Best Games to Play Solo Even Though They're Cooperative

In the vibrant gaming landscape of 2026, the allure of cooperative adventures remains strong, with titles like Split Fiction offering unique shared experiences. The feeling of triumph when solving a complex puzzle or toppling a formidable boss alongside a real-life companion is indeed hard to beat. However, the practicalities of life often intervene; coordinating schedules can be a challenge, and sometimes, the desire for a self-paced, immersive experience takes precedence. While these games shine in multiplayer, a compelling argument can be made for enjoying them solo. They offer rich, engaging worlds where you can lose yourself for hours, free from the need to synchronize calendars. Isn't it remarkable how a game designed for camaraderie can also provide such a profound solo sanctuary?

8. Sea Of Thieves

Since its 2018 launch, Sea of Thieves has become a legendary sandbox of piracy. The ideal image involves a full crew of friends manning the sails, engaging in epic naval battles, and hunting for buried treasure. The game has consistently evolved, adding vast amounts of content over the years. But what if your crew is ashore? The solo voyage, or sailing "sloop-style," offers a uniquely personal and often hilariously chaotic adventure. Navigating from island to island, managing every aspect of your ship alone against the elements—and other players—presents a thrilling challenge. It's undoubtedly more difficult without a crew, but the sense of self-reliance and the quiet, vast beauty of the open sea create an experience just as captivating, allowing you to sink hundreds of hours into your own personal legend.

7. Deep Rock Galactic

Praised as one of the market's most enjoyable co-op games since 2020, Deep Rock Galactic tasks dwarven miners with perilous, procedurally generated missions. The camaraderie of a full team, each with a specialized class, is a core part of its charm. Yet, the solo experience is not an afterthought. When you embark alone, you are partnered with Bosco, a versatile drone companion. This mechanical ally assists with mining minerals, illuminating dark caverns, and even carrying heavy objects. Solo play becomes an excellent way to practice class mechanics, learn mission layouts at your own pace, and level up without pressure. The core loop of exploration, combat, and resource gathering remains intensely satisfying, proving that sometimes, you don't need a team—just a good drone.

6. Cuphead

Renowned for its stunning 1930s cartoon aesthetic and brutally challenging boss battles, Cuphead tells the story of two brothers working to repay a debt to the devil. While it features a local co-op mode where a second player controls Mugman, many veterans argue the game is easier solo. Why? The bosses' health pools are doubled in cooperative play. Beyond the increased difficulty, managing two characters on screen can lead to visual clutter and distraction during precise, pattern-heavy fights. Playing alone allows for undivided focus, turning each victory into a pure, personal triumph of skill and persistence over the game's beautifully animated adversaries.

5. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge

This modern beat 'em up masterpiece is a love letter to the arcade classics, famously supporting up to six-player chaos for a true party atmosphere. The genre is historically built for side-by-side gameplay. However, Shredder's Revenge excels solo by offering a perfectly tuned experience. The combat is fluid and responsive, the enemy density feels fair for one hero, and you can fully appreciate the game's fantastic pixel art and soundtrack without the screen becoming an incomprehensible explosion of characters and effects. It captures the spirit of soloing a classic arcade cabinet, where your skills alone carry the day.

Game	Primary Co-op Focus	Key Solo Advantage
Sea of Thieves	Crew-based sailing & combat	Personal adventure & self-reliance
Deep Rock Galactic	4-player class-based mining	Practice & exploration with Bosco drone
Cuphead	2-player boss battles	Focused gameplay & standard boss health
TMNT: Shredder's Revenge	Up to 6-player brawls	Crisp, unimpeded arcade action

4. Grounded

Inspired by Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Grounded is a survival adventure set in a perilous backyard. The intended experience involves friends building bases and fending off giant insects together. Yet, the solo journey is deeply compelling. Tackling the survival mechanics—managing hunger, thirst, and crafting—alone enhances the feeling of vulnerability and accomplishment. You can meticulously plan and build your base without compromise, explore at your own rhythm, and engage with the story's mysteries intimately. Jumping into a shared world solo to gather resources or fortify your home is a perfectly valid and engrossing way to play, offering a serene yet tense survival experience.

3. Stardew Valley

The quintessential farming-life simulator began as a purely single-player experience. The 2018 multiplayer update was a landmark addition, allowing friends to cultivate a farm together. However, the original, meditative core of the game is best experienced solo. You have complete, unadulterated control over every aspect of your farm, your schedule, and your relationships with the villagers of Pelican Town. There's no need to wait for a host player to be online or coordinate farm layouts. The peaceful, rewarding cycle of planting, foraging, mining, and connecting with the community is arguably in its purest form when it's just you and your land, making it a timeless solo escape.

2. Monster Hunter Series

For two decades, the Monster Hunter series has been celebrated for its epic, cooperative hunts against towering beasts. Taking down a Rathalos with a coordinated team is a legendary gaming moment. But the path of the solo hunter is equally prestigious and rewarding. Monsters typically have less health when faced alone, making fights more of a personal duel of skill and preparation. You can hunt entirely at your own pace, experiment with different weapons without pressure, and fully immerse yourself in the preparation and tracking phases. It transforms from a social activity into a profound test of personal mastery, offering a satisfaction that is different but no less potent.

1. Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3 presents perhaps the most significant choice before you even create a character: embark on this epic, narrative-rich Dungeons & Dragons campaign with friends or alone? A cooperative playthrough with friends can be unforgettable, true to the tabletop spirit. But the logistical reality of aligning schedules for a 100+ hour story is daunting. The solo experience, conversely, offers ultimate freedom. You can play whenever you wish, making weighty story decisions without committee, and intimately get to know the game's incredible companion characters like Shadowheart, Astarion, and Gale. Their personal stories unfold naturally through your solo journey, creating a deeply personal and emotionally resonant adventure that you control completely, moment by moment. In the end, isn't the greatest adventure sometimes the one you take by yourself?