Are you curious about diving into the world of solo role-playing games? Whether you’re new to tabletop gaming or looking for a way to adventure on your own, solo RPGs offer an exciting way to explore vast worlds and tell personal stories without needing a group. In this guide, we’ll introduce you to the best solo tabletop RPGs for beginners, giving you everything you need to start your solo adventure. From fantasy dungeon crawls to introspective journaling games, there’s something here for every kind of player.
1. Overview of What Solo RPGs Are
Solo tabletop RPGs are a unique twist on traditional role-playing games (RPGs), designed to let one person take on the roles of both player and storyteller. Instead of requiring a group of players and a Game Master (GM) to run the adventure, a solo RPG lets you guide your own journey. You become both the hero and the architect of the story.
But how does this work in practice? Solo RPGs usually rely on special systems to help randomize events, creating unpredictability and challenge. Some games use oracles, which are tables or card draws that present outcomes based on dice rolls, while others rely on journaling mechanics, where the player writes out their character’s thoughts, decisions, and adventures. This creates a dynamic experience where you’re never quite sure what will happen next, just like in a traditional group RPG.
There’s a wide variety of experiences in the solo RPG world. Whether you’re exploring treacherous dungeons, reflecting on the memories of an ancient vampire, or building a new world in a post-apocalyptic setting, solo RPGs provide an opportunity to immerse yourself in a story tailored to your preferences.
2. How to Get Started with Solo RPGs
Choosing a Game
Before diving into solo RPGs, the first step is finding the right game for you. There’s a vast array of themes and styles available, so consider what excites you most. Do you want to venture into fantasy worlds, tackle sci-fi adventures, or explore the tension of horror? Perhaps you’re interested in introspective games, where journaling plays a key role, allowing for personal reflection and emotional depth.
Here are some recommendations based on interest:
- Fantasy adventurers will love games like Ironsworn or Scarlet Heroes.
- If you prefer sci-fi, try Ironsworn: Starforged or Notorious.
- For a more reflective, personal experience, consider Thousand Year Old Vampire or Alone Among the Stars.
Materials Needed
The basics for most solo RPGs are simple: you’ll often need dice (usually a set of polyhedral dice, though some games only require a d6), a notebook or journal for writing down your adventure, and possibly some cards, depending on the game. If you prefer digital tools, there are dice-rolling apps and journaling software that can make things easier.
Many games come with downloadable PDF versions, or you can play directly from printed rulebooks. Depending on the game, you may also want to print out maps, character sheets, or reference tables.
Learning the Rules
One of the great things about solo RPGs is that many of them are easy to learn, especially for beginners. Several games come with quick-start guides or rules that focus more on storytelling than on complex mechanics. For example, in a game like Four Against Darkness, the mechanics are straightforward, and you’ll be dungeon-crawling in no time. More narrative-heavy games like The Quiet Year focus less on rules and more on collaborative world-building, making them perfect for those who want to dive right into the creative process.
3. Types of Solo RPGs
There are different genres and play styles within solo RPGs, and it’s important to choose a type that resonates with you:
Journal-Based RPGs
These games focus on personal reflection and narrative storytelling. Games like Thousand Year Old Vampire or Alone Among the Stars have players create a journal, writing out the thoughts and decisions of their characters. This style is perfect for players who love deep storytelling and character development.
Dungeon Crawlers
If you’re more interested in exploration, tactical combat, and loot, dungeon-crawlers like Four Against Darkness or D100 Dungeon are great options. You’ll move through a dungeon, face enemies, and gather treasures as you delve deeper into the adventure.
World-Building Games
Some solo RPGs allow you to shape entire worlds or communities. The Quiet Year, for example, focuses on creating and managing a post-apocalyptic society over the course of a year. These games often blend storytelling with strategic decisions, providing a creative outlet for players who enjoy world-building.
High-Stakes Tension Games
For those who enjoy survival horror or tense gameplay, games like The Wretched introduce mechanics where the player is fighting against time or mounting danger. These games often use dexterity mechanics (like a Jenga tower) or dice rolls to determine whether your character survives or meets an unfortunate end.
4. Where to Find Solo RPGs
Digital Platforms
Platforms like itch.io and DriveThruRPG are treasure troves for solo RPGs. You’ll find games of all kinds, often from indie creators who are constantly adding new content or expansions to their existing games. Many are available as PDFs, so you can download them and start playing right away.
Print Versions
For those who prefer physical books or zines, some solo RPGs are available in print. Many creators offer their games in both digital and printed formats, allowing you to enjoy a more tactile experience. Keep an eye on Kickstarter as well, where solo RPGs are often launched with beautiful printed materials.
Community Recommendations
The solo RPG community is vibrant and growing. Websites like Reddit and various RPG forums have dedicated sections for solo RPGs, where you can find recommendations, homebrew content, and gameplay examples. These communities are also great places to get advice on specific games or mechanics if you ever feel stuck.
Solo RPGs offer an amazing opportunity to craft unique stories at your own pace. Whether you want to dive into a dangerous dungeon, build a post-apocalyptic society, or reflect on the centuries-long existence of a vampire, the possibilities are endless. The only thing you need is a game, some basic materials, and a bit of imagination to embark on your solo adventure!
1. Ironsworn
- Theme: Dark fantasy adventure.
- How It’s Played: Ironsworn is a quest-driven RPG where you play as a hero embarking on dangerous journeys in a harsh, unforgiving world. It uses an oracle-based system for random events and decisions, which means you roll dice to generate story outcomes and guide your quests. Combat, exploration, and character development are all core aspects. You can play using predefined quests or create your own.
- What Makes It Unique: It can be played solo, co-op, or with a GM, making it flexible. The rich world-building and oracle system keep every session different.
2. Four Against Darkness
- Theme: Classic dungeon crawling.
- How It’s Played: You control a party of adventurers as they delve into randomly generated dungeons. The game uses a simple d6 dice system to determine encounters, traps, treasures, and combat outcomes. Character stats, abilities, and inventory management are also part of the experience, but it’s designed to be quick and easy to learn.
- What Makes It Unique: It’s a highly accessible dungeon crawler with an emphasis on quick play, random dungeon generation, and plenty of expansions for replayability.
3. Thousand Year Old Vampire
- Theme: Historical horror and personal reflection.
- How It’s Played: This is a journaling RPG where you play as an immortal vampire over centuries. The game’s prompts guide your vampire’s memories, relationships, and losses, which you write down in journal form. As the vampire ages, they lose memories and connections, leading to a haunting and emotional narrative.
- What Makes It Unique: Its focus on memory loss and personal storytelling makes it a deeply introspective game. You don’t need dice; just the prompts and your imagination.
4. Rangers of Shadow Deep
- Theme: Fantasy tactical combat.
- How It’s Played: This game blends miniature-based combat with RPG-style character progression. You play as a ranger leading a group on dangerous missions against the forces of darkness. The game is scenario-driven, with tactical combat, quests, and exploration playing key roles.
- What Makes It Unique: It’s perfect for those who enjoy tactical miniatures games, with the added bonus of an evolving story. The game can be played solo, co-op, or with a GM, and there are plenty of expansions to enhance your experience.
5. Scarlet Heroes
- Theme: High fantasy solo adventuring.
- How It’s Played: Scarlet Heroes is designed to allow a single player to explore fantasy RPG adventures without needing a GM or a group. It uses simple rules to scale enemies and challenges, making sure the hero can take on what would normally be group-based challenges. The game can adapt existing RPG modules for solo play or be played using its own adventure system.
- What Makes It Unique: It’s tailored for solo play with a traditional fantasy feel, allowing players to tackle quests that are typically designed for groups.
6. The Wretched
- Theme: Sci-fi survival horror.
- How It’s Played: This is a tense, high-stakes game where you play as the lone survivor of a failed mission, desperately trying to survive against an encroaching threat. Using a Jenga tower or dice, you’ll make decisions about fixing your ship, dealing with danger, and staying alive. The tower/dice mechanic adds a layer of dread, as it represents your crumbling situation.
- What Makes It Unique: The survival mechanics and real-time tension from the tower/dice create a visceral, immersive experience, especially for fans of horror.
7. D100 Dungeon
- Theme: Fantasy dungeon crawl with character progression.
- How It’s Played: In D100 Dungeon, you create a character and explore randomly generated dungeons, using a d100 system for combat, exploration, and quest outcomes. The game includes detailed character management, skill development, and an evolving story as your adventurer moves through different dungeons and challenges.
- What Makes It Unique: It’s known for its depth in character development and tactical decision-making, with tons of replayability thanks to the random generation and variety of expansions.
8. Alone Among the Stars
- Theme: Space exploration and personal reflection.
- How It’s Played: This is a minimalist journaling RPG where you play as a lone explorer traveling to distant planets. Using dice and cards, you generate random planetary features and write about the experiences you have while exploring. The game focuses on the emotional and introspective aspects of space exploration.
- What Makes It Unique: It’s a peaceful, reflective game perfect for those who love storytelling and introspection without combat or complex mechanics.
9. Notorious
- Theme: Sci-fi bounty hunting.
- How It’s Played: In Notorious, you take on the role of a bounty hunter navigating a dangerous galaxy. The game uses journaling mechanics, with dice rolls to determine the outcome of your hunts, personal conflicts, and challenges. As you progress, you’ll make tough choices that shape your reputation and the fate of those you encounter.
- What Makes It Unique: It offers a unique combination of tactical decision-making and narrative, where you build the story of a morally complex bounty hunter.
10. Apothecaria
- Theme: Cottagecore fantasy, herbalism, and crafting.
- How It’s Played: You play as a healer in a small village, gathering herbs, brewing potions, and helping the locals with their ailments. The game is journal-based, with random prompts that determine the plants you find, the remedies you create, and the events happening in your village. It’s a cozy, creative game with low stakes and a focus on storytelling and crafting.
- What Makes It Unique: Its focus on herbalism, healing, and cottagecore aesthetics makes it a calming, slow-paced RPG for players who want something gentle and relaxing.
Final Thoughts
These 10 games represent the diversity of solo RPGs, offering everything from dungeon crawling and sci-fi horror to introspective journaling and tactical combat. Each one provides a unique way to immerse yourself in a solo adventure, with a range of mechanics that suit different player preferences. Whether you’re looking for a quick tactical challenge or a deep narrative experience, there’s something here for every kind of player!
