Nobody to play with? No problem. AI chatbots make surprisingly good improv partners.

GAMES FORMATS

Each CollThink game is built around a simple challenge that nudges you to think differently. Below are four easy-to-try formats — simple examples to show you how CollThink games work.

ASSOCIATIONS

Players take turns saying words that come to mind based on the previous one, continuing for 30 rounds. At the end, you compare the first and last word — and wonder how you got from apple to crown.

COMMON GROUND

Two unrelated words are given, and the task is to find what they have in common. For example, what connects a ladder and a mirror? A ladder lets you reach new heights; a mirror shows you a new perspective. Both help you see what’s beyond your usual point of view.

ONE WORD AT A TIME

The group answers a question by building a sentence one word at a time, without any prior discussion. The structure is unpredictable — but the meaning that emerges is often surprising and strangely precise.

THE EXPEDITION

The group imagines going on a shared trip — maybe a business meeting with dinosaurs, a candlelit concert, or a beach day at the North Pole. Each person adds an unexpected item to the packing list and explains how it could come in handy, then passes the turn.

MORE IDEAS

Try Associations in reverse: say words that aren’t connected — and see if the first and last still share something in common.

Try Common Ground with random word generators — can you find a hidden link between “umbrella” and “deadline”?

Try The Expedition alone — come up with 3 reasons why it’s great to visit robot’s farm in Greenland.