Why I love solo RPGs and why you should too.

Time to get your solo game on!

This is both a confession and an invitation. Some people keep journals, some people tell stories at the table.  I happen to do both at once, and that’s why I love solo RPGs. They’re small, personal stories that light up unexpected corners of your imagination, just you and a story unfolding. If you’ve ever daydreamed your way through a book, you’ve already brushed up against what makes solo RPGs great - the quiet magic of finding yourself inside a tale only you could tell.

I’m Chris, and I design solo RPGs. I also play a lot of them, much to the horror of my wallet and book shelves. This blog is where I’ll share that love with you: reviews of the games that have surprised and inspired me, design diaries from my own projects, and the occasional ramble about what makes a good game tick. Think of this as an open journal crossed with a late-night conversation as we explore the strange, wonderful world of solo play.

Now, if you’re thinking “Chris, I just don’t see the point of solo play.  I like playing with a group and how do I even know if I’m doing it right?”, I’m here to give you five reasons why you’re exactly the sort of person who should give solo RPGs a try.

1. You can still play when others aren’t around. 

During the pandemic, I played a lot of RPGs. Sure, they were over Zoom, but we started early, ran late, and for a while it felt just like the epic years of high school when we could play all night. With nowhere else to be, everyone had time for storytelling. But once the world opened back up and schedules filled, the inevitable ‘can’t make it tonight’ started creeping in again. The thing is, I crave those chances to tell stories and solo RPGs became the way to keep that joy alive, even when I was the only one at the table.

If you’ve ever had a campaign stall out, or wished you could play when the group wasn’t available, solo RPGs are the answer. They travel with you, they fit into whatever time you have, and they keep your creativity flowing. Whether your group only meets once a month, takes a break for the holidays, or life just gets in the way, solo RPGs let you keep exploring, imagining, and telling stories, no scheduling required.

2. Total freedom.

I love exploring game systems and seeing what other designers are coming up with, but in a group setting the system rarely changes. And that makes sense because game books are expensive, and switching systems just to try something new can be frustrating. I know people who are still running 2nd edition D&D for exactly that reason. Sometimes I want to explore when my group wants combat. Sometimes I’m in the mood for cosmic horror while the group is excited about high fantasy.  While I love storytelling with others, every now and then I crave something that isn’t what the table is doing right now.

That’s where solo RPGs shine. When you play alone, you have complete creative control. You set the tone, choose the themes, and decide the pace. Your playlist. Your snacks. Your style. It’s your chance to explore that system you’ve been curious about or dive into a setting that speaks directly to you with no compromises required.

3. Artistic Expression.

I love props in games, almost as much as I love gaming itself, and solo RPGs are the perfect chance to go all out on the artistry. The games that stick with me most are the ones that lean into this kind of creative expression. I sketched alien plants in Exclusion Zone Botanist from Exeunt Press. I built a model of my bookstore-boat in Ella Lim's Fox Curio’s Floating Bookshop. I even used my phone to produce an actual “late-night radio broadcast” in Void 1680AM by Ken Lowrey. The more a game invites artistic expression, the more I fall in love with it.

And here’s the secret: you don’t have to think of yourself as ‘creative’ to enjoy this. Solo RPGs are an open invitation to play with whatever tools inspire you - craft supplies, soundboards, baking, watercolors, you name it. Always wanted to paint? Grab a cheap set of watercolors and illustrate scenes from your story. Love building? Construct your spaceship from LEGOS or cereal boxes and paper towel tubes. The point isn’t to make an Instagram-worthy masterpiece — it’s simply to enjoy the act of making, just for yourself.

4. Worldbuilding for group games.

I’ve been a game master for a long time, and as I’ve gotten older my time available for prep has gotten shorter. Luckily, it’s a great time to be a GM because there are so many talented people creating tools to make running games easier. One of my favorites? Solo RPGs. In playthroughs of my own game, The Sylvan, one piece of feedback stood out: when playtesters finished, they felt like they’d created the bones of a campaign they could take straight to their group.

That’s the magic. Play through a hex-crawl like Miru by HINOKODO or Blackoath's Broken Shores and you’re not just entertaining yourself, you’re building worlds. Later, you can riff on what you discovered to run fresh adventures for others. Stuck for inspiration before game night? Pull an idea from your last solo session, and suddenly you’ve got an adventure that feels alive and ready to go.

5. It’s meditative.

When I finished my first solo RPG, I was surprised by how peaceful I felt. That feeling has returned again and again, not because I only play cozy games (I don’t), but because the act of reading prompts and interpreting oracles forces me to slow down and focus on what’s right in front of me. I’ve long been a proponent of mindfulness, and while I value a good 'be still and check in with my body' moment, sometimes my brain just isn’t ready to cooperate. But gathering dice, cards, and art supplies, and settling into a solo RPG creates a ritual that tells my mind: ah, we’re doing this now. Let’s focus.

The third appendix of Tim Hutching's Thousand Year Old Vampire, has a whole mechanic for encouraging players to pause and check in with themselves during solo play.  It may seem odd to do that in a game that is just you, but it’s a great reminder to notice how your story makes you feel. Solo table-top RPGs invite this kind of self-reflection in a way solo video games rarely do. Because you’re the one envisioning the world, your responses often reveal what matters to you.  They might even catch you off guard with a quiet “hmmm” moment. It’s not therapy, but it can be deeply therapeutic, shining light into corners you didn’t know were there.

So there you have it: five reasons why I love solo TTRPGs, and why I think you should give them a try. If any of these ideas spark your interest, I’d encourage you to start with my game The Sylvan. It’s a solo journaling adventure of mapmaking, travel, and problem-solving, where you’ll use your powers and resources to aid the people of the Four Worlds… or perhaps become the harbinger of disaster.

I hope you’ll join me here again as I share more about my own games and design process, and spotlight the many other designers creating incredible work in this growing corner of the hobby. You can find Scrap Yarn Games on Substack (for those sweet email reminders) and on Bluesky for social updates, with Facebook and Instagram coming soon!