Is this balanced to play singleplayer?

[Silent Fool]

I am planning on getting with friends, but if they aren't around does the game adjust to a single player?

[Necroscourge]

It's a little difficult, and you basically are confined to the kitchen when you play solo. I have never been able to make using the whole restaurant work in solo play.

[McFuzz]

I have been able to franchise most of the foods running solo files, without digging too much into automation until recently. The conveyers make solo very possible.

There is a huge wait increase when playing solo. But it's still not 'easy'.

My longest franchise got to tier 3 and was extremely complex (pie shop, with every pie and 4 side types and 2 desserts lol) so you don't need to dumb down your recipe in order to survive.

At the very least, you can always get the game and offer your friends to do Remote Local Play, so they can play for free, if you live close enough that it's not going to be laggy.

[Lelouch]

just made it to overtime day 8 with pizza on single player small room, starter company. Best tip to initially wash (through the half wall if possible), cook and serve in the same room, slowly set up automation in the other rooms.
more players do add more customers.

[Skylahrk]

I remember failing hard the first time I reach day 13 (only my third time playing) and was worried that crash and burn would be the experience for solo players. But I am happy to say that after more practice and now 16+ solo hours in this is simply not true! I have franchised over eight times and some runs I did not even notice I had reached day 15. Now, surviving after day 15 is the real challenge. The farthest day I have seen was overtime day 5 on two different runs (pizza and pies(?)). My pizza run I only had three tables that seated 2 people each while the rest of the room was covered in coffee tables and potted plants. The PlateUp cats had blessed me with a blueprint copier day 8 and you bet I used it!

Overall, this game is meant to be a challenge but not impossible. Even multiplayer runners struggle to reach day 15. My #1 tip is - don't panic! That is when you start running around in circles or accidentally picking and placing the wrong items like handing customers your dirty scrub brush or microwaving your sharp knife. It takes practice to figure out the blueprints, cards, and setups that work best for your style of solo play.

In general, as a solo player you have to be OK with sticking to what makes your life simple such as staying in the kitchen, servicing tables over half-walls, and avoiding over-complicating your menu. That being said, there is hope to experiment as a solo player. I did have a pizza run where I began servicing outside the kitchen only because I had the set up to grab two portioned pizza from the half-walls. Also, on a salad run I had reached day 13 with extra salad topping, carrot soup and coffee, so it is possible to have a bigger menu.

My final review is that PlateUp solo play is 100% viable and satisfying. Expect to be challenged. If you do start to panic as customers are lining up outside your restaurant, dirty dishes are everywhere, and your equipment is catching on fire, just remind yourself "this is fine".

More solo player tips:

- Manage your money early so you have enough to redecorate the first time at least to the first level. Overall, you are greatly missing out if you do not max the decoration bonuses. If you work on good money management, I find money is not an issue by day 10-15. I think in one run with the maxed Exclusive perk I had over 5000+ coins by day 15. On average, by the end of late game plays I have over 1000+ coins to spare.
- Messes on the floor are a solo player's #1 enemy. They're OK in the eating area since apparently customers do not seem to mind when all tiles around them are a health code violation. Aim to keep your work area mess free by saving up money for mops/buffers or the Wellies, or pick the Formal card if you truly find customer messes overwhelming to you.
- When your in game always practice your set up and new equipment beforehand. Outside the restaurant there is the practice day and blueprint re-roll options. I always practice when I rearrange with new equipment to make sure I can work smoothly, especially with the automation equipment.
- Do not expect to be able to fully automate your kitchen but do aim for some automation. Focus on what you like or don't like doing in your kitchen. You hate doing the dishes? Focus on upgrading your sinks and work towards saving up for that type of equipment.

[CondorDrake]

I'm still missing overtime with burgers and hot dogs, anything else was fairly easy. With fish, pies, steaks or pizzas I basically reach overtime every time. Salad it's 50-50 and Toast I haven't unlocked yet. So to answer OP question, the difficulty level seems to be tailored to solo play. Multiplayer just takes the game to easy mode imo.

[Jinxonurface]

i need friends to play this game with

[Spooner[FR]]

yes u can, it's not realy hard when u know how to play solo.

[CryonicSuspension]

Some food menus are easier than others.