More Guidance for Solo Play and Some Game Recommendations

gregorymaness
Nov 2, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Nov 6, 2025

It’s a different experience, but a rewarding one.

In two of my previous posts, “Journeying Solo” (https://www.apirateontheprairie.com/post/journeying-solo) and “I’m Playing a Game” (https://www.apirateontheprairie.com/post/i-m-playing-a-game), I mentioned the Geek Gamers YouTube channel and the Geek Gamers’ book, Solo Game Master’s Guide. I recently watched the Geek Gamers video, “Easy and cheap fantasy RPG rules for solo play” (link is provided below), and I perused the comments afterwards. The comment and the subsequent response captured in the screenshot above resonated with me. I too used to play tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) back in the 1980s and early 1990s. And while I fully intend to get together with a group either in person or online in the near-future to play one or more TTRPGs, I too may also find solo gaming to be more practical.

I live in a more rural part of the country and my schedule isn’t conducive to regularly getting together on the weekend with others, although gaming during the week is a possibility. While I know that solo roleplaying is going to be a different experience than gaming with a group, I am further reassured by that comment and response captured above that solo roleplaying is going to scratch an itch and be a rewarding hobby and form of play for me. Perhaps I will even one day write up an account or accounts of the exploits of one or more of my player characters or PCs in the future and post it to this blog.

In the interest of sharing and perhaps giving a friendly, much-needed nudge to someone else that is considering solo roleplaying as a hobby or as an “add-on” activity to complement their regular group gaming sessions, I have included a few links below.

In my post, “Roleplaying on a Budget” (https://www.apirateontheprairie.com/post/roleplaying-on-a-budget), I shared recommendations on how to play TTRPGs for free or at a relatively low cost. If you watch the Geek Gamers’ video, “Easy and cheap fantasy RPG rules for solo play” (click the second link below), you will get some recommendations from someone that has a wealth of practical experience and knowledge regarding the various rules systems and game settings. In her article, “The Solo Roleplaying Mindset” (click the first link below), she lists three of the ten mindsets that she has identified as important ways of thinking if you want to get the most from your solo roleplaying experience. Moreover, she lists three TTRPGs that one might enjoy as a solo gamer.

I have also referenced in a handful of posts my own early experiences with solo roleplaying via the “Alone Against the Flames” adventure contained within the Call of Cthulhu Starter Set. While I can certainly see myself going through that adventure yet again with a different PC, I know that I want to experience the Call of Cthulhu system and setting in other adventures. For that reason, I have picked up a handful of the Alone Against… series of adventures including Alone Against the Tide. The final link below is in regard to the solo adventure, Alone Against the Tide. Check out that fearsome beastie on the cover!

Again, I hope that this encourages you to join me in exploring the hobby of solo roleplaying if you have been considering it. And if you’re curious I encourage you to check out the video and the articles mentioned in this post, as well as any of my relevant posts and the Geek Gamers YouTube channel.