A cooperative game, but people do not know that yet.
Everyone works together in the same kitchen of a restaurant. Everyone makes a mess (“dirty dishes”) by fulfilling orders, but needs clean dishes if they want to continue with their lives.
All tableware is placed on a shared counter, in the middle of the table. This counter has fixed dimensions. On the left one can stack, on the right is the tap + sink. Here one can also stack, but that has major disadvantages.
There are different types of tableware with fixed stacking rules: large plates, small plates, deep plates, mugs, cups, bowls, cutlery, pans, more. Just like in real life most people have mugs and plates that fit together in a specific way (and not otherwise).
Now comes the most important rule
You may never reuse your own tableware. If you put dishes on the counter, you may not wash them yourself and then use them again. You must (wash and) use other people’s items.
Of course I then have to find a good, simple way to indicate whose items belong to whom. And a few exceptions here and there in the game.