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If your gaming library is stacked with titles like Rushing Beat and Mario Kart, jumping into a game alone can feel like the exact opposite of fun. After all, squadding up with friends, syncing strategies, reviving each other mid-chaos - it can feel like the interactions with other players are the main part of the game, and everything else is just there to facilitate that.

It’s all too easy to think of solo play as something you only do when your friends are offline and that it’s not an enjoyable way to game in its own right. The thing is, though, playing alone isn’t about settling for second best. It could even provide you with a different kind of training ground altogether (vital if you’ve got your sights set on pro competitive play).

Going Solo: A Surprisingly Smart Move

How? Well, when you don't have teammates to rely on, every moment of the game becomes your responsibility. You’re the one who has to notice what’s coming, make decisions on what to do next, and react accordingly if everything starts to go wrong. Far from spiking your cortisol levels, that’s a huge part of what makes playing video games solo so engaging… and it’s where the real growth happens too.

Solo runs don’t just teach you the game. They teach you about you: where you hesitate, where you charge blindly, where you misread the room (or absolutely nail it!). Sure, the thrill of executing a co-op combo can never be replaced, but solo play deserves some time in your arsenal too.

Still not convinced? Read on to discover what else is going on here…

Skills You Can’t Fake

There’s a reason high-level co-op players often train solo. No, it’s not about ego; it’s about carving in those habits they need to be reliable under pressure. Just think about it: when you play alone, there’s no other choice but to level up your tactical awareness! If you want to excel in the game and not get forced out early on, you have to truly see what’s in front of you, be that enemy patterns in an FPS or bottlenecks in a MOBA.

All of this builds up your resilience, and no, you can’t get that when there’s always someone on your squad who’s got your back. You’ll stumble, lose a life or two, but eventually, you’ll improvise your way out of it, and solo-clear a level by the skin of your teeth. Then, when you come back to your ride-or-die and your team’s counting on you mid-mission, you won’t flinch.

Ironically, solo play can even make you better at communication when you then come to play with others. Once you’ve had to analyze a situation yourself and pinpoint with laser-sharp accuracy where the enemy lies, you’ll soon approach co-op gaming with clearer insight. Better plays, more efficient teamwork—all these side-effects soon stack up.

Must-Play Solo Games

Tempted? Let’s run through a few of the top games and gaming genres to check out as a newly initiated solo gamer.

Hold and Win Games

Platforms: PC, iOS, Android

Let’s open with something a little left field. Hold and win titles are an exciting sub-genre in the slots gaming field. They don’t scream “team synergy,” but so what?

Excelling at hold and win games is all about discipline and attention to detail. You’re tracking symbols on a spinning reel, looking for bonuses, and calculating volatility.

There are lots of great games that let you balance the risk-reward element that gives online gambling its thrilling edge. Reading patterns and making instinctive calls: these are both two critical skills that would translate exceedingly well to high-stakes co-op arenas, no?

Plus, the nice thing about hold and win games is that they give your brain a break from what you’re used to and let you stretch different muscles. While practice does make perfect, sometimes repeating something again and again just leaves you frustrated and unable to perform at your best. Switching up your activities and trying something different is a great way to get out of a rut and back to the top of your game.

Into the Breach (2018)

Developer: Subset Games

Platforms: PC, Switch, iOS, Android

If chess and Tower Defense somehow got together and created a monstrous gaming offspring, this would be the result… in the best way possible!

Into the Breach is one of those games that throws you in right at the deep end. How will your decision-making skills stack up? You’ll soon find out when you land on the grid, where one wrong move spells doom. Every turn feels like solving a Rubik’s cube made of monsters, missiles, and earthquakes. But stick with it, because this is where to come if you want to master strategic foresight and contingency planning.

Always missing those LoL macro plays? Load this one up on your nearest device and you’ll soon find a remedy for that.

Slay the Spire (2019)

Developer: MegaCrit

Platforms: PC, Console, Mobile

On paper, this game’s a roguelike deckbuilder. In practice? Now, that’s a totally different story.

Slay the Spire delivers an absolute masterclass in adaptability; each round asks you to build a winning strategy from randomly dealt cards. It’s a gauntlet run and then some, requiring you to adjust on the fly and plan for long-term success, even as the gaming environment morphs around you.

You might not crack it on the first few tries, but who wants to play a game that you can finish in an evening anyway? It’s this fiendishly tricky gameplay that makes Slay the Spire the rare gem that it is. And, when it comes to dusting off your gray matter for those chaotic co-op environments, nothing beats the mental flexibility training this title delivers.

Solo Play is not the Enemy

How does taking a night or two off from that multiplayer sound now? We get it: cooperative gaming will always be your thing—but don’t dismiss the solo grind. Try out the titles we’ve suggested here and let us know how your team play develops. Being a lone wolf now and again might just be your secret weapon.