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  2. Acquisition Leadership
  3. Acquisition Leadership: Futures Thinking
  4. Acquisition Leadership: Futurology Game

Acquisition Leadership: Futurology Game

Leaders working together

Futurology–The Card Game


Imagine an extraordinary future. How did we get there? Discover...one play at a time. 

Futurology is a card game where an end state is given at the beginning. Teams use collaborative storytelling to work backwards by identifying events that led to the declared end state. Teams take turns playing cards representing the following:

  • Political
  • Economic
  • Socio-cultural
  • Technological event domains 

These create plausible events that connect to the end state and previous plays. A moderator judges whether each event statement (play) is plausible and validates or disallows the play.  The team that uses all of its cards first wins.  The sequence of events is read back at the end of the game.

Futurology Card Game Resources:
What is the purpose of the card game Futurology? 

Futurology helps people appreciate how futures thinking can help develop foresight (i.e., knowledge or insight about the future), which can be applied to shape a preferred future. The game helps participants appreciate how futures thinking can help develop foresight in a fun, challenging, and thoughtful way.

How long does it take to play the game? 

It takes approximately 30 minutes to play each game.

How can I play the game without a Futurology card deck?

 If you don’t have the ability to download and print a Futurology card deck, a standard deck of playing cards can be used. When using regular playing cards, a large poster or PowerPoint slide that describes each suits association with the four PEST (political, economic, socio-cultural, and technological) environment factors is recommended.

How can I get a set of Futurology cards?

Download the Futurology card deck pdf file to print your own deck of cards on 8.5 x 11.5-inch paper or cardstock.

Printable Game Cards

For more information, contact [email protected]