A game is a structured form of play that can be either social or solo. It is often characterized by rules and objectives that are intended to challenge the player. It can be based on skill, knowledge, chance or endurance, and may involve the participation of spectators. It is distinguished from work (such as the activities of professional players in spectator sports or games) and art (such as jigsaw puzzles and some video games).

The term game can refer to any sort of entertainment, activity or pastime, but it typically involves competition against another person, whether that other person is an opponent or a computer. It can be an exercise in intellectual acumen, as is the case with chess or poker, or it can be a contest of physical skill and strength, as with sports such as basketball and volleyball. It can also be a form of diversion, as in the case of toys and board or table games such as Monopoly and Scrabble.

In the modern era, video games have grown to be the most popular form of game. They generate more revenue than movies and are played by billions of people worldwide. This success has raised important questions about their impact on players, such as whether they lead to negative or positive psychological or behavioral changes. These concerns are complicated by the fact that the gaming industry is not as transparent as the film or music industries and that some of its research is biased or misleading.

Games are a key part of human culture and have been around in some form since the dawn of civilization. They have become a vital way for humans to relax, socialize and learn.

Traditionally, games have been played on board or tabletop and with the help of dice and cards. However, with the advent of personal computers, more complex games have been developed that offer a much greater variety of options and challenges. Most games are designed to appeal to a specific demographic, such as children or adults.

The most famous computer game is probably Tetris, which was released in 1984 and spawned a number of similar block-pushing titles. By the 1990s, Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo emerged as the dominant video game manufacturers. They still produce popular titles to this day.

Some research has shown that playing video games improves logic and problem-solving skills. This has been supported by fMRI scans showing that players of certain types of games have more grey matter and better connectivity in certain subregions of the insular cortex. This suggests that the games help develop the ability to recognize and distinguish sensory patterns and movements.

Researchers have also found that gamers are able to solve visual patterns more quickly and accurately than non-gamers. This has been attributed to the fast-paced nature of the games and their demand for attention and coordination. They have also been shown to train the mind to pay close attention to detail and to quickly switch between tasks. These findings could be useful for surgeons, software engineers and other professionals that require a high level of visual-spatial processing and multitasking skills.