Game is a form of structured game, usually done for fun and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are different from work, which is usually done for remuneration, and from art, which is more often an expression of aesthetic or ideological elements. However, the difference is not clear, and many games are also considered to work (such as professional sports players or spectator games) or art (such as jigsaw puzzles or games involving artistic layouts such as Mahjong, solitaire, or some video games).

Games are sometimes played solely for entertainment, sometimes for achievements or gifts too. They can be played alone, in teams, or online; by amateurs or by professionals. Players may have non-player audiences, such as when people are entertained by watching a chess championship. On the other hand, players in the game can become their own audience when they play. Often, part of the entertainment for children playing games is deciding who is part of their audience and who is the player.

The main components of the game are goals, rules, challenges, and interactions. Games generally involve mental or physical stimulation, and often both. Many games help develop practical skills, function as a form of exercise, or perform educational, simulation, or psychological roles.

Proven at the beginning of 2600 BC, the game is a universal part of human experience and is present in all cultures. The Royal Game of Ur, Senet, and Mancala are some of the oldest known games.