MANIFESTO! Now: Game Design for Revolutionary Thinking

This paper presents recent work designing and testing a card game for manifesto writing, including a new edition that focuses on the “Future(s) of Europe” as well as a digital edition. The game began in 2019 with a “Tech Edition” and has since been tested in classrooms and grassroots organisations across Europe. Beyond the basic rules, each trial has brought about significant modifications: in terms of content, timing, number and type of cards permitted, and other aspects of gameplay. In our game the manifesto is conceived of as a revolution- ary genre - a tool for activists in challenging and complex times. By developing a new set of “provocations” for our European edition, on themes like climate action, countering extremism, the need for unity, action against racism, and finding empowering uses of digitalization, our aim is to help rebuild the commons and encourage consensus on the most difficult issues we face.