Waffles for Esther

Your shift has just started. The waffles are hot. Esther is missing.

You are a waitress trying to deliver a freshly made plate of waffles to your favorite regular: Esther.

And you know exactly how Esther likes them. They're part of her everyday order:

Coffee — one sugar, a splash of milk
Waffles — two strawberries, sliced, with apple jam syrup on the side
Hash browns later — extra ketchup

Nothing unusual there.

Except when you return with Esther's waffles, she is nowhere to be found.

So begins Waffles for Esther, a solo mystery journaling game filled with small-town intrigue, curious clues, and a breakfast order that's getting colder by the minute.

There may be a coffee caper to unravel. Perhaps even a sherbet soirée. And somewhere in town, there may be treacherous tea times requiring your attention.

Don't waffle on your decisions. The order is getting cold—and so is the case.

Why We Love It

The mystery begins with something wonderfully ordinary. You're not a famous detective summoned to investigate a sinister crime. You're a waitress holding Esther's breakfast and wondering where your regular went.

The little details matter. One sugar. A splash of milk. Two sliced strawberries. Apple jam syrup on the side. Knowing someone's routine makes their sudden absence feel immediately strange.

It turns a small town into a mystery. Familiar places and everyday encounters become clues as you work out what happened to Esther.

It's made for a slow morning. A journal, some dice, something warm to drink, and a missing regular make for a particularly charming bit of solo play.

Game Details

Players: Solo
Format: Physical A5 zine, staple-bound
Pages: 12 + additional pages for scoring and journaling
Printing: Full color
Style: Solo mystery journaling game

Bring to the Investigation

Grab a sweet set of dice to make a particularly good Saturday morning of it.

Now, where did Esther go?