Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Games People Play

The basic handbook of transactional analysis

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Games People Play launched in 2016; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   How Games Move Us: Emotion by Design ▲70

   A look at how games make us feel

   2016 · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Game Writing▲73

   Narrative Skills for Videogames

   2016 · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Playing Lean▲104

   A board game that teaches the Lean Startup Methodology

   2015 · its alternatives →

4. 4
   The Design of Influence: How to Craft Products that Move People▲93

   Use social psychology to design engaging digital experiences

   2015 · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Spaceteam: The Card Game▲113

   A chaotic and cooperative card game.

   2015 · its alternatives →

6. 6
   TidePool▲63

   Personality insights via scientific games

   2014 · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Problem Solving 101▲70

   A simple book for smart people

   2016 · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Designing Interactions▲91

   Interviews with influential designers

   2015 · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Shape▲81

   A letter shaping game

   2015 · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Flow▲87

    The psychology of optimal experience

    2015 · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Wonderland: How Play Made the Modern World▲61

    How wonder drives tech innovation

    2016 · its alternatives →

12. 12
    The Science of Habit-Forming Products▲166

    (and how to build them)

    2016 · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Interaction▲76

    Party and family board game with “fairness” algorithm

    2017 · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Street-Fighting Mathematics▲61

    The art of educated guessing + opportunistic problem solving

    2016 · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Hello Tech Pros: 10 Business Lessons Learned in Role Playing Games▲54

    Tabletop to board room

    2016 · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Game Thinking Masterclass▲118

    Turn your hot idea into a product people come back to

    2014 · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Lateral Thinking▲74

    Practical explanation of how creativity works

    2016 · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Six Circles▲74

    An experience design framework

    2016 · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Algorithms to Live By▲75

    The Computer Science of Human Decisions

    2016 · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Anagram▲84

    A modern take on a classic game.

    2016 · its alternatives →

21. 21
    The Guide to Agile UX Design Sprints▲112

    A step-by-step playbook for product teams

    2016 · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Accounting Play▲79

    Teaching accountancy through apps and games

    2016 · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Predictably Irrational▲96

    The hidden forces that shape our decisions

    2015 · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Actionable Gamification▲72

    Beyond points, badges and leaderboards

    2017 · 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 →