What is a solo tabletop RPG?
A solo tabletop role-playing game (solo TTRPG) lets you play a complete role-playing experience by yourself. There is no game master. Instead, the game gives you prompts, tables, cards or dice rolls that drive the story and ask you to make choices. Some are closer to interactive journaling, others are dice-driven dungeon crawls. Most can be played in short sessions, at home or while travelling.
If you already like D&D, you can also play D&D solo, but games designed for one person often feel smoother.
What you need to play
- Writing materials. A notebook or journal, or loose paper.
- Randomizers. Polyhedral dice, a d6, a deck of playing cards or sometimes a tarot deck, depending on the game.
- Oracles or rules. A way to answer yes-or-no questions and push the narrative along.
Many games need little else, and a few are sold as a single slim book or PDF.
Best solo RPGs by type
The titles below are widely mentioned in solo RPG discussions. Check each game’s current edition, price and content notes before buying.
Journaling and storytelling games
- Thousand Year Old Vampire. You play an immortal vampire, recording memories as they fade and as you lose the people you cared about. It is a dark, reflective game and can be emotionally heavy.
- Apothecaria. A cozy game about a village witch who brews potions, using cards and writing prompts.
- Koriko: A Magical Year. A gentle story of a young witch spending a year in a new city, told through letters and reflection.
Adventure, crawling and exploration games
- Ironsworn and its science-fiction follow-up Starforged. Rules-light games built for solo, co-op or guided play, with a gritty setting. They are among the most often recommended starting points.
- Delve. A solo map-drawing game played with pencil, paper and playing cards, in which you lead a dwarven clan digging through a dungeon.
- Colostle. An exploration game played with cards and a journal on a large castle map.
Adapting traditional RPGs
You can play many group games alone with a game master emulator or official or fan-made solo rules. Some group-focused games, such as Blades in the Dark, have solo rules available. This is where solo D&D fits.
Oracles and GM emulators
An oracle is a tool for answering questions you would normally ask a game master. You phrase a question so it has a yes or no answer, roll dice, and read the result. Emulators such as the Mythic Game Master Emulator add random events and scene changes. They work with almost any game, which is why they are popular for solo play.
How to choose
- Mood. Cozy, dark, sci-fi or classic fantasy narrows the list quickly.
- Structure. Journaling games guide you with prompts. Adventure games rely on dice and maps.
- Time. Some games take a single evening, others last for months.
- Familiarity. If you know D&D, an adapted version may be the easiest start. If you want something new, try a game made for solo play.
- Content. Some games deal with grief, loss or other heavy themes, so read the description first.
Tips for your first game
- Start with a short game or a short session.
- Write as you play, even if only in bullet points.
- Accept surprising results rather than rerolling.
- If you stall, reread your notes and ask the oracle one question.
- Be willing to stop. Not every game suits every player.
If you want company
Many solo games can be played with a partner, and group-focused games can be played in pairs. See our two-player D&D guide or how many players D&D needs if you are building a small group.
FAQ
Do I need a game master for a solo RPG?
No. Solo games replace the game master with prompts, tables, cards or an oracle.
What do I need to start?
A notebook, dice and a game. Some also use cards.
What is a good first solo RPG?
It depends on taste. Journaling games suit writers, while Ironsworn is a common pick for fans of adventure.