10 Best Single-Player Games of 2026

The Witcher 3 ranks first for solo story players because it pairs a long, written main quest with two full expansions in one $49.99 purchase. CD PROJEKT RED's page sets up the plot: you play monster slayer for hire Geralt of Rivia, crossing the war-torn Northern Kingdoms to find your adopted daughter, Ciri, before the Wild Hunt takes her power. The Remastered edition reworks lighting, textures and ray tracing, revamps combat animations and overhauls the skill tree, and the studio states that Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine are included. Steam lists the game as single-player, with Steam Workshop and cloud saves, and a new expansion, Songs of the Past, adds a new region and quests for those who finish. The tradeoffs are hardware and tone: the minimum spec asks for 12 GB of RAM and 60 GB on an SSD, and the content note warns of violence and nudity. For one long story to play alone, it is the strongest value here.

Baldur's Gate 3 is the pick for players who want the story to bend around their decisions. Larian's Steam page describes it as a story-rich, party-based RPG set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, where a mind flayer parasite gives you powers you can resist or embrace. You build a hero from 12 classes and 11 races, play a hand-crafted Origin character, or choose the Dark Urge, which has its own mechanics and storyline. The page stresses freedom to explore and climb, with a cinematic narrative that runs from shadow-cursed forests to the Underdark and the city of Baldur's Gate. Steam lists single-player, online co-op and cross-platform multiplayer, so a solo campaign is fully supported, and the game runs on Windows and macOS. The cost of that depth is complexity: combat is turn-based and rules-heavy. At $59.99 it sits just behind The Witcher 3 on value.

Disco Elysium - The Final Cut is the most writing-focused game on the list. ZA/UM's Steam page casts you as a detective with a unique skill system and a city to carve your path across: you interrogate characters, crack murders or take bribes, and can become a hero or, in the page's words, an absolute disaster of a human being. The Final Cut adds full English voice acting and new political vision quests with an extra area. Character building runs through 24 skills, over 80 clothing items, 14 tools and 60 thoughts in the detective's Thought Cabinet, and the dialogue system is the main way you play. Steam lists it as single-player for Windows and macOS. It is not for everyone: there is a lot of reading, and the themes are adult. For players who want a story to play alone without timing-based fights, $39.99 is a fair price.

God of War Ragnarök is the pick for players who want a story told through action. The Steam page describes an epic and heartfelt story: Kratos and Atreus travel to each of the Nine Realms while Odin's forces prepare for a battle that will end the world, and both must choose between their family's safety and the realms'. It is a direct sequel to God of War (2018), so the story lands harder if you know the first game. Combat brings back the Leviathan Axe, Blades of Chaos and Guardian Shield with new abilities for both characters. The page also says the Valhalla DLC is included at no additional cost, adding a replayable epilogue with roguelite elements. Steam lists single-player only, which suits this list. It is Windows only on Steam and costs $59.99, the same as Red Dead Redemption 2.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is the pick for players who want a story to unfold slowly. Rockstar's Steam page opens in America in 1899, with Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang on the run from federal agents and bounty hunters, robbing and fighting their way across the heartland. As the gang splits, Arthur must choose between his own ideals and loyalty to the people who raised him. Rockstar cites over 175 Game of the Year awards and over 250 perfect scores. The purchase also includes Red Dead Online, though solo players can ignore it. The PC requirements are modest on processor and graphics, with a GTX 770 and 8 GB of RAM at minimum, but the game needs 150 GB of storage. Steam also lists in-app purchases tied to the online mode. At $59.99 it costs more than The Witcher 3, which keeps it a step lower here.

Hades proves a story game does not need a 100-hour campaign. Supergiant's Steam page casts you as the immortal Prince of the Underworld trying to escape the god of the dead, growing stronger and unraveling more of the story with each attempt. A fully voiced cast of gods, ghosts and monsters waits between runs, and the page promises thousands of unique story events as you learn about the family's conflict. Olympians such as Zeus, Athena and Poseidon offer dozens of Boons, and the Mirror of Night grants permanent upgrades, which the studio says means you don't have to be a god yourself to see the story. Steam lists single-player, captions and Remote Play on phone, tablet and TV, on Windows and macOS. The catch is the loop: you repeat runs, and combat is fast. At $24.99 it is the second cheapest pick.

Tears of the Kingdom is the story pick for Nintendo players, though its story is told more through exploration than dialogue. Nintendo's store page describes Link traveling across the far-reaching land and skies of Hyrule to find the origins of a mysterious gloom plaguing the kingdom. As the sequel to Breath of the Wild, it lets you decide your own path through the landscapes and the islands floating above. Link's new Ultrahand and Fuse abilities let you build contraptions and make your own weapons, so many puzzles have more than one answer. Nintendo lists it as supported on Switch 2 with behavior consistent with Switch, plus amiibo support and play without motion or touch controls. The limits: it runs only on Nintendo hardware, and players who want branching dialogue will find more in Baldur's Gate 3 or Disco Elysium. The US price did not load as text in our check, so it is marked pending.

Elden Ring is for solo players who want a story they dig out themselves. The Steam page describes the Lands Between as a vast continent of open fields and huge dungeons connected together, and says the founding mythology was written by George R. R. Martin and adapted into a multilayered story whose events can unfold in many ways depending on your interventions. Combat asks you to balance attacking and avoiding damage with weapons, spells and summons, and builds can lean on melee, magic or stealth. Steam lists single-player along with online co-op and PvP, and you can summon up to two other players, so help is there if a boss stops you. The downsides are clear: the bosses are hard, and much of the story sits in item text and side characters rather than cutscenes. At $59.99 it ranks lower here only because it is less approachable.

Hollow Knight is the budget pick and a story you uncover rather than watch. Team Cherry's Steam page describes an ancient, ruined kingdom sleeping beneath the fading town of Dirtmouth, which draws visitors searching for riches, glory or answers to old secrets. You explore twisting caverns, ancient cities and deadly wastes, choose your own paths through Hallownest, and use the Dream Nail to see another side of the characters you meet. The page lists over 130 enemies and 30 bosses, plus Charms that change your abilities. Four free content packs, Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood and Godmaster, add quests and boss fights. Steam lists single-player on Windows, macOS and Linux. Two caveats: the bosses are tough, and the story comes in fragments you piece together. At $14.99 it is the cheapest game on this list.

Cyberpunk 2077 is the sci-fi pick. The Steam page describes an open-world, action-adventure RPG set in the dark future of Night City, a dangerous megalopolis obsessed with power, glamor and body modification. CD PROJEKT RED's site points to the gripping spy-thriller expansion Phantom Liberty and the Edgerunners 2 Update (2.5), which is out now, and lists a Nintendo Switch 2 version. On Steam it is single-player only, with a native macOS build that needs an M1 and 16 GB of RAM at minimum, and REDmod for official mod support. The Windows build asks for 70 GB on an SSD and 12 GB of RAM. It ranks last mainly on value: $59.99 covers the base story, and Phantom Liberty is listed as separate DLC on Steam. The content note lists strong language, violence and nudity. For players who want a story in a future city rather than a fantasy world, it is the clear choice.