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#1 Ghost Of Tsushima
#2 Ori And The Will Of The Wisps
Sequel of Ori And The Blind Forest, the game follows Ori on a new journey through the region of Niwen, with the story being narrated by the Spirit Tree that lives there. This platform adventure has been praised for its story, characters, visual design, and soundtrack, and it’s often included among video games considered works of art. It won “XBox Game Of The Year” at the Golden Joystick Awards 2020.
#3 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
#4 Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Assassin’s Creed isn’t a franchise that needs much of an introduction. The series has been around for fifteen years now, and it’s one of the biggest names in single player gaming. Its latest installment, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, follows Eivor Varinsdottir, a male or female Viking warrior (depending on your choice) attempting to establish a new Viking clan in England.
#5 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
With 260 Game of the Year Awards, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a dark fantasy adventure you don’t wanna miss. Your character, Geralt of Rivia, is a monster slayer known as Witcher. You’ll travel across different regions hunting monsters for a living and completing quests for people in exchange for rewards. With 36 different endings, depending on what choices you make during gameplay, there’s lots of replay value too!
#6 Control
#7 Hades
Hades is an action dungeon crawler game that gives players a lot of freedom in terms of experimentation. The main character, Zagreus, is the prince of the Underworld and the son of Hades and Persephone. Our goal is to help Zagreus escape from his cruel father and reach his mother in the mortal world. Players can learn and master skills however they want and choose whichever weapon to use and upgrade so long as they feel that it will help Zagreus progress further.
#8 Red Dead Redemption 2
#9 Assassin's Creed Odyssey
#10 Celeste
Celeste is a platform video game that follows the story of Madeline, a young woman trying to climb the titular mountain and face her inner demons. Upon release, the game received universal acclaim and was largely considered one of the best single player games of 2018, especially for Madeline’s characterization that fans loved.
Which Type of Game is Good for a Single-player?
Looking at this list of good single-player games, you might have noticed a trend. Specific genres are best at creating an enjoyable one-player game experience.
RPG’s. Games aren't real. Risky choices in a video game don’t affect your real-life experience. Quite the opposite. With role-player games, you can pick any role, no matter how evil or weird it is.
Horror. The tense atmosphere and spooky monsters keeping you company create a nerve-wracking experience, while terror stays with you long after the credits roll. Horror games are for the daring.
Indie. Games like Hollow Knight are simple yet intoxicating. With a focus on unique gameplay scenarios, indie games offer a less ordinary perspective than most triple-A games lack.
Adventure and action. Grand Theft Auto V is one of the best video games to play when bored out of your mind. This game genre often blends action and problem-solving. One moment, you explore the mysterious world; the other, you fight in an isolated alley.
Strategy simulation. These games can suck you in and never let you go. From time management to regulating traffic, it’s easy to get lost in the repetitive gameplay. Civilization IV even has a button for “one more turn.”
Narrative-driven. The best story games are usually the most lonely ones—a movie experience in the form of a game. They often are narrative-driven and have brilliant stories with human-like characters. Firewatch, a game with barely any action, is just as enjoyable with very little going on—arguably one of the best PC single-player games on the market right now.
#11 Resident Evil II
There’s no denying that Resident Evil 2 is one of the most iconic one player games in the survival horror genre. The original game was released back in 1998 to critical acclaim, and it has been praised for its intense atmosphere, memorable characters, and sound design. More than 20 years later, Capcom has remade the game from scratch with new striking visuals and gameplay mechanics.
#12 Undertale
#13 Marvel's Spider-Man
#14 Elden Ring
#15 Total War: Warhammer 3
#16 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
#17 Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
#18 Final Fantasy 7: Remake
#19 Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
#20 What Remains Of Edith Finch
Why Do People Play Single Player Games?
Good single-player games are like great movies. It’s easy to get lost in the experience, completely ignoring the time. Here are a few reasons that draw people into single-player games.
Gameplay. Video games allow you to progress at the pace you want. Single-player ones don’t have the rush that multi-player games might have. You can go as slow or as fast as you want. As long as the gameplay doesn’t become repetitive, you won’t get bored.
Story. The game plot is like a glue that holds everything together. The best story games rival Hollywood movies in themes and beats. While not every game has such an edge, those that do will take you through the whole set of emotions. Multi-player games focus on spectacles of action and fire. Single-player games focus more on the fine and personal details.
Characters. The more emotional the characters, the better. Taking a page from Red Dead Redemption, Arthur Morgan and John Marston, ruthless men, are some of the most emotional characters in the game world. They have their own flaws and make human mistakes. Characters like these keep the game interesting and immersive.