Games
25 Best Single-Player Video Games For Casual And Hardcore Gamers

The best single-player videogames can take us to imaginative realms without the hassle of untrustworthy individuals or shaky network connectivity. And, with the current hardware pushing the bounds of what’s achievable on console and PC farther than ever before, there are now so many amazing single-player videogames out there waiting to be discovered, free of the online sphere’s ever-changing seasons and endless weekly updates.
There’s something for everyone on our list of the best single-player videogames available right now, from narrative-driven epics to numbers-juggling management simulators, contract-killing capers, terrifying survival horror, and more.
#1 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The majority of The Witcher 3 may be regarded as excellent if you can get your head around a totally new kind of fighting that breaks most norms seen in past games. To you and me, you are Geralt of Rivia, a Witcher, commonly known as a monster killer.
The Witcher 3 has so much to do and see that it may seem daunting at first, but after you finish your first few monster contracts and start Geralt’s quest to locate the ones he loves, you won’t be able to put it down until you’ve reached the end and murdered thousands of monsters.
#2 The Last Of Us 2
To be honest, The Last of Us might have easily been listed here, but its sequel, The Last of Us 2, took the original premise and enhanced it across the board. Expect themes of love, grief, and more breath-taking moments than you can throw a handmade Molotov cocktail at, much like its predecessor.
The original game in the series had plenty of themes of humanity and morality, but the sequel amps them up to 11 and is all the better for it.
#3 Horizon Zero Dawn
Dinosaur robots. Is there anything else we can say? We’re not sure, but we’ll do it anyhow. Play as Aloy in Horizon Zero Dawn, an open-world RPG in which she learns about herself and her past. From little Watchers to frightening Snapmaws and Thunderjaws, robot dinosaurs abound in the countryside.
Horizon Zero Dawn seldom fails to impress, from the numerous methods to engage in a battle to traveling across the world and visiting the diverse tribes that have established homes and villages in every corner.
#4 Red Dead Redemption 2
Is there a more appropriate way to begin our list than with Rockstar’s western epic? Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel to the original game that puts you in the shoes of Arthur Morgan. As part of Dutch van der Linde’s gang, you may ride across the breathtakingly magnificent wild west, hunt animals, play poker, go fishing, and more.
Jump onto Red Dead Online once you’ve completed the 80+ hour trek for even more wild west action.
#5 Kingdom Hearts 3
When you can travel across many Disney worlds with Donald Duck and Goofy at your side, why needs a significant other? Kingdom Hearts 3 is the franchise’s long-awaited third installment, and it does not disappoint.
Kingdom Hearts 3 is a lengthy JRPG that is suited for veterans and beginners to the series equally, from climbing the North Mountain in Arendelle (Frozen) to exploring Andy’s Room in Toy Box (Toy Story) and soaring about San Fransokyo (Big Hero 6).
#6 Super Mario Odyssey
With Super Mario Odyssey, everyone’s favorite plumber and his new best friend Cappy jumped aboard the Nintendo Switch with a goal. Set off on a perilous trip over many worlds to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser’s grasp, and meet a variety of friendly and terrifying characters along the way.
While keeping up with contemporary gameplay components and introducing new concepts, Super Mario Odyssey keeps the charm and engaging gameplay of earlier installments.
#7 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
It would be an understatement to suggest that Assassin’s Creed has gotten stale in recent years. Thankfully, Ubisoft listened to our complaints about its 12th core adventure. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla abandons the series’ tiresome forced stealth in favor of a grin-inducing historical power fantasy, allowing players to embrace the ferocity of a blood-soaked Viking.
Valhalla’s head cleaving, fortress toppler is a breath of fresh air after years of scaling towers and strolling incredibly slowly behind foes. Valhalla’s Ye Olde England is a place to truly immerse oneself in, with the most lifelike and diverse open world to date from Ubisoft, as well as surprisingly hefty combat.
#8 God of War
The God of War franchise has always been fantastic, but God of War PS4 has raised the bar even higher. It’s transitioned from a linear storyline to a semi-open world in which players take control of Kratos and explore landscapes based on Norse mythology. We dubbed it one of “PlayStation’s best moments” because it’s harsh, badass, and bafflingly beautiful.
#9 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Who’d have guessed that the Zelda series would be the first to present one of the finest open worlds in gaming history? The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is Zelda’s (or Link’s) debut adventure on the Nintendo Switch, and it’s one of his greatest. There is a lot to do! Breath of the Wild is the finest RPG on Switch right now, from looking for the 900 Korok Seeds to hunting down Guardians and completing shrines.
#10 Control
Control is a preternatural pill of kaleidoscopic devastation, with its supernaturally flavored third-person shooter action, delectably off-kilter plot, and really jaw-dropping graphics, with each moment seeming to exceed the previous in its sheer, surreal splendor. Without giving too much away, Alan Wake fans will not want to miss this one.
#11 Football Manager 2021
Football Manager 2021 has it all, whether you wish to play as one of the world’s top teams – say, Celtic – and dominate Scottish football and beyond, or start from the bottom of lower league English football and work your way up.
#12 Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a wonderful story. There are times when you’ll marvel at how a platformer managed to create such an amazing experience. You’ll be weeping like a willow from the beginning when you’re reintroduced to Ori, Naru, and Sein, as well as the equally cute new character Ku.
#13 Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Although the current generation of consoles had a rocky start, Spider-Man Miles Morales was an obvious launch highlight. This 15-hour standalone adventure picks up where 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man left off, putting players in the shoes of the other Spider-Man.
Not only is Insomniac’s second Spider-Man game stunning, but it’s also a blast to play. Miles Morales’ Christmas-time Harlem is an absolute delight to swing around, stepping up the quality of cinematic narrative and providing players a toybox full of new suit upgrades to play with. Look no further if you’re looking for something entertaining and story-driven.
#14 Resident Evil 2 Remake
Leon’s terrifying journey through the Raccoon City Police Department is one of the scariest, most difficult campaigns we’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing, entirely accessible to series beginners while also brimming with easter eggs to thrill Resi fans. This is how horror is done, and it shows how long Capcom’s legendary franchise has left.
#15 The Outer Worlds
Obsidian’s knack for traditional role-playing immersion is on full display here, with branching stories, extensive character customization, and a slew of allies to befriend and explore the galaxy with. We’re hoping that The Outer Worlds is only the beginning of many more adventures in Halcyon because we’ve really enjoyed what Obsidian has shown us so far.
#16 Psychonauts 2
Psychonauts 2 is an unexpected sequel to the 2005 cult favorite, which was crowdfunded in 2015 and delivered in 2021. To this goal, Double Fine took a circuitous route to release Psychonauts 2, which is reflected in the overall consistency, quality, and unashamed strangeness of the experience.
#17 Pokemon Sword and Shield
The most ambitious Pokemon game ever is Nintendo’s newest comeback to the renowned creature gathering brand. Your trainer journeys on Nintendo Switch through the UK-inspired Galar area, which boasts a stunningly drawn, three-dimensional environment full of dynamic interactions, eccentric characters, and – yep – hundreds of Pokemon to locate, battle, and evolve.
With two new expansions on the horizon, there’s never been a better moment to pick up Pokemon Sword and Shield and begin your journey through Galar and beyond.
#18 Half-Life: Alyx
Not only is it a fantastic experience on its own, but Alyx also makes significant comments about Half-future, Life’s with our eponymous scavenger’s quest tying to the series’ broader story in unexpected ways. Let’s hope Valve releases a non-VR version of the game soon.
#19 Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade
Final Fantasy 7 Remake accomplishes the seemingly impossible. It takes the opening portion of Square Enix’s 1997 JRPG and expands it into a 50-hour adventure, swapping turn-based combat for real-time action and subverting everything you thought you knew about the tale.
#20 Outer Wilds
Outer Wilds puts you in the shoes of a newly trained spacefarer for an alien culture, but your first day on the job also happens to be the day the galaxy is wiped out by a solar explosion. I’ll stop there because I don’t want to give anything more away, but suffice it to say that what follows is a bold, deviously smart exploration of time and space that will leave you speechless from the minute you lift off.
#21 Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 may not have had the ideal start, but make no mistake: it is still well worth your time. Cyberpunk’s Night City is an undoubtedly thrilling environment to explore, despite the mysterious circumstances behind its development and its (original) litany of game-ruining problems.
Cyberpunk 2077 is about as grand as an open-world epic can get, with a superb soundtrack, industry-leading voice acting, and enough side missions to shake a Bloody Baron at. It’s an experience that’s only getting better with time, thanks to a steady stream of fixes and a full current-gen overhaul following its terrible debut. Sure, it’s hardly The Witcher 3, but there are few finer dystopian sci-fi RPGs out there.
#22 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Look no further if you’re yearning to wield a virtual lightsaber after binge-watching The Mandalorian. Jedi Fallen Order is a thrilling combination of Uncharted-Esque cinematic adventure and tough Metroidvania that draws inspiration from Dark Souls and Hollow Knight.
Even more importantly for Star Wars fans, the story it conveys is completely canon. Fallen Order is a must-have for everyone who’s fallen back in love with a galaxy far, far away, including characters from Rogue One and linking neatly into the events of Rebels, the Bad Batch, and The Clone Wars.
#23 Returnal
Returnal is a strange, ambitious, and immensely engrossing adventure that is half old arcade school shoot ’em up and part Hideo Kojima-Esque narrative masterpiece. It’s also mercilessly cruel. This all-consuming PS5 exclusive isn’t easy. It’s short on save points and heavy on punishment.
It’s a game that repeatedly draws you back owing to its slick-feeling movement, all-consuming sense of atmosphere, and excellent sense of curiosity. This story-driven sci-fi roguelike is a delightfully unusual invention, combining a sickeningly realistic Aliens-esque design with some of the most rewarding action this side of Platinum games.
Returnal is a lovely, ambitious, and utterly essential experience for someone new to the genre or an old hand.
#24 Before Your Eyes
Look no farther if you’re seeking to be emotionally shattered. This webcam-controlled adventure tells the story of a man’s life flashing before his eyes, with the player navigating in-game memories with real-world blinks.
The game seems extremely intimate because of its unusual control method, and it’s difficult not to find yourself weeping uncontrollably by the time you reach the game’s conclusion. While Before Your Eyes is the shortest title on our list, it packs an emotional punch that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.
#25 Hitman 3
Hitman 3 is the perfect remedy if you’re missing the thrill of exploring the globe right now. Each Hitman level throws an out-of-place 47 into a new nation for a limited spell, giving him just enough time to dig in and get the job done before being whisked away to his next ‘business trip.’
This immensely imaginative arcade-like sandbox sends players anywhere from a huge Berlin club to a bizarre rural mansion in a brilliantly diversified worldwide murder spree. With more destructive instruments at your disposal than ever before, this endlessly replayable action game allows you to be as inventive as possible, providing players with a plethora of entertaining methods to slaughter their targets.
Hitman 3 is the genuine virtual MVP travel experience, so move over to Microsoft Flight Simulator.