long enough to defeat the final boss. It’s simple, portable, and endlessly replayable, making it a fantastic solo experience for gamers on the go.
9. Super Skill Pinball: 4-Cade #
Super Skill Pinball: 4-Cade takes the essence of a pinball machine and translates it beautifully into a roll-and-write board game. The solo mode is a quick and light experience, perfect for those moments when you want to unwind without overloading your brain. The satisfying feeling of chaining bonuses together, rolling dice, and watching your score skyrocket mimics the excitement of a real pinball machine. Plus, there’s no one to mock you when you tilt.
8. A Feast for Odin #
In A Feast for Odin, you get to experience Viking life in all its glory—raiding, pillaging, and of course, crafting. The sheer number of options in this game is dizzying, but it’s also why it works so well solo. The satisfaction of efficiently planning out your turns, harvesting resources, and fitting them onto your personal board like some kind of Viking Tetris is unbeatable. The solo mode doesn’t pull any punches, so it’s a real brain workout, but it’s the kind of challenge that leaves you wanting to come back for more. Plus, who doesn’t want to end their game with a feast?
7. Gloomhaven #
Let’s get this one out of the way. The king of campaign-based dungeon crawlers. Gloomhaven is so massive that it might as well come with its own personal sherpa to help you haul the box around. But the real magic of this game comes when you get it to the table and dive into its world of tactical, card-driven combat. The puzzle of playing solo is a bit like juggling two flaming swords with your feet—you have to manage multiple characters (I tend to go with two), each with their own decks of ability cards that get more and more depleted as the scenario goes on. It’s tense, it’s rewarding, and it feels epic.
6. Aeon’s End #
Deck-building meets cooperative play in this post-apocalyptic world of monsters and magic. In Aeon’s End, you’re tasked with defending a city from terrifying beasts while managing your resources to play powerful spells, artifacts, and abilities. The twist here is that you never shuffle your deck. That small mechanic change is a game-changer (pun intended). Planning ahead becomes critical as you try to balance attacking, defending, and building your deck into a monster-killing machine. It’s one of the best solo deck-builders out there, with an endless variety of enemies to fight and characters to play.
5. Dead Reckoning #
A pirate-themed game with a unique “card crafting” system, Dead Reckoning has you upgrading your crew as you sail the seas, plundering islands, and battling foes. What makes this a standout solo game is the sheer variety of strategies you can explore. Do you focus on trade, exploration, or all-out piracy? The “cube tower” combat system adds a tactile, unpredictable element that keeps things exciting. And while the AI opponent isn’t a slouch, the real joy comes from seeing how your crew evolves over the course of the game, growing into a well-oiled pirate machine. Plus, it’s one of the few games where you can say, “Arrrr!” without judgment.
4. Under Falling Skies #
It’s like Space Invaders… but make it board game chic. In Under Falling Skies, Earth is under attack from a descending alien mothership, and it’s up to you (yes, you) to hold the line. The dice-placement mechanic adds a thrilling layer of strategy, forcing you to choose how to use your dice carefully—do you excavate to grow your base, research alien tech, or focus on shooting down those ships? It’s tense, it’s thematic, and most importantly, it feels like a satisfying puzzle. It’s the kind of game that makes you think, “Just one more try!” before the aliens inevitably vaporize your sorry city.
3. Dune: Imperium #
Politics, strategy, and the deadly sands of Arrakis. What more could a solo gamer ask for? Dune: Imperium blends deck-building and worker placement in a smooth and thematic way. When playing solo, you’re up against a surprisingly competent AI that will mess with your plans and take up key board spaces just when you need them most. It captures the feeling of a grand conflict. Plus, when playing solo, there’s no one to stop you from doing your best Baron Harkonnen impression.
2. Anno 1800: The Board Game #
Based on the popular video game, Anno 1800 is a civilization-building board game with a satisfying puzzle at its core. The solo mode is all about efficiently managing your resources and expanding your industry without the pesky interference of other players. It’s a race against time as you try to fulfill the needs of your population while expanding your trade routes and tech tree. What makes this game great solo is the steady ramp-up of pressure—it starts slow, but once you get your engine going, the game really clicks into place. Every action counts, and there’s always something you wish you could do just one turn earlier.
1. Marvel Champions: The Card Game #
If you’ve ever wanted to go toe-to-toe with the Marvel villains while lounging on your couch, Marvel Champions is the game for you. This living card game allows you to take control of iconic superheroes like Spider-Man or Captain Marvel in a fast-paced, cooperative-style card battle. The solo mode is a fantastic challenge, where you’re constantly trying to balance between your hero and alter-ego forms, managing resources, and dishing out damage to the villain before they complete their dastardly schemes. Each hero feels unique, and the constant new releases keep things fresh. It’s also quick to set up—perfect for those late-night superhero cravings.
There you have it, my top 10 solo board games of all time. Each one brings something unique to the table, whether it’s deep strategy, thrilling adventure, or just a relaxing escape. So next time you’re flying solo, know that you’ve got some great companions waiting for you in these boxes.