---
product_id: 1875110
title: "Theory of Fun for Game Design"
price: "$52.28"
currency: USD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/1875110-theory-of-fun-for-game-design
store_origin: US
region: United States of America
---

# Top #6 in Game Theory Classic game design wisdom 4.3⭐ from 696 reviews Theory of Fun for Game Design

**Price:** $52.28
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🎮 Master the art of fun before your competitors do!

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- **What is this?** Theory of Fun for Game Design
- **How much does it cost?** $52.28 with free shipping
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## Key Features

- • **Broad Game Scope:** Explore fun beyond video games—board games, puzzles, and more for a holistic understanding.
- • **Top-Ranked Bestseller:** Ranked #6 in Game Theory and #8 in Game Programming—industry-recognized authority.
- • **Highly Rated & Trusted:** Join thousands of readers with a solid 4.3-star rating and glowing reviews.
- • **Student & Pro Friendly:** Perfectly balanced for quick learning without heavy jargon, ideal for busy creatives.
- • **Timeless Game Design Insights:** Unlock foundational principles that have shaped game design for over 20 years.

## Overview

Theory of Fun for Game Design is a bestselling, highly rated book that distills the psychology and math behind what makes games enjoyable. Perfect for students and professionals alike, it offers timeless, jargon-free insights applicable across all game types, making it a must-have foundational read in game design.

## Description

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Review: Excellent Book for Intro Courses - This is a excellent introductory read for analyzing what exactly is “a game” and what it is that makes a game “fun.” A concept that is somewhat abstract and different to different individuals yet vital to successful game design. This is especially important for students to consider as they often get caught up on what it is that they personally enjoy or find fun and generalizing that to all gamers. Having a more holistic understanding of design will be helpful as they move from players to students to professionals. The book presents such concepts in an easy to read and digestible manner that allows for a perfect balance of reflection on concepts that are applicable today just as much as they were 20 years ago, while not being so heavily laden with academic jargon and lengthy chapters that it takes away from the time that students can actually be working on projects and applying the concepts to design. This also makes this book perfect to pair with outside articles and other supplemental readings. A definitive winner for any design course or anyone interested in game design.
Review: Amazing! - This is simply and concisely brings together the psychology, math, and "fun" of games. I read this thinking it was specifically about video games, but I was pleasantly surprised it talks about all games broadly. The footnotes have left me with a list of additional books to explore. It's an amazing book and highly recommend it to anyone interested in any type of game creation.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #54,716 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #7 in Game Theory (Books) #8 in Game Programming #9 in Computer & Video Game Design |
| Customer Reviews | 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (696) |
| Dimensions  | 7.5 x 0.55 x 9.25 inches |
| Edition  | 2nd |
| ISBN-10  | 1449363210 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-1449363215 |
| Item Weight  | 1.36 pounds |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 297 pages |
| Publication date  | December 31, 2013 |
| Publisher  | O'Reilly Media |

## Images

![Theory of Fun for Game Design - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A11vGLbYKcL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent Book for Intro Courses
*by O***N on July 23, 2020*

This is a excellent introductory read for analyzing what exactly is “a game” and what it is that makes a game “fun.” A concept that is somewhat abstract and different to different individuals yet vital to successful game design. This is especially important for students to consider as they often get caught up on what it is that they personally enjoy or find fun and generalizing that to all gamers. Having a more holistic understanding of design will be helpful as they move from players to students to professionals. The book presents such concepts in an easy to read and digestible manner that allows for a perfect balance of reflection on concepts that are applicable today just as much as they were 20 years ago, while not being so heavily laden with academic jargon and lengthy chapters that it takes away from the time that students can actually be working on projects and applying the concepts to design. This also makes this book perfect to pair with outside articles and other supplemental readings. A definitive winner for any design course or anyone interested in game design.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazing!
*by D***E on October 3, 2022*

This is simply and concisely brings together the psychology, math, and "fun" of games. I read this thinking it was specifically about video games, but I was pleasantly surprised it talks about all games broadly. The footnotes have left me with a list of additional books to explore. It's an amazing book and highly recommend it to anyone interested in any type of game creation.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good read, but a misleading title.
*by G***. on May 29, 2017*

Interesting book for sure; however, I feel like it's title is a bit misleading. This book is more a study of what is a game and a re-playable game vs. what makes something fun. There is also a lot of content opining about what types of games should be made today and what games should teach us. It's all very interesting to read, but the focus on what makes a game fun vs. not fun isn't here.

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*Store origin: US*
*Last updated: 2026-02-20*