Using Games to Navigate Complexity

What if we could learn to navigate complex systems the same way we learn to play a game?

That’s the question behind our pilot for a systems games workshop—a playful, participatory session that helps people think differently about roles, power, and the ripple effects of decisions.

We brought together people from across sectors, gave them characters and scenarios, and watched how strategies evolved in real time.

“It felt real,” one participant said. “Like the pressure, the trade-offs, the way you have to act even when you don’t know everything.”

That’s exactly what we hoped for. Because real life is messy—and systems thinking doesn’t have to live in a strategy document.

These games aren’t about winning. They’re about insight. About seeing patterns, naming assumptions, and feeling what it’s like to be part of a bigger picture.

We’re now exploring how to run more of these—maybe even co-design new versions with community groups.

Because sometimes, to shift a system, you need to play a little differently.