Some of the most fun we've ever had playing board games was on those nights we gathered all our friends around a table at someone's house and dove headlong into hours worth of board game fun as a group. But then again, what about the times you want to play board games on your own?

Never fear, since there are tons of amazing single-player board games you can give a try if you're in the mood for a solo board game. No matter what genre you're interested in playing, we'd bet there's a solo board game out there for you.

Soltaire

The original classic single-player card game, Solitaire still finds its home as a solo game today for good reason – it’s easy to learn, easy to play at the drop of a hat, and it’s one you’ll almost never get tired of just for the sheer simplicity of it all.

You’ll need to sort your cards into four piles, beginning with the aces and working up through the kings, by way of slowly but surely stacking your cards to reveal what’s beneath them in carefully concealed piles.

Sprawlopolis

Some of the games on our list of single-player board games technically can be played with more players if you’re trying to entertain a group, and Sprawlopolis is one of them, playable by up to four people. Your goal is to build up a city of your own by building an impressive deck of cards.

No matter how many people are playing, you’ve got 18 cards to build as big and boastful a city as possible by carefully attaching the cards you draw to the edges left barren on the pieces around the board. Think before you place a tile type!

Coffee Roaster

If you can look around the randomness that occasionally comes with a bag building single-player board game, Coffee Roaster is a great choice for the next time you head out to buy a new game. Not only is it small and portable, but you’ll more than get your money’s worth for the low buy-in price.

The goal of Coffee Roaster is to try and make the best tasting, most balanced cup of coffee possible with the beans in your bag. Get rid of tokens that convey spoiled cups (like burned, for example) and make the best cup of joe you can.

I, Napoleon

If you’re a big fan of all things history, then perhaps combining infamous French leader Napoleon Bonaparte with the concept of solitaire is enough to draw your fancy with the card game I, Napoleon, since it’s a pretty healthy blend of the two concepts.

It’s the late 18th century as you put on the boots of the famous Frenchman, vying for your spot as the leader amid an extremely unstable time in French history. Use your cards to play out Napoleon’s life to see if he ends up ascending.

Cartographers

While we’ve already mentioned a few games that could be played with others, Cartographers easily knocks out most other games when it comes to multiplayer capabilities, since you’re able to play with 100 people at once! That said, the game is just as fun and engaging if you play on your own.

You’ll need to use the cards you’re drawing to fill in the map you’ve been tasked with drawing, taking note of each different type of biome you encounter and being wary of monster invasions.

Cascadia

If you’ve never been out that way yourself, the Pacific Northwest in the United States is absolutely stunning, so we’re not at all surprised someone made a game about venturing out West and establishing a park in the solo board game, Cascadia.

By assembling a carefully placed collection of hexagonal tiles representing land area, biomes, animals, and more, it’s up to you to explore the natural wonders set out before you and establish a park unlike any ever seen. Connect habitats and place your tiles carefully to earn the best score.

Chronicles Of Crime

Easily one of the darkest entries on our list of board games you’re able to play by yourself, the Chronicles of Crime games give you a grizzly glimpse into some pretty horrifying scenes, hoping you can make heads or tails of what you’re seeing to solve the gruesome mysteries afoot.

Not only is Chronicles of Crime a board game in terms of having a physical board, but you’ll also be playing it on your mobile devices via a QR code, too. Look into all the clues and do your very best to solve the mysteries at hand.

Wingspan

If you’ve never taken the time to simply watch the wildlife happening outside your front door, do yourself a favor and check it out, but then come back to play Wingspan, too! This game is all about building the best and most attractive wildlife preserve in the hopes of attracting the most species of birds.

You’ve got a few rounds to work your magic and establish the wildlife preserve of your dreams. You’ll need to breed and feed all kinds of birds during that time if you hope to fly off with the victory.

Spirit Island

We’ve seen a handful of games in our time that rely on elemental magic, but how many of those games actually let you become a powerful elemental in the name of trying to fend off invaders to your impressive homeland? Well, welcome to Spirit Island, the game about just that!

Whether playing alone or with friends, you’re able to increase the fear felt by the slew of invaders trying to overtake your island, as well as gain influence with those already there to help establish your dominance and maintain control over your homelands.

Scythe

Easily the grimmest game we’ve mentioned on our list of single-player board games, Scythe is all about taking up the helm as a fallen leader trying to spearhead a faction of believers reaffirming your place at the head of an eastern European country in the early 20th century.

You’ll need to conquer as much of the territory around you as possible in the name of establishing dominion over the land, working tirelessly to farm resources and regain control of your empire and save your tarnished legacy going forward.