Waiting for the 23

Sit down. Breathe.

The street hums with quiet life—passing footsteps, distant traffic, the whisper of wind against the shelter’s glass. You’re alone. Or maybe not. You don’t check the time.

You’re waiting for the 23.

Waiting for the 23 is a solo journaling roleplaying game of stillness, memory, and the moment before movement.

You sit at a bus stop, unsure if you’re early, late—or if the bus will ever come. You draw cards. You notice things. You remember. You reflect. You decide nothing… until the very end.

There are no stats. No hit points. No combat or inventory.
Just you, a deck of cards, and the thoughts that rise as time stretches out.

Over seven short turns, the game invites you to explore your character’s emotions, regrets, surroundings, and fleeting interactions. Then, with the final card, a decision:
Stay?
Leave?
Do something else entirely?

Sometimes, the wait is the story.
And sometimes, the story is what happens when nothing does.

Designed for quiet moments, introspection, and meditative journaling.
All you need is a deck of playing cards and something to write in.
Includes multiple variants for shorter, real-time, or two-character play.

💬 Feedback Welcome

If you play Waiting for the 23, I’d love to hear what you think.
What did you discover in the stillness?
Did your story take an unexpected turn?

Leave a comment or message on this page—your thoughts help shape future games.
Thanks for being part of the journey.