Good solo games

[Nikosandros]

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

I played for a while Ironsworn with a friend in GM-less mode, but I have to try it as a solo game.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I actually think Tangled Blessings is a cool game, especially if you’re into dark, mysterious, slightly gothic vibes. It's not our typical game with stats or dice rolls. It’s a journaling RPG, so it’s more about writing, introspection, and mood.

I loved Thousand Year Old Vampire, which is pretty similar, although Tangled Blessings doesn't seem as likely to make players think a lot about dementia, aging and death.

 

[definiteFreakyFishGuy]

I'm having a lot of fun with my solo Starforged campaign. But I had to make some adjustments to make it truly enjoyable.

TLDR: I think it's a great solo game because it gave me a rich set of tools and a good framework that I can use to run my game without having to bring in outside resources or alter the game in a significant way.

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Longer Version:

I'm using the rule set, but very stripped down version of it. I use the moves and the progress trackers. But I skipped the world building and most of the character creation steps—even skipped the Iron vow. I guess you could say I'm kind of building the world and my character as I play, and it's working well for me.

My previous attempts fizzled out because I spent so much time on world / char creation steps. The few times I actually finished building the world and creating the character, my interests have shifted and I didn't really like the setting or the character I had worked on.

I also shifted the way in which I play, which greatly enhanced my experience

1. Rather than trying to write a novel, I spend more time imagining. The scenes I imagine aren't necessarily clear or detailed. I don't bother writing full sentences in my notes—just some words and doodles to help me recall some scenes I really liked.

2. I allow myself to jump back in time, ret-con, adding details, and not worrying too much about consistency with the resources (momentum, health, etc). I think of them more as tool for me to guide the narrative, and less the actual state of my character in the fiction. (Reading through Microscope really inspired me to break out of trying to tell a linear story.)

Finally, it sounds superficial, but I also found that using super nice dice really enhanced my solo play experience.