Solo Games 

Card games are often associated with social gatherings, but they can also be an excellent source of entertainment when you are  by yourself. Whether you want to pass the time, sharpen your strategic thinking, or challenge your memory, there are plenty of great solo card games to enjoy. Below, I’ll share some of my favorite solo card games, including detailed instructions on how to play and why I find them enjoyable.

Clock Solitaire

One of my favorite solo card games is Clock Solitaire, a simple yet engaging game that relies purely on luck. If you’re looking for a game that doesn’t require much thinking but still keeps you engaged, this one is perfect.

How to Play Clock Solitaire:

Take a standard 52-card deck and shuffle it well.

Arrange 13 piles in a circular fashion to resemble a clock face, with each pile containing four cards. The 13th pile goes in the center.

Start by turning over the top card of the center pile.

Place that card in its corresponding pile:

Ace goes in the 1 o’clock pile

2 goes in the 2 o’clock pile

3 goes in the 3 o’clock pile

Continue this pattern up to 10

J goes in the 11 o’clock pile

Q goes in the 12 o’clock pile

K goes in the center pile

After placing a card, take the top card from the newly placed pile and continue the process.

The game ends when either:

All cards are face up, meaning you have won

The fourth King is revealed, meaning you lose because there are no moves left

Why I Like This Game:

It’s fast-paced and doesn’t take too long to play.

The clock-like layout is visually satisfying.

Even though it’s luck-based, the suspense makes it fun.

A simple variation is to swap out the fourth King with a face-down card, making the game slightly easier.

Shiritori: The Word Chain Game

Shiritori isn’t a card game, but it’s one of my favorite solo games to play because it enhances vocabulary and quick thinking. It’s a classic Japanese word game where each word starts with the last letter of the previous word.

How to Play Shiritori:

Start with any word.

The next word must begin with the last letter of the previous word.

Continue the chain of words for as long as possible.

If you repeat a word or can’t think of a word, the game ends.

If playing with someone else, they take turns coming up with words starting with the letter of the last word.

Example:

Apple → Edible → Elegant → Turkey → Yellow → Wall (and so on)

Strategy:

I always try to end my words with the letter ‘Y’ because it’s tough to find words that start with ‘Y’—this makes it harder for my opponent in a competitive version of the game.

Playing Shiritori against an AI can be a fun challenge. You can check out an online version here: https://shiritorigame.com/

The game has difficulty levels where a hard-mode AI constructs long, complex words, and an easy-mode AI sticks to simple, short words.

Why I Like This Game:

It improves and increases vocabulary and memory.

It’s fun to see how long you can keep the chain of words going.

The online version provides a competitive challenge.

Poker: Practicing Solo

Poker is usually a multiplayer game, but you can practice alone to improve your mathematical skills, probability calculations, and hand checks. While you won’t be able to develop the psychological aspects (like bluffing), practicing solo is still valuable.

How to Play Poker by Yourself:

Shuffle and deal out hands as if playing against an opponent.

Assess what hands you can form.

Note down different possible winning hands.

Compare hands and determine which one would win in a real match.

Repeat the process to improve your understanding of hand rankings and probabilities.

Why Play Poker Solo?

It improves pattern recognition, so you can quickly evaluate hands in real games.

It helps in understanding the odds, which is crucial in high-level poker play.

You can test different strategies, such as when to fold or raise in a real game.

I always forget which of the hands outperform which so I use an online search for the images of poker hands and play accordingly.

Memory (Concentration Game)

Memory is a great game for brain training that helps develop recall skills. It’s simple but effective in improving focus and situational awareness.

How to Play Memory:

Lay out 52 cards face down in a 4×13 grid.

Flip over two cards at a time.

If the ranks match, remove them from play.

If they don’t match, flip them back face down.

Continue until all cards have been matched.

Variations:

To make it harder, require that matches must be the same color (e.g., both red or both black).

To increase difficulty further, use a timer to challenge yourself to clear the board quickly.

Why I Like This Game:

It helps improve memory and focus.

It’s easy to learn but hard to master.

It sharpens situational awareness, which is useful in real-life situations.

Final Thoughts

Solo card games are a great way to entertain yourself, improve cognitive skills, and even practice for competitive play. Whether you enjoy the luck-based excitement of Clock Solitaire, the mental challenge of Shiritori, the strategy of Poker, or the memory-boosting benefits of Concentration, there’s always a game to suit your mood.

If you’re looking for quick and engaging games, I recommend Clock Solitaire and Memory. If you prefer something that sharpens your language skills, then Shiritori is perfect. And if you’re working on strategic thinking, Poker is a solid choice.

Whichever game you choose, playing solo can be just as rewarding as playing with friends. Plus, the mental benefits—whether it’s memory enhancement, strategic thinking, or vocabulary expansion—make these games a great use of your time!