Best Single Player Games

Game trends change every year, from the call for game design and aesthetic nostalgia to the increased demand for cooperative platforms. If you ever wondered what will live forever, we have a short answer: the best single player games. They were at the dawn of the industry and don’t seem to cease in popularity. But what to pick from the best of the best title and actually enjoy it?

Now, some people would agree that the best single player game is an example of a flawless balance of all essential elements, even when we look for something particular in it. We analyzed the scores given by professionals and players themselves when making our unique A-grade top you should try out. Let us know if you agree with the majority’s opinion, and let’s see the lineup.

list of the best single player games

10. Control

Remedy Entertainment always was famous for its unique approach to narrative in games and astonishing level design. Control is no exception, and it managed to succeed in terms of gameplay and game mechanics even better than expected by the players. As an action-adventure game, you play as Jesse Faden, who gets involved in the series of mysterious events beyond the simple explanation. It is your job to unravel the secrets and have as much fun as possible with the supernatural powers.

The game has an 82 score on Metacritic and a promising start, although no sales numbers were disclosed yet. You will also enjoy the DLC and crossover with Alan Wake, and there is much to come.

Available on: PlayStation 4.

9. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey

Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series holds a deserved place in gamers’ hearts with the versatility of epochs and characters. Some of them were the best ones, some much weaker in terms of narrative and gameplay, and the Odyssey follows the tradition of action role-playing in the setting of Ancient Greece. It has all the well-known and liked by the player game elements that revive the franchise appeal of assassin’s journey and responsibilities.

Maybe one of the best single player games of the AC series, especially if you love Gladiators and ancient kings premise and setting. It has an 86 score on Metacritic and 1.4 million copies sold in the first three weeks and 100 million copies of the series sold overall.

Available on: PC, Playstation 4, Xbox One, Stadia.

8. Final Fantasy 7 Remake

This pick is made for true fans of the Final Fantasy series and the legacy that Square Enix created. Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a role-playing action game much similar to its predecessor. There are several changes made in combat mechanics, while strategic elements remain similar to the original. However, the remake is more story-oriented and has little freedom to offer the player, but it is still one of the best single player games to choose from.

One of the most downloaded games on PlayStation 4, Final Fantasy 7 Remake has an 87 score on Metacritic. It is the ode to nostalgia and the possibility to replay the iconic installment but with more polished graphics and intuitive control.

Available on: PlayStation 4.

7. Resident Evil 2 Remake

One of the most beloved and popular of Capcom’s franchises, Resident Evil, got its fair amount of criticism and hype. Yet, the remake of the same-title game already is described as an eternal masterpiece that you should play to evoke a sense of nostalgia and thrill. The classic survival horror changed some aspects of the gameplay, like fixed camera angles and combat mechanics, but the essence is as good as it was back in the second game.

As a fan of the series, you will have nothing but pleasant play-through. It is a must-have of recently released one player games, with 89 score on Metacritic and five million copies sold.

Available on: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One.

6. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Yet another critically acclaimed franchise with a large fanbase and ton of lore to unravel. Developed by Konami and Kojima Productions, Metal Gear Solid 5 is an open-world stealth game, the fifth in the series’s chronology. The excellent game mechanics and level design allow you to replay it and find more and more elements to discover.

The game has struggled to break any meaningful records after the initial launch, although it is praised for the plot and gameplay achievements without a doubt. The game has 91 score on Metacritic and six million copies worldwide, which gives it the well deserved place in our the best single player games list.

Available on: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360.

5. Disco Elysium

If you’re looking for a role-playing game that heavily relies on dialog trees instead of the combat, then we present you the Disco Elysium by ZA/UM. One of the most stylish sensations of 2019, Disco Elysium, has a unique skills checks system, engaging narrative and plot, and astonishing level designs that will keep you busy for hours. A little bit of dystopian noir is something that screams: “this one is one of the best single player games” for us.

It has a 91 score on Metacritic, and thousands of sold copies on Steam makes Disco Elysium one of the most interesting examples on our list. It is now translated for more languages that make it accessible for the gamer community worldwide.

Available on: PC.

4. Half-Life: Alyx

The long-awaited interlude of the iconic series from Valve. Many players find the immersive experience of VR to be one of the best elements of the game. The game is a good old adventure with shooter and puzzle elements, which puts you in the shoes of Alyx Vance, who is out on a mission against aliens.

Even if you never played a single Half-Life game before, you will be engaged by the plot the moment you join the session. The best seller on the Steam platform, it is a must choice for one of the most revolutionary best single player games of this year. With a score of 93 on Metacritic, it is a sensation of the 2019.

Available on: PC.

3. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Developed by CD Projekt, the Witcher series is one of the most beloved action role-playing one player games, and the third installment of the franchise is no exception. The game has a high replayability level, regardless of whether players come back for the narrative or highly flexible combat system. We all can agree that the time spent preparing for some quests were the game’s best moments.

The Witcher and his journey holds the well-deserved 93 score on Metacritic and has 28 million sold copies. If you’re a big fan of the main game, you will also enjoy the two expansion packs: Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine.

Available on: PC, PlayStation 4,5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch.

2. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Bethesda’s open-world action role-playing epic is the fifth part of the main series. If you ever hesitated to try it out, it is the sign that you should give Skyrim a chance. The Elder Scrolls games are quite self-contained, and you won’t feel missing some important aspects if you never played the series before. It has perfectly balanced graphics, gameplay, and plotline, allowing you to become a part of the fantasy setting and epic-scale battles.

It has a 94 score on Metacritic and 30 million sold copies already by November 2016, which is quite impressive. It holds a special room in the heart of gamers and tops of favored best single player games.

Available on: PC, PlayStation 3,4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch.

1. Red Dead Redemption 2

The prequel to the fan-favorite first action-adventure part by Rockstar Games that places you in the heart of Wild American frontier. The countless main and side quests of the open-world make your journey as capturing as possible, which also increases the replayability. You unravel the stories of the West residents as well as try to survive the federal agents and bounty hunters’ pursuit. What can be more enjoyable as being a charismatic outlaw?

The astonishing level design and the plot makes RDR2 a choice that you will love as a best single player game, although it has a multiplayer mode. With sold 29 million copies and 97 score on Metacritic, we give it the 1 place.

Available on: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia.

Conclusion from Insider Games

Regardless of your taste in one player games, you never feel alone when playing these titles. The great stories and engaging gameplay outweigh the lack of online. We looked forward to making this list possible and carefully evaluated each entry. This best single player games list can constantly be expanding because there are even more examples of masterpieces executed in terms of narrative and gameplay.

What are the features that you are looking for in the best single player games? Tell us whether you are more into the original titles or their upgraded remakes. Do you think there is a title that we might have missed?

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