1. Scripted Solo RPGs: Gamebooks
The first type is the scripted solo RPG, which is probably
the easiest place to start.
These games work a bit like interactive novels. You read a
section of the story, make a choice, and then turn to a different section
depending on what you decided.
For example, the book might say:
“You arrive at a fork in the road. Do you take the forest path? Go to section 42. Do you follow the river? Go to section 87.”
Your decisions can lead to different events, endings, and
challenges.
Some gamebooks also include character stats, combat,
equipment, and dice rolls, so they feel very much like traditional RPGs.
Popular examples include the Fighting Fantasy books, Lone Wolf, and DestinyQuest.
You may also be familiar with Choose
Your Own Adventure books, although those tend to be more story-focused
and less game-like.
Scripted games are great if you want a strong story and
clear instructions. You don’t have to create everything from scratch because
the author has already prepared the adventure for you.
The downside is that you’re limited to the choices included
in the book. But for many beginners, that structure is exactly what makes these
games so enjoyable.
2. Sandbox Solo RPGs: Explore Wherever You Want
The next type is the sandbox solo RPG.
Instead of following a fixed story, you create your own
adventure as you play. You might explore a dungeon, travel across a wilderness,
meet strange characters, and discover quests through random tables and dice
rolls.
Games like D100 Dungeon and Five Parsecs from Home are good examples. In sandbox solo RPGs, you roll to find out what
appears in the next room, what kind of enemy you encounter, or what treasure is
waiting for you.
Sandbox games are great if you like freedom. You can decide what your character wants to do, where they go, and what kind of story you want to tell.
Of course, that freedom also means you have to use your
imagination (a lot!). The game may give you a random result, but you decide what it
means in the story.
That can feel strange at first, but it’s also one of the
most exciting parts of solo RPGs. You’re not just playing a story—you’re
discovering it.
3. Solo RPG Systems: Full Rules for a Campaign
Some solo RPGs are complete systems designed to support a
longer campaign.
These games usually include rules for creating a character,
handling combat, resolving challenges, gaining experience, and dealing with the
world around you.
A popular example is Ironsworn, which was
designed specifically for solo, co-op, and guided play. Its science-fiction
counterpart, Starforged, works in a similar way.
You’ll also find solo rules for games that were originally
designed for groups. For example, Scarlet Heroes is built
around solo fantasy adventures, while other RPGs can be played solo with the
help of extra rules or an oracle.
An oracle is simply a tool that helps you answer questions
when there isn’t a game master. You might ask, “Is the door locked?” or “Does
this NPC know anything about the missing person?” Then you roll or draw a card
to find out.
Solo systems are a good choice if you want to follow one
character over a long period of time. You can build their history, develop
relationships, complete quests, and watch them grow.
They can be slightly more complicated than gamebooks, so it
may be worth starting with a rules-light system if you’re completely new.
4. Solo RPG Tools: Oracles, Tables, and Generators
Sometimes you don’t need a complete solo RPG. You might
already have a game you love and just need a little help running it by
yourself.
That’s where solo tools come in.
These tools can generate random encounters, NPC names,
locations, quests, treasure, weather, and all kinds of other details.
One of the best-known examples is Mythic Game MasterEmulator. It helps you ask questions about the world and uses dice rolls to
create unexpected answers.
You can also use tools like UNE: The Universal NPC
Emulator to create interesting characters, or random dungeon and
treasure tables to build adventures as you go.
Think of these tools as a creative partner. You provide the
basic idea, and the tables or dice give you surprises.
For example, you might decide that your character is
investigating an abandoned lighthouse. You roll on a location table and
discover that the lighthouse contains a hidden laboratory. Then you roll for an
NPC and find out that a nervous scholar is hiding inside.
The story develops one decision at a time.
5. Journaling RPGs: Playing Through Creative Writing
Journaling RPGs are ideal if you enjoy creative writing.
Instead of moving miniatures around a map or focusing mainly
on combat, you write about your character’s experiences. You might write diary
entries, letters, reports, or even short pieces of fiction.
Games such as Thousand Year Old Vampire and Apothecaria Solo Potion Making RPG use
prompts to guide your writing.
For instance, a game might ask you to describe the most
important person your character has lost, or explain what they discover in an
old locked room.
You then write the answer as part of the story.
Journaling games can be very personal and atmospheric.
They’re less about winning and more about exploring a character, a setting, or
a particular theme.
All you really need is the game, some paper or a digital
document, and possibly a deck of cards or a few dice.
If you enjoy writing stories but don’t want to plan
everything in advance, journaling RPGs are definitely worth trying.
6. Structured Solo Play: Board Games and Card Games
Finally, we have structured solo games.
These are usually closer to traditional board games, but
they often include roleplaying elements such as character progression,
exploration, equipment, and story events.
Examples include One Deck Dungeon, Mage
Knight, The 7th Continent, and The Isofarian Guard.
These games generally have clear rules and objectives. You
may explore a map, defeat enemies, collect resources, or complete a particular mission.
The advantage is that everything is laid out in front of
you. Cards, tokens, maps, and dice tell you what options are available, so you
don’t have to invent quite as much.
This makes structured games a good choice if you enjoy
strategy and tactical decisions.
They may not provide quite as much creative freedom as a
sandbox or journaling RPG, but they can be very satisfying—especially if you
like seeing your character become stronger and making clever decisions with
limited resources.
So, Which Type Should You Try?
If you want a story that is already prepared for you, start
with a scripted gamebook.
If you want to explore and create your own adventure, try
a sandbox RPG such as D100 Dungeons or Ironsworn.
If you want a long-term campaign, choose a full solo
RPG system.
If you already have a favorite RPG, use oracles,
tables, and generators to help run it solo.
If you enjoy writing, try a journaling game like Thousand
Year Old Vampire.
And if you prefer clear rules, cards, and tactical
decisions, a structured solo board game might be the best fit.
The great thing about solo RPGs is that you can play in
whatever way works for you. You don’t need a group, a game master, or even a
large collection of equipment.
All you need is a little curiosity, some dice or cards, and
a willingness to see where the adventure takes you.