Can you play DnD alone? Let’s talk about it.
Dungeons & Dragons is often viewed as a group event, with friends huddled around a table (or screens) to slay monsters, negotiate treaties, and be puzzled by cryptic riddles the Dungeon Master is way too proud of (Hi, it’s me. The DM).
But what if nobody’s available to play when you are, or you simply want to explore a story without juggling other schedules? The good news: you can absolutely play D&D by yourself.
Can you play DnD alone?
Why go solo at all?
For many people, solo D&D is a flexible way to satisfy that itch for fantasy storytelling. Life gets busy, and it’s not always easy to line up everyone’s calendars.
Playing solo also offers a chance to focus deeply on one character’s journey—no vying for spotlight time, no worrying about party squabbles. It can even be an exciting way to practice your Dungeon Master chops in private or to experiment with character builds you might not try in a group game.
What we recommend to play solo
To play on your own, you’ll still use your usual D&D materials: the Player’s Handbook, a character sheet, pencils or a note-taking app, and dice (physical or virtual). But because there’s no one else rolling out the story for you, you’ll need a structure to generate events and obstacles
That’s where a Game Master Emulator (like Mythic GM Emulator) or solo modules come in. These tools offer prompts, random events, and outcome tables that mimic the unpredictability of a live DM.
Solo modules:
Tackling modules vs. homebrew
If you’re new to the concept, there are adventure modules specifically designed for one player as mentioned above. They might read like choose-your-own-adventure stories, with branching paths and an occasional dice-rolling twist.
On the other hand, if you crave total freedom, you can homebrew your own setting. Draft a short outline, perhaps a haunted fortress or a cursed mine? Then let random tables decide what lurks behind each door. It’s a simple formula for creative surprises: you’re effectively your own DM, but the dice keep you honest.
Immersion into your own mind
When doing a solo D&D game, we recommend keeping a detailed journal. Each time you enter a new room, fight a monster, or discover a secret, record it. Over time, you’ll see how your character’s story evolves.
This can be more personal and introspective than typical group sessions. It could be like reading a fantasy novel where you control the protagonist.
Balancing the challenges
Adventures in fifth edition D&D typically assume a four-person party. Going in alone means you may need to tweak encounter difficulty or run a sidekick NPC to even the odds.
Some solo adventures handle this automatically, scaling down monster counts or adding puzzle-focused encounters. If you’re homebrewing, just remember to cut down on how many baddies you throw at yourself!
Limitations and rewards
Without a party, you miss out on group banter and shared problem-solving. But the trade-off is independence and total creative control (well, apart from the random rolls!).
You won’t have that moment where your cunning plan is undone by a chaotic bard or the barbarian’s impulse to smash things first. Instead, your story becomes more like a personal narrative—part journaling, part puzzle-solving, and part dice-driven action
Conclusion
Yes, D&D was designed with groups in mind, but nothing stops you from delving into a dungeon for a solo adventure with the right resources. Whether that’s an emulator, a solo-friendly module, or a carefully crafted set of encounter tables, there’s no shortage of dragons to fight (or befriend) all by yourself.
If you’re up for a bit of improvisation and record-keeping, you might discover a new favorite way to play
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