Best Solo-Friendly Games for Grinding in 2025

Let’s be real, some of us play games because we want to avoid human interaction. And what better way to do that than with a good solo grind? Take a second and think about it… I could be vibing in my pajamas at 2 a.m., grinding resources in absolute silence (like the gremlin I truly am).

So if you’re like me, a proud antisocial solo grinder who loves to see the XP bar moving 0.5% forward after an hour of farming, this list is for you. Here are the best solo-friendly games for grinding, ranked by how much they make me forget I’m ghosting my entire friend group (sorry Panos).

1. Palworld (2025 Update)

Palworld’s open world is still full of cute creatures, and now that they’ve added even more solo-focused features, grinding materials, and boss fights solo is a dream.

Here’s why Palworld is every solo grinder’s paradise:

• Endless progression: Level up your character, your Pals, your base, it really never stops (Not that you would want to).
• Automated base-building: Upgrade your base by assigning Pals to farms, furnaces, or production lines while you explore!
• Boss fights that reward preparation: These raids reward your OCD-level prep with sweet loot. Solo-friendly but never boring.
• No co-op: No voice chat, no strangers running ahead and looting everything. Just pure, peaceful, grindy paradise.

2. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Technically an expansion, but let’s be real, this is a whole new game! They’ve added some spicy new gear, but guess what? You’re going to need to grind. Kill mobs, rerun dungeons, and repeat.

Here’s why Elden Ring is every solo grinder’s paradise:

• Exploration IS grinding: Loot isn’t just handed to you. It’s hidden behind world bosses, poison lakes, and everywhere else you can imagine!
• No co-op required: It hits different when you play solo. No one’s going to steal your boss kill, or run ahead looting everything.
• Spirit ashes: You don’t need to co-op when you can just summon your little ghost friends. However, leveling them up is a grind and totally worth it.

3. No Man’s Sky

Still alive. Still thriving. Still getting updates every time I blink.

If you want infinite grind, this is your jam. Build your dream base, farm exotic resources, and trade with weird aliens. All completely solo.

Here’s why No Man’s Sky is every solo grinder’s paradise:

• Infinite worlds: Explore, mine, trade, build, and catalog weird jellyfish cows x18.4 quintillion times! Yes, you read that right! That’s how many planets there are available to explore in the game.
• 100% solo-friendly
• Base-building: Set up farms, production lines, and storage systems.

4. Dragon’s Dogma 2

The Pawn system lets you solo the entire game.

The grind in Dragon’s Dogma 2 is real. You’ll be hunting beasts, fetching herbs, and yelling at your Pawn for running directly into a dragon’s mouth.

Here’s why Dragon’s Dogma 2 is every solo grinder’s paradise:

• 100% solo
• Exploration: There is no fast travel here. You just walk, camp, and fight through goblins and wyverns to get anywhere.
• The pawn system: Right from the start, you design a custom Pawn. This is a fully controllable companion with their own class, appearance, and behavior. Pawns level with you, follow your orders, and adapt to how you play.

5. Destiny 2

Hear me out. The seasonal content this year is surprisingly solo-friendly. Sure, you’ll need friends for raids (ugh, people), but you can do like… 90% of the game solo.

Here’s why Destiny 2 is every solo grinder’s paradise:

• You can play almost everything solo: Even some dungeons (if you’re a beast)
• Buildcrafting: Mix and match abilities, exotics, armor mods, etc.
• Exploration: Take some time to explore. You will be surprised by how many secret quests, hidden chests, data pads, and lore terminals you will find.

6. Stardew Valley

You start with a sad little farm and somehow end up managing a horticultural empire. It’s just you and your crops. Whether you’re grinding for gold, love, or the perfect artisan goods production pipeline, Stardew Valley makes every solo action feel meaningful.

Here’s why Stardew Valley is every solo grinder’s paradise:

• Massive progression variety: Farming, mining, fishing, cooking, crafting, relationships, you can do whatever you like!
• Slow pace: Play with no pressure at all!

Grinding isn’t just a gameplay mechanic. It’s a lifestyle. These games let you go full goblin mode without needing to ask a single person for help. Because sometimes, the best co-op is you, yourself, and your 24 tabs of norpan guides. What are your favourite grinding games in 2025? Let me know in the comments.