Polygon’s Gen Con 2026 coverage put a fresh round of tabletop releases in front of a lot of readers, and the same question always follows: what do you play when nobody else is around. The best solo board game apps for Android answer that. They ship with a proper single-player mode, either a bot that plays like a real opponent or a puzzle-shaped design meant for one player from day one, and they let you finish a game on a train or in a hotel room without waiting for a lobby to fill.
We looked at eight Android ports of solo-friendly tabletop games and one solo-only roguelike deckbuilder that keeps showing up in the same conversations. Every pick has a working offline mode, saved games, and either an AI opponent or a scripted solo challenge. This list is for players who want tabletop depth on a phone screen without a group chat.
What to look for in a solo board game app
Digital board games translate to one-player mode unevenly. A few things separate the good solo ports from the ones that treat it as an afterthought.
- Real solo mode, not just an AI at the multiplayer table. The strongest solo designs (Onirim, Friday, Terraforming Mars solo challenges) were built as a one-player puzzle, so the app inherits that. Ports that only offer “1 human vs 1 bot” often feel thin.
- An automated opponent worth playing. When the game needs a rival to work (Wingspan, Race for the Galaxy, Ascension), the Automa or AI has to make real decisions, not random ones. Look for adjustable difficulty.
- No lobby wait. A solo app should launch and be playable in under 30 seconds. If it forces a login or drops you into a matchmaking queue, the friction ruins the pick-up-and-play use case.
- Save mid-game. Tabletop turns are long. If a match takes 40 minutes and the app can’t resume where you left off after a phone call, it isn’t a phone game.
- Offline. Commutes and flights are where solo board game apps earn their keep. Anything that requires a live connection for single-player is out.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Solo style | Offline | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onirim | Pure solitaire card puzzle | Scripted solo | Yes | About $4 one-time |
| Terraforming Mars | Deep strategy sim | Solo score challenges + AI | Yes | About $9 one-time |
| Wingspan: The Board Game | Engine building with a bot | Automa opponent | Yes | About $10 one-time |
| Race for the Galaxy | Fast AI card game | 1v1 or 1v2 AI | Yes | About $7 one-time |
| Friday | Solitaire deckbuilder | Scripted solo | Yes | About $2 one-time |
| Pandemic: The Board Game | Cooperative played solo | Multi-role cooperative | Yes | About $7 one-time |
| Ascension: Deckbuilding Game | Deckbuilder with AI | AI opponent | Yes | Free base + IAP |
| Slay the Spire | Solo roguelike deckbuilder | Solo only, run-based | Yes | About $10 one-time |
The 8 best solo board game apps for Android in 2026
1. Onirim, the pure solo card game
Onirim is the digital port of Shadi Torbey’s Oniverse card game, and it’s one of the few tabletop designs that started life as a single-player puzzle. You play a dreamer stuck in a labyrinth, trying to draw and play the eight door cards before the deck runs out or nightmares block your path. Games run 15 to 20 minutes and every hand plays differently because the deck is small and the tension ramps quickly.
The Android app from Asmodee Digital ships the base game and includes the seven official expansions as in-app purchases, which is unusual for a solo title and worth it if the base hooks you. The tutorial is short, the UI shows what each card does on tap, and the save state survives an app kill.
Where it falls short: The base game is the same short puzzle every time, so replay value depends on buying at least one or two expansions. The graphics are functional rather than atmospheric.
Pricing:
- Paid: one-time purchase for the base game.
- Paid: seven expansion packs as separate in-app purchases.
Platforms: Android, iOS.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: The pick if you want a real solo card game that fits between two subway stops and doesn’t pretend to be multiplayer.
2. Terraforming Mars, the deep strategy sim with a proper solo mode
Terraforming Mars is the digital adaptation of Jacob Fryxelius’ engine-building strategy game about warming the red planet with cards, forests, oceans, and heat production. The solo mode is a score challenge: you have 14 generations to fully terraform Mars, and the app tracks your final score against community leaderboards. There’s also a multiplayer mode with up to 5 AI opponents if you want a longer game against bots.
The port from Asmodee Digital includes all the tile placement, card synergies, and awards from the physical game. It’s the most demanding pick on this list, with matches running 60 to 90 minutes solo, so it earns its price tag if you want a real strategy game for the phone.
Where it falls short: The interface can get busy on smaller screens with many cards in hand. Loading between generations feels slow on older devices.
Pricing:
- Paid: one-time purchase for the base game.
- Paid: expansion packs (Prelude, Hellas & Elysium, Venus Next, Colonies) as separate in-app purchases.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Switch.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: The pick if you want a heavyweight strategy game with a real solo objective and don’t mind 90-minute sessions.
3. Wingspan: The Board Game, the best solo Automa on Android
Wingspan: The Board Game from Monster Couch is the official digital port of Elizabeth Hargrave’s award-winning bird engine-builder. The solo mode uses an Automa opponent (the “Automa” is a card-driven bot that mimics a human opponent’s placement choices) with five difficulty levels, from beginner to expert. Matches take 25 to 40 minutes, the bird power interactions all work as they do in the box, and the app tracks your win record across seasons.
The port ships with the base game plus the European, Oceania, and Asia expansion birds as DLC. It’s one of the cleaner solo experiences on Android because the Automa was part of the original tabletop design, not bolted on later.
Where it falls short: No cross-play with the desktop version. Some players hit sync issues if they play on multiple Android devices under different accounts.
Pricing:
- Paid: one-time purchase for the base game.
- Paid: three expansion DLC packs (European, Oceania, Asia).
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Switch.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: The pick if you want the most polished solo Automa opponent on a phone and you don’t mind paying up front.
4. Race for the Galaxy, the fast AI card game
Race for the Galaxy is Tom Lehmann’s tableau-building card game about colonizing planets, and the Temple Gates Games port has the strongest AI on any digital board game on Android. The solo mode drops you against one or two AI players; matches take 15 to 20 minutes and reward pattern recognition more than long-term planning. The AI plays at a level that will beat most casual players consistently.
The base app includes the original game; the four expansion packs (Gathering Storm, Rebel vs Imperium, Brink of War, Alien Artifacts) ship as separate purchases and each retunes the strategy meaningfully.
Where it falls short: The visual iconography is dense and there’s a real learning curve for the first few games. The AI tutorial doesn’t hold your hand through the symbols.
Pricing:
- Paid: one-time purchase for the base game.
- Paid: four expansion packs as in-app purchases.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Steam.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: The pick if you want a fast card game with an AI that actually challenges you, and you’re willing to learn the icon system.
5. Friday by Friedemann Friese, the cheapest real solitaire game
Friday is Friedemann Friese’s card-based deckbuilder about helping Robinson Crusoe survive on an island, and it’s a solo-only design from the ground up. The app port from Brettspielwelt keeps the original rules: you draft challenge cards, use your hand to fight them, and improve Robinson’s deck as you go. Games run 20 to 30 minutes and swing sharply based on early card culling.
At around $2, it’s the lowest-cost real solo board game on Android and one of the best entry points for a player who wants to try the format without a $10 commitment. The King of the Island tournament mode adds a community leaderboard if you want stakes.
Where it falls short: The visual design is dated compared to newer ports. There’s only one “game”, so the replay value depends on chasing higher scores rather than new content.
Pricing:
- Paid: one-time purchase.
- No expansions.
Platforms: Android, iOS.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: The pick if you want to try a real solo deckbuilder for under a coffee and don’t need modern graphics.
6. Pandemic: The Board Game, cooperative that works solo
Pandemic: The Board Game is a cooperative tabletop where players work together to contain four global disease outbreaks. The solo mode has you control two, three, or four roles yourself, and the app handles the card flow and infection cycle so you can focus on the strategy. It plays surprisingly well single-player because the game’s tension comes from card draws, not opponent bluffing.
The F2Z Entertainment port includes every role power, every event card, and both major expansions (On the Brink, State of Emergency) as DLC. Solo matches take 30 to 45 minutes and difficulty scales sharply once you add the epidemic cards.
Where it falls short: Controlling three roles solo can feel like extra bookkeeping on a small screen. The port hasn’t received a major update in a while and doesn’t include the Legacy series.
Pricing:
- Paid: one-time purchase for the base game.
- Paid: DLC for the two major expansions.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Switch, Steam.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: The pick if you want a cooperative tabletop classic and you’re happy running multiple roles yourself.
7. Ascension: Deckbuilding Game, the free-to-try deckbuilder
Ascension: Deckbuilding Game is Stone Blade Entertainment’s fantasy deckbuilder, and Playdek’s Android port has been kept up to date with new expansions for over a decade. The base app is free and gives you access to the core game against an AI opponent; buying expansions and additional heroes unlocks more cards and campaign content. Matches run 15 to 25 minutes solo.
The AI plays at three difficulty levels and is honest, meaning it doesn’t cheat with card knowledge. It’s the best free-to-start pick on this list because you can try the game with real content before spending anything.
Where it falls short: The pricing model relies on many small in-app purchases, which adds up if you want all the expansions. Some older expansions have been unavailable for periods when Playdek refreshes the catalog.
Pricing:
- Free: base game and one AI opponent.
- Paid: individual expansion packs and hero cards as in-app purchases.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: The pick if you want to try a solo deckbuilder before paying and you like an AI that gets tougher over time.
8. Slay the Spire, the solo roguelike deckbuilder
Slay the Spire is the odd pick here because it’s a video game, not a tabletop port, but it belongs in every solo-digital-tabletop conversation for a reason. It’s a single-player roguelike card game where you climb a tower, build a deck as you go, and fight increasingly hard bosses. Runs take 45 to 90 minutes and there’s no multiplayer to worry about, no AI to argue with, and no session to schedule.
The Humble Bundle Android port is the same game as the desktop version with a touch-tuned UI. Four characters, each with different card pools, give the game hundreds of hours of solo replay. It’s the most modern-feeling design on the list even though it’s now several years old.
Where it falls short: The one-time purchase is at the top of what a phone game usually costs, so the price is a barrier for casual buyers. Some players find the difficulty ramp punishing early on.
Pricing:
- Paid: one-time purchase.
- Free: one paid DLC character (Watcher) is included; additional character DLC available.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: The pick if you want hundreds of hours of solo card-game strategy on a phone and you don’t need it to be a tabletop port.
How to pick the right one
The right pick depends on what kind of solo session you want.
If you want the cheapest real solo game to try the format: Friday, at around $2 with a real solitaire design.
If you want a short session on a commute: Onirim or Race for the Galaxy, both under 20 minutes.
If you want the deepest strategy game: Terraforming Mars, if you have 60 to 90 minutes to spend.
If you want an AI opponent that plays like a person: Wingspan for its solo Automa, or Race for the Galaxy for its aggressive card AI.
If you want a cooperative game to play solo: Pandemic, running two or three roles yourself.
If you want to try before paying anything: Ascension, free with in-app expansions if you like it.
If you want the most solo replay hours per dollar: Slay the Spire, a solo-only roguelike that runs for hundreds of hours.
FAQ
What is the best solo board game app for Android?
Onirim is the strongest pure solo card game and Terraforming Mars is the deepest strategy pick. If you want a bot opponent that plays like a person, Wingspan: The Board Game has the best Automa on Android. The right answer depends on session length and how much you want to spend up front.
Are there free solo board game apps on Android?
Ascension: Deckbuilding Game is the main free-to-start pick with a real solo AI opponent, though buying expansions unlocks the fuller experience. Most other quality solo board game apps are paid one-time purchases, usually between $2 and $10, because they don’t run ads or push in-app purchases mid-game.
Do these apps work offline?
All eight apps on this list run their solo modes offline, which is why they earn a spot. Some multiplayer features or leaderboards need a connection, but the single-player game and saved matches work on a plane or in transit.
What is a solo Automa opponent?
An Automa is a bot designed for one-player board games. Instead of running a full AI, it uses a small deck of behavior cards that pick placement or actions in a way that feels human without needing to think. Wingspan uses this design and it’s one of the reasons the solo experience feels close to playing against a friend.
Can you play Pandemic solo on Android?
Yes. The Pandemic: The Board Game app supports solo play by letting you control two, three, or four roles yourself, which matches the recommended solo variant of the physical game. The app handles infection cycles and card decks automatically, so the overhead of running multiple roles is lower than it is at a table.
Which solo board game app is best for beginners?
Onirim and Friday both work well as first solo board game apps. Onirim has a short tutorial and hands that end quickly; Friday costs almost nothing and teaches deckbuilding basics without the complexity of an AI opponent. Terraforming Mars is the wrong pick for a first game because the ruleset assumes tabletop familiarity.
