#solo journaling

[takataapui]

a new solo-journaling game about being small, hopeful, and belonging to something

'it is a beautiful day on the marae and you are a baby pūkeko' is a game where the title says it all, really!

play as a baby pūkeko on your marae (Māori meeting house) as a group of guests comes to your home. you'll play through a pōwhiri, which is a formal Māori process where guests are welcomed on. you'll talk to some old friends, make some new ones, and help the pōwhiri run smoothly.

you'll need some dice (d4, d6, d8, d10) and a way to record your story.

no prior knowledge of Māori culture or language is needed. most words have a translation, and there's a provided dictionary link for the ones that aren't.

community copies (free copies!) are available, and additionally, every copy bought as well as $1 above the base price will add another copy.

play out your wildest pūkeko dreams for only $2USD here:

[cassimothwin]

Which house will be you be assigned at Brackroot Academy??? Pause or Screenshot the gif at the top to learn your destiny!

Then "Keep reading" to learn more about your house!

Brackroot Academy is part of Tangled Blessings, a magical school horror roleplaying game that uses tarot cards to uncover your fate as a student.

If you like this fun exercise, learn more about the crowdfunding campaign happening now!

Learn more about your house further below! Does it suit you?

House of Celestials 

The skies borrow from the elements to paint a backdrop for life. Featuring iconography of the sun, moon, and constellations, celestials are known for their inner glow. Still, they do not shy away from the dark surrounding them, understanding that all things require balance. Students in this house often carry at least one or more of these marks: discipline, passion, or indifference. This dorm overlooks the lake. 

House of Dahlias 

Dahlias rely on the energy of celestial bodies for growth and endurance. As a vibrant flower, dahlias are a symbol of elegance and devotion. The plant may seem abundant, but it requires careful nurturing in the wet and cold climate of Brackroot. Students in this house often carry at least one or more of these marks: creativity, perfectionism, or obsessiveness. This dorm is connected to the greenhouse. 

House of Panthers 

The panther needs a garden to rest from its daily stroll, and the dahlias always supply. The panther is a symbol of grace, athletics, and agility but still elusive and rare — a fierce creature of the shadows. Students in this house often carry at least one or more of these marks: observation, punctuality, or ruthlessness. This dorm is at the edge of the forest. 

House of Spires 

The spires are only safe in their tower because of the panthers who keep guard. The House of Spires represents the connection blades, pens, and spirituality share. While members of this house may only show interest or aptitude in one of the represented icons, they are a full member of the spire. Students in this house often carry at least one or more of these marks: empathy, isolation, or judgment. This dorm is in the high tower. 

House of Elements  

Elements are the wildest of the quintet, but they maintain control with help from the spires. The elements symbolize excess and power, but together, they represent the strength of unity. Students in this house often carry at least one or more of these marks: cleverness, hunger, or negligence. This dorm is under the school, but furnished with enchanted windows that overlook the neighboring mountains.  

House of None

Accessible by only walking along the edge of a bridge in the right invisible spot, students in the House of None often think of themselves as beyond reality. These thoughts only worsen the more they understand magic on cosmic and atomic scales. Students in this house are often detached, cold, and fiercely intelligent Symbols commonly associated with this house include the number zero, a black hole, a vortex, lanterns, and knots. 

House of Divines

Hidden beneath the campus Chapel and graveyard, this house was annexed centuries ago for blatant misuse of dark magic. Some stories claim this house serves as the birthplace for demons and vampires. Whatever the reason for the House's former eradication, blood stains remain in the foundation. Students in this house are often vengeful, patient, and not above harming others to get what they want. Symbols commonly associated with this house include blood, fruit, teeth, bones, claws, horns.

[worstgirleva]

Epilogue in C minor is a solo journaling RPG about how you, a weapon of mass destruction known as the Epilogue, acts and reacts towards the war between the earth and the moon while searching for answers of your origins.

Currently on sale 65% off.

[pandiongames]

Oh yeah, the second edition of Whispers in the Walls is coming soon OUT NOW! Fully illustrated this time!

And with a built-in player's journal to document your adventure.

[ratwavekayla]

New Release! An Illustrator's Guide to the Dreamtlands is a solo journaling and sketching game, played with a deck of cards.

You play a traveller who ventures into a surealistic dreamscape-made-physical and create sketches of the strange denizens you meet there.

You use cards to influence elements of scenes and details of what you sketch at each stop.

It's illustrated by the paintings of Wassily Kandinsky and I included one of my own shoddy sketches in the book to show it's fun regardless of how you are with drawing.

Available now on Itch and I'll have physical copies with me at Dragonmeet next monthm

[laesquinadelrol]

Presenting a megabundle of solo journaling tabletop games for the Itch.io Summer Sale 2023! Featuring 38 titles from 21 talented creators spread across the globe.

All of the games in this bundle would normally cost you a total of $139.49, but you can get them now at a 74% discount! That's 38 games for only $35.

If you're looking for games to play on your own then you've come to the right place. Whether you're looking for something contemplative and reflective, a bit of excitement, or some light fun to pass the time, this bundle has something for you.

All the games in this bundle are physical games that can be played on your own. Some also have additional rules for multiple players.

Enjoy!

[miamiaaaaaaa]

Solange for Document Journal. Photos by Joshua Woods.

I am literally speechless.

[starlightcornergames]

BUNNUSHKA...

Is out now!

Inspired by this photo:

It's about a bunny living a slow, peaceful life in the countryside. Players role play as sweet little Bunnushka and write journal entries based on seasonal prompts. You can also roll to add in book reviews, write letters, record recipes, and write poems.

You can use your own journal or print out stationery I designed!

Also, I made a playlist so you can listen to Bunnushka's radio. If you'd like to listen along, go here.

PLAY BUNNUSHKA

My games are always free and I'd love to know your thoughts!

[roguecentaur]

You are something ancient.Something terrifying and unknowable. You are rage itself.

You are Fantomah, Mystery Woman of the Jungle.

My newest SoloRPG has dropped today! Play as a vengeful goddess of impossible strength, as she struggles to restrain herself from destroying the world.

Can a god be so mighty and unstoppable that they cannot stop even themselves? Is it possible to overcome instinct? Are we more than our ugliest moments? It seems inevitable that you will only grow colder. Change feels like an impossible task. Maybe it is already too late for you. But you must try, all the same.

[lazywitchling]

Hi! Can you recommend solo journaling rpgs?

Ooh, yeah! I don't play them often, but I've played a few that I've enjoyed and gone back to a couple of times. If you want more in depth and someone who REALLY knows what they're talking about, @theresattrpgforthat has anything you could ever want.

Some that I have played and enjoyed:

For medium-to-heavy on the journaling:

Over The Mountain by Marchcrow (@hillbillyoracle here on tumblr). [FREE] You live in the mountains! You have neighbors! Some are human and some are spirits! It's just one double-sided page of tables that you roll on for locations, neighbors, items, events, etc. There's stuff like dungeons, seasons, a friendship mechanic, all with enough structure to give some writing prompts, but freeform enough for you to make it what you want. Being a single page, it's really easy to fold in half and tuck into your journal. Have a pen with you and a way to roll dice, and you've got your whole game right there.

(Actually while I'm here, anything by Marchcrow. Check out their itch.io page! Over the Mountain is not the only thing they have done, and you'll probably find something that fits your vibe. There's one where you use a tarot deck to grow a garden. There's a rage room. See what you find!)

The Lighthouse at the Edge of the Universe by lostwaysclub. [$10.00, but pay-it-forward Community Copies are frequently available for those who can't afford it). What it says on the tin, pretty much: You're a lighthouse keeper at the lighthouse at the edge of the universe. You keep the light on, observe the ships that pass by through the stars, maintain the lighthouse, collect things that wash up on the island. It's a little melancholy and peaceful. This one is played with a deck of cards and... I forget whether it's a die or a coin? But it's very simple gameplay, easy to pick up and play quickly, or for longer entries if you wish. I have found myself playing this one at night when I can't sleep, or if I'm feeling just a little bleh. It's nice to go retreat to the lighthouse for a bit.

A Little Less Journaling, A Little More Action:

It's In the Vents! by biggayuniverse. [Pay What You Want] It's Alien. You're on a spaceship, there's an alien, you gotta get off, but there's a cat that you have to go retrieve first. This one is played with a deck of playing cards laid out in a grid, and a token representing you. You move through the grid, flipping over cards and reacting to the prompts while you search for the cat, then (hopefully) get back to the escape pod. You can journal this one if you want to, or just play it like you'd play a quick game of solitaire.

(If you enjoy It's In The Vents! then look up other games using the Carta system. That's the playing-card-grid system, and there are plenty of other games on itch.io that use it)

Dungeon Hero by Lone Spelunker. [Pay What You Want] Sometimes you just want to roll some dice. Dungeon Hero has three different adventures that you can play through, all with the same basic idea of gameplay. There's a long list of rooms. You start at the beginning, roll to see how many steps you advance, and then deal with what's in that room. It might be a battle! Could be some treasure! Maybe a puzzle that you'll need to use your skills about! Roll some more dice to hopefully beat that encounter or see how much treasure you acquire, then roll again to advance. It's really good for when you want to play something by yourself, but you don't necessarily want to put too much effort into making up a story about it (though you certainly could). I also love this one because you print it on a single page and then fold it into a little pocket-sized zine, so I frequently have one of the adventures tucked into my dice bag.

[takataapui]

it is a beautiful day in the wetland and you are a horrible bittern is a game about causing mischief, finally dealing with those pesky humans, and oh, wait, what's this? ah, i see... dealing with the consequences of your actions.

play 'it is a beautiful day and you are a horrible bittern' here for pay what you want!

[cassimothwin]

Carved by Garden cover creation

Carved by the Garden is my single-player tabletop RPG that's live on Kickstarter until August 5!

It's a journaling game that uses a standard deck of playing cards, a tumbling block tower, a six-sided die, and tokens. There is a preview linked on the Kickstarter page.

This is a folk horror game! If you don't know what that means, it's a mix of media inspirations like The Ritual, The Witch, Midsommar and more. There's also a dash of corrupted folklore and of course cryptids. If you love spooky ghost stories set in the woods, please check it out!

[worstgirleva]

do you like ✅mech pilots ✅magical girls ✅racing drivers ✅musicians ✅saviors ✅whatever the persona characters are

all of those are featured scenarios in burning hearts forever on sale for 50% off

[pandiongames]

Our brand new apocalyptic mystery TTRPG has launched on Backerkit!

Substratum Protocol is a solo+ survival mystery TTRPG utilizing step-down dice and card draw mechanics, Substratum Protocol is playable as both a solo game or guided by a GM.

If you are familiar with our Hints and Hijinx system (Waffles for Esther, Hamsters and Himbos, etc) then this multiplayer mystery will feel familiar!

Make sure to check out the campaign to get the free preview PDF!

The preview includes the first 38 pages of the book. It contains all the rules and how to play, but does not include any of the information about the mystery, clues, knowledge questions, the sectors' events and descriptions, or the character folios.

With players taking on the role of Earth's best remaining scientists, Substratum Protocol is our entry into the Deep Delving Mystery genre (like Subnautica and In Other Waters). 

On their grueling journey to the center of the Earth, members of the Substratum Expedition will overcome challenges, gain clues and knowledge of the interdimensional portal, discover creatures, aliens, cosmic horrors, and ultimately assemble their final hypothesis to overcome the apocalypse looming before them.

The game intertwines hard science fiction with the inescapable, unknowable horrors of an interdimensional portal tearing apart reality.

Features

Purpose-built for solo and multiplayer mysteries

Unique dice and card draw resolution mechanics

Take special Actions whose outcomes can chain together

Collect beaten cards during Skill Checks to power your suit's abilities

A self-contained story, with unlimited possibilities and outcomes

Quickly build unique and interesting characters at the table

36 unique clues to discover, 36 questions to answer

10 sectors to explore, each one stranger than the last

120 events and encounters to surprise and stump your players

Build the Last Hypothesis: When they have learned all they can, the scientists must pour over their knowledge of the portal, construct the Last Hypothesis and enact their plan. Will it be enough?

Made by an All-Star Team of Creators

We've assembled a fantastic team to bring Substratum Protocol to life, including the group behind the wildly popular dwarves in space TTRPG, Stoneburner by Fari RPGs

Illustrations by Galen Pejeau

Editing by Eric Lazure

Developmental Editing by René-Pier Deshaies-Gélinas

Layout Direction from Tony Tran

Writing and Design by Andrew Boyd

Promotion by Alex from Backerkit

[laesquinadelrol]

¡Un juego de diario en solitario en un salvaje oeste extraño!

Cuando el Maligno llegó a las Tierras Fronterizas y se hizo con el control de todo, persiguió y asesinó a todas las personas que eran miembros de la orden de Cazadores de Monstruos. Los cazadores de monstruos tenían la responsabilidad de contener y eliminar al mal que atormentaba a todos los habitantes del mundo. Las Tierras Fronterizas están destruidas y a merced de bestias y monstruos violentos que corrompen todo lo que tocan. Los habitantes son desconfiados y el mundo ha cambiado tanto que nadie lo recuerda. Pareciera que ha llegado el fin de los tiempos, pero todavía hay una esperanza. Eres el último Cazador de Monstruos y en tus manos está restablecer el orden del mundo. Tienes en tu poder la Escopeta del Destino, la única arma capaz de hacer daño al Maligno, pero para poder utilizarla necesitarás las Seis Balas Legendarias que se encuentran ocultas en diferentes lugares de las Tierras Fronterizas. Tu misión será encontrar las Seis Balas Legendarias y recuperarlas todas para poder derrotar al Maligno. Cumple con tu misión antes de que te conviertas en un monstruo.

Sobre el juego

Monster Hunter, inspirado por Torre Oscura de Stephen King, utiliza el sistema Guided by Firelights de @rpdeshaies. Para jugar necesitarás únicamente un mazo de cartas, al menos tres dados de seis caras y un soporte para mantener el diario de partida.

Aquí una demostración del juego:

[cassimothwin]

This game was my introduction to solo RPGs, and it is seriously an amazing experience.

Matt Sanders’ The Sealed Library (2020) is a very brief solo game for Chris Bissette’s The Wretched rules. I am not familiar with those, but if this zine is any indication, they’re lightweight and excel at presenting weighty topics in a thoughtful way.

The concept is straightforward. You’re a librarian in the greatest library ever known. The city is under siege. Everyone but you is dead. You have a barricade (represented by a Jenga tower) protecting you from the invaders . You need to save as much of the accumulated knowledge as you can before the barricade fails, or you starve to death. Lighthearted!

Play is a combination of journaling and drawing cards, then resolving the corresponding actions. Befitting a game bearing the logo “Wretched & Alone,” it is pretty agonizing. Progress on moving books to the vault is slow. Constant distractions divert your attention and waste your time. There is very little indication that you have any hope of success. You do! There is a single potential path to a victory. You can even survive, maybe. But that isn’t really the point. Rather, the player is meant to ponder the idea of preserving knowledge in the face of its destruction, the meaning of it all and their place in all of this, among other similar existential questions.

A thoughtful, if unrelentingly heavy, experience.