I spent years thinking board games meant rounding up four friends, coordinating schedules, and blocking out an entire evening. Then I tried playing one of my favorite games alone on a quiet Sunday afternoon, and something clicked. Solo board gaming was not a consolation prize for when nobody showed up. It was an entirely different way to enjoy a hobby I already loved.
If you have only ever played board games in groups, the idea of sitting down by yourself with a rulebook and a board might feel strange. That is completely normal, and almost every solo gamer I have talked to started with that exact hesitation. The good news is that the transition is easier than you think, and most of the games you already own probably have a solo mode built in.
This guide walks you through how to get started with solo board gaming when you have only played in groups. I will cover the mental shift, the different types of solo games, a technique called two-handed solo, and a step-by-step plan for your first session. By the end, you will have everything you need to enjoy a game night for one. If you are also looking to balance solo sessions with social play, check out our guide on finding local board game groups and clubs.
Table of Contents
Why Solo Board Gaming Is Worth Trying (Even If You Love Group Play)
Solo board gaming gives you something group play cannot: total control. You pick the game, set the difficulty, play at your own pace, and stop whenever you want. No waiting for someone to finish their turn. No compromising on game choice. No two-hour scheduling text chain that ends with everyone bailing anyway.
The solo board gaming community has exploded in recent years. The subreddit r/soloboardgaming has grown into one of the most active board game communities online, and BoardGameGeek maintains a People’s Choice Top 200 Solo Games list that gets updated every year. Publishers have noticed, and nearly every major release now includes a dedicated solo mode.
Here is what surprised me most: solo play actually made me better at group games. When I learned a complex game solo first, I could teach it confidently later without fumbling through the rulebook while four people stared at me. Our guide on teaching yourself complex games covers this idea in more depth.
How to Get Started With Solo Board Gaming?
The biggest barrier to solo board gaming is not rules, setup, or game selection. It is the feeling that playing alone is somehow sad or lonely. I want to address this head-on because every forum thread I read had someone expressing this exact concern.
Solo gaming is not lonely gaming. It is closer to reading a book, doing a puzzle, or playing a video game by yourself. You are engaging your brain, making decisions, and working toward a goal. The experience is meditative and focused rather than social and chaotic. Many solo gamers describe it as their dedicated decompression time.
Reddit users in r/soloboardgaming consistently say the same thing: once you get past the initial awkwardness of that first solo session, you wonder why you waited so long. The “just one more turn” phenomenon hits even harder when nobody is telling you it is time to pack up.
The shift happens when you stop comparing solo play to group play and start treating it as its own experience. Group game night is about socializing and shared excitement. Solo game night is about deep focus and personal challenge. Both are valid, and they complement each other beautifully.
Types of Solo Board Games Explained
Not all solo board games work the same way. Understanding the four main categories will help you pick the right starting point and set realistic expectations for how a game plays alone.
True Solo Games
True solo games are designed specifically for one player. The mechanics, pacing, and challenge level are built from the ground up for a single person. There is no multiplayer version, and nothing feels tacked on or awkward. These are often the easiest entry point because the entire game revolves around your experience.
Examples include Friday, Onirim, and Sprawlopolis. These tend to be smaller, more affordable, and quicker to set up than full multiplayer games.
Multiplayer Games With Dedicated Solo Modes
Many popular multiplayer games now ship with official solo modes. A solo mode is a set of rules designed by the publisher that lets you play the full game against an automated system or a modified rule set. You get the same depth and production quality as the multiplayer version, just adapted for one person.
Games like Wingspan, Terraforming Mars, and Scythe all have well-regarded solo modes. If you already own one of these, you might have a solo game sitting on your shelf right now without realizing it.
Cooperative Games Played Solo
Cooperative games are some of the easiest to play solo because the game itself is your opponent. In a co-op game like Pandemic or Spirit Island, all players work together against the board. When you play solo, you simply control one or more player positions yourself and play as normal.
This is where the technique of two-handed solo comes in, which I will cover in detail in the next section. Co-op games transition to solo play more naturally than any other category.
Games With Automated Opponents (Automas)
An automa is an automated opponent system that simulates the decisions a real player would make. Instead of a human opponent, you follow a set of rules or flip cards from a special automa deck to determine what the “opponent” does on their turn. Automas let you experience competitive multiplayer games as if you were playing against real people.
The term comes from the automaton decks originally created by David Turczi and Morten Monrad Pedersen for games like Scythe. Some automa systems are simple card flips, while others are surprisingly sophisticated AI-like opponents that adapt to your strategy.
Two-Handed Solo: The Technique Every Group Gamer Should Know
Two-handed solo is the practice of controlling two or more player positions in a cooperative game by yourself. You play one faction’s turn, then switch seats and play the other faction’s turn. It sounds odd at first, but it is one of the most popular and rewarding ways to play solo.
I tried two-handed solo for the first time with Spirit Island, controlling two different spirits. It felt strange for about ten minutes. Then I realized I was seeing interactions and combinations between the two spirits that I never noticed during group play. I had time to think through each decision without anyone rushing me.
Here is how to get started with two-handed solo:
Step 1: Pick a cooperative game you already know well. Learning rules and managing two positions simultaneously is too much for a brand-new game.
Step 2: Start with just two positions. Some people play three-handed or even four-handed, but two is the sweet spot for beginners.
Step 3: Choose different factions or characters. The fun comes from seeing how different abilities interact, not from playing two identical positions.
Step 4: Keep a turn order reference nearby. When you are managing multiple positions, it is easy to forget whose turn it is or skip a step.
One common concern is that two-handed solo feels like you are playing against yourself, so the outcome does not matter. In practice, the opposite happens. Because each faction has different goals and limitations, you become invested in both sides. The game provides the challenge, not the social dynamic.
How to Pick Your First Solo Board Game?
The best first solo game is one you already own and love. Check your shelf. Look at the back of the box or the rulebook for a solo mode icon or section. You would be surprised how many games have included solo rules for years without you noticing.
If you want something new, here are reliable picks based on what solo gaming communities recommend most often:
For quick sessions (15 to 30 minutes): Sprawlopolis, Food Chain Island, or ROVE. These are wallet-sized card games from Button Shy that pack enormous depth into 18 cards. They are cheap, fast to set up, and perfect for lunch breaks.
For medium sessions (45 to 90 minutes): Wingspan, Terraforming Mars, or Cascadia. These are full board games with polished solo modes that feel like the complete experience. Wingspan’s automa is widely praised as one of the best in the hobby.
For deep solo campaigns: Mage Knight, Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion, or Aeon’s End. These offer hours of evolving gameplay with character progression. They are bigger investments in time and money but deliver the kind of “just one more turn” engagement that solo gamers chase.
Reddit and BoardGameGeek users consistently recommend starting with a game you already enjoy in group play. Learning the rules is the hardest part of solo gaming, and if you already know a game, you can focus on the solo-specific mechanics instead.
If budget is a concern, start small. A wallet game like Sprawlopolis costs less than a movie ticket and delivers more replay value than many full-size games. Once you know solo gaming is for you, expand into bigger titles.
Step-by-Step: Your First Solo Board Game Session
Here is a simple plan for your first solo session. Follow these steps and you will avoid the most common beginner frustrations.
Step 1: Choose the right game. Pick something with a short setup time and rules you already know. A wallet game or a co-op you have played before is ideal.
Step 2: Set up a dedicated space. Use a table you can leave the game on overnight. One of the best parts of solo gaming is pausing mid-game and returning later without disrupting anyone. A fold-out table or a dedicated board game table works well.
Step 3: Read the solo-specific rules carefully. Solo modes often modify setup, remove certain cards, or add automa components. Take ten minutes to read through the solo section before you start placing pieces.
Step 4: Play a practice round. Do not worry about score on your first attempt. Make moves, consult the rulebook, and get a feel for the flow. Solo gaming lets you take back moves without arguments, so use that freedom to learn.
Step 5: Track your score or progress. Many solo gamers use the BG Stats app or a simple notebook to record wins, losses, and scores over time. Watching your performance improve across sessions is deeply satisfying and adds a meta-layer of progression.
Step 6: Decide on your session length in advance. Solo games can stretch as long as you want. Set a timer or a goal (finish one round, complete one scenario) so you do not end up playing until 2 AM on a work night. I learned that one the hard way.
Common Solo Board Gaming Mistakes to Avoid
After reading hundreds of forum posts and making plenty of mistakes myself, here are the pitfalls that trip up new solo gamers most often.
Picking a game that is too complex for your first attempt. Starting with a heavy game like Mage Knight or Gloomhaven as your very first solo experience is a recipe for frustration. Start light, build confidence, then move up.
Not having a rules reference nearby. In group play, someone usually remembers a rule you forgot. Solo, you are on your own. Keep the rulebook, a player aid, or a quick-reference sheet within arm’s reach. A turn sequence sheet is especially helpful for two-handed solo.
Cheating yourself without realizing it. Without opponents watching, it is easy to “accidentally” reroll bad dice or take back a move that was technically legal. Set your own integrity standard early. Most solo gamers allow take-backs during learning games but lock in decisions once they know the rules.
Ignoring the automa difficulty levels. Most automa systems have adjustable difficulty. Starting on hard because you know the game well in multiplayer is a mistake. Solo play has different rhythms and pressures. Start on easy, learn the automa’s behavior, then scale up.
How to Combine Solo and Group Gaming in Your Collection
Solo gaming does not replace group gaming. It makes your entire collection more valuable because every game gets played more often. A game that sits on your shelf waiting for game night now has a second life during the week.
One of the most powerful uses of solo play is learning a game before teaching it to your group. I always play a new game solo at least once before bringing it to game night. By the time I teach it, I know the edge cases, the common mistakes, and the strategy tips. This makes the teaching session smoother and gets everyone playing faster.
Solo play also lets you explore games your group might not enjoy. Love heavy economic sims but your group prefers party games? Play that 4-hour train game solo on Saturday morning. Your collection can serve both your social and personal gaming needs without compromise.
Many solo gamers keep a mix of true solo games for quick sessions and bigger multiplayer games with solo modes for weekend deep dives. This gives you flexibility for any time budget and mood. The r/soloboardgaming community often calls this approach “the best of both worlds.”
FAQs
What is the best board game to play alone?
For beginners, Sprawlopolis and Wingspan are widely recommended as the best solo board games. Sprawlopolis is a quick, affordable card game perfect for first-time solo players. Wingspan offers a full board game experience with one of the best automa systems in the hobby. For deeper gameplay, Mage Knight and Spirit Island are community favorites.
How do solo board game modes work?
Solo board game modes work in four ways: true solo games designed for one player, multiplayer games with official solo rule sets, cooperative games where you control one or more positions yourself, and automa systems that simulate an automated opponent using cards or simple decision trees.
Can I play board games solo if I only own multiplayer games?
Yes. Check your game boxes and rulebooks for solo mode sections. Many popular multiplayer games like Wingspan, Terraforming Mars, Pandemic, and Scythe include dedicated solo rules. Cooperative games are especially easy to play solo using the two-handed technique, where you control multiple player positions yourself.
What is two-handed solo in board gaming?
Two-handed solo is a technique where you control two or more player positions in a cooperative board game by yourself. You play one position’s turn, then switch to the other. It is popular for games like Spirit Island and Pandemic, and it lets you see interactions between different characters that you might miss in group play.
Why should I try solo board gaming if I already play in groups?
Solo board gaming lets you play on your own schedule, learn games at your own pace, practice complex games before teaching them to your group, and enjoy games your group might not like. It does not replace group play but makes your collection more versatile and gives you a focused, relaxing hobby activity.
Conclusion
Learning how to get started with solo board gaming when you have only played in groups is really about one thing: giving yourself permission to enjoy a game alone. Start with a game you already own, set aside an uninterrupted hour, and see what happens. Most solo gamers describe that first session as the beginning of a rabbit hole they never wanted to climb out of.
Pick a game from your shelf tonight. Check for a solo mode. Set it up, take your time, and enjoy the quiet focus that only solo play can offer. Your next favorite way to game might not involve anyone else at all.