Creative problem-solving game

Solve it, break it, repair it, then pitch it.

Pass the Problem is a chain-reaction exercise that treats a first solution as the beginning, not the finish. Players inherit a fictional problem, propose a fix, expose its fatal flaw, repair the idea, present it to the customer, and write the slogan.

Host this game More Chain Reactions
Problem SolvingPass the Problem

Solve it, break it, repair it, pitch it.

Players
3–24
Playtime
About 11 minutes
Energy
Lively
Skills
Problem solving, Constructive critique, Iteration

How to play

Pass the Problem in five steps.

  1. 1

    Choose a wild, workplace, survival, school, fantasy, space, restaurant, or superhero problem deck.

  2. 2

    Each chain begins with a problem and rotates to a player who proposes the first solution.

  3. 3

    The next contributor identifies one fatal flaw without discarding the whole idea.

  4. 4

    Another player repairs the solution so it can survive the criticism.

  5. 5

    Finish with a customer presentation and slogan, then reveal the full iteration trail.

Example round

Fixing a restaurant where gravity changes hourly

Ceiling-mounted tables solve the lunch rush until the flaw—soup—appears. A rotating sealed bowl repairs the design, and the final slogan promises “Fine dining from every angle.”

Best for

Use it when the room needs…

  • Design-thinking workshops
  • Retrospectives
  • Innovation teams
  • Groups practicing feedback

Facilitator tips

Keep the chain moving.

  • Describe flaws as constraints the next person can work with, not as insults.
  • Choose workplace mode when you want the discussion to resemble real iteration.
  • At reveal, celebrate the repair that preserved the most useful part of the first idea.

Participation and accessibility

The exercise is entirely text based and separates idea critique from its author. Fictional prompt decks let teams practice iteration without exposing a real employee's proposal.

Keep playing