A game is an activity undertaken for entertainment or fun, often by one or more people. It may be a form of art (such as jigsaw puzzles or games with an artistic layout such as Mahjong, solitaire and some video games) or a form of work (for example, professional players in spectator sports or the participants in a chess championship). A game can also be a form of education (such as the classroom-based learning that takes place in many schools or in the use of educational board games) or a means of exercise.

Traditionally, games have been competitive, skill-based, and sometimes feature a narrative element. However, in modern times, games can be purely non-competitive and narrative-free, while others have become more challenging and complex.

In his essay Homo Ludens, the Dutch historian Johan Huizinga argued that play was an essential human activity, and that cultures developed around it. This concept is echoed in many of the games that people play today, and it is what allows them to be considered as works of art.

It is important to distinguish between a game and a toy. Toys allow free-form play, while games present rules and objectives that must be followed. In addition, toys are designed to entertain the user while games are designed to entertain the audience.

Games can be a form of exercise, and as such, they are often used to help individuals improve their physical health. Moreover, they can be entertaining and provide a sense of achievement. In addition, many games offer a form of escapism and can take the player to other worlds that are different from their own.

Despite these advantages, some games are considered to be tedious or even boring, as they require a significant time investment and do not always provide a satisfying outcome. This is a concern that many developers are working to address by offering new gameplay features and changing the way that games are played.

The history of gaming is filled with examples of the evolution of genres and gameplay conventions. For instance, in the early days of video games, designers and programmers created the table tennis-style game Pong and later expanded on its basic ideas with more elaborate shooter titles. These early games helped define the gameplay features that are now commonplace in most video games.