Simple Game Examples

Game Theory · Axiom Academy

Master the fundamentals by analyzing classic strategic games Excellent work! You've analyzed four fundamental game structures. Here's what we learned: Zero-Sum Games: Matching Pennies and Rock-Paper-Scissors are zero-sum games where one player's gain equals the other's loss. These games have no pure strategy Nash equilibrium. Coordination Games: In the Meeting Location game, players benefit from choosing the same strategy. These games typically have multiple Nash equilibria. Competition and Social Dilemmas: The Price Setting game shows how individual incentives can lead to outcomes that are worse for everyone, a hallmark of Prisoner's Dilemma structures. Game Representation: All games can be represented with players, strategies, and payoff matrices. The payoff structure determines the strategic incentives. Strategic Thinking: Analyzing games requires considering what opponents will do, not just your own preferences. Your best choice depends on their likely choices. These simple examples form the foundation for analyzing more complex strategic situations in economics, politics, and everyday life!

This is the written version of the interactive lesson above. See the full Game Theory course.