Generally, I prefer the tactile experience of cards over game pieces. You can hold a bunch of them in your hand. They display more information than tokens and meeples. They’re easier to collect and stow away when you’re done playing. They’re less fiddly overall. Sadly, single-player card games aren’t as common as group card games, and a lot of the ones that do exist are lacking in the kind of gameplay depth you’d more easily find in full-on board games. That said, there are several fun solo card games out there worth playing. Here are some of the best single-player card games you can play alone. Consider adding them to your collection! Note: All of these games are primarily driven by cards, but may also involve other game pieces like dice and tableaus. If cards make up the core gameplay, I consider them to be card games.
12. Hostage Negotiator
Hostage Negotiator puts you in the role of a law enforcement agent who needs to talk down someone who’s taken hostages. Average playing time: 20 to 30 minutes The gameplay involves a card-based hand-building mechanic along with dice, and each turn represents a conversation with the hostage taker. You have to be smart and strategic with your hand, making sure to increase conversation points while lowering the threat level. And there are multiple paths to victory, whether that means successfully talking them down, sending in an extraction team, and more. There are several expansion packs for Hostage Negotiator that each introduce new scenarios and more challenges to take on.
11. Palm Island
Palm Island is an awesome little card game that doesn’t even require a table to play. As the name suggests, you just need one hand to play. Average playing time: 15 to 20 minutes The gameplay involves gathering resources and curating your island, which consists of all the cards you can hold. Seriously, the name is a proper pun: this island is one that fits in the palm of your hand. While Palm Island can be played with two players (either cooperatively or competitively), it’s really the kind of game that’s better off alone—especially because it’s so portable that you can play it ANYWHERE.
10. One Deck Dungeon
One Deck Dungeon is the physical card game manifestation of a roguelike video game: you build a character from the ground up while exploring a dangerous dungeon that’s different every time. Average playing time: 30 to 45 minutes Of course, it’s also heavily simplified—it is, after all, entirely contained within a single deck of 54 custom cards. Fortunately, it packs a lot of punch because each card serves multiple purposes. Not only do cards represent the monsters and hazards you encounter in the dungeon, they also turn into your experience, equipment, and abilities when you defeat them. The deeper you go into the dungeon, the more dangerous it gets—up until you reach the dungeon boss. Note: There’s a standalone expansion called Forest of Shadows that can be played on its own or combined with the original. It has a few more mechanics that increase the fun and challenge.
9. Friday
Based on the story of Robinson Crusoe, Friday has you playing as his companion Friday, whose goal is to help Robinson Crusoe survive the island and prepare to fend off the pirates that are en route. Average playing time: 20 to 30 minutes The gameplay of Friday centers on a deckbuilding mechanic where you need to collect new cards and optimize your deck over time in order to become better at defeating hazards and earning fight cards. Meanwhile, you also have to make sure you play carefully so you don’t lose too many life points—or else he won’t survive! Friday is a superb solo card game for anyone who likes the idea of building and optimizing decks on the fly, mixed with RPG adventure elements.
8. Orchard
Orchard is a clever tile-laying strategy game that’s comprised of nine cards—the cards themselves are the tiles. Average playing time: 10 to 15 minutes Each card has an assortment of six trees on it. The goal is to grow your orchard by playing cards in a way that overlaps with the tree cards already in your orchard. Dice are used to track the harvest of each fruit. Despite simple rules, Orchard has more depth and replayability than you might expect from a game of this size. It qualifies as a micro-game—it only takes 10 minutes to play—so it’s a great option that you can bust out whenever you need a short break.
7. Sylvion
Sylvion is a tower defense-style card game where you build a deck of cards through drafting, then play your cards to defend against waves of attacks. Average playing time: 20 to 30 minutes As the Fire Elemental bears down on your forest, you must do everything you can to keep your forest alive. The cards are played in front of you, with the play area consisting of four rows that represent the enemy waves. While the game is playable with two players cooperatively, it’s better played alone. Sylvion has an easy mode and an advanced mode, as well as expansions and extra challenges if you want to go real hard. Note: Sylvion is part of the Oniverse, a series of lightweight board games that can all be played solo or cooperatively. If you like Sylvion, consider checking out the rest of the series.
6. Food Chain Island
Average playing time: 15 to 20 minutes
5. Sprawlopolis
Average playing time: 15 to 20 minutes
4. Aerion
In Aerion, you’re an inventor of flying machines who’s tasked with building a fleet of airships. Average playing time: 15 to 30 minutes To gather airship components, you roll dice. You can throw away resources to fudge your dice roll results, but don’t go too crazy or else you won’t have enough to complete your fleet. On top of that, you’ll need to acquire the necessary blueprints and hire a helpful crew. Aerion is primarily a card game that’s great whether you play it solo or cooperatively, and it only demands half an hour. If you end up liking it, there are six expansions that evolve the game even further.
3. The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game
The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game is a living card game, which is like a collectible card game except you don’t buy cards individually or in booster packs—you buy preset adventure packs instead. Average playing time: 30 to 60 minutes In this deck construction game, you build up a deck of cards that include heroes, allies, events, and attachments. You’ll be drawing and playing these cards to achieve victory against enemies. The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game is played in campaign style, where each session involves a particular scenario that has several objectives you need to complete before the forces of darkness overwhelm you. For fans of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, few board games offer the same depth and narrative intrigue as this one—and this is just a card game!
2. Marvel Champions: The Card Game
Like The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, Marvel Champions: The Card Game is a living card game that evolves with every expansion. Average playing time: 45 to 90 minutes In this one, you can play as numerous iconic Marvel Universe heroes: Iron Man, Black Panther, Spider-Man, and more. You construct a deck before you play, then use that deck during play to fight Marvel villains. There are multiple scenarios that each play out differently with unique setups and challenges, all while you improve your deck between sessions so that you’re more capable in future scenarios. Of the three living card games featured in this article, Marvel Champions: The Card Game is the most beginner-friendly in terms of complexity, and it also supports four-player coop in the base game.
1. Arkham Horror: The Card Game
Like the previous two games, Arkham Horror: The Card Game is a living card game. The base game has tons of content, and you can expand gameplay further with additional expansions. Average playing time: 60 to 120 minutes In this one, you’re a paranormal investigator who’s tasked with uncovering the Lovecraftian mysteries that plague the quiet town of Arkham—without losing your sanity along the way. Played over numerous scenarios that comprise a campaign, Arkham Horror: The Card Game involves deck construction and upgrades between sessions that make you stronger and more capable. Arkham Horror: The Card Game is the most complex of the living card games on this list, but that complexity shines and delivers one of the richest and most satisfying card game experiences. Read next: The Best Solo Board Games to Play on Your Own, Ranked
