Top 5 best solo tabletop RPGs that are great to play alone

[@MrBizteck]

Bookmarks for me! Gentalman bandit 2:15 Ex novo 6:35 The machine 9:15 Alone among the stars 12:18 Quill 15:55

[@HaveaBiscuitt]

MrBizteck bless you!

[@G4MBIT]

You're a legend.Thanks mate

[@nyanates]

Thanks for this. Surprised at the number of content creators that don’t provide this.

[@Duros360]

David Gates Especially for content like this video, when you consider how niche these sorts of games are, I skipped a few

[@Shamshiro]

Bless you and your d20s, my friend.

[@allisonarth]

Thanks so much for featuring Gentleman Bandit! I'm humbled by your kind words, and am so happy you enjoy it. Can't wait to check out your other recommendations.

[@stuartbadminton]

Played it for the first time today, loved it! My bandit is on a never-ending trail of death in search of his lost love, that gets further away the more he kills.

[@allisonarth]

@@stuartbadminton that is the *stuff* right there. So glad you're enjoying it!

[@allisonarth]

@@Idreallyrathernotthanks thanks so much!

[@killianroot8467]

Went to download this off the IO bundle for racial justice as soon as he finished his poem. Can't wait to play it.

[@thac0twenty377]

Just downloaded yoir game for something to do on duty. Sent you an extra 5- grab a coffee man!

[@gadflycafe]

Thousand year old vampire Is a solo rpg where you play as a vampire losing their memories of who they were in life. It's great fun and the physical edition is one of the most beautiful books on my shelf.

[@grumpyinbrooklyn6347]

I got it recently and I totally agree with you! The book is a thing beauty, gorgeous. And the concept and execution is sheer genius!

[@davidgaskin5417]

Arrghh.. Can you get a printed copy from anywhere? I missed out.

[@nunyobidniz]

@@lydiakvlogs thanks!

[@songsayswhat]

Oops. I just recommended it. Should have read down the list!

[@kosterix123]

@@lydiakvlogs kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5jbgZ14e9Gios0

[@marshallhill5900]

ah yes the perfect video for a friendless fool such as myself :)

[@jstewart_1]

We're all friends here

[@Villain0x]

Same aha 🙃😔

[@Matt-bv3xp]

If you ever feel like playing D&D with other people and making friends online check out roll20. You can join other people’s games or create your own. It’s not the same as playing in person, but if done right it can be just as fun.

[@alimatloob2850]

Ditto

[@kylaligayo2366]

Same

[@Hollyboppers]

Ironsworn is an amazing TTRPG with different modes of play: with a GM, without a GM and solo. The rules take a bit of time to get used to but it's definitely a lot of fun, especially if you love Vikings!

[@timwest2322]

And it's FREE! The rules are closely adjacent to PbtA which has influenced many popular games like Mask and Scum & Villainy .

[@rewritable_]

Went to comment section to make this exact comment. Ironsworn is absolutely amazing, with all its mechanics (+ aid from Oracles) designed to give tension and movement to the plot even if you yourself are feeling uninspired that day. With it's core being free and Delve included in itch.io bundle, there really is no barrier for entry. That, and it's eminently hackable - if iron age is not your cup of tea. There's sci-fi setting Starforge currently in the works by the author.

[@Tiggermk4]

I agree entirely. No solo rpg list is complete without Ironsworn...its an amazing solo rpg, full of theme.

[@paullomax4038]

I'm glad you put this comment on as I'd never heard of ironsworn. Having looked at it I'm looking forward to my first no gm playthrough this weekend!

[@Fnordathoth]

Came to the comments for this exact reason; Ironsworn is a great solo rpg.

[@cthulhufhtagn2483]

Alone Among the Stars is the game I've always wanted. I've tried to make games like it before, but I had no idea the actual thing existed - and so simple and beautifully made. Thank you, Dicebreaker, for introducing me to this masterpiece.

[@romainegreen9816]

You have no idea how long I've wanted something like this. Thank you so much

[@williamgarcia-medina9989]

Me too.

[@jasebrooks5983]

I downloaded Ex Novo and Alone Among the Stars right after watching this. I spent about 4 hours writing the journal for my first go at AATS. I've been down about not feeling very creative in the last few weeks. AATS started a bonfire of creative writing about exploring my planet. I'm excited to spend a few hours with Ex Novo later this week.

[@klawzie]

Some really great games in there that you've selected! I will absolutely share some more recommendations for solo games. Games that I have played and loved: (1) Ironsworn -- Absolutely the most traditional "fantasy rpg" experience you can have solo out of the box. (The Delve expansion was in the bundle you mention, so if you got the bundle, you will already have that.) It spawned from using the Powered by the Apocalypse system without a GM and ended up its own thing. The way it handles quests being tied with XP is one of the cleverest things it does. People not used to solo rp or even rp in general may founder in the weeds not knowing where to go or what to do - but it solves the issue by making quests matter to not just the character, but also the player. And you will often end up snowballing in sidequests, so you're never really 'done' until you're 'done'. (2) Thousand Year Old Vampire -- A solo journaling experience that uses a roll-and-prompt system that slowly pulls you along through time, losing and gaining Skills and Resources (such as important characters, properties, and objects). Since your vampire can only hold so many memories in their head before they have to inevitably make room for new ones, they will begin to lose touch with the human they once were. Often tragically so. Also, one of the most beautiful physical rpg books in my collection. Worth every bit of its price and I highly recommend it. (3) The Wretched -- is the new hotness in solo rpgs. I haven't personally played *that* one, but I did play the second game using the system, The Sealed Library, and had an incredible experience with it. I also participated in the (currently on-going) "Wretched and Alone" gamejam using the free SRD for the Wretched system. My game is Bluebeard's Castle based on the fairytale and makes some tweaks to the rules. klawzie.itch.io/bluebeards-castle - With over 40 games submitted to the game jam as of this post, there's bound to be a variant that appeals to you! Games I have heard amazing things about but haven't yet had a chance to play: (1) Cat's Dream -- www.drivethrurpg.com/product/288587/Cats-Dream sends you along a Miyazaki-like fantasy adventure (along the lines of The Cat Returns). I had a chance to skim through the PDF when I picked it up and loved everything I saw. It also has an option for serial play, so you can keep returning to whatever wonderful world you created with new or the same character(s). (2) The Artefact -- I haven't had a chance to do more than listen to a podcast Actual Play, so here's the copy: "ARTEFACT shifts the focus [away from the adventurers in a classic rpg] to the perspective of a single magical item, and its history as it passes through the hands of many different keepers. You’ll feel the weight of time as the item is lost or abandoned again and again, the dust & decay piling around it until it’s found again by someone new." (3) plot ARMOR and/or Redacted -- Play as the pilot of a mecha (plot ARMOR) or spy (Redacted) to effectively tell a story about how the protagonist recognizes they have plot armor. I honestly can't say how it goes from there, but everyone I've heard speak of them says good things, so they're on my solo rpg shortlist! Hope any of these suggestions finds a good home!

[@TLugs]

Thanks for the recommendations and descriptions. I'll be sure to check out your page on itch.io as well.

[@egregius9314]

Only 2 upvotes for this write-up? Here, have mine as well.

[@lydiakvlogs]

Thank you for the further recommendations! Bought almost all of them, will probably eventually buy all of them once I've worked through a few. :)

[@hariszark7396]

I love solo RPGs. Currently playing 1) A solo horror adventure using: Pulp Cthulhu, Call of Cthulhu 7ed, The Solo Investigator's Handbook, The Adventure Crafter, Mythic system 2) A solo Sci-Fi space campaign using : Traveller rpg, Solo rpg, Frontier Space Referee's Handbook Gets a little time to jump around books but with a little patience the outcome is great!!! I also write my games down in a form of a novel. Next I will try to make my own replayable Gamebook.

[@flyinglowerthanmost]

Where do you bury your “patients” after you’ve used them? 😬😬

[@hariszark7396]

@@flyinglowerthanmost 😆😆😆😆😆😆😅😂you are right thanks for the correction. English is not my native language...😅😆😀

[@williamgarcia-medina9989]

Finally, someone does a video on solo RPG’s.

[@connorcoltrane1777]

I am shocked that nobody has mentioned Mythic yet! It's the definitive generic system for solo roleplaying if there ever was one. The best part of it is that it's also fully compatible with most other RPG systems, so you can turn a typical group game into a solo game if you want.

[@TheAmishJedi]

Thanks for making me realize what I love most about Table Top is that it's basically a series of writing prompts.

[@garymccammon6696]

Mythic GM Emulator, which allows you to play pretty much ANY RPG solo - along with its companion books and the Adventure Crafter. There are a LOT of free solo RPG oracles and GM emulators out there as well if price is an objection, such as The Adventure Oracle, CRGE and Morning Coffee Solo Variations.

[@hannaaxelsson3687]

I would love a list with the best tabletop RPGs without a gamemaster.

[@troyschnierer2940]

Playing Ironsworn both solo and coop (different characters in different sections of the Ironlands) and loving it. Coop is great as I don't have to GM and play as an equal, all of us discovering the world and story. More coop games would be great.

[@GeekGamers01]

@hanna axelsson I've done a list on my channel of the top 5 easy and cheap RPGs for solo play

[@beem3515]

A bunch of the games based off belonging outside belonging might be good for you! Dream askew/dream apart, sleepaway, wanderhome, balikbayan and plenty more!

[@paulofthestars3585]

Thanks for the great intro to these beautiful solo games. Had purchased the bundle that included Ex Novo, but purchased it again from the developer (with a wee bit extra) to show my appreciation for their efforts. Keep upi the good work!

[@Here_is_Waldo]

What happens if I die and people find my notebook on The Machine, but they don't have the context? They'll think I'm nuts.

[@SylviusTheMad]

Sounds like a win.

[@TinkersTales]

most people think I am nuts, before they meet me

[@TheBayzent]

Would they be wrong tho?

[@chrisparker6325]

I literally searched the channel for solo games 2 days ago, very welcome video

[@FaeTuberEden]

Holly shiz the transitions and music/sound design is amazing it makes me wanna get back in to film school it sets the mood perfectly it makes it feel relaxing but also makes me intrigued and causes me to hang on every word I never thought such a basic video could become my favorite so quickly

[@Smittumi]

Can't believe you missed Ironsworn!

[@carloscastrejon644]

I was waiting for it to be brought up as well

[@dicebreaker]

I've not had the chance to try it I'm afraid, but thanks for the recommendation! - Wheels

[@domingosszabo]

Yup Ironsworn! Try it! also if I can leave another interesting suggestion that I had the pleasure of playtesting nnesk.itch.io/menagerie-of-the-void

[@contactlight8079]

@@dicebreaker Ironsworn is the daddy. I wont look to another system again. Any setting, any genre and very hack-able. Top quality.

[@agrayday7816]

@@dicebreaker Make sure you get the Delve Expansion as well.

[@deltamike0397]

I love all of these suggestions. I just bought Alone amongst the stars and Ex Novo because of this video. Thank you so much for the video. During these times its great to have things you can do alone and things you can do with your family!

[@the3nder1]

These are all DM tools disguised as games. Lol I love it.

[@TheBayzent]

I was thinking the same. I'll be using ex novo and it's sister game ex umbra in my next games

[@robindattatenore]

I absolutely loved, and needed, this video! Thank you so much, Dicebreaker family! ❤️

[@omarzgdz]

This has been a great video! Thanks for sharing it with us. I think solo role-playing games need some new term for them, as often they aren't what people normally consider an rpg, but they can be fun nevertheless. I haven't had the chance to play most of the one's you mentioned but I did play Alone among the stars and found it an interesting, relaxing experience. It even inspired me to write my own solo journalling aimed at children, promoting creative writing and teaching basic story structure. Keep up the great work guys, and I'd love to see another top 5 solo games if you can think of few more :)

[@Zevonfan524]

As a Southerner, let me say that’s actually a damn good accent.

[@dindranew.6808]

I came here to say that myself! I was impressed. Definitely educated/higher class... more Louisiana/Texas.

[@fifthof9501]

@@dindranew.6808 Louisiana is higher class?

[@dindranew.6808]

@@fifthof9501 No, no, those are two things. Higher class AND ALSO Louisiana/Texas. HAHA, hardly. :p

[@dindranew.6808]

@@fifthof9501 Sorry, I could have phrased that better. :p

[@pepinmystepmusic]

I too was thrown off by the great accent lol

[@goldennova]

What a great list of suggestions! You can probably make a list on just creative writing based games alone! Also, just have to say your voice is so calming and you're very well spoken. Definitely adds greatly to the appeal of your videos!

[@tiantuatara]

If you haven't seen Ironsworn, I highly recommend it. You can play in solo mode. It is a ton of fun. The core set is free.

[@remixtheidiot5771]

I sometimes play ttrpg's on my own to simulate or rather practice my improvised storytelling where the dice mostly decided the fate of my characters and where the story would go and I could learn how to not overthink and think too far ahead when writing stories. Turns out I'm not the only one who does this, heh...

[@hive_indicator318]

The oracle dice from Ironsworn are really great for that. (I know, it's getting a lot of love on here. But it's justified.) And it's a super easy way to roll up fleshed out NPCs or towns with just 4 rolls. Can't recommend it enough.

[@johnberry5296]

The vid needs a part 2 to discuss the big 2 - Mythic Gm and Ironsworn. Kind of like doing a video about gangster movies and not mentioning The Godfather and Goodfellas.

[@jonathanhope3672]

Thank you for this. Been looking for a way into RPG and solo is perfect for me. I would like this twice if I could.

[@ErklaerMirDieWelt]

Thanks so much for this video. I had bought the bundle for racial justice when it came out but got overwhelmed with the amount of stuff to look through pretty quickly. After I saw your video, I downloaded Ex Novo and just spent a fantastic evening with my fiancé creating a city with extensive lore. We're now thinking about how we can use this city further because we're both super invested at this point. Highly recommend!

[@johnmatthews2901]

I have watched this video quite a few times now. There is something calming about it. I look forward to trying the games out. I love the emphasis on creativity. Thanks

[@pathosblack1311]

Thank you for this, I discovered the whole itchio community from this video. I feel like Jasmine on a magic carpet ride

[@kathyevans3251]

I discovered your video today. I loved the games you found. Thank you for the ideas.

[@mattiascrowe2549]

I love that you went 120% into sounding like you have been eating a tin of beans in a gold rush ghost town with gentleman bandit

[@lars309]

I discovered Four Against Darkness last year and I am really surprised it does not have more popularity, it's great for when I cannot make it a group game and wish I had something like this when I was a kid, D100 is also another great one

[@nathanplummer3282]

Good to know there's TTRPGs I can play by myself since my players are so flakey. Also Wheel's face in the thumbnail is an absolute MOOD

[@SJROBINSON]

Absolutely fantastic video, one of my favorites from you thus far. Thank you!

[@AndrewLister83]

KZbin's algorithm suggested this video. Thank goodness it did! What super cool games!

[@YourLastSandman]

Thank you for Ex Novo. Doing world building for a fantasy story and hopefully one day a RPG game world. This is helping develop the character of a town, where I was struggling with this before.

[@thetuerk]

The video I never knew I needed. Thank you man

[@shawnheatherly]

Exactly the sort of list people need right now.

[@BeriNaked]

This was a nice video to watch. Some great ideas.

[@6543dann]

Try The Quite Year. Free to play draw your own adventure. Would love to see you do more of these.

[@utterscribe]

Got Ex Novo after watching this and had a blast last night when a hat shop, a funeral, a sinkhole, and a wedding toppled my theocracy. Ordered a bunch of colored pencils so future maps will look much better.

[@mr7oclock346]

Ex Nova seems awesome. I'm going to look more info this. Thanks for introducing me to it

[@DillioGherkin]

I just bought "The Machine". It sounds awesome.

[@MrNotteNera]

Thank you for your great job!

[@piercefabruada3851]

Wow! Nice content! I also want to share this Lagim Card game that my family and I are enjoying. It's amazing that they actually came up with the idea of Philippine Folklore since it's kind of dying down a bit. It will surely educate future generations.

[@notgeoff799]

Thanks for this list! I just picked up Ex Novo and Gentleman Bandit in the Bundle for Racial Justice over at Itch.io last week, but hadn't heard much about those others. I also recently took Thousand Year Old Vampire for a spin with some friends, and drinking wine while writing dark, dark journal entries was great fun.

[@mnerurkar]

Thanks for picking up EX NOVO! If you build a city, please share it! :D

[@weirdguy564]

My favorite solo RPG's are from Nerdruna games, True-D6 and Kogarashi. They're both essentially the same game rules, just one is set in traditional European fantasy, while the other is in fantasy Japan. The games have these features. They're rules light. They're cheap. They're roll under your six stats, but roll high as it is also your damage roll. They only use 1D6. Armor is a savings throw to block some damage (sort of an unofficial 7th attribute). Magic is a skill check to cast spells. They come with an Oracle and some additional rules for solo play, such as an automatic companion creature (wolf, ghost, spirit of something). Kogarashi is slightly better in that it also included a mission generation table, but that is hardly a giant barrier to solo play to not have that.

[@JoePlinkelton]

Very soothing commentary, I enjoyed it a lot!! :)

[@shadesofmysoul]

I've just recently started playing Ronin (written by Tiago Junges, published by Green Little Thing). You play as a ronin (an honourless samurai) who drifts from town to town seeking redemption. things to play: pen, paper, 2 different colour d6

[@BrawnyFanta]

Nice one, cheers

[@txmetalhead82xk]

Wow! Cool

[@darklordmaguire207]

12:20 BTW there is a spelling mistake it says along among the stars not alone among the stars and played ex novo really fun

[@animaterob]

An old school favorite: Barbarian Prince.

[@MarcKevinHall]

Damn, that takes me back!

[@animaterob]

@@MarcKevinHall 1980!

[@MarcKevinHall]

@@animaterob I still have my copy - including the miniature!

[@animaterob]

@@MarcKevinHall haha same!

[@royjaskowski905]

Tunnels and Trolls! So many choose your own adventure books. Phone app to get you started even.

[@txmetalhead82xk]

Yes! It’s great. I am already through to my 5th adventure of T&Ts.

[@yammahopper]

Tunnels and Trolls is a great solo system with lots of modules. It can also be used with a traditional group, but it has lots of solo modules.

[@d.b.gaston665]

Alone Against Fear is the most recent solo RPG I've played, I'm enjoying it quite a bit. The author was formerly based in Ukraine, he started a new Patreon for his game studio, Ganesha Games, to rebuild it after having to leave everything behind in Ukraine.

[@PeterHaderlein]

This video was great! Thank you

[@FebruaryGhost]

This video is perfect for me! I would love more videos on solo games!

[@TheEmmaHouli]

I had Ex Novo in the bundle for justice (Gentleman Bandit is also there for anyone else who got that bundle and still haven't made their way through it) I just finished playing it and I was so excited about half way through, my husband could hear my gasps of shock and laughing to myself! I was just so excited to throw the next set of dice. Although I found some of the rules a little hard to follow (when to bring in new population) I am looking forward to roping him into my play again tomorrow.

[@actionrabbitgaming3248]

I have been needing this vid!

[@idontevenknow9758]

These are wonderful thank you!! I wish I can make my own rpg one day. I have no idea where to even start.

[@jamescartwright1150]

Just came across this, interesting stuff, subscribed.

[@skylerbrasseaux3592]

First time on the channel and this is the perfect video lmao

[@rogueoctopus2229]

Great video! (Sorry it took so long to find it!) Made me think of a book I'm slowly going through with the wonderfully simple title of "Top Ten Games You Can Play In Your Head By Yourself" which takes you through setting up and then experiencing your own themed adventure with enough guidance to get going but enough ambiguity to make it your own. Would highly recommend!

[@AtrusDesign]

“Everybody love villain…” no I love to be the good one… very nice video!

[@fredcharles4597]

Awesome games! Thanks for the video!

[@ancapftw9113]

The Machine sounds like it would work well with a Call of Cthulhu group.

[@AdaLeFay]

Our gaming group is having more fun together than ever.

[@claytongriffith8323]

I loved your Gentleman Bandit poem

[@michaelc.4724]

How tf is his cowboy twang better than actual cowboys’

[@kosterix123]

the things you talk about I have never even heard of - upvoted and subscribed obviously. Well done! But next time show more pictures please!

[@joshhart379]

Ex Novo sounds right up my street thanks for the recommendations. Also check out The Thousand Year Old Vampire. Shut Up & Sit Down introduced me to it in their podcast and I'm hooked right now - you wrote the accounts of a vampire throughout history and must choose which memories your vampire can hold onto on their long life

[@billie_the_birdie]

Thanks so much for this! Just bought the pdfs for 3 of these :D

[@MishaSalnikov]

Should the Arkham board games be considered RPG? They can be played solo, if slightly harder

[@richmcgee434]

They're boradgames, but the Call of Cthulhu RPG has had several solo modules over the years.

[@VacuumJockey]

A year late - but yes, Ironsworn needs to be on this list. Or at least on the next list.

[@indeduous]

I can't wait to try these! I also really like Artefact, The Quiet Year (which can be played solo) and Coffee Shop Screenwriter (a screenwriting RPG).

[@JonLane]

No Thousand Year Old Vampire?

[@charliethemagpie523]

I had a game of TYOV where I started with a woman in the Byzantine Empire. She ended up in Brittany, down on its southern coast, stayed there for a while embedding herself in the community, and then was killed by another immortal out of jealousy after she'd regained some of her memories. The only problem I have with it is I get attached to my player character, and want their story to end happily, and I have literally never had that happen :(

[@nosoros]

Dude. Ironsworn. It deserves its own video.

[@ms.smartcreative4957]

Thank you. I’m going in on a few of these.

[@michivallieres8334]

Oh man, my TTRPG minded game immediately created a scenario where I built a world using Ex Novo and then one (or multiple, thus forming a society) of the characters in that world experienced “The Madness of The Machine” (from The Machine) which succeeded and it sent them to space (as a rocket or maybe just catapulted them up there willy Milly? Who knows! Possibility is Boundless!) for an Alone in the Dark experience only to crash land on a world with scarce resources as a game of The Quiet Year. What an adventure!!!

[@cleverestx]

@12:20 title card for this game reads 'Along' among the stars, not "Alone" among the stars, just a FYI :-)

[@rowanw1312]

Awesome video!! My group is playing on roll20 an dits the glitchiest thing ever

[@thomasw3880]

No mention of Tunnels & Trolls (or Monsters! Monsters!). Only the first system (and best) for playing solo. They've only been in continuous publication since 1975 and a new edition of T&T in 2015 and M!M! In 2020.

[@PeterSFam]

What no love shown to Tunnels & Troll one of the oldest RPGs out there and has a robust series of solo adventures (as well as gm based ones also for when things return to normal)

[@polvotierno]

There are some Conan the Barbarian solo adventures by Gurps. One is called Beyond Thunder River. Very well written. I am not fond of their rules system, so I convert to DnD 5e on the fly for everything. I also really like the system of Paul Bimler on DMs Guild. He has a number of downloadable solo adventures that I have thoroughly enjoyed. One is called Tyrant of Zhentil Keep, for instance. The stories are all very well written. Mr. Bimler also has a guidebook on how to create your own solo adventures. Really good.

[@songsayswhat]

I heatily recommend Thousand Year Old Vampire by Tim Hutchings. It's a bit different than choose your own adventure. The game provides the player with prompts and you decide what your character does.

[@ajcoetzer4711]

I reccomend Town and Tower, an amazing solo rpg that you can combine with other solo rpgs like Quill and Ex Novo with some creativity

[@DjOzKid]

That last one I think would work well for a teacher to give to students as home work to work a bit on every week and build on week in week out

[@OverBlackSands]

Have a look at Thousand Year Old Vampire, it's a very immersive and personal experience that messes with how someone so old would try to hang on to important memories

[@aswd90]

The only ones that i found interesting were "Ex Novo" and "Along Among The Stars"

[@grumpyinbrooklyn6347]

holy sh-t! That reading "in character" was hysterical!

[@osoaioi]

I’d also like to reccomend Wanderhome, which is a cute animal themed fantasy rp game that you can play with yourself or multiple people

[@echolocator328]

Would love to see another solo RPG feature!!

[@dolphinocracy]

no ironsworn, no artefact?

[@cb3391]

Suggestion for a good oracle deck?

[@stevevondoom4140]

DM'ing in a mask just makes you more ninja-like and mysterious... ;)

[@Banquet42]

Great video Wheels!

[@markziff7234]

Everyone loves a villian, charismatic rogue, silver tongued devil, Jaaaaaaaaag driver!