SUPERHERO CARD GAME
Number of Players: 6 – 500
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead
Play this game with a group as an icebreaker or energizer to make people talk
casually and learn something about themselves and their peers. It consists of two
parts.
Game objective:
Learn about your own strengths and weaknesses and how to overcome them.
Learn to be vulnerable and experience others’ openness.
Game win:
Everyone wins if they’re open, honest and committed.
Materials you need:
- superhero cards
- stinky fish and nice fish template
- pens
Set up:
- Print the cards one-sided on medium-thick carton. Cut them individually.
- Print the stinky fish and nice fish double-sided
1
How to play:
1. Hand out two cards per person. Tell everyone to swap one or both of their cards
so that they end up with their favourite superpowers.
When everyone is back together, as ask if they got two powers they wished for. Ask
for a show of hands who couldn’t be happier (probably only a few), who has at least
one OK power (most) and who is not so happy (a few). Then say that these
superpowers are like life: you are born with some talents and acquire some through
your family. You learn some skills because you like them and some because school
(or later the market) asks for it. You tweak your superpowers to fit a mould.
BUT (you tell them) we want you to know your superpower and that means looking
at yourself. Put away your superpowers for now and grab your other template with
the two fish.
2. Write down your Stinky fish: one thing that is always in your way (i.e.
procrastination, pride, or another vice). Each person writes their own card. Give
them 2 minutes.
Once you have the stinky fish (don’t share publicly), pair up and ask each other “Why
is this annoying”? This is a listening exercise as much as a self-inquiry.
-
pair up and take notes of other’s stinky fish. 3 minutes, then take turn for
another (3 mins each)
Then tell each other the ONE thing you can do to overcome your stinky
fish. (3 mins each)
then write down your special skill on the other side of your fish template.
(You can do this as a 5x Why interview as above or let everyone write it down
for themselves).
Result: now you have your two superpowers: one is a skill you have, and another is
a weakness turned strength.
Tell them that this exercise was for them to reflect and investigate themselves. In
sharing they find comfort that all of us are imperfect and that trying and failing is
part of design entrepreneurship and civic engagement.
2
I can fly
I am driven
I am smart
I am respectable
I have integrity
I am brave
I can climb
I have stretchy legs
I am bold
I am visionary
I am considerate
I am caring
I learned humility
I travel at the speed of light
I am stronger than anyone
I have stamina
I can be invisible
I have super-vision
I have healing abilities
I am ultra resilient
I am a vigilante
I disrupt
I am a platypus
I have drive
I thrive in a group
I have conviction
I am the uber optimist
I have a secret identity
I can walk up walls
I jump higher than anyone
I have a dark motif
My shadow is my power
I can rally allies
I have an entourage
I can make anything
from nothing
I have mad compassion
My love conquers all
I have insight and oversight
I can to telekinesis
I can mind-read
I can mind-control
I am a thought leader
I have extreme empathy
I am immortal
I have invincible armor
I have x-ray vision
I move through time
I freeze time
I have power over
electronic devices
I have power over the weather
I create illusions
I can do magic
I have outstanding emotional
intelligence
I have outstanding social
intelligence
I am hyper agile
I have four arms
I can walk through walls
I have a great sense of justice
I turn my struggle into strength
I can leverage networks
I have a self-less commitment
to greater good
I can become any other person
I can enter other creatures
I am a werewolf
I can weave spiderwebs
I can swing and run like Tarzan
I build magic devices
I can fix anything
I am hyper charismatic
I can give power to anyone
I have the strongest shield
I am the greatest lover
I am a poet extraordinaire
My voice persuades anyone
My singing beguiles anyone
My gaze bewitches anyone
What I touch turns to gold
I am an alchemist
I can teleport
I can catch any object
I am a master juggler
I am a superb confuser
I can embrace chaos easily
I thrive when others freak out
I can utilize uncertainty
I steal like an artist
I am more productive
than anyone
I don’t need sleep
I can invent any technology
in no time
I have no fear
I can purify water
I can produce pure water
I give contagious love
I build bridges
I connect people
I build strong relationships
I am hyper creative
I am the world’s best
problem-solver
I look out for others
I can heal others
I have insane attention for detail
Nothing escapes my view
I have evolutionary intuition
I perceive the whole world
at once
I make strong decisions in the
face of adversity
I am a natural leader
I can change color
I can camouflage anywhere
I am all animals
I can be water
I can be electricity
I can be fire
I can blow up any obstacle
I can jump any hurdle
I can tackle any enemy
I understand systems and
their relations
I am the world’s most
savvy hacker
I am a culture hacker
I can speak any language
I can warp space
I can alter visible wavelength
I can vary gravitation force
In can shift the speed of time
I can change size
I can dematerialize
I can speak any language
I am a comedian
I can make people laugh
I make people feel light
I spread light
I give optimism
I make people pause
I can control that the surf’s good
I can help others enjoy
a bush walk
¡
I
\.n.
Va.
\Jr\