I’ve been playing solo RPGs for over two decades. A big reason why I’ve enjoyed solo RPG gaming so much, and have been able to continue playing for so long, is because there are growing and passionate communities online who share their experiences, recommendations, and what they’ve learned.
I want to add to these growing bodies of knowledge in these passionate communities by sharing what I’ve learned! So here are my Top Tips for Solo RPG Gamers.
Why Solo RPGs
Probably the biggest question I get (and often the snarkiest) is why do you want to play a solo RPG? The answer is simple – because it’s fun.
Think about it. I play traditional role playing games and boardgames with groups of friends. But I also play video games and board games by myself. Why wouldn’t I want to at least try an RPG-like experience on my own?
It’s incredibly fun, and with the right rules structure in place, it can provide some amazing gaming experiences that I wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else.
If you’re a solo RPG gamer, you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t tried a solo RPG yet, I suggest you keep on reading, and try one out some time! There’s a lot of fun waiting for you!
How do I get started?
As of early in 2025, playing a solo RPG is not as easy as playing a solo board game or playing a video game. Most role playing games are built for group purposes, with a judge or game master as the storyteller for the group. Board games and video games don’t have this problem, as they have a clear rules structure in place.
So, to play a solo RPG, in most cases you’ll have to represent the role of a judge or game master in some way.
Some people use oracles – which are basically random tables filled with ideas – to help fill this role. For example:
Your character walks through the forest, but not is all as it seems. You roll perception, and succeed – what do you find? (Oracle Check, result of 32: Cooking) It seems someone has already set up camp and is cooking their dinner. You decide to have your character sneak up on the campsite. You roll stealth, and fail! What happens next?
An oracle check can be used then to determine who is in the camp, how they react to your character snooping around, etc.
I don’t want to get too detailed on how to use oracles, or alternative methods to filling the game master role, so here is my suggestion on getting started:
First, find a role playing game you are familiar with and enjoy. Then, make character and find a free adventure for that role playing game.
Finally, follow these three steps:
- Gain Information. At the start of the adventure, this would be reading the introduction. As the adventure continues, this would be continuing to gain information based on character choices.
- Make a Decision. Based on the information you gained, how will your character react or proceed?
- Resolve. Using the game mechanics, what happens when your character makes this decision? Once you’ve resolved, start back at step 1 – what new information can you gain based on the resolution of your character’s decision?
Using this simple 3 step method will get you past the How do I start? step and playing your very first solo RPG!
I Started Playing – But Something isn’t Working
The nature of role playing games is gaming with guidelines. That’s different than boardgames and video games, where the rules are absolute. So it’s completely possible that the way you are approaching solo role playing isn’t fun, or isn’t working quite yet.
First, let’s talk about journaling. During step 3 from above – the resolution step – many solo RPG gamers like to journal as a way to track their story. In fact, it’s so popular, that a whole genre of journaling games has been created as a way to play a solo RPG.
These journaling games can be fun, but aren’t for everyone. I would start by asking yourself – am I playing a journaling game, and am I having fun?
If you’re playing a game you think should work for you, then maybe it’s time to reach out and get help. The solo role playing community on Reddit is, believe it or not, very welcoming and helpful. My Youtube Channel also has some incredibly insightful comments. Ultimately though, you’ll want to watch some videos or reach out to a community and get some tips to solve any problems you are running into.
Finding New Solo RPGs
Whether you’re having a good time playing solo RPGs already, or struggling a bit, sometimes it helps to play an RPG designed specifically for solo RPGs.
There are quite a few out there (like Ironsworn), and any google or Youtube search will give you a good starting list. Here’s two
For example, here are the solo RPGs I’m most excited about for the year 2025.
In general though, trying a popular solo RPG can be helpful when starting out for two reasons. First, they are popular as solo RPGs for a reason – a high number of people have fun playing them. So they are succeeding in their design.
Second, if a lot of people are playing a specific RPG, that usually means there is a community built around that RPG. You’ll be able to get more detailed and specific answers to any questions you may have.
Finally, it can be a lot of fun to try new solo RPGs! You’ll quickly get a sense of what your personal tastes are, what works for you from a design standpoint, and what doesn’t. This will help you figure out what you enjoy in solo RPGs, and lead to more enjoyable gaming experiences!
Growing as a Hobby
At some point, you’ll transition from trying solo RPGs to playing solo RPGs. Congratulations, you’re a solo RPG gamer!
A lot of people find enjoyment and fulfillment from this hobby on their own – and that’s wonderful! That is one of the main draws of the hobby for some people – that they can do it on their own!
Others like to share their experiences, which can be fun to participate in as well. Like I mentioned above, I suggest trying out a community or two, just to see if the social aspect of solo RPGs is fun for you.
Either way, just like video games and board games, there is a little bit for everyone here in this hobby.
Here are some other top tips I have for growing this hobby.
Connect
Thank you for reading! I hope you find what you are looking for, and good luck on your solo RPG journey!
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Thank you for being a fan of games! I’m looking forward to sharing more with you!
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