Good solo games

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I don't agree with all of these -- I think the setting for Colostle is fantastic, but the system isn't great (you can read my playthrough here) -- but this makes me want to pick up Tangled Blessings ASAP.

After run-throughs of Thousand Year Old Vampire (loved it), Colostle (wish it was a setting for a different system) and Notorious (loved it), I'm still wrestling with what to do next, once work and family calms down enough for me to play another solo game. Still leaning toward the solo version of Castaway or one of Obvious Mimic's solo D&D adventures. I'm also tempted to pick up Be Like a Crow, Lichdom or Gentleman Bandit. (No promises that my Gentleman Bandit would actually be a good poet.)

Anyone got any experience with Tangled Blessings? Any other solo games recommendations?

 

[zottel]

I have started playing Lichdom a few months back, and have been enjoying it. The journal that I am getting out of it will be neat background lore for my current 5e table. Working title is 'ramblings of a mad man'.

 

[Reynard]

I have started playing Lichdom a few months back, and have been enjoying it. The journal that I am getting out of it will be neat background lore for my current 5e table. Working title is 'ramblings of a mad man'.

I had not considered a solo game as a way to build a villain's background. That's a great idea.

 

[Autumnal]

I’m enjoying Loner, which now has one compendium with the rules and core advice, a supplement going more in depth on design intentions and such, and guides on world and character building for solo play all bundled together, and an adventure compendium with a ton of rules tweaks and advice for various genres. The author also put a web page for resolving challenges, tracking stats, and such. The mechanics are inspired by Freeform Universal but streamlined even further; this is not one for crunch fans.

Important note: he launched with AI art. For recent projects, he’s been paying for art by actual human beings. Still, it’s a thing. It’s my one exception to shunning AI art because it’s the game I’ve found most compatible with my disabilities. But I wouldn’t want anyone to stumble onto it unawares. (I’m not up for explaining the details of my impairment. I’m just reporting the fact.)

 

[Autumnal]

My #2 favorite right now is QuestWorlds, which has no explicit solo rules, but handles characters and settings in a superbly fluid, flexible way and plays nicely with any oracle at hand. I’ve used it with Loner, bits from Ironsworn (which remains free in PDf), and the One Page Solo Engine app. It has the advantage of defaulting to more traits than Loner, so it’s good for a notch more detail.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

My #2 favorite right now is QuestWorlds, which has no explicit solo rules, but handles characters and settings in a superbly fluid, flexible way and plays nicely with any oracle at hand. I’ve used it with Loner, bits from Ironsworn (which remains free in PDf), and the One Page Solo Engine app. It has the advantage of defaulting to more traits than Loner, so it’s good for a notch more detail.

What oracle are you using? I've looked at this die available on Etsy, but it looks sort of like a vinyl wrap on a die, and I'm not sure how well it'd hold up.

 

[Algorithmancer]

Ironsworn and Ironsworn: Starforged are always top-tier recommendations for solo RPGs, with amazing community support

 

[Autumnal]

Mostly this: One Page Solo Engine by Inflatable Studios

 

[Muad'dib Pendragon]

What oracle are you using? I've looked at this die available on Etsy, but it looks sort of like a vinyl wrap on a die, and I'm not sure how well it'd hold up.

That die is solid

 

[Autumnal]

That die is entertaining, though I’d prefer 3d6 or 3d10 with the. Options.