It's a good concept, the card game. There's used to be a meetup in London which ran along the same lines but for adults. Talking with Strangers I think it was. A pile of cards on the table, each with different (and sometimes more controversial) questions. Just prompts to get you talking to random people about random subjects. I went a few times. It was fascinating. People have such stories to tell if you can allow them the freedom to tell them. Like in your article!
Giving someone a topic can be a good icebreaker for conversations.