Every time someone asks for a free solo role playing game, they seem to be recommended Ironsworn. I’m still trying to figure it out myself, and a 262-page rule book isn’t exactly the most beginner friendly game.
Here are 5 free games that are a little more approachable for new players:
In the Quiet Hours
A solo game about wandering the night. Prompts evoke a dreamlike state, capturing the wistful nostalgia of walking alone bathed in the street lights. Rules are short and simple, with a richly varied oracle.
What you’ll need to play:
- A deck of cards
- 5 tokens (can be coins, beads, small leaves, whatever!)
- A journal
One Page Left
A horror game inspired by slasher movies, One Page Left gives you a creepy memento of your struggle at the end of your session. This is a fun and short game, with a ton of different possibilities!
This game is pay what you want, and the devs even included a playlist to go along with the game.
What you’ll need to play:
- Six-sided die (d6)
- Sheet of paper (notebook or printer paper works great)
- Red pen
- Black pen
- Marker
The Wandering Library
Another name-your-own-price game, the Wandering Library is a cozy solo ttrpg version of Tiny Bookshop. It’s a very open-ended game that lets you decide how long you want to stay in each area, and how many prompts you wish to answer.
There’s also The Wandering Teashop from the same developers, if that’s more your speed!
What you’ll need to play:
- Two six-sided die (d6)
- Journal
Cat Quest
This is a kitty themed hex crawler, where you meow, pounce, and hunt your way to the city of cats.
What you’ll need to play:
- Printed character sheet
- Six-sided die (d6)
Iron Valley
Is it cheating to include this one? …probably! Iron Valley is a hack based on the Ironsworn System, designed to mimic a Stardew Valley/farming sim experience. Even though it’s based on Ironsworn, the rules are much simpler and the game is slower paced. You have no health points and the game focuses simply on fulfilling promises and time passing. The rule book offers a guided setup that helps you decide what kind of town you want to play in, who lives in your town (YES, you can make an Animal Crossing town!), and whether magic exists. It’s adorable and worth the effort to pick up the rules.
What you’ll need to play:
- 2 10-sided die (d10)
- 1 6-sided dice (d6)
- Iron Valley character sheets/rulebook
Want More Suggestions?
Check out itch.io’s top free solo RPGs!
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