In recent years, solo board gaming has seen a remarkable surge in popularity. Once considered a niche corner of the hobby, it has now become a thriving aspect of the board game world, with more and more titles being designed specifically to cater to solo players or include robust single-player modes. This trend reflects broader changes in how people are engaging with games, whether due to personal preference, the convenience of playing alone, or the growth of immersive storytelling and strategic gameplay in solo formats.
In this article, we’ll explore the reasons behind the rise of solo board gaming, how game designers and publishers are increasingly supporting solo play, and highlight some of the most popular solo board games according to BoardGameGeek’s “2023 People’s Choice Top 200 Solo Games” list.
The Rise of Solo Board Gaming
While traditional board gaming is often seen as a social activity, solo board gaming offers a unique appeal. There are several factors driving its rise:
1. Convenience and Flexibility
Solo gaming removes the need to coordinate schedules with others, making it an ideal option for people with busy lives, irregular schedules, or limited gaming groups. Players can enjoy a board game on their own terms, at their own pace, and without the need for others to be available.
2. Immersive, Narrative-Driven Experiences
Many solo board games emphasize deep, narrative-driven experiences that allow players to get lost in rich worlds. Games like Mage Knight and Arkham Horror: The Card Game provide epic stories and decision-driven gameplay that can feel like reading a great book or playing a video game, but in a tactile, tabletop format.
3. Challenge and Mastery
Solo board gaming often focuses on optimization and overcoming difficult scenarios, offering a satisfying challenge. Whether it’s fine-tuning strategies or facing the relentless opposition of an AI-driven enemy, players enjoy the feeling of mastery that comes from improving their performance over multiple playthroughs.
4. A Growing Library of Solo-Friendly Games
The increasing support from publishers and designers for solo play has been key to the rise of solo gaming. Many games now include detailed solo modes, featuring AI or automa systems that mimic the experience of playing against human opponents, ensuring that solo gaming feels as rich and engaging as multiplayer sessions.
5. Unplugging
A final reason that solo board gaming might be becoming more popular is the opportunity to unplug from screens. Board gaming offers satisfying challenges and escapism without the ever-present screen.
Growing Support for Solo Play
Game publishers have taken notice of the growing demand for solo experiences, and many games released in recent years have been designed with solo play in mind. Several major trends highlight this support:
1. Automa and AI Systems
Many modern games now include sophisticated automa or AI systems that simulate the actions of an opponent. These systems are especially prevalent in games like Wingspan and Viticulture, where a well-designed automa keeps the player engaged without needing to manage a second full player board.
2. Solo-Specific Expansions
Some games have started adding expansions or modules specifically for solo play. Titles like Scythe and Terraforming Mars have expanded their offerings to include detailed solo scenarios and alternate win conditions, further enriching the solo experience.
3. Dedicated Solo Games
Many of the top-ranked solo board games are designed exclusively for one player. Games like Under Falling Skies and Friday are prime examples of titles that focus entirely on providing a rewarding and challenging solo experience without the need for multiplayer adaptations.
The Most Popular Solo Board Games of 2023
BoardGameGeek recently released its 2023 People’s Choice Top 200 Solo Games list, reflecting the community’s favorite solo titles. Here are some of the standout games from the list that have captured the hearts of solo players:
1. Mage Knight
- Genre: Fantasy, Strategy, Exploration
- Why It’s Popular: Mage Knight consistently ranks as one of the best solo board games due to its deep, strategic gameplay and immersive world. Players take on the role of powerful Mage Knights exploring dungeons, conquering cities, and making tactical decisions in a sprawling, open-world fantasy setting. With a complex blend of deck-building, resource management, and exploration, Mage Knight offers nearly infinite replayability and challenging solo scenarios.
2. Spirit Island
- Genre: Cooperative, Area Control, Strategy
- Why It’s Popular: In Spirit Island, players take on the role of nature spirits defending their island from colonizing invaders. Its strategic depth, asymmetric gameplay, and well-designed solo mechanics make it a fan favorite. Each spirit has its own unique abilities, creating a highly customizable and replayable experience as players experiment with different strategies to drive back the invaders.
3. Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
- Genre: Tactical Combat, Campaign, Cooperative
- Why It’s Popular: This streamlined version of Gloomhaven provides an accessible yet deeply tactical experience. It’s praised for its excellent solo campaign, where players can immerse themselves in challenging combat scenarios, leveling up characters, and making choices that shape the narrative. Its modular board system and evolving story make each playthrough feel fresh and rewarding.
4. Arkham Horror: The Card Game
- Genre: Cooperative, Deckbuilding, Horror
- Why It’s Popular: Arkham Horror: The Card Game is a cooperative living card game set in H.P. Lovecraft’s mythos. It offers rich storytelling and a campaign-driven experience where players take on the role of investigators fighting to stop ancient evils. The solo mode allows for an intense, immersive narrative experience, with each decision having dire consequences. Its expanding catalog of scenarios and cards keeps the game endlessly engaging for solo players.
5. Under Falling Skies
- Genre: Sci-Fi, Dice Rolling, Strategy
- Why It’s Popular: Under Falling Skies is a dedicated solo game where players defend Earth from an alien invasion. The game uses dice placement mechanics to manage your defense systems, research alien technology, and fight off invading forces. The escalating tension and clever use of dice create a rewarding solo experience, with strategic choices at every turn.
6. Viticulture: Essential Edition
- Genre: Economic, Worker Placement, Strategy
- Why It’s Popular: Viticulture is a beautifully designed worker placement game where players manage a vineyard. Its solo mode features an automa system that provides a challenging yet intuitive opponent, making it one of the most satisfying and relaxing solo games in the genre. Players must balance planting vines, harvesting grapes, and managing their wine production as they strive to build a successful vineyard.
7. Terraforming Mars
- Genre: Sci-Fi, Economic, Strategy
- Why It’s Popular: In Terraforming Mars, players work to make the red planet habitable by managing resources and developing infrastructure. Its solo mode pits players against the clock as they race to complete their terraforming goals within a set number of generations. The game’s depth, strategic planning, and variability ensure that every solo playthrough is a fresh challenge.
Conclusion
The rise of solo board gaming reflects broader shifts in the way people engage with games. Whether it’s the desire for flexibility, the challenge of mastering a game solo, or the immersive, narrative-driven experiences offered by many modern solo games, more players are discovering the joys of playing alone. With game publishers and designers continuing to support solo play, it’s clear that this trend is here to stay.
As the 2023 People’s Choice Top 200 Solo Games list shows, there is no shortage of incredible solo titles to choose from, each offering a unique and rewarding experience. Whether you’re new to solo board gaming or a seasoned player, there’s never been a better time to explore what this growing part of the hobby has to offer.
Vote here now for Board Game Geek’s 2024 People’s Choice Top 200 Solo Games! Voting closes October 31, 2024.
These are my favorite card sleeves for those often played solo games!