Board games have been widely used for the last decade. The use of board games, especially solo board games is an attribute of people’s need to socialize in person. It would be a surprise for you to know that there are solo board games and they are common. Talking about the current situation, no one knew that there will be a time when we have to isolate ourselves in our homes.
People have been looking for different ways to entertain themselves when they are alone at home or they are in isolation for any reason. If you are thinking that solitaire is a solo board game, then it is not the only one. There are plenty of solo board games, also known as a one-player board game. While you are working from home, you can enjoy these solo board games in your free time.
Board Games That Can Be Played Solo
Gloomhaven
A perfect board game for those who choose their adventure. The game is defined as a euro-inspired tactical combat game in a persistent world of changing movements. You play as an adventurer who wanders in one of the darkest corners of the world called Gloomhaven. You will have a special set of skills that you can use to defeat the monstrous beasts and survive the ancient ruins and terrifying dungeons.
As the game progresses, you will discover new places, improve your skills, and learn to make smart decisions to know that how the story will continue. You must choose two playing cards from your hand each turn. The number on top of the card determines your initiative for a specific turn. Each card is having higher and lower power.
You can choose to use the higher power of one card and lower power of the other card, or vice versa. Gloomhaven, one of the best board games that can be played solo, involved a persistent and changing world. So, you can play it multiple times without becoming repetitive.
The strategy is the important thing to win this game and to complete the mission other you might lose all of your cards. It is the best solo board game to play in quarantine period.
Scythe
It is a great option for those board game lovers who are a fan of roaring 1920s (Jazz Age). There is a little twist in this game that there is an alternate history. It depicts the age of agriculture and war, rusty gears, broken hearts, courage, and innovation. It is a reflection of the time when Europe was dealing with the aftermath of the First Great War.
You will be taking the role of fallen leader in this one-player board game to restore your honor and to lead your faction to the former glory and power. To do so, you will be conquering territories, harvesting new resources, recruiting villagers and recruits, activating mechs, and building structures. It all will be done around the center called The Factory.
In the beginning, you will be using power, resources, popularity, coins, and combat. It depends on the faction you choose. There are hidden objective cards that draw encounter cards to boost the constructions. The game requires more strategy than luck.
If you are the introverted type of gamer, then it is the best option for you to play in isolation.
A Feast for Odin
For those who want a saga-like adventure in the form of a board game, A Feast for Odin would be the best option for them. It is designed mainly for solo play, but up to 4 players can play this board game. This board game was created and developed by famous designer Uwe Rosenberg, who was the grand winner of the Cardboard Republic Daredevil Laurel award.
In this game, you take on the role of a tribal ruler who orders his band of Vikings to hunt, attack, loot, trade, and pillage. Your main goal in this board game is to explore new territories and to increase your wealth and glory through acquiring. At the same time, you will have to perform daily activities and tasks so that you can provide food to your Vikings.
You get the tribe to produce resources that you can use for trading and selling to acquire more valuable resources. When playing this game, you need to pay attention to the size of the tiles because they are not the same. Ensure your tokens or tiles are strategically placed. It will provide you enough room to accommodate the wealth and basic needs of your tribe.
For cooperative play, the Viking leader who accumulates the most goods will be the winner. If you are willing to experience the Viking way of life, then you must try this game. The playtime of this game ranges from 30 to 120 minutes, depending on if you are playing solo or with other players.
Viticulture
Have you ever dreamed of owning a vineyard or a cellar? If yes, then this solo board game is for you. Viticulture is an ideal solo board game to play alone or in cooperative mode. Also, six players can play this game. The playtime of the game is 45 to 90 minutes. It contains 154 card that includes Mama, Papa, and Automa cards.
The game is set in pre-modern Tuscany where wineries and vineyards were famous. In the beginning, you inherited a vineyard with few plots of land. Your job is to build the best winery in Italy. you will need to complete a series of tasks such as building structures, planting vines, and fulfilling wine orders. To complete these tasks, you will need workers and visitors during different seasons to help you.
If you are looking for some easy and light board game that you can play alone, then this is the recommended game for you.
Wingspan
Wingspan is a great solo board game for bird lovers. It is a card-based, mid-weight, competitive, and engine-building board game. It is perfect for those who love different types of birds. It is the best solo game but 5 players can play it too. The playing time of this board game is 40 to 70 minutes.
In Wingspan, you act like a bird enthusiast such as collector, ornithologist, researcher, or maybe only a bird watcher. You have to find the best ways to attract the bird to your aviary. Each bird provides a powerful combination that contributes to its habitats. These habitats serve as stocks and focus on only three aspects of growth.
The three aspects of growing include obtaining food tokens from laying eggs, custom dice, and then using them for different functions, and mining hundreds of unique bird cards. Wingspan is somewhat like Terraforming Mars. If you have played it before, you will like Wingspan too. Also, if you are a bird lover then this solo board game is a perfect option for you.
Arkham Horror: The Card Game
For those who love horror and suspense games and movies, Arkham Horror is a great option. This is another 1920s-based game that is based on H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos. The main goal of the game is to prevent the dark entities known as Ancient Ones that roam the city of Arkham from dominating the world.
Sixteen cards are representing the investigators with unique sets of talents, including strengths and weaknesses. You play as one of them to unravel the plots of mysteries in Arkham City. Before the game beings, one of the eight Ancient Ones is chosen for investigators to defeat. As the play progresses, you will be needing to upgrade your investigator character by finding allies, learning skills, collecting items, etc.
Making the right decisions about the upgrading of your character means that you can successfully solve the mysteries by hunting down the Ancient Ones. The game is designed for one player or two players only but it is best recommended for single-player to play in quarantine.
Solo Board Games – Fun, Strategic, and Wise Decision-Making Games
Playing alone does not mean that you are an introvert or playing solo games is boring. A little me time is required by everyone and it is healthy. While in isolation or quarantine, you can play these solo board games to improve your strategies and smart decision-making capabilities in real life. Give a try to any of these board games and you will know that playing solo is more fun than playing with a small group.