Game is a constant companion to the history of human life and the history of mankind. Some games are replaced by others, but the person does not stop playing, dispelling any rational explanations for the games. Looking at games from a historical and cultural perspective, you begin to understand that this is not an idle whim during leisure hours, but an integral part of the sociocultural system. What is the significance of games for a person? What mechanism of cultural development is behind the diversity of game worlds? What are the main mechanisms for constructing gaming reality? The range of these questions outlines the main research interests of the author. The author addresses the widest range of games: from archaic games, fortune-telling games and competitions to newfangled computer games. Through the prism of the game and the transformations occurring with games - the fashion for some, the oblivion of others, persecution by the authorities - one can trace the processes taking place in society. As a sociological “seismograph,” the game allows you to capture the slightest fluctuations that precede shifts in social foundations. At the beginning of the 21st century. the game not only penetrates into all spheres of life, but also develops into a global civilizational strategy. The post-industrial world is becoming a gaming civilization. To understand our today and look into tomorrow, we must carefully examine the games that people play. The book is designed for a wide range of readers.