Best Solo Detective Games to Play at Home

Solo Detective Play

Playing a detective game alone is more fun than most people realize. While board games require you to have people around, when playing murder mystery case files, I always prefer to do them alone. There are 2 main reasons for this. Number one, if the puzzles and clues in the game are too easy for me, I prefer to just breeze through it quickly and move onto the the next. When other people are there that maybe aren’t as used to these games as I am, they’ll spend 30 minutes on something that seemed pretty obvious to me.

Number two, is basically the opposite of number one. If a case is too difficult for me, and friends are breezing through it. I often find it difficult for people to explain things to me. If I get stuck on a puzzle or clue, I need to sit down and figure it out for myself. Having a group trying to quickly explain something so they can move to the next objective is more frustrating than fun. Everyone is different, and lots of people find group play more fun and interesting, but I much prefer it my way.

Solo Suitability by Format

Case Files – The Best Solo Format

Every Print Mysteries case is designed for 1 player, but can be played in groups of up to 4 people. You get realistic evidence like interrogation transcripts, photographs, maps, secret messages, newspaper clippings, etc. and you’ll have to sit and connect the dots like a real detective. Now imagine a group of detective all trying to input their point of view into your case. There would be a lot of talking and very little investigation. So groups are kept small for that very reason, but if it were real life, you’d work the case much faster and intricately if handled alone.

We use multiple objectives to keep the game moving forward and the story interesting. Older cases would give you all the evidence at once and tell you to figure out the killer. However, most of the cases I tested out had various threads that the designer had overlooked which led me in direction they had never intended, and nowhere near the actual identity of the killer. With objectives, you might identify which suspects lied about their alibi in the first objective, and slowly wittle down the remaining suspects one by one with each new objective. You also unlock additional evidence and story with each objective, so you’re certain to be heading in the right direction.

If you’re playing alone, I always recommend starting with a medium difficulty game. These games are far from easy, and will give you many challenging hours, but it’s the absolute best way to start and get accustomed to the gameplay. Harmony Seascape is a good starting point. Games like Catalog of Suspicion and Hiking Trails of Betrayal are very hard and are designed to stump you. If you start with these, you’ll might be more frustrated. Do these last.

Recommended Cases for Solo Play

How Long Do Detective Games Take When Playing Alone?

It’s really difficult to say. Solo players can take longer than groups with these types of games, or they might finish faster. With groups, you have more minds to work on each puzzle, but you also have more chatter and random conversation popping up. In my experience, I’d say that for beginners, it’ll take you a little longer alone, but once you’re used to these types of games, it’ll be much faster alone.

PLaying a case alone means that you are responsible for the entire investigative load. For me, I find this to be a very, very satisying experience for a Friday night, when I just want to relax after a long work week. For more info, here’s what to expect on time across nine case file brands with player-reported data.

Escape Room Box Games for Solo Play

Escape room game are a lot of fun. They are made for people that love really difficult puzzles. These types of games usually need you to solve a mystery or escape a room/building of some type within the story. You’ll do this by completing puzzles and deciphering secret codes. It’s basically the board game version of real escape rooms that you’ll find in most major cities.

As with real escape rooms that have a set slot of 1-2 hours, these games have a similar running time. They’re shorter than murder mystery case files, but usually have harder puzzles. I’d recommend giving both a try and seeing which type you find more enjoyable.

One practical note: Some escape room games have you bend, cut and destroy some of their components during play. You’ll have to cut, fold, and mark cards as part of solving the puzzles. This means that the games usually need to be thrown away after your first play. You can’t pass the game to a friend or replay it a few years down the line.

Board Games With Solo Modes

Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game by Portal Games is a modern detective board game that works well for solo play. The official solo rules are well-developed and the online evidence network system keeps things fun for solo players. It’s got a lot of analytical work that works best alone. Each case takes 2-3 hours.

Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective by Space Cowboys can also be played solo. It has an open-world case structure that makes it fun to experience alone – like a “choose your own adventure” book. There is a lot of reading with these types of cases, more than other board games, but if you don’t mind that, I’m certain you’ll enjoy this one.

These are simply a few of the games that I own, but you’ll need to check the listing for all games you’re interested in before purchasing. All good games will have information on their listings on how many people are required to play their games.

Subscription Boxes for Solo Players

I mentioned subscription boxes earlier, and I just want to go a little deeper into that. I feel that subscription boxes are better for group play. They look good and feel good, but for a one-time play game, they’re a very expensive past time for a single person. Here’s how they compare to case files – the value gap is even wider when you factor in that a $34.99 monthly delivery is not being split between multiple people.

What I’ve Noticed About Solo Players

Solo players who try Print Mysteries cases for the first time always have a great time (especially when they start with a medium-difficulty case first). These types of games are designed for 1 person, and can be played by a group. So solo play isn’t an afterthought, but a key part of the game design.

These types of games are meant to challenge you and make you think hard with each new case. So newer players will get stuck more often, but we have multiple optional hints in place to help you out. Hints will only nudge you in the right direction, not outright give you the answer. As you look at more and more hints, they’ll get more precise.

To me, case files are best experienced alone. Detective games in the Sherlock Holmes tradition are all created for one reader/one player. They’re designed for a lone investigator who has to reason their way to the end of the mystery. Our modern case files are direct descendants.

Related Reading

For more info, check out our full comparison of detective games for home play. It’s worth reading if you’re still deciding between formats.

Frequently Asked Questions