Almost every time I tell people that I play board games by myself when no one else has the time to play, or I just feel like some quiet solo time, there’s this weird reaction from them that it’s somehow sad. I think traditionally people have believed that board games have to be played with other people in order to be fun, but there’s something so relaxing to me about setting a game up and playing it by myself.
And with so many board games now having really good solo modes, you don't actually need to wait until everyone else is free to play. Sometimes I want a big game night with everyone around the table, and sometimes I just want to put on some music, set up a game and spend an hour playing completely at my own pace.
This weekend, once all the chores were done, I decided it was the perfect time to pull out some board games and enjoy a bit of solo gaming.
Why Play Board Games By Yourself? 🎲
While I mostly play solo games because I enjoy them, there is actually quite a bit of research into the benefits of playing board games too.
Board games can get you using all sorts of skills without really feeling like you're exercising your brain. Depending on the game, you might be planning several turns ahead, solving problems, remembering information, managing resources or constantly changing your strategy based on what's happening.
Research into board gaming has found promising evidence that playing board games may support cognitive skills such as memory and processing speed. Of course, I'm definitely not sitting down to a game of Pergola thinking about improving my cognitive function. I just want to build a pretty garden and hopefully beat my previous score.
For me, one of the best things about solo gaming is simply having something to focus on. I'm not looking at my phone, watching TV or thinking about everything else I need to do. I'm concentrating on what I'm going to do next, and it gives my brain something completely different to focus on for a while. If you’re looking to quiet your brain for a little bit, I highly recommend trying some solo board games.
You Can Play Your Way ⏰
Another thing I love about playing by myself is that there is absolutely no pressure.
I can spend as long as I want deciding what to do on my turn without someone asking if I've finished yet. I can stop halfway through to make a cup of tea. And if I make a terrible decision, there's nobody sitting across the table watching me immediately realise what I've done.
It also means I can play whenever I feel like it. I don't need to convince someone else to play the same board game I want to play or find a night when everyone is free.
And depending on the board game, playing solo can feel completely different from playing with other people. Some board games have you trying to beat your own score, while others give you an automated opponent to play against or a challenge you need to complete. It means "solo gaming" can actually cover a lot of different styles of board games.
There are also certain board games that have achievements and, as a long-time World of Warcraft player, I love collecting achievements. So having board games that use them to unlock different parts of the game? I am absolutely sold. I'm even working on a spreadsheet to track them all because apparently just collecting the achievements isn't enough for me.
I also quite enjoy trying to turn a board game that says it's a two-player game into a solo game (without adopting another persona to play as the other player). While I wouldn't actively go out of my way to teach people how to play them my way, it has been really fun experimenting with different board games to see if they're actually soloable.
My Favourite Board Games to Play Solo 💜
Flamecraft 🐉
Flamecraft is one of those board games that I already love because of how cute it is, and it's just as much fun to bring out when I'm playing by myself.
In the solo mode you're still visiting shops, gathering items and enchanting shops, but you're trying to earn as much reputation as possible before the game ends. I love that I can just take my time figuring out where I want to go next and trying to improve on my previous games.
I find this game so relaxing to play and love that it’s enjoyable both by myself and playing it with my family.
Pergola🌺
Pergola might be one of my favourite examples of the kind of game I love playing solo. It's beautiful, relaxing and there are so many different things you can concentrate on while you're building your garden.
You're collecting plants, flowers and insects and deciding where everything should go to get the most points. There isn't just one obvious way to play either, which makes me want to bring it out again and try something completely different next time.
It's also one of those board games where I don't really care if I get an amazing score - sometimes I don’t even score it, I just play until the game enters the last round. I just really enjoy the process of building everything up over the course of the game.
Daydream ☁️
If I'm looking for something even more puzzle-y, Daydream is such a good one to sit down with by myself.
It's the kind of game where I can get completely absorbed in working out what I want to do next, and I love games that give me a problem to solve without making the whole experience feel stressful.
I've played this a couple of times this weekend as a way to slow down and I have to say, this will definitely be one that I pull out to play over and over again. I do recommend rolling the dice in a dice tray or on a padded surface though, because the clack clack of dice rolling across the table really ruins the calm mood (unless, of course, you find that relaxing).
A Few More Solo Board Games to Try
There are now so many board games that either have dedicated solo modes or have been designed specifically for one player.
If you like cosy games, look for something where you can build, collect or create without too much pressure. If you like strategy, there are solo modes where you're essentially competing against the game itself. And if you're someone who loves puzzles, escape rooms and figuring things out, there are plenty of games that almost feel made for playing alone.
You also don't necessarily need to go out and buy a specific "solo game". Have a look at the games you already own. You might be surprised by how many of them have a one-player mode you've never tried. I recently discovered that Castle Panic has a solo mode and I really want to try that version now too.
Solo Games I Want to Try Next 👀
Now that I've started playing more board games by myself, my list of games I want to try solo is also getting longer. There are quite a few sitting on my wishlist that I've either heard good things about or that immediately caught my attention when we added them to our range.
The White Castle is high on my list. I've looked at this one so many times and I love the idea of trying to build up the best strategy over such a small number of turns. It looks like the kind of game where my first attempt will go terribly and then I'll immediately want to play again because I've worked out everything I should have done differently.
Kinfire Delve is another one I'm really keen to try, especially because it's quite different from the cosy games I normally reach for. It's a cooperative dungeon-delving game that can also be played solo, so I'm interested to see how the experience changes when you're taking it on by yourself.
Wondrous Creatures has also been on my list since we first brought the range in. The artwork immediately got my attention, but I also really like the idea of building up your own wildlife reserve, collecting creatures and working towards different achievements. It feels much closer to the style of game I normally gravitate towards, so I'm really interested to see how it plays solo.
I'll have to report back once I've actually played them!
Give Solo Gaming a Go 🎲
I still love playing board games with other people. My favourite gaming memories will still be the ones sitting around a table with friends or family, and there are plenty of games that I would always choose to play as a group.
But I don't think board games have to be social to be fun.
Sometimes I want competition and chaos around the table. Sometimes I want to work together with everyone. And sometimes I want to sit down by myself, build a garden full of flowers or send a bunch of adorable dragons off to enchant shops.
So if you've ever looked at the one-player symbol on the side of a board game box and wondered who actually uses it... hi, it's me.
And I really think you should give it a try.
