To eliminate boring moments, we’ve gathered solo games, recreational activities, and hobbies you can do on your own.
Why not try adding a few of them into your free time here and there?
Many activities considered “for kids” can be plenty enjoyable for adults, too.
Give them a try.
- Single-player games: a roundup of time-killing games
- [Solo Time] A roundup of ways to kill time without using your smartphone
- [Elementary School] Quick and Easy! Indoor Recreational Activities Perfect for Lower Grades
- Recommended ways to kill time that you can do alone at home
- Solitaire card games you can play alone [single-player]
- Solo indoor play ideas for elementary school kids: a collection to turn boredom into fun time
- A collection of simple indoor recreational games
- Fun activities for junior high school students. Recreation games.
- [For Adults] Make the Most of Your Free Time! Ideas to Kill Time
- A fun quiz you can use to kill time by yourself or with everyone
- [Simple Games] Recommended Indoor Recreational Activities for Adults
- [For Men] A Collection of Hobby Ideas You Can Get Absorbed in on Your Own
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
Games you can enjoy alone. Recreation games (1–10)
Paper Drop Game
Let’s make a “Paper Drop Game” by folding and cutting paper! This idea is exciting because the process of getting ready to play—folding paper to create the game board and cutting pieces that become the heart of the game—is part of the fun.
Once you write numbers on the folded paper with a pen, you’re ready to start.
Using the creases as guides, flick or drop the paper pieces to aim for high scores—simple rules anyone can enjoy.
It’s great that you can reuse scrap paper, too! Challenge each other to see who can score higher and have a blast competing.
Trump Tower
A heart-pounding, nerve‑racking card tower where you carefully stack playing cards.
It’s great fun with a crowd using rules like “whoever knocks it down loses,” but you can also enjoy it solo with quiet tension.
Because you can focus entirely on your own world, it naturally nurtures concentration and dexterity.
Even if it collapses, if you don’t give up and try again, you’ll experience the joy of success—“I did it!” The more you find your own tricks and stack it higher, the more fun it becomes.
You can take it slow at your own pace, build confidence, and it’s a perfect recommendation for solo indoor play.
Solo play you can really get into!
A handy item for enjoying a quick game at school is the math blocks.
Many schools probably purchase them in bulk for first graders.
Try a stacking game using those math blocks to see how many you can stack within a time limit.
You could also compete to see how many seconds it takes to stack 10 blocks.
Because it requires fine finger movements and focused engagement, it can also serve as practice for staying calm during lessons.
Just be careful not to lose any blocks if the stack collapses while you play.
Coin Tower
You might think it’s just stacking coins into a tower, but it’s actually quite challenging—and once you get into it, you can lose track of time.
There are tricks beyond simply stacking coins, like balancing them on a pen or using a cup.
The higher-difficulty setups look great on social media, so why not give them a try?
Jigsaw puzzle
It’s a game where you assemble small pieces to create a single picture.
The joy you feel when you take your time and complete one image is beyond words.
There are also high-difficulty versions, such as ones without a picture on them or with a very large number of pieces, so if you’re confident in your skills, why not give them a try?
Space warp
Spacewarp is a puzzle-like product where steel balls roll along two rails you assemble yourself.
A battery-powered elevator automatically returns the balls to the starting position, so once it’s set up, it keeps running as long as the batteries last.
Its sleek appearance also makes it a great choice as interior decor.
Ball games you can play alone
Here are five ball games you can play by yourself! First: kick the ball yourself, run, and pass it through your legs.
You’ll use your head, too, as you think about how hard to kick.
Second: toss the ball up and pass it through your arms—moving your body is the key.
Third: balance one ball on top of another and keep it still.
Fourth: hold the ball above your head, bend your body backward, pass it through your legs, and catch it—great for flexibility.
Finally, a game using a hula hoop: while the hoop is spinning, move the ball.
You don’t need to throw or kick hard to have fun with any of these, so give them a try!