Though most games are designed to be played either in groups or alone, some multiplayer titles come with special rules for solo play.

One of the biggest struggles that board game lovers face is the logistical effort of getting their friends together to play. Any group's enthusiasm for tabletop play can be challenged or even overcome by scheduling conflicts and the obligations of day-to-day life. As a result, gamers often seek out games with lower player counts or solitaire-style rules.

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Though most games are designed to be played either in groups or alone, some multiplayer titles come with special rules for solo play. These differentiations in gameplay cut out the need for multiple players so that the games can be enjoyed without the effort of gathering a group together.

Though it's intended for up to four players, the popular board game Gloomhaven brings the epic scale of a dungeon crawl to the table as a solo adventure. Instead of focusing on cooperative decision-making, a solitary playthrough of Gloomhaven centers on the player's strategic ability and deliberate card choices.

The success or failure of the player's venture will rely entirely on their own decisions instead of the combined efforts of a group. Gloomhaven provides all that a single-player table needs to undertake an unbelievable journey and test their skill against mythical dangers.

Stardew Valley: The Board Game came out in 2021 as a tabletop adaptation of the beloved farming simulator Stardew Valley. Though it's designed for up to four players, it's also playable as a solitary experience.

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The gameplay follows the new farmer as they collect resources from around the valley each season to revive the local Community Center and save Pelican Town from the encroaching spread of mega-corporation JojaMart. Solitaire play of Stardew Valley: The Board Game provides the challenge of placing all required actions onto one gamer's shoulders.

Just as the title implies, Terraforming Mars is about humanity's future endeavors to make Mars habitable. Its gameplay flows through multiple phases, with each phase entailing unique requirements and goals.

In a single-player run of Terraforming Mars, the player must carefully balance their megacredit income with how many cards they need and which projects they want to complete. A solo player challenges themselves to manage their resources and build up the ecosystem of Mars to sustain human life without the benefit of teammate assistance.

One of the most popular independent board games published within the past five years, Wingspan, has single-player rules. Through this, the player can enjoy Wingspan's delightful artistry and expansive array of birds without relying on others to join in for the multiplayer setup.

Wingspan's gameplay focuses on the player building their bird sanctuary and acquiring the best combinations of birds to fill their habitats. They do this via collecting food tokens, laying eggs, and drawing new bird cards from over 170 unique, hand-illustrated avian options.

While it can accommodate up to four players, Everdell can also be a wondrous journey for solitary gamers. As the adorable creatures of the forest seek to build and develop their society, the player follows them through seasons of challenge and success.

In Everdell, the player collects cards to gather resources and places their workers to take specific actions to achieve their objectives. They must equitably divide their decisions between working toward short-term goals and preparing for long-term situations as a year of in-game time passes around them.

Built to be a collaborative experience for up to five players, Horrified challenges players to defend their village from seven of Universal's classic horror-movie monsters. However, Horrified can also be played solo, with a gamer taking on the task of fending off the menacing supernatural figures alone.

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An exciting aspect of Horrified is that the difficulty level can be adjusted outside of adapting to the number of players at the table. As a result of this feature, someone who plays the game alone can continue to increase the difficulty as they learn to master each monster's strategy.

In Calico, players craft quilts with different patterns and buttons to attract the attention of adorable cats. Each element adds to their score as they play, carefully laying their tiles. Though Calico is built for up to four players, a solo gamer can also quilt on their own.

While solo play removes the usual competition aspect, a fan can replay Calico again and again, attempting to one-up their best score each time. The multiple quilt patterns, cats, and buttons to include in the cozy experience also provide Calico with significant replay value.

The award-winning game PARKS celebrates the timeless natural beauty of the United States National Parks. Players venture on hikes through different National Parks locales, each detailing the unique scenery of its region.

PARKS guides the player, or players at a multiplayer table, through all four seasons as they venture through each park, taking actions and making memories. The player must conscientiously manage their resources between providing for the parks and assuring their continued journey, sometimes resting at campfires where they can share with other hikers.

When a player undertakes a single-player run of Castle Panic, the defense of the besieged castle rests solely on their shoulders. As they fight to slay monsters and prevent damage to their castle, they can strive to beat their past records of victory points.

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This beloved fairy tale trial is the first in an ongoing series of games that also have a single-player capacity, opening a world of adventure to the avid solo gamer. There are also several differently-themed versions with similar gameplay, which can also be played solitaire-style.

Canvas has players layer cards together to create stunning paintings. While up to five people can join Canvas' art competition, a single player can also enjoy the game. Each painting is comprised of three layered cards, and the game ends when the player completes three paintings.

The player's score is calculated via the accumulation of visible icons on each card. To play cards, the player must pay with Inspiration tokens, and each Art card costs a different amount of tokens. The single-player rules allow less-social gamers to enjoy Canvas' gorgeous designs.

NEXT: 10 Board Games That Are Fun For 6 Or More Players

Rebekah Krum is an avid fan of both video and tabletop games; she takes great interest in their history and cultural value as storytelling mediums. They enjoy a good story, regardless of the method by which it is told. She grew up in Northeastern Nevada before moving to Ashland, Oregon for college in 2014 and subsequently settling down just outside of Portland, Oregon in 2019. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from Southern Oregon University.

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