Things in Rings

Recently, I pulled out a game called Things in Rings. It’s basically Venn diagrams turned into a party game.

Here’s how it works: three random clues are known by a gamemaster, like “First 2 letters are in alphabetical order”, “Can be bought in a store”, and “Weighs more than a chair.” Everyone else gets cards in their hand showing various objects, and without knowing the exact clues, you’ve got to place your card where you think it belongs in the circles.

At first, you’re just throwing cards down, guessing blind, but as the game continues, you start to see the patterns emerge. You build a hypothesis, test it, adjust, and suddenly the chaos starts to make sense. You can clear cards quickly if you figure out even one or two categories. Nail all three, and you’re flying.

I love games like this because they mirror how we solve problems at work. Initially, it feels like random guesses, maybe even wasted moves, but with enough information, you start connecting the dots. A messy table suddenly reveals a strategy.

I’ve played nearly 800 board games, and track my favorite 100 Games of All Time in an annual tradition. Things in Rings might just break into that group. It’s fun, clever, and rewards persistence, which is the same way I try to approach my business.

As some close friends and colleagues would know, I used to share my Top 100 Games in a newsletter at Google. I would love to know if you think I should start it up again. It used to be one of my favorite rituals back at Google, and this game might earn its spot on the list. Let me know in the comments, and maybe I’ll start a LinkedIn weekend newsletter on board games.

If you’d like to learn more about our company, Teamwork Unlocked, and how these kinds of games influence our work, contact us here.