Top 10 Solo Board Games (2024)
2024: The Year of SOLO.
What a year for board game enthusiasts! 2024 is shaping up to be a fantastic year and it is only half over! In this Top 10 list I am providing my favorite premium solo board games. These games entail both 2024 releases and older titles. Almost every game in this list are titles I personally own and enjoy on a regular basis.
2024 is the year we receive both Dune: War for Arrakis and Metal Gear Solid: The Board Game. Both board games are published by the awesome folks over at CMON. I continue to enjoy both dedicated solo and solo mode games. Here is a recent post on the reasons why solo board games rock!
#1 Deliverance
At the top of my solo list is Deliverance by Lowen Games. This is one of the best board games I have ever played. And it is a 2023 title! Deliverance is a Christian themed dungeon crawler that puts players into the role of angelic beings sent to rescue a town in demonic despair.
Solo players will enjoy a large variety of missions, campaigns and the quarterly scenario packs. Replay is very high with this game. The game provides two distinct modes of solo game play: intercessor and dual angel modes. The game, it’s public ratings and its loyal fan base speak for itself. What more can I say?
#2 Descent Legends of the Dark
Descent Legends of the Dark is a premium board game title by Fantasy Flight Games. If you are not familiar, Descent is long running dungeon crawl family of board games. The game features an app-driven narrative coupled with 3d terrain pieces. The quality of this production cannot be overstated. Sitting at a 7.9 on BGG, this is dungeon crawling at its finest. And more specifically, this is solo dungeon crawling at it’s best.
Solo players will enjoy an excellent story-driven narrative via the app. Playing and upgrading characters throughout a large campaign system. And with the optional Betrayer’s War expansion, a second campaign to play.
#3 Final Girl
The definitive and dedicated solo board game experience for horror movie fans. Final Girl by Van Ryder Games is an excellent production aimed squarely at the solo board game player. You play a last remaining girl determined to rescue campers and ultimately defeat scary baddies.
Solo enthusiasts will enjoy a dedicated solo board game experience spanning two and soon three series of content. Final Girl content is designed to be highly modular and replay-able. Solo fans will enjoy being able to mix-and-match characters with scenarios and unique objectives. Final Girl proves the market for dedicated solo board gaming is not only alive and well but strong.
#4 Marvel Zombies
Marvel is the best Zombicide game by CMON yet. Players take control of one or more zombified Marvel superheroes. Instead of fighting zombies, however, you are fighting against the humans! The game also features the ability to play as both zombi and non-zombi superheroes. This is a fantastic Zombicide game!!
Solo players will enjoy multiple missions designed for solo mode. The game’s scenarios also ship in the expansions adding further solo replay value when you purchase the add-ons. There is semblance of a solo campaign in playing through the various missions sequentially.
#5 Dune Imperium
Dune Imperium, a 2020 title, has steadily and consistently risen in board game rankings since it’s initial release. Published by Dire Wolf Digital, Imperium at this point has its own cult following. The game leverages both deck building and worker placement mechanics to tell an excellent Dune narrative. In Imperium, players take on the role of a Great House leader.
Solo enthusiasts will enjoy automated AI players across four difficulty levels. Solo players can employ a variety of strategies to accomplish the end goal. Some players have noted limited replay-ability for solo enthusiasts.
#6 Mage Knight Ultimate Edition
Mage Knight or simply Mage is the definitive solo exploration and character building sandbox experience. This game is quite simply a legend for solo enthusiasts. In Mage, players take on the role of a magical knight where you explore and upgrade your knight. The game combines features of deck building, exploration and conquest. Mage entails very cool day and night phases of game play. If you purchase this game be sure to pick up the Ultimate Edition as it entails all original expansion content. Side note, Mage Knight Ultimate Edition currently stands at a whopping 8.9 on BGG!!
Solo players will enjoy a highly thematic sandbox experience in which you build your Mage Knight. The game is quite large but for solo players you can easily leave it setup for multi-day play sessions. I should add that based upon community feedback, players tend to either hate it or love it. I am in the love camp, no mistake about it.
#7 Spirit Island
Spirit Island, by Greater Than Games, is a long-running solo favorite amongst board game enthusiasts. This game along with Robinson Crusoe are, admitedly, always in top solo lists and for good reason. In Spirit Island players take on the role of Gods defending their island from invading colonists. Spirit island is well known for it’s complexity, but well worth the effort to learn it’s rules system.
Solo enthusiasts will enjoy playing different combinations of gods, each with unique elemental powers. “Two-Handed Spirit Island” is one of the most beloved solo board game experiences. There is tension and variety along with high replay in the game. Like several of the titles on this list, the game (and it’s accoloades) speaks for itself.
#8 Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe by Portal Games is one of the most difficult and beloved board games of our time. This is a narrative driven game that more often than not leaves you dead on an island. The game can be so difficult even the rulebook itself discuss rule modifications for making the game easier! Robinson is a highly thematic one to four player adventure survival game.
Solo enthusiasts will enjoy a thematic, narrative driven game that has them building shelters, collecting resources and making tools. The game was created in 2012 and has since been on BGG’s top 100 ever since. If you are a solo board game fan, consider this one required for your collection.
#9 Dune: War for Arrakis
This is my first 2024 title making my first top 10 solo board games list. Dune: War for Arrakis is a brand new title by CMON. For me, this title came a bit out of left field. It was not on my radar but I am quite pleased now that its with us. The board game takes place during Dune’s Desert War. Players wage war across the desert for control of spice.
Solo players will enjoy an immersive Dune experience spanning a desert terrain and game board. This is a fantastic tactical military and resource gathering experience for the solo player. Dune: War for Arrakis sits at 8.5 on BGG. I have no further value to add.
#10 Metal Gear Solid: The Board Game
This board is going to be awesome!!
Metal Gear Solid: The Board Game is my second 2024 title for this list. Metal Gear Solid has incurred a number of design and development iterations prior to being published by CMON. This is an extremely faithful recreation of the original Metal Gear Solid video game.
Solo enthusiasts will enjoy playing a mixture of VR and campaign missions. Players can level up their characters using the “memory card” feature. This feature allows players to store valuable equipment cards after completing a successful mission.
