I tried the ‘turn this into a game’ prompt to make ChatGPT fix boring chores — and my son couldn’t wait to play

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There are some jobs in life that people don’t exactly look forward to. Cleaning the kitchen after dinner, getting a child ready in the morning, and grocery shopping are all necessary, but rarely exciting enough to tell stories about afterward.

Recently, I tried out a simple ChatGPT prompt: “Turn this into a game.” You simply describe the thing you need to do and ask ChatGPT to turn it into a game. The AI then invents rules, objectives, challenges, points, stories, and small rewards. Many of life’s most boring activities are only a few imaginative twists away from becoming surprisingly entertaining.

Kingdom of dirty dishes

After dinner, I faced the usual kitchen mess of dishes in the sink, crumbs on the counters, and trash to take out. I don’t mind doing the cleanup, but I was curious how ChatGPT would make such a dull list of tasks a game. I asked, and ChatGPT devised a game called The Lost Kingdom Cleanup, with the following prompt:

Mission control

NASA’s Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft with NASA astronauts. — (Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)

The second test involved a challenge familiar to many parents, the effort of getting a child out the door in the morning. That can sometimes feel like participating in a disaster movie as a shoe disappears, and breakfast suddenly becomes controversial. Asking ChatGPT for a game led to Operation Rocket Launch:

“Commander, your spacecraft departs in twenty minutes. Before launch, four critical systems must be activated. Fuel Systems means breakfast. Space Suit Check means getting dressed. Navigation Check means shoes and a backpack. Complete all systems before the countdown reaches zero, and your mission can begin.”

My son is a little young to fully understand the more elaborate game mechanics, but the idea of a spaceship launch and the steps to make it happen were easy enough to grasp. Preparing a space suit for launch went over much better than the usual effort to get dressed.

The routine was still the routine, but the mood was much more excited. Plus, the game made something to do together rather than something I was trying to make happen. That small shift made the entire morning feel lighter.

What ChatGPT consistently added was structure, story, and a clear sense of progress. Those small ingredients made familiar routines feel less repetitive. The best part is that the prompt works on almost anything. In a matter of seconds, ordinary tasks can be transformed into quests, missions, competitions, or adventures, even if you still have to do the work.