So, you’ve been in the same D&D group for over a year. The campaign has been incredible – and that camaraderie you’ve found in your group is one of your favorite parts of the week.
But as often happens, life changes. Someone’s work schedule is updated, and they can’t make it to your game. Another player moves away when work changes. Your DM has just had a new baby.
Now, that Thursday night slot sits empty. You’re left with that itch that your character sheet collection isn’t getting the attention it deserves.
The good news? That solo quest you’ve been craving is there, and it’s ready for you to jump in and explore.
We’ve seen an extraordinary renaissance in solo tabletop roleplaying games and pick-your-path adventures. And these aren’t a “simplified version” of traditional RPGs. They’re actually pretty impressive systems designed for the solitary gamer, with all the gameplay features you’d expect from a party campaign.
Let’s explore some of our community favorites.
Why Solo Gaming?
One of the most common questions we get is “Why would you even want to play a solo game?”
We get it – it’s hard to imagine a tabletop game without the social aspect of it. But solo gaming offers a unique and immersive experience that can be just as satisfying as playing with a group.
One of our favorite aspects of solo RPGs is their accessibility. There’s no need to coordinate schedules with 4-5 other busy adults. You can play for 20 minutes before bed, during a lunch break, or go all-in when you’ve got the time.
A favorite of our team? You can use solo play as an opportunity to test mechanics, develop worldbuilding concepts, and practice improvisation as a GM. Without the social dynamics of a group, you have to get intentional about exploring character motivations, ethical dilemmas, and personal arcs in ways that might feel self-indulgent at a shared table. It’s a great way to hone your skills as a player and a game master.
Ironsworn
Ironsworn may be the gold standard for solo gameplay.
Imagine yourself as a warrior in a harsh, Norse-inspired fantasy frontier. Your character navigates the Ironlands by swearing binding oaths – iron vows – that drive the narrative forward. These solemn commitments define your character’s journey and provide the backbone of your story.
Ironsworn’s “iron vow” system makes sure you always have clear goals that act as your narrative engine. Experience is tied directly to completing these vows, creating a natural progression that organically pushes your story forward.
The Oracle System as Your GM
The heart of Ironsworn’s solo experience is its ingenious “oracle” system. These are the tables and prompts that effectively replace the traditional GM.
When you’d typically ask a DM, “What happens next?”, the oracle provides unexpected twists and narrative developments that can genuinely surprise you as a player.
Best of all, the core Ironsworn rulebook is available as a free PDF on DriveThruRPG, making it an accessible entry point for anyone curious about solo roleplaying.
The Solo Adventurer’s Toolbox
If you’re already pretty steeped in the D&D 5E ecosystem, you might be reluctant to learn an entirely new system just to play solo. Enter the Solo Adventurer’s Toolbox by Paul Bimler.
This toolkit turns D&D 5E into a fully functional solo experience. You can use the same character sheets, spells, monsters, and mechanics you already know. The Toolbox provides oracles, random tables, and adventure generators that handle everything a DM would typically manage.
It’s also supported by pre-written solo modules like “The Death Knight’s Squire” and “Tyrant of Zhentil Keep” that showcase how effective D&D can be as a solitaire experience. It’s a great way to experience traditional D&D modules with the flexibility needed for solo play – including structured campaigns with branching paths and replayable elements.
Tunnels & Trolls
If you really want to go back in time, give Tunnels & Trolls a try. Many in the solo gameplay world consider this the original solo RPG. Created by Ken St. Andre in 1975, T&T was the first RPG to support solo play through dedicated “solitaire adventures.”
T&T’s classic solo modules – titles like “Buffalo Castle,” “Deathtrap Equalizer Dungeon,” and “City of Terrors” – are some iconic examples of the genre. These adventures are notorious for their difficulty, and you can bet that you’ll need more than one or two tries to get through these experiences with different characters.
Modern Pick-Your-Path Adventures
Were you one of the many who grew up with those iconic “Choose-Your-Own-Adventure” books? You might be imagining solo games being similar – “If you go north, turn to page 47.”
Modern pick-your-path adventures have evolved beyond those basic structures, with many of the top games bringing the most sophisticated RPG mechanics, inventory management, and character progression into solo experiences.
Pick Your Path Adventures offers immersive experiences set in quite a few unique settings, like Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest or Victorian monster-hunting expeditions. These books combine the accessible format of gamebooks with the depth of RPGs, requiring players to track inventory, roll for outcomes, and make meaningful decisions.
Modern titles like Sword of the Bastard Elf and entries in the DestinyQuest series offer replayable solo experiences with character sheets and progression systems. Meanwhile, Call of Cthulhu solo books provide horror-themed adventures using the beloved Call of Cthulhu ruleset.
Other Notable Solo RPGs and Tools
Some of the most innovative solo RPGs focus less on traditional mechanics and more on storytelling.
Popular games like Thousand Year Old Vampire use prompts or card draws to guide narrative development. They also use fun journaling elements that make sure you are spending plenty of time reflecting on your character’s backstory.
For players who want to use their existing favorite RPG systems, universal GM emulators like the Mythic Game Master Emulator can give you a flexible framework you can use with virtually any ruleset. a flexible framework that can be applied to virtually any ruleset. These act as procedural GM replacements and can manage everything from scene establishment to NPC reactions.
If you’re craving classic dungeon-delving, games like Four Against Darkness offer a solo dungeon crawl experience with simple rules for procedural dungeon generation and monster encounters.
Your Next Solo Adventure Awaits on DriveThruRPG
Solo gaming offers players a unique and satisfying experience that shows that some of the best adventures don’t have to mean a large party.
At DriveThruRPG, we’re proud to be the largest digital marketplace for tabletop RPG content, including an extensive collection of solo games and adventures.
Don’t let an empty chair at the gaming table keep you from experiencing the worlds and stories you love. Your next great adventure is just a download away. (And this time, you won’t need to bring snacks for the whole party!)
Start browsing our collection of solo RPGs and pick-your-path adventures today!
