Play to Win - Revision history

Rhydian at 06:13, 10 March 2026

2026-03-10T06:13:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:13, 9 March 2026
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	Within roleplaying it is often defined as an antithesis of [[Play to lose]]. It also contrasts against other approaches to games such as "Play to Find Out", and "Play to Lift"<ref>Susanne Vedjemo (2018), [https://www.nordiclarp.org/2018/02/21/play-lift-not-just-lose/ 'Play to Lift, Not Just Lose'.] Retrieved 7th February 2026.</ref>.		Within roleplaying it is often defined as an antithesis of [[Play to lose]]. It also contrasts against other approaches to games such as "Play to Find Out", and "Play to Lift"<ref>Susanne Vedjemo (2018), [https://www.nordiclarp.org/2018/02/21/play-lift-not-just-lose/ 'Play to Lift, Not Just Lose'.] Retrieved 7th February 2026.</ref>.

	Within LARP, some games - especially [[Battle game\|battlegames]] and some [[~~Megagames~~]] - rely on play to win mentalities as a primary conflict and source of play. This can be used to shape their ongoing game and lore narratives, by telling the stories of who won or lost a battle and how that changed the world. But the same attitude does not work in every larp, and there are some groups who can even see play to win behaviour as anti-social, particularly if a game or larp is not designed to be won. This variety in attitudes and cultures around play to win is mirrored by the same range of attitudes in the rest of society, where it is a much-studied phenomenon<ref>Friedman, Hilary Levey, 2013, ''Playing to win : raising children in a competitive culture'', Berkeley: University of California Press, ISBN 9780520276765. [https://archive.org/details/playingtowinrais0000frie/page/284/mode/2up Archived] from the original on August 31, 2021, retrieved 10 March 2013.</ref>.		Within LARP, some games - especially [[Battle game\|battlegames]] and some [[Megagame]]s - rely on play to win mentalities as a primary conflict and source of play. This can be used to shape their ongoing game and lore narratives, by telling the stories of who won or lost a battle and how that changed the world. But the same attitude does not work in every larp, and there are some groups who can even see play to win behaviour as anti-social, particularly if a game or larp is not designed to be won. This variety in attitudes and cultures around play to win is mirrored by the same range of attitudes in the rest of society, where it is a much-studied phenomenon<ref>Friedman, Hilary Levey, 2013, ''Playing to win : raising children in a competitive culture'', Berkeley: University of California Press, ISBN 9780520276765. [https://archive.org/details/playingtowinrais0000frie/page/284/mode/2up Archived] from the original on August 31, 2021, retrieved 10 March 2013.</ref>.

	==Example games==		==Example games==

Rhydian at 06:13, 10 March 2026

2026-03-10T06:13:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:13, 9 March 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''Play to Win''' refers to a mindset or a set of player behaviours, wherein players within a game set objectives ~~within a game~~ and aim to successfully meet those objectives before the game is over. Often this includes the goal of achieving victory over all other players.		'''Play to Win''' refers to a mindset or a set of player behaviours, wherein players within a game set objectives and aim to successfully meet those objectives before the game is over. Often this includes the goal of achieving victory over all other players.

	It can be, but is not always, accompanied by play cultures of pride and competitiveness in the skills used within the game; where players are encouraged to compete with their best skills and give their best effort to the goal. In such play cultures it can sometimes be seen as anti-social or dishonest to not try your best at meeting the objectives.		It can be, but is not always, accompanied by play cultures of pride and competitiveness in the skills used within the game; where players are encouraged to compete with their best skills and give their best effort to the goal. In such play cultures it can sometimes be seen as anti-social or dishonest to not try your best at meeting the objectives.

Rhydian: Created page with "'''Play to Win''' refers to a mindset or a set of player behaviours, wherein players within a game set objectives within a game and aim to successfully meet those objectives before the game is over. Often this includes the goal of achieving victory over all other players. It can be, but is not always, accompanied by play cultures of pride and competitiveness in the skills used within the game; where players are encouraged to compete with their best skills and give their..."

2026-03-10T06:11:13Z

Created page with "'''Play to Win''' refers to a mindset or a set of player behaviours, wherein players within a game set objectives within a game and aim to successfully meet those objectives before the game is over. Often this includes the goal of achieving victory over all other players. It can be, but is not always, accompanied by play cultures of pride and competitiveness in the skills used within the game; where players are encouraged to compete with their best skills and give their..."

New page

'''Play to Win''' refers to a mindset or a set of player behaviours, wherein players within a game set objectives within a game and aim to successfully meet those objectives before the game is over. Often this includes the goal of achieving victory over all other players.

It can be, but is not always, accompanied by play cultures of pride and competitiveness in the skills used within the game; where players are encouraged to compete with their best skills and give their best effort to the goal. In such play cultures it can sometimes be seen as anti-social or dishonest to not try your best at meeting the objectives.

Within roleplaying it is often defined as an antithesis of [[Play to lose]]. It also contrasts against other approaches to games such as "Play to Find Out", and "Play to Lift"<ref>Susanne Vedjemo (2018), [https://www.nordiclarp.org/2018/02/21/play-lift-not-just-lose/ 'Play to Lift, Not Just Lose'.] Retrieved 7th February 2026.</ref>.

Within LARP, some games - especially [[Battle game|battlegames]] and some [[Megagames]] - rely on play to win mentalities as a primary conflict and source of play. This can be used to shape their ongoing game and lore narratives, by telling the stories of who won or lost a battle and how that changed the world. But the same attitude does not work in every larp, and there are some groups who can even see play to win behaviour as anti-social, particularly if a game or larp is not designed to be won. This variety in attitudes and cultures around play to win is mirrored by the same range of attitudes in the rest of society, where it is a much-studied phenomenon<ref>Friedman, Hilary Levey, 2013, ''Playing to win : raising children in a competitive culture'', Berkeley: University of California Press, ISBN 9780520276765. [https://archive.org/details/playingtowinrais0000frie/page/284/mode/2up Archived] from the original on August 31, 2021, retrieved 10 March 2013.</ref>.

==Example games==
* [[Swordcraft]]

==See also==
* [[Play to lose]]
* [[Play to Find Out]]
* [[Play to Lift]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/play_to_win Wiktionary definition]

[[Category:Glossary]]