We all know and love board games, but sometimes it can be hard to find someone to play with.
Here are the top 11 board games that you can play by yourself:
- Monopoly
- Settlers of Catan
- Chess
- Clue
- Carcassonne
- Sorry!
- Go
- Checkers
- Candy Land
- Chutes and Ladders
- Mancala
Whether you’re looking for a break from social interaction or you just don’t have any friends who want to play the same board games, playing by yourself can be a great option.
In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most fun board games that you can play by yourself.
So grab your favorite snack, settle in, and get ready for some solo board games gaming fun.
1. Monopoly
Monopoly is among the most popular board games in the world.
Though it is typically considered a game to be played with others, it can also be enjoyed by oneself.
Monopoly can help to improve math skills, strategic thinking, and problem-solving. It can also be a fun way to pass the time.
You can use the official rules or make up your own rules to make the game more challenging.
If you’re playing by yourself, you can either play against an imaginary opponent or set up the board so that you’re playing against yourself.
If you’re playing against an imaginary opponent, you can make up any rules you want.
If you’re playing against yourself, you can try to beat your previous best score or set a certain amount of money that you have to reach in order to win.
There are plenty of different ways to play Monopoly solo, so experiment and find a way that you enjoy!
2. Settlers of Catan
Settlers of Catan is a resource management game where players have to gather and trade resources in order to build things like roads, settlements and cities.
If you’re a fan of Settlers of Catan, but can’t always find someone to play with, never fear! You can easily play the game by yourself.
Solo play is a great way to learn the mechanics of the game and test out different strategies.
To set up the game for solo play, you will need to create two separate player boards.
Each player board should have its own deck of cards, pieces and tokens.
The game can then be played as normal, with the two-player boards representing different players.
- One way to solo play Settlers of Catan is to pit yourself against an imaginary opponent. This can be done by keeping track of both players’ progress on a piece of paper or whiteboard.
- Alternatively, you could use two different colored sets of pieces and tokens to represent the two players.
- Another way to play Settlers of Catan by yourself is to alternate between playing as two different players. This can be done by taking turns making moves for both players or by playing one round as one player and then playing the next round as the other player.
This method is a good way to understand how both sides operate and how they interact with each other.
Whichever method you choose, playing Settlers of Catan by yourself is a great way to improve your skills and strategies!
3. Chess
Chess is a board game that can be enjoyed by yourself or with others. It is a game of strategy and tactics and can be quite challenging.
There are a lot of different ways to play chess, and you can find plenty of resources online or in books to help you improve your skills.
Whether you are a complete beginner or someone with plenty of experience, chess is a great game to enjoy by yourself or with friends.
If you are playing by yourself, you will need to set up the board and pieces and then make your moves.
You can either play against an imaginary opponent or against a computer (AI) enemy.
If you are playing chess with another person, you will need to agree on who goes first.
Then, each player will take turns making their moves.
The goal of this game is to checkmate the other player’s king.
This means that the king is in danger of being captured, and there is no way to prevent it from happening.
Chess can be a fun and challenging game to play by yourself or with others.
It is a great way to stimulate your brain, and it can be very satisfying to win!
4. Clue
Playing Clue by yourself is a great way to improve your deduction skills.
Here are some super helpful tips to help you get the most out of playing Clue alone:
- Start by setting up the game board according to the instructions.
- Choose one of the character cards to be your detective and place it in front of you.
- Now, shuffle the remaining deck of cards and deal yourself nine cards face down. These are your clue cards.
- Take a look at your clue cards, and try to deduce which card goes where on the game board. For example, if you have a card that says “Miss Scarlet was in the Kitchen,” you know that Miss Scarlet cannot be in any other room on the board.
- Once you think you know where all of the cards go, start making accusations. If you’re right, you’ll get closer to solving the mystery; if you’re wrong, you’ll have to try again.
Keep playing until you solve the mystery or run out of clues!
5. Carcassonne
Carcassonne is a tile-based game that has players placing tiles and meeples on the board to create medieval French landscapes.
But what if you want to play Carcassonne, but no one else is around?
Don’t worry! You can still enjoy this classic game by yourself.
To set up the game, simply:
- Place the tiles in the bag and shuffle them.
- Then, randomly draw and place tiles one at a time, connecting them as you create your own personal Carcassonne.
Be sure to follow the placement rules on the back of the tile; for example, rivers must always run straight and cities must be surrounded by walls.
Once you have placed all of your tiles, it’s time to start scoring!
For each completed feature on the board (road, city, field, etc.), you will earn points based on its size.
Eventually, the first player to reach 100 points wins the game!
So go ahead and give Carcassonne a try next time you’re feeling competitive… even if the only person you’re competing against is yourself.
6. Sorry!
Sorry! is a game of strategy and chance for two to four players, in which players attempt to move their pieces around the board and into their own territory.
However, you can also play it solo if that’s what you want.
When playing Sorry! by yourself, the game is still about trying to get all of your pieces around the board and into your home territory.
However, there are a few key differences:
- First, you will want to create a path for your pieces so that you can move them easily around the board.
- Secondly, you will want to focus on traps and barricades that will prevent your opponent’s pieces from moving forward.
- Lastly, you may want to consider playing with two sets of pieces so that you can have more options for movement.
With these tips in mind, playing Sorry by yourself can be a fun and challenging experience.
So get out your board and give it a try!
7. Go
Go is a 2-player board game that originated in China over 2,500 years ago, although you can play it without other players.
Playing Go by yourself is a great way to improve your in-game skills and strategies. It’s also a lot of fun!
Here are some tips for playing Go by yourself:
- Set up the board. You can use a regular Go board, or you can make your own with a few pieces of paper.
- Choose your opponent. You can play against an imaginary opponent, or you can set up the board in such a way that you play against yourself.
- Make your moves. As you make your moves, think about what your opponent would do in each situation. This will help you develop better strategies.
- Keep track of your progress. Keep track of the number of wins and losses, as well as the number of stones captured and lost. This will help you see if you’re progressing and what areas need improvement.
8. Checkers
There’s something special about playing checkers.
You can enjoy this board game regardless of your age, and it can be played both competitively and casually.
And, best of all, it can be played by yourself!
Whether you’re looking for a challenging game to help pass the time or a fun way to relieve some stress, playing checkers by yourself is a great option.
Not only will you get to enjoy the game, but you’ll also get to work on your strategy and hone your skills.
There are endless ways to play checkers by yourself, so take some time to experiment and find a style that suits you.
And who knows – you might just find that you prefer playing solo over against another player!
9. Candy Land
Candy Land is a board game that can be enjoyed by players of all ages.
What’s the point of Candy Land?
To reach the finish line first by correctly following the instructions on the cards.
The game is simple to set up and can be played with two to four players.
Candy Land is one of the most popular board games for young children.
The colorful candies and simple rules make it a favorite among kids.
Even adults can enjoy a game or two of Candy Land, making it a great family game night activity.
10. Chutes and Ladders
Chutes and Ladders is a great game for kids because it’s easy to learn and play.
Chutes and Ladders can be played alone or with friends.
If you’re playing by yourself, you can still have fun trying to beat your own best time or score.
While the primary object of the game is to get to the end first by climbing ladders or sliding down chutes.
And the player who wins the game is the one who reaches the final first.
11. Mancala
Mancala is a board game that originated in Africa and yes, you can play it by yourself.
The game is played with 48 stones, 24 on each side of the board.
The goal of the game is to capture more stones than your opponent.
Note that if you are playing with other people, remember that you will need four players.
And if you are playing by yourself, you can use any number of players.
Conclusion
There’s no need to be bored when playing board games by yourself – there are plenty of options out there for solo players.
In this article, we’ve shared some of our favorite board games that are perfect for playing alone.
From classics like Monopoly to newer games like Carcassonne, there’s something for everyone.
So next time you’re looking for a fun way to spend your free time, then grab one of these board games and enjoy some quality time with yourself.
What’s your favorite board game that you can enjoy solo btw?
Drop your answer in the comment box below!