Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Game Theory 101: The Complete Textbook

no-nonsense, games-centered introduction

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Game Theory 101: The Complete Textbook launched in 2015; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Theory of Fun for Game Design▲67

   Thoughts on the most important element of any game's design

   2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   The Art of Strategy▲68

   A game theorist's guide to success in business and life

   2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Games People Play▲65

   The basic handbook of transactional analysis

   2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Finite And Infinite Games▲69

   Practically a unified-field theory of human relationships

   2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

5. 5
   The Strategy of Conflict▲61

   Nobel Prize winner's analysis of game theory and conflict

   2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Happy Mitten - 37: Board Games, Business, and Protospiel Ann Arbor▲51

   Interviews and play testing with designers and publishers

   2016 · happymittengames.com · its alternatives →

7. 7
   21st Century Game Design▲83

   Who are we designing games for and how do we do it best?

   2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Happy Mitten - 38: Board Games, Business, and Lessons Learned▲52

   Magnifying faults to improve efficacy as a game publisher

   2016 · happymittengames.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Reality is Broken▲65

   Why Games Make Us Better & How They Can Change the World

   2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Getting Gamers▲58

    The psychology of video games

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

11. 11
    zero▲55

    A mathematical puzzle game

    2015 · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Reality is Broken▲60

    Why games make us better and how they can change the world

    2015 · amazon.ca · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Game Writing▲73

    Narrative Skills for Videogames

    2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Graphism▲71

    Games for Designers

    2015 · graphism.fr · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Happy Mitten - 33½: Board Games, Business, and Origins 2014▲51

    Interviews and highlights from the Origins Game Fair 2014

    2016 · happymittengames.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Happy Mitten - 39: Board Games, Business, and GenCon 2014▲52

    The motherlode of all board game industry interviews

    2016 · happymittengames.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Actionable Gamification▲72

    Beyond points, badges and leaderboards

    2017 · amazon.de · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Happy Mitten - 29: Board Games, Business, and Tox from Crits Happen▲51

    Tox gives a reviewer's take on making an exceptional game

    2016 · happymittengames.com · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Networks, Crowds, and Markets▲62

    Applied mathematics to understand networks and behavior

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Anagram▲84

    A modern take on a classic game.

    2016 · its alternatives →

21. 21
    A Theory of Fun▲57

    Why do some games remain fun for years?

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Conceptual Blockbusting: A Guide to Better Ideas▲58

    A Guide to Better Problem Solving

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Spaceteam: The Card Game▲113

    A chaotic and cooperative card game.

    2015 · playspaceteam.com · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Happy Mitten - 33: Board Games, Business, and Scott Almes▲52

    Going from first time designer to published and full time

    2016 · happymittengames.com · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →