Common Ground

Build a coalition bill by bill — trade provisions for votes, but don't sell out the public.

How to play

You chair a make-believe legislature. Each session presents a bill and a pool of amendments. Add provisions to win over individual legislators and strike ones that cost you support, watch the live vote tally, and call the vote once you hold a majority. Tempting earmarks buy a single vote but bleed your public-approval meter — lean on pork too often and the public revolts.

• Add amendments to swing legislators your way; strike added ones you no longer need
• Core provisions are part of the bill and can't be removed
• Call the vote only with a majority; pass a full term of bills while keeping approval above zero

Game modes

• Daily: the same starting assembly and bills for everyone that day
• Practice: a fresh randomized term each time

Controls

• Desktop: click Add or Strike on provisions, click Call the vote
• Phone & tablet: tap the provision buttons and the vote button — fully touch-friendly

Tips & strategy

• Prefer broadly popular amendments over earmarks; pork wins one vote but quietly drains approval all term
• Strike anything that's lost its value before calling the vote so you don't carry needless approval damage forward

What you'll learn

Common Ground is a strategy game about coalition-building and the trade-off between getting your way and getting agreement.

• Skills: negotiation, coalition-building, cooperation, strategy
• Best for: roughly grades 7–12 (ages 12+)
• For parents & teachers: cooperation and coalition-building.

About Common Ground

Common Ground is an original free browser strategy game about coalition-building and the trade-off between getting things passed and keeping voters on side. Every term is a fresh negotiation.

A free, original browser game on PlayPendium — no download, no install. Browse all games →