Quiet Waters

A solo journaling RPG about patience, reflection, and the one that got away.

The water is glass. The air is cool. The sun is just beginning to peek over the horizon, and you’re sitting on the bench seat of a boat with your Dad. You aren't here to catch a trophy, you’re here to talk.

Quiet Waters is a therapy journaling game designed to help players explore their relationship with a father figure, whether that person is still in their life, gone, or was never there at all. Through the familiar, rhythmic language of a fishing trip, the game asks the questions that are often the hardest to answer.

The Gameplay

Using a single six-sided die (d6) and a journal, you will navigate a morning on the lake. The game is structured around five key stages of the trip:

The First Cast: Addressing the surface level weights you're carrying.

The Tangled Line: Identifying the knots and complications in your life.

The Nibble: Hearing "Dad" open up, creating a safe space for your own vulnerability.

Reeling In: Confronting the core truths you’ve been fighting.

The Catch: A final choice, do you Keep this memory/trait, or do you Release it back into the dark water?

Features

Pocket-Sized Reflection: Designed as an 8-page zine. Print it on a single sheet of paper, fold it up, and tuck it into your notebook or tackle box.

Minimalist Mechanics: All you need is a pen, a piece of paper, and a d6.

Universal Archetype: The "Dad" character is a blank slate, allowing you to project the voice you need to hear most.

Healing Through Metaphor: Uses the physical actions of fishing: checking the drag, untangling a bird's nest, and the choice of catch and release, to guide emotional processing.