LET’S PLAY THE
QUANTUM FUTURES
CARD GAME.

Today quantum technologies are not only expanding the limits of computation, communication and sensing, they are also reshaping the values, institutions and relationships that underpin society. As these technologies scale, the question is no longer if they will impact industry and society, but how and whose priorities will guide that impact.

GAME OVERVIEW

PLAYERS: 3-4 teams of 2 players. Players work in pairs, allowing strategy discussions between turns. Be careful though—your competitors shouldn’t overhear your plans!

COMPONENTS: 1 card set with 40 Value cards, 19 Stakeholder cards, 24 Voting cards. Also included, 1 Foresight Matrix Card and 4 Future Scenario Sets each with 3 Future Shift Cards and a 2050+ Future Scenario.

DURATION: 45-60 minutes to play one 2050 future scenario.

MATERIALS NEEDED: Pen and paper to write down your pitches.

SUGGESTION: If you’re on a strict schedule, appoint an independent facilitator as a time keeper for the pitches and debates.

WINNING THE GAME

Across three rounds of debates, teams respond to unfolding shifts, choose and defend key values, and pitch their perspective. After each round, other teams will vote for the team they found most convincing. The team that accumulates the most votes by the end of the game shapes the quantum world of 2050—and wins.

ACTIVE GAMEPLAY

The game unfolds over three rounds of strategic debates and voting.

1. STAKEHOLDERS ROLES: Deal one Stakeholder Card to each team. Each team reads their role aloud and places their card face-up in front of them.

2. BIG NEWS: Draw and read a Future Shift Card. It reveals a shift in the discourse of the chosen quantum scenario. Discuss the future shift together to explore its implications.

3. PRIORITISE A VALUE: Every team draws three Value Cards. In secret, each team chooses which value to prioritise—one that aligns with their stakeholders’ perspective.

4. DEVELOP A PITCH: Each team prepares a one-minute pitch explaining their chosen value and reasoning, e.g., why this is important in light of the Future Shift Card.

5. PITCH WITH PURPOSE: One at a time, each team delivers their pitch. All other teams listen closely to decide who earns their vote.

6. DEBATE: After all pitches, there’s time for questions and debate. Ask questions to expose contradictions or challenge assumptions.

7. VOTE FOR THE FUTURE: Every player votes simultaneously: on a countdown—3, 2, 1—each player places their Voting Card in front of the team whose pitch they found most convincing.

• With 3 teams, there are 6 individual votes.
• With 4 teams, there are 8 individual votes.

Each team keeps the Voting Cards they were awarded. Place the winning Value and Stakeholder Cards next to the Future Shift Cards.

8. TIME PASSES, MORE BIG NEWS: Repeat steps 1–7 for the second and third round.

9. REACH 2050 AND PROCLAIM A WINNER: After three rounds, read aloud the final 2050+ Future Scenario. Identify which team earned the most Voting Cards and wins the Quantum Futures Game.

10. REFLECT & TAKE ACTION: The winning team initiates the final reflection by answering “What are the implications of this future, and what course of action could be taken today to ensure or mitigate this future?”

The Quantum Futures Game was commissioned and funded by the Centre for Quantum and Society, a knowledge and co-creation hub dedicated to maximizing the positive societal impact of quantum technologies. The Centre for Quantum and Society is part of Quantum Delta NL.

The Centre for Quantum and Society engages in:

• Facilitating groundbreaking academic research on ethics, legal frameworks, and effective communication about quantum technologies’ impact.
• Developing tools to help organizations leverage quantum opportunities while addressing potential challenges.
• Conducting customised training programs and awareness activities with diverse stakeholders.
• Leading strategic foresight projects to build shared visions that shape governance choices preserving core societal values.
• Initiating mission-driven innovation in quantum projects.

Visit The Centre for Quantum and Society’s website and www.quantumforgood.eu to learn more.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to our early playtesters at the Quantum Policy Academy, Alliander, the Policymakers and Designers user tests, and all colleagues at TU Delft and QDNL who helped refine the earlier versions of the game.

CREDITS AND LICENSE

The Quantum Futures Game was created by Deborah Nas and Juwe van Vliet and builds on the scenarios developed by George Profitiliotis. The content brings together insights from academic research, white papers, and projects by the Centre for Quantum and Society. Reach out for the complete list of sources. Graphic design by Juwe van Vliet, with images by joseph-hsing (via Unsplash), Pim Top en Marieke de Lorijn (for Quantum Delta NL). Scenario images created by George Profitiliotis are recoloured and given an effect for game purposes. The Quantum Futures Game is published under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

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