Parleyment: The Better Debate Game

Designed by a high school student in response to today’s tense social climate, Parley-ment was created to counter the kind of debate where nobody listens and everybody just tries to “win.” Popular formats like Model UN or debate club can feel overly technical and far removed from the everyday conversations most people have. More importantly, they don’t always encourage understanding and common ground. At the same time, casual debating without rules can get chaotic: people talk over one another, make up facts, attack character, and turn discussion into noise instead of a real exchange of ideas.

Parley-ment is different.

Parley-ment fosters empathy, rewards understanding, and expects civility. Players earn points not only for making strong arguments, but also for showing they truly understand, and can fairly restate, the other side’s position. In fact, they are rewarded for improving on their opponents arguments. Sessions, or “parleys”, are timed and flexible: the game works well with three players, and can also scale up to advanced team debate, including in real-world settings. Enjoy Parley-ment with family, friends, and even foes as we work to restore civil discourse