In a world dominated by online multiplayer and live service games, single-player experiences remain the backbone of gaming. Whether you crave a deep narrative, a tactical challenge, or a relaxing afternoon on the fairway, 2025 offers an incredible array of solo adventures. This guide brings together the best recommendations across genres, answers whether popular online games can be played alone, and provides handy setup tips. Let’s dive into your next solo journey.
The Best Story-Driven Single-Player Games
For those who play games to get lost in a compelling tale, the current landscape is richer than ever. These titles prioritize character development, world-building, and player choice, delivering experiences that feel like interactive novels or films. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remains a gold standard, with its morally gray quests and expansive world. Red Dead Redemption 2 offers a slow-burn masterpiece of loyalty and loss, while Cyberpunk 2077, now fully refined, delivers a neon-drenched story of identity. If you prefer narrative innovation, Disco Elysium replaces combat with dialogue and inner voices, and Baldur’s Gate 3 brings tabletop freedom to life with unforgettable companion arcs. On consoles, God of War (2018) and Ragnarök blend epic myth with a father-son journey, while The Last of Us Part I and Part II push emotional storytelling to harrowing limits. All of these are playable at your own pace, with no online requirements.
First-Person Shooters with Incredible Solo Campaigns
Single-player FPS games have evolved far beyond simple shooting galleries, often delivering explosive set-pieces and genuine narrative weight. On PC, Doom Eternal is a masterclass in fluid combat and resource management, while Titanfall 2 offers one of the most imaginative campaigns of all time, built around a pilot-mech bond. The Wolfenstein series (especially The New Order and The New Colossus) reimagines history with stylish, Nazi-punching action. For a more atmospheric experience, Metro Exodus blends survival and exploration in a post-apocalyptic Russia.
World War II Campaigns on PS5
If you’re specifically after historical World War II settings, the PS5 hosts several standout solo campaigns. Sniper Elite 5 emphasizes stealth and satisfying long-range kills, with large sandbox maps you can tackle freely. Call of Duty: Vanguard, despite being a multiplayer-focused entry, includes a cinematic campaign spanning multiple theaters of war. For a grittier, more tactical approach, Hell Let Loose might be too team-oriented for pure solo play, but Enlisted offers solo-friendly custom matches against bots. Even older titles like Battlefield V hold up well, especially its “War Stories” that focus on smaller, character-driven missions.
Space Exploration and Sandbox: Games Like EVE Online for Solo Pilots
EVE Online’s emergent universe is a multiplayer phenomenon, but you can capture its sense of vastness and economic depth without the PvP. X4: Foundations is the go-to recommendation: a single-player space sim where you can trade, mine, build stations, and command fleets in a living economy. Elite Dangerous offers a Solo mode that shares the same galaxy, letting you haul cargo or dogfight without interference. For a more relaxing, colorful sandbox, No Man’s Sky lets you explore procedurally generated planets, build bases, and follow a narrative thread entirely offline. Avorion allows you to design your own ships and conquer a procedurally generated galaxy at your own pace. These games capture the freedom of EVE while respecting your desire to play alone.
Single-Player Fighting Games Worth Your Time
Fighting games are often seen as competitive multiplayer affairs, but many now feature robust solo content. Street Fighter 6 introduced World Tour, a full-fledged RPG-style campaign where you create a character and learn moves while exploring a semi-open world. Mortal Kombat 1 (and its predecessor Mortal Kombat 11) delivers cinematic story modes that are as much about spectacle as fighting. Injustice 2 builds on that with a loot system that rewards extended solo play. For anime fans, Guilty Gear Strive offers a beefy story mode, and Tekken 8 brings back its classic narrative with gorgeous visuals. If you want something more niche, Soulcalibur VI features a lengthy story and a create-a-soul mode that provides hours of single-player entertainment.
Golf Games to Play Solo on Steam Deck
The Steam Deck’s portability makes it a perfect platform for unwinding with a round of golf. For sim fans, PGA Tour 2K23 delivers a deep career mode, course designer, and smooth performance on Deck. EA Sports PGA Tour offers stunning graphics and licensed majors but requires tweaking settings for optimal battery life. If you prefer something lighter, Golf Story blends classic RPG elements with arcade golfing and a charming story, while its sequel, Sports Story, expands the concept to other sports. Cursed to Golf is a roguelike where you are trapped in golf purgatory, requiring clever shot selection and power-ups. For pure silliness, What the Golf? subverts every rule of the sport in increasingly absurd ways. All of these run beautifully on the Deck for solo sessions.
Going Solo in Online Worlds: MMOs, Military Sims, and Live Services
Not every game was built for solo play, but many can be adapted. Here’s how three popular online genres hold up when you go it alone.
Elder Scrolls Online in 2025
Yes, you can absolutely enjoy ESO as a single-player game. With the One Tamriel update, all zones scale to your level, so you can quest in any order. The game now features companions, AI partners who fight alongside you, making soloing even group dungeons possible. Rich fully voiced quests, housing, and solo arenas like Maelstrom Arena provide hundreds of hours of content without ever needing another player. PvP areas are optional, and story instances are instanced to you alone. The only hard requirements are an internet connection and the free-to-play base game, which already includes massive story arcs.
Is Arma Reforger Worth It for Single-Player?
Arma Reforger is primarily a multiplayer military sim, and its single-player value depends on your expectations. You can play “Conflict” mode against AI bots and use the Game Master mode to set up scenarios, but the AI is functional, not brilliant. There is no dedicated campaign. If you love tinkering in the editor and creating your own missions, it can be rewarding. For most solo gamers, however, the price tag is hard to justify unless you plan to join multiplayer sessions occasionally. For a deeper single-player military experience, consider Arma 3 with its extensive campaign and user-created scenarios.
Single-Player Live Service Games
The term “live service single-player” sounds contradictory, but many games blur the line. Destiny 2 has a sprawling campaign, seasonal stories, and Legendary difficulty designed for solo play across most activities except raids. Warframe offers hundreds of hours of soloable missions and quests, with optional co-op. The Division 2 entirely supports solo play through its campaign and open-world activities. Path of Exile is fundamentally a solo ARPG with optional trading and partying. These games require an internet connection and regular updates, but you can treat them as massive single-player experiences if you avoid the social hubs.
How to Start Donkey Kong Bananza in 2-Player Mode with Single Joy-Cons
If you want to jump into Donkey Kong Bananza with a friend (or even control both characters yourself), setting up 2-player mode with a single pair of Joy-Cons is straightforward. From the main menu, select “2-Player Mode,” then at the controller assignment screen, detach both Joy-Cons and press the SL and SR buttons on each to pair them as individual controllers. The game will recognize each as a separate input. You can now play the entire game in local co-op, each using one Joy-Con. This setup is also handy if you want to handle split-screen solo to tackle challenges that require two characters simultaneously.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the absolute best story-driven single-player games?
This is subjective, but consistently top-rated titles include The Witcher 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, God of War (2018), The Last of Us Part I, and Baldur’s Gate 3. All offer rich narratives, memorable characters, and no multiplayer requirements.
Can I play Elder Scrolls Online completely solo in 2025?
Yes. ESO is more solo-friendly than ever thanks to level scaling, AI companions, and instanced story content. You can complete quests, explore, and even tackle many group dungeons alone. Only specific end-game trials and PvP zones require a group.
Is Arma Reforger a good single-player game?
Not really for most players. While it offers bot matches and a scenario editor, the lack of a campaign and basic AI means it is best as a multiplayer sandbox. If you want a solo military simulator, Arma 3 is a much better investment.
What single-player FPS games should I try on PC?
Doom Eternal, Titanfall 2, Wolfenstein: The New Order, Metro Exodus, and Cyberpunk 2077 (played as a shooter) are must-plays. Each delivers a unique campaign with fantastic gunplay and story elements.
How do I play Donkey Kong Bananza in 2-player mode with single Joy-Cons?
Select 2-Player Mode from the main menu, detach the Joy-Cons, and press SL and SR on each to pair them as individual controllers. Then start the game. This allows two players to share a single pair of Joy-Cons.
Are there any live service games that can be played solo?
Absolutely. Games like Destiny 2, Warframe, The Division 2, and Path of Exile all feature substantial solo campaigns, matchmaking options for story missions, and scalable difficulty that makes playing alone viable for hundreds of hours.
