The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to games and gaming: Games are structured or semi-structured activities usually undertaken for enjoyment. They are usually fun activities that can be educational or purely just for fun. The term "game" is also used to describe simulation of various activities e.g., for the purposes of training, analysis or prediction, etc., see "game (simulation)". Games are a universal part of the human experience, for all cultures, genders and ages. Key components of games are goals, rules, challenge, and interactivity. Games generally involve mental or physical stimulation, and sometimes both. Many games help develop practical skills, serve as a form of exercise, or otherwise perform an educational, simulational or psychological role.

Purpose

Individuals participate in game-play for various reasons, depending upon the aspect the particular game covers. These include:

Types of games

• Alternate reality game • Ball game • Board game • * Chess variant • * Eurogame • Brain teaser • Business game • Car game • Card game • * Collectible card game • Casino game • Children's game • Clapping game • Computer or video game • * Puzzle video game • * Online game • ** Online skill-based game • ** MUD • ** MMORPG • **MOBA • Connect the dots • Conversation games • Counting-out game • Crossword • Dice game • Drinking game • Educational game • 15 puzzle • Game show • Game of chance • Game of skill • Group-dynamic game • Guessing game • Jigsaw puzzle • Lawn game • Location-based game • Logic puzzle • Mathematical game • Missing square puzzle • Nonogram (a.k.a. gridders, paint by numbers, etc.) • Open gaming • Paper-and-pencil game • Parlour game • Party game • Peg solitaire • Play-by-mail game • PowerPoint game • Pub game • Puzzle • * Anagram • Quiz • Riddle • Role-playing game • Rubik's Cube • Sangaku • Simulation video game • * Business simulation game • * Government simulation game • Singing game • Single-player video game • Situation puzzle • Sokoban • Soma cube • Spoken game • Sports • Spot the difference • Strategy game • Street game • String figure • Sudoku • Tabletop game • Theatresports • Three cups problem • Three utilities problem • Throwing sports • Tile-based game • Tower of Hanoi • Wargame • Whodunit • Word game

Game components

Components of role-playing games

Game play

Game development

Game development

Game theory

Game theory

Lists of games

Also see