A game is a structured type of play usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports or video games) or art (such as games involving an artistic layout such as mahjong, solitaire, or some video games).
There are many types of games; popular formats include board games, video games, online games, and card games. Games can be played in a variety of circumstances, and some can be played even without any materials or company. Games can be played either for enjoyment or for competition; they can be played alone or in teams; they can be played offline or online.
In a notable, competitive setting, players may have an audience to watch them play. Examples of games that generally draw audiences are chess championships, e-sports, and professional sports.
All games must have a challenge and a structure; barring certain exceptions like sandbox games, all games also have an objective. Multiplayer games also include interaction between two or more players. Not all forms of play are considered games; toys and puzzles, for instance, are not games, as they do not have a structure.
Games generally involve either mental stimulation, physical stimulation, or both. Many games help develop practical skills, serve as a form of exercise, or perform an educational, simulational, or psychological role.
Attested as early as 2600 BC, games are a universal part of human experience and present in all cultures. The Royal Game of Ur, Senet, and Mancala are some of the oldest known games.
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