REVIEW: Gamestorming 2.0 by Dave Gray & Sunni Brown (4.5 stars)

Gamestorming 2.0 is actually a facilitation toolkit that doesn’t need the “game” label: the book is excellent, but not because the authors call everything a “game.” The “game” framing is actually the weakest part. The competency‑based facilitation is the strongest.

The book is full of practical ways to structure conversations, elicit input, break patterns, and help people think differently. It treats collaboration as a learnable skill, not a personality trait. They even include a section on how to draw, which was surprisingly effective even in audiobook form. That part is fantastic.

But calling these activities “games” feels… off.

• A RACI diagram is not a game.
• A stakeholder map is not a game.
• A prioritization exercise is not a game.

And, sitting in a windowless, over‑air‑conditioned basement room with stale snacks, bottled water, and a cafeteria voucher (for a cafeteria with long lines and few vegan options) is definitely not play. You can have better conversations in a nightclub.

When we label these activities as “games,” it creates a subtle performance expectation. You’re supposed to act enthusiastic. You’re supposed to suspend disbelief. You’re supposed to “play along.” And if you don’t, you risk being seen as resistant or not a good corporate citizen. The framing becomes a compliance test.

The irony is that the book doesn’t need the game metaphor at all. The actual value is in the frameworks themselves — the structured ways to think, draw, map, question, and collaborate. Adults don’t need their work disguised as fun. They need clarity, structure, psychological safety, and honest language.

What I appreciate most is that the book respects human capability. It assumes you can learn to draw. You can learn to facilitate. You can learn to visualize ideas. You can learn to collaborate. None of this is innate. It’s all learnable.

If you want to go deeper into the part that actually makes collaboration work — the human part — I’d pair this book with Nonviolent Communication. Gamestorming gives you the structures. NVC gives you the interpersonal skills. Together, they cover both the mechanics and the humanity of working with other people.

Gamestorming 2.0 is worth reading — just ignore the “game” branding and treat it as what it really is: a practical facilitation toolkit for people who want to help groups think better.

REVIEW: Gamestorming 2.0 by Dave Gray & Sunni Brown 

RATING: 4.5 stars