History Main / SoloCharacterRun

** This can be done in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' except when plot-necessary ([[spoiler:Cloud is incapacitated for a period, and there are some boss fights that must be fought with specific characters]]). It's somewhat trivial if you use Cloud, since the Yoshiyuki sword you pick up in Rocket Town powers up if you have dead people in your party. It's balanced out by a couple bosses that have attacks that trap your character and require intervention from your dead party members, netting you an instant game over. The first, Reno can be taken out if you power level early, usually getting Cloud to unlock Meteorain long before you would otherwise get it. The other, Carry Armor, can quickly become ThatOneBoss, since it will often open the battle with Arm Grab, ending the fight before it can even begin. SaveScumming can be considered mandatory for him. That said, the BonusBoss Ruby WEAPON is easiest with one character, as it cannot use Whirlsand if only one character is alive.

* For players of portable ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' games up to ''Monster Hunter Portable 3rd'' who don't have access to local hunting buddies, as well as console players without a good Internet connection and players of ''4'' and ''4 Ultimate'' who don't have either, doing the multiplayer quests solo is the only option rather than a SelfImposedChallenge. Of course, there are some who can play with others but solo the quests anyway. Either way, the games will often allow the player to bring two helper characters instead of one to compensate, although competitive players have been known to eschew those helpers anyway as their presence can make enemy monsters less predictable due to the presence of two extra targets that the player cannot directly control. Furthermore, the player can simply take four players' worth of supplies rather than having to share them. However, monsters in multiplayer quests have more HP than their story quest counterparts to account for multiple players, so expect to take longer to kill a particular monster.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'' has a ClassAndLevel system, so it has a multitude of solo runs depending on how many characters (a true solo character run is technically not possible since everyone is left out of the main party at varying points of plot), job classes, and non-main job support abilities are allowed.

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* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games zig-zag how much of a challenge this can be. This is because while there are definitely ''plenty'' of Pokémon that make such an attempt difficult, if not impossible (especially if you throw in a "No Evolution" clause), there are also a fair number of others that can actually make a Solo Pokémon Run ''easier'' than a normal one; an over-leveled Pokémon with good stats and a sufficiently versatile moveset can overwhelm pretty much anything, as it's easy for most Mons to shrug off type disadvantages when they're thirty levels higher than the opponent, and your starter is definitely a member of this group.[[note]]In fact, it isn't uncommon for younger first-time players to use only their starter in battles throughout most of the game because of this. The idea of training the rest of the team never comes to mind because their awesome pet dragon or otter is handling everything by itself.[[/note]] All you'll need are a few PP-restoring items for the Elite Four and (in earlier generations) an extra Pokémon or two [[UtilityPartyMember whose only purpose]] would be to hold [[AbilityRequiredToProceed mandatory HM moves]], if your chosen Pokémon can't learn all the required ones. On the other hand, use a Pokémon that ''doesn't'' have a good moveset or base stats (like a first-stage Bug-type), or an odd gimmick (like Ditto or Shedinja), and you will find yourself forced to come up with some interesting strategies to get to the end credits.

** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776'' is borderline impossible to solo for two reasons: the Fatigue system [[labelnote:note]]You would need to stockpile a LOT of Stamina Drinks, or else your character would constantly be Fatigued and unable to fight[[/labelnote]], and enemy staff users [[labelnote:note]]Sleep and Berserk staves, as well as the final boss's Stone spell, have infinite range and last until either the map is beaten, or a Restore staff is used[[/labelnote]]. Leaf is immune to fatigue, mind you, but his relatively low stats and late promotion ensure that you are going to get [[NintendoHard a lot of game overs]].

* Many of the ''VideoGame/{{Exile}}''/''VideoGame/{{Avernum}}'' games from Creator/SpiderwebSoftware are arguably easier in some respects with a solo character, as that character gets all the good loot (of which there is a strictly limited supply), all of the experience (a high-level character is much harder for monsters to kill than an equivalently-leveled character), and only a fourth of the available target space. The big problems come in finding inventory for all the loot Singletons, as they are called in ''Avernum'', are also extremely vulnerable to being wrapped in web by giant spiders. If the spiders continue spinning webs (and they will. They always do), a single character will get no turns at all, getting stuck in a zero-AP loop. Cue either an impossibly long death process or a Ctrl-Alt-Delete.

** This is not, on the other hand, very common among ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'' players. This is possibly because dying is easy for the lead character, but staying dead is hard; or because after the initial roughness of going it alone, even dying becomes hard; or because so much of the game is character interaction, including with party members, and there are so few mandatory fights that you're missing the point of the game if you try a SoloCharacterRun.

* This was possible in ''VideoGame/GrimmsNotes'', even if the game never encouraged you to do so. Your hero would get more experience by fighting alone, and it was overall possible soloing the whole game with the last released attacker-type characters (at least until the DifficultySpike kicked hard during the last quarter of the main story).

* This is the entire point of the Iron Man mode in ''VideoGame/{{Runescape}}.'' You're completely barred from trading with other players, get no experience for partaking in battles where another player damaged the enemy you were fighting, and you don't get any drops from such a situation either, whether or not that player stays in combat for a while or just gets one hit in. There's also ''Hardcore'' Iron Man, where FinalDeath is applied if you don't have any of the items that grants a free revive (of which there are only two in the game, or none in ''Old School'') or would permanently switch your account to a normal Iron Man in your bank.

* One SelfImposedChallenge in ''VideoGame/TelepathTactics'' is to use only {{Required Party Member}}s, and let everyone else die a FinalDeath. This limits you to the two Strider sisters for everything except two missions (Battle with Gulch and Rescuing Sarn Kamina, where Silithis Predat is a vital character). The main difficulty comes from the fact that the Striders have no ranged attacks and poor defenses against elemental attacks. A solo run with anyone else is virtually impossible, as the Striders receive priority targeting and [[CantDropTheHero can't be removed from the field]].

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games zig-zag how much of a challenge this can be. This is because while there are definitely ''plenty'' of Pokémon that make such an attempt difficult, if not impossible (especially if you throw in a "No Evolution" clause), there are also a fair number of others that can actually make a Solo Pokémon Run ''easier'' than a normal one; an over-leveled Pokémon with good stats and a sufficiently versatile moveset can overwhelm pretty much anything, as it's easy for most Mons to shrug off type disadvantages when they're thirty levels higher than the opponent, and your starter is definitely a member of this group.[[note]]In fact, it isn't uncommon for younger first-time players to use only their starter in battles throughout most of the game because of this. The idea of training the rest of the team never comes to mind because their awesome pet dragon or otter is handling everything by itself.[[/note]] All you'll need are a few PP-restoring items for the Elite Four and (in earlier generations) an extra Pokémon or two [[UtilityPartyMember whose only purpose]] would be to hold [[AbilityRequiredToProceed mandatory HM moves]], if your chosen Pokémon can't learn all the required ones. On the other hand, use a Pokémon that ''doesn't' have a good moveset or base stats (like a first-stage Bug-type), or an odd gimmick (like Ditto or Shedninja), and you will find yourself forced to come up with some interesting strategies to get to the end credits.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'' has seen a number of attempts using Cecil (the only possible one, as the party is far more fluid than later ''Final Fantasy'' games). The usual strategy is using Bacchus (an item that causes Berserk) to get through boss fights. [[ThatOneBoss The Demon Wall]] is the usual choke point. Only Cecil is possible, unless of course one uses patch codes of one form or another. It's quite possible, though mages will have a rough time. As, in some versions, bosses that are fought without a magic user in the party, such as Barbariccia and the Dark Imp, are totally immune to spells.

* Both ''[[VideoGame/SaGa2 Final Fantasy Legend II]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/SaGa3 III]]'' revive dead characters after every battle. How do you deal with that? By using codes to petrify most of your team, and any fifth characters to boot! Just be prepared to deal with extreme difficulty, even compared to other solos.[[note]]In ''II'', beating even '''the weakest monsters''' is a pain and a half if you're a solo human or mutant, and in ''III'' expect to grind 30+ levels for a late boss; for reference, when playing normally you beat the final boss somewhere between level 32 and level 40![[/note]]

* This is what a large part of the community says the easiest way to beat the original ''VideoGame/FrontMission''.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games zig-zag how much of a challenge this can be. This is because while there are definitely ''plenty'' of Pokémon that make such an attempt difficult (especially if you throw in a "No Evolution" clause), there are also a good number of others that can actually make a Solo Pokémon Run ''easier'' than a normal one; an over-leveled Pokémon with a sufficiently versatile moveset can overwhelm pretty much anything, as it's easy for most Mons to ignore type disadvantages when they're thirty levels higher than the opponent, and your starter is definitely a member of this group.[[note]]In fact, it isn't uncommon for younger first-time players to use only their starter in battles throughout most of the game because of this. The idea of training the rest of the team never comes to mind because their awesome pet dragon or otter is handling everything by itself.[[/note]] All you'll need are a few PP-restoring items for the Elite Four and (in earlier generations) an extra Pokémon or two [[UtilityPartyMember whose only purpose]] would be to hold [[AbilityRequiredToProceed mandatory HM moves]], if your chosen Pokémon can't learn all the required ones. On the other hand, use a Pokémon that ''doesn't' have a good moveset or base stats (like a first-stage Bug-type), or an odd gimmick (like Ditto or Shedninja), and you will find yourself forced to come up with some interesting strategies to get to the end credits.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games zig-zag how much of a challenge this can be. This is because while there are definitely ''plenty'' of Pokémon that make such an attempt difficult (especially if you throw in a "No Evolution" clause), there are also a good number of others that can actually make a Solo Pokémon Run ''easier'' than a normal one; an over-leveled Pokémon with a sufficiently versatile moveset can overwhelm pretty much anything, as it's easy for most Mons to ignore type disadvantages when they're thirty levels higher than the opponent, and your starter is definitely a member of this group.[[note]]In fact, it isn't uncommon for younger first-time players to use only their starter in battles throughout most of the game because of this. The idea of training the rest of the team never comes to mind because their awesome pet dragon or otter is handling everything by itself.[[/note]] All you'll need are a few PP-restoring items for the Elite Four and (in earlier generations) an extra Pokémon or two [[UtilityPartyMember whose only purpose]] would be to hold [[AbilityRequiredToProceed mandatory HM moves]], as no starter Pokémon can learn all the required ones. Use a Pokémon that ''doesn't' have a good moveset or base stats (like a first-stage Bug-type) or an odd gimmick (like Ditto or Shedninja), and you will find yourself forced to come up with some interesting strategies to get to the end credits.

* In an odd turn of events, ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games zig-zag how much of a challenge this can be. This is because while there are definitely ''plenty'' of Pokémon that make such an attempt difficult (especially if you throw in a "No Evolution" clause), there are also a good number of others that can actually make a Solo Pokémon Run ''easier'' than a normal one; an over-leveled Pokémon with a sufficiently versatile move set can overwhelm pretty much anything, as it's easy for most Mons to ignore type disadvantages when they're thirty levels higher than the opponent, and your starter is definitely a member of this group. In fact, it isn't uncommon for younger first-time players to use only their starter throughout most of the game simply because they weren't aware they could manually switch. The only "hitches" are that you'll need a few PP-restoring items for the Elite Four, and (in earlier generations) one or two more Pokémon [[UtilityPartyMember whose only purpose]] would be to hold [[AbilityRequiredToProceed mandatory HM moves]], as no starter Pokémon can learn all the required ones. Use a Pokémon that ''doesn't' have a good moveset or base stats though, and you will find yourself forced to come up with some interesting strategies to get to the end credits.

** ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' are seen as the easiest games in the series (outside the [[VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee Let's Go games]]) and the Solo Run is no exception thanks to a location called the Battle Chateau. Here, you can easily grind you 'mon all the way up to Level 100 with little fuss against other Trainers, and become ridiculously rich in the process. Since the level of the trainers there is based solely on how many battles won at that location rather than story progression, you'll quickly be able to comfortably fight and gain experience against teams of Lv. 45 [[PinataEnemy Audino]].[[note]]Even better if you're willing to pay for "writs" that increase the levels of your opponents. And better than even that if you make use of O-Powers to multiply experience gains.[[/note]] And this place is located before the ''second gym'', where the Gym Leader maxes out at Level 25. Throw in the easy EV Training system in the game, and you can make nearly any Pokémon you're doing the challenge with, no matter how weak, an absolute powerhouse that will destroy opponents even into the post-game.

* In an odd turn of events, ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games zig-zag how much of a challenge this can be. This is because while there are definitely ''plenty'' of Pokémon that make such an attempt difficult (especially if you throw in a "No Evolution" clause), there are also a good number of others that can actually make a Solo Pokémon Run ''easier'' than a normal one; an over-leveled Pokémon with a sufficiently versatile move set can overwhelm pretty much anything, as it's easy for most Mons to ignore type disadvantages when they're thirty levels higher than the opponent, and your starter is definitely a member of this group. In fact, it isn't uncommon for younger first-time players to use only their starter throughout most of the game simply because they weren't aware they could switch until bumping against a particularly difficult fight and seeing the "Use Next Pokémon" option for the first time. The only "hitches" are that you'll need a few PP-restoring items for the Elite Four, and (in earlier generations) one or two more Pokémon [[UtilityPartyMember whose only purpose]] would be to hold [[AbilityRequiredToProceed mandatory HM moves]], as no starter Pokémon can learn all the required ones. Use a Pokémon that ''doesn't' have a good moveset or base stats though, and you will find yourself forced to come up with some interesting strategies to get to the end credits.