How to Play Solo in Payday 3 – Should you go it alone?

Want to learn how to play solo in Payday 3? Stick around. We’ll cover everything you need to know, from game modes to your best single-player strategy.

After seven years in the making, Payday 3 has finally arrived, bringing the Payday gang back together for an all-new series of heists. The FPS title is optimized for co-op gameplay, requiring you to come up with the best strategy as you play with friends and other players online. That said, some may wish to go solo in their endeavors. While the game doesn’t explicitly offer a single-player mode, there is a way to take on the next mission alone. Here’s how to play solo in Payday 3.

How to Play Solo in Payday 3

The closest thing to a single-player game mode that Payday 3 offers is the option to switch your lobby type to Invite Only. For the most part, this effectively allows you to enter a mission on your own. Just bear in mind that the remaining roles will be filled by AI bots. Playing in Friends Only can also help you achieve this outcome, provided none of your friends are online.

To change your lobby type and do a solo run, simply select the heist you want to enter. When you do this, you can then switch your lobby from Public to either Invite Only or Friends Only. Choose the former if some of your friends are online.

Once you’re set, hit Matchmaking. Select Ready when you’re good to begin the mission. This will allow you to enter the match by yourself and a few bots.

Should You Do Solo Runs in Payday 3?

Solo runs can be a lot tougher to accomplish than fully manned heists in Payday 3. That said, we wouldn’t recommend attempting solo play if you’re a newcomer to the Payday series. However, longtime players might have better luck conducting successful heists on their own once they’ve become familiar with the new entry’s controls, weapons, and skills.

Because you’re working with bots in a solo run, you’ll essentially need to act as the brains of the operation, placing the burden of both strategy and execution on your shoulders. To be clear, this won’t necessarily make or break the mission. You’ll simply act as the leader of your gang, and your AI teammates will only step in to help when you’re in serious trouble.

However, you may risk failing the mission in this event. While bots will attempt to offer their assistance if you get cuffed by the cops, this will place you in danger of blowing your cover altogether. Getting caught can spell bad news even for the most experienced players.

All things considered, solo runs are not for the faint of heart. If you’re looking for a bit of an extra challenge in your next heist, then you might appreciate the added difficulty of going it alone.

For a walkthrough of your first heist and more on Payday 3, check out these additional guides from our team: Payday 3 No Rest for the Wicked Heist Walkthrough for Stealth or Assault, PayDay 3 Server Status How to Check if They Are Down, and How to Make a Private Lobby in Payday 3 – Join a Heist With Friends.