As winter looms, check out this list of one player board games for kids! These games can all be played alone (and many of them can also be played by more than one, so they’re versatile) without losing any of the fun, and are a great way for kids to have fun by themselves. This is a mix of games that we own and ones I’ve just read about, so if you have personal recommendations please leave them in the comments! If you’re looking for other ideas of how to help kids entertain themselves, also check out my craft blog where I share sewing projects kids can make and hand embroidery patterns for kids!
If you like this post, you might like these too!
- 100 Things Kids Can Learn with homeschool board games aka gameschooling
- Educational games to play with uno cards
- 10 Best Family Board Games for All Ages
- The secrets to playing board games on a budget
- Energy busting toys & activities for indoor play
Pin this list of good one player board games for kids with this link or collage image:
Good one player board games for kids
When you’re shopping for games, consider looking on Facebook marketplace for secondhand, buying from your local, small board game shop/toy shop, searching on Ebay, or checking Kidizen for used games. These are linked to Amazon for convenience but we’d much prefer you shop secondhand and/or small when you’re able!
If you’re not a big board game player, please note that the minimum ages are often higher than most people experience. If you’re unsure, I’d recommend skimming Amazon reviews to see what age kids have been loving it!
Find It
A solo I-Spy game, this has kids shaking and twisting to find tiny little objects inside! You could add in a timer element if they want to compete against themselves, or have them make up a story based around the objects they find.
Shop: Amazon – Ebay
- Number of Players: 1
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 5+
- Prerequisite skills: Technically you’d have to read to figure out the specific prompts since they’re text and not illustrations, but all kids will love sifting it around to spot things.
Operation
A classic, this game is a great way to work on hand strength and fine motor control! I highly recommend adding a little baggie to keep all the pieces nice and organized inside the box.
Shop: Amazon – Ebay – Target – it also comes in some fun themes like Chewbacca or Buzz Lightyear.
- Number of Players: 1+
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 6+
- Prerequisite skills: Reading is technically required to know the amounts for the different body parts, but kids can easily play off the pictures and not do the money part, or simply practice taking all the body parts out and in and again.
Castle Logix
This quiet logic-based puzzle game has a book of challenges designed to puzzle all ages. The pieces are sturdy and made from wood, which makes them hard to lose or break. This has been a longtime favorite in our house.
Shop: Amazon – Ebay – Target
- Number of Players: 1
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 3+
- Prerequisite skills: None
Laser Maze
This is a unique and exciting logic game that my kids have had fun playing! The laser makes it feel special, especially if your kids like spy-stuff.
Shop: Amazon – Ebay
- Number of Players: 1
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 8+
- Prerequisite skills: This game doesn’t require any reading, but it does require the self control to not shine the laser in eyes or pry apart for the (potentially dangerous) watch battery component.
Rollercoaster Challenge
This game sometimes challenges my kids’ patience because you have to get the pieces just right, but it’s great practice and the premise of building rollercoasters is very fun.
Shop: Amazon – Ebay
- Number of Players: 1
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 6+
- Prerequisite skills: No reading required but some patience for challenge and dexterity, the pieces aren’t always an easy fit.
Cat Crimes
We haven’t played this one but have read lots of great things in that it’s easy to play and a big hit with kids; it’s a classic logic game that helps strengthen reading comprehension and accuracy with a fun theme.
Shop: Amazon – Ebay – Target
- Number of Players: 1
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 8+
- Prerequisite skills: Reading is required.
Castle Panic
Perfect for castle/knight lovers, this has been my 7 year old’s favorite game for the past year. It is cooperative if you play with more than one person, but easily played solo as you roll the dice and try to protect your castle. A nice mix of logic and luck.
Shop: Amazon – Ebay – Target
- Number of Players: 1-6
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 10+
- Prerequisite skills: No reading required; rules are more complex than the straightforward logic games.
Kanoodle
Similar to a 3D tetris, this game is very portable and straightforward. My 5 year old likes it just as much as my 7 year old, and it’s great to slip into a purse for dinners out.
Shop: Amazon – Ebay – Target
- Number of Players: 1
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 7+
- Prerequisite skills: None
Rush Hour
This is a classic single player logic game, and for good reason! We haven’t owned it but have played it out and about, it is cute and easy to play.
Shop: Amazon – Ebay – Target
- Number of Players: 1
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 8+
- Prerequisite skills: None
Balance Beans
We haven’t tried this one but it is a cute spin on single player logic games, I like how happy the little beans look!
Shop: Amazon
- Number of Players: 1
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 5+
- Prerequisite skills: None
Railroad Ink
I haven’t read a ton about this game but it looks pretty and the reviews are compelling. No reading required and simple to learn, it seems to work as well in groups as it does solo. A mix of luck and strategy, it sounds somewhat similar to Carcassone with more drawing instead of manipulatives.
Shop: Amazon – Ebay
- Number of Players: 1-6
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 8+
- Prerequisite skills: None
Code Master
We haven’t played this but it is frequently recommended for a coding skill-building option that doesn’t require a screen.
Shop: Amazon – Ebay
- Number of Players: 1
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 8+
- Prerequisite skills: None
Witchy Kitty
This game was recommended in a board game facebook group and it looks like a lot of fun! There are challenge cards ranging in difficulty that require you to change the bewitched cat back to her regular self.
Shop: Amazon – Ebay
- Number of Players: 1+
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 8+
- Prerequisite skills: We haven’t played this one but it doesn’t appear that reading is strictly required although there is some text on the cards; addition & subtraction is required.
Tiny Epic Defenders
The text in the Amazon listing is incorrect, if you zoom in on the box you can see that it is listed as a solo player game option, and my kiddo has played it that way! The age minimum seems way high here, he is 7 and enjoys this game. This is a cooperative style game and has lots of tiny tiny pieces, so only a good fit for conscientious kids.
Shop: Amazon – Ebay
- Number of Players: 1-4
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 14+
- Prerequisite skills: Reading is required but not necessarily at a super high level, once you’ve played it a few times, it isn’t hard to recognize numbers/ranks.
Terraforming Mars
This is a very popular resource-building game that is cooperative style and strategy heavy. Popular with older kids and adults alike!
Shop: Amazon – Ebay – Target
- Number of Players: 1-5
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 12+
- Prerequisite skills: Fluent reading, plenty of mental math, complicated rule tolerance.
Wingspan
We haven’t played this but it is on my wish list! A beautiful way to be introduced to a bunch of different bird breeds, this game has been very popular in game groups and has a nice blend of ways to earn points.
Shop: Amazon – Ebay
- Number of Players: 1-5
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 10+
- Prerequisite skills: Fluent reading.
Choose Your Own Adventure: House of Danger
This cooperative game plays just like the book as you try to escape while encountering different obstacles and collective objects! A great way to build vocabulary and work on reading skills when the traditional books might be daunting because of their density.
Shop: Amazon – Ebay – Target
- Number of Players: 1+
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 10+
- Prerequisite skills: Advanced reading required when playing solo.
Roll Player
We haven’t played this one; it looks like a dice-heavy light role playing game where you create a character, perfect for kids who like story-building!
Shop: Amazon – Ebay
- Number of Players: 1-4
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 14+
- Prerequisite skills: Fluent reading.
Teotihuacan City of the Gods
We haven’t played this, but it is considered a mid-weight game with lots of strategy and replayability as players manage resources and compete against one another or themselves.
Shop: Amazon – Ebay
- Number of Players: 1-4
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 14+
- Prerequisite skills: Complicated rule tolerance.
Tapestry
We haven’t tried this, but it looks like a great blend of civilization building with a mix of card and 3D game components. This is a longer, very complex game for kids and adults who have already played non-traditional “euro style” games and want more!
Shop: Amazon – Ebay – Target
- Number of Players: 1-5
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 14+
- Prerequisite skills: Fluent reader, complicated rule tolerance.
Eldritch Horror
We haven’t played this but it has a big reputation for adults and older kids who like complicated games full of spooky details. With complex gameplay and high replayability, the story-telling in this Lovecraftian game is well known for being fun!
Shop: Amazon – Ebay – Target
- Number of Players: 1-8
- Manufacturer Age Recommendation: 14+
- Prerequisite skills: Fluent reading and long game tolerance.
Leave a Reply