The System Glitch (7-12 year old) + Teen/Adult Option

Mary Nunaley

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23d • Play Ideas & Prompts

We’re going to take a stable system, a game your kids know by heart, and let them break it to see how it works.

Pull out a classic game (Uno, Jenga, Checkers, or even a basic deck of cards).
Announce: "There is a glitch in the system. You are the Lead Game Designer. You have to change TWO rules to make this game harder for the adults and more interesting for you."
You are the player; they are the Game Designer. If they make a rule that seems "unfair," don't correct it. Play it out. Let them see the consequences of their own design.
The Twist: If the game gets too easy, ask: "The Game Designer needs to add a 'Risk Factor.' What happens if someone does (suggest action)?"

For Teens and Adults

The Blank Slate Challenge

For the teens and even you as adults, we’re skipping the "hacks" and going straight to Systems Engineering.

A. Give them a "Junk Drawer" of components: a deck of cards, a handful of coins, a pair of dice, and three random objects (like a remote, a spoon, and a rubber band).

B. Tell them: "You have 15 minutes to invent a completely new game using at least four of these items. You have to define the Win Condition, the 'Illegal Moves,' and the Scoring System."

C. This is the hard part. They will hit a moment where the game is "broken" or doesn't make sense. Stay in Observer mode. Count to ten. Let them realize the logic gap on their own.

D. Once they have a "Beta version," play it with them. After one round, ask: "If you had to sell this to a game company, what’s the one 'hook' that makes it different from anything on the shelf?"

Why it’s Inspiring:

Whether they are hacking Uno or inventing "Spoon-Dice-Poker," they are practicing metacognition, thinking about how systems work. They aren't just playing; they are designing the logic that everyone else has to follow. That is the ultimate exercise in ownership.

Your Turn: Did your kids go for the "Glitch" or the "Blank Slate"? What was the weirdest rule that actually ended up being fun? Drop it in the comments!

Bonus: If you or your kids are interested in exploring game design further, let me know. Happy to build a Fundamentals of Game Design classroom, it’s part of what my son and I do professionally.

If you’re looking for a bit more structure for prototyping games, I recommend, The White Box, from Atlas Games. It’s the tool we use for physical prototyping and no, I don’t earn any money for sharing🤫😎

https://atlas-games.com/product_tables/AG2903

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