Over the past decade, video games have developed the ability to deliver deeply emotional single-player narratives. Surprisingly, the recent boom in solo tabletop role-playing games has proven that traditional pen-and-paper RPGs can evoke just as much emotion, if not more.
Historically, tabletop RPGs have been known for bringing people together to share laughs and take on monsters. Even though older games often had dramatic moments—particularly with the rise of narrative-driven gaming in the ’90s—the latest generation of game designers has managed to capture the profound and almost introspective nature of solo tabletop RPGs.
Here’s a look at a few games guaranteed to stir your emotions and leave you pondering long after you’ve finished.
One standout is “Midnight Melodies,” created by a multi-talented designer renowned for his work in gaming, architecture, and music. In this game, players step into the shoes of a jazz pianist who finds Death can’t claim them. Instead, Death recruits you into the Department of Unauthorized Deaths, tasking you with unraveling the stories of those who died too soon. Each evening, after your jazz club performance, you piece together these tales and convey your discoveries to the Grim Reaper through song.
In addition to “Midnight Melodies,” this designer has crafted several other engaging solo experiences, including the ghost-hunting “Wraithhound,” the CRiT Award-winning “Not A Demon” from 2023, and “Insurgent,” a dynamic game that can be played solo or with a group, where players aim to dismantle a tyrannical regime.
Another remarkable title is “Galatea,” inspired by the Greek myth of a statue given life. This story revolves around a creation by a brilliant yet isolated and troubled artist. As this perfect creation, you’re burdened with the need to maintain your flawless state. This narrative delves into themes of dependency and the crushing weight of others’ expectations. Employing the Wretched & Alone system, the game’s tension mounts as you carefully extract pieces from a wooden block tower. The game’s cover references the Japanese art of Kitsugi, symbolizing the golden repair of broken pottery, perfectly encapsulating the theme of restoration.
S. Kaiya, the mind behind “Galatea,” has also developed other compelling solo games such as “Untitled Moth Game,” which explores making promises that can’t be kept, and “you, beyond the pale,” a daily ritual game where players assume the role of a unique monster observing humans.
Internationally acclaimed designer momatoes creates games that are as much art pieces as they are emotional experiences. With a background in graphic design, momatoes uniquely blends visual beauty with innovative game mechanics. One of their accessible works is “Farewell, Goodnight,” which examines the harsh realities of memory loss during electroshock therapy in a mid-century psychiatric setting, all through the uncertainty of dice rolls.
For a more mechanically complex experience, “The Magus” transports you into the role of a wizard seeking supreme magical powers. Unlike many journaling games, “The Magus” involves intricate mechanics where players roll dice as they teeter between control and chaos, power and vulnerability, all while forming human connections that tether them to reality. The original version is available for purchase, with pre-orders open for the second edition.
