What's in a game, or more importantly, what are TV writers trying to say when they come up with episodes about TV characters playing games? Are they hinting at themes, foreshadowing plot twists, or just having fun with tropes they normally can't touch with a ten-foot pole?
Games can also be a useful way to introduce characters, get them to reveal their deepest, darkest secrets, and have them interact with other characters that barely exchanged two words of dialogue with one another beforehand.
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The type of game doesn't matter just as the format of the show doesn't matter.
TV episodes devoted to characters playing games can happen on any show. It's something to be thankful for because watching beloved characters do whatever it takes to beat a game has produced some very fine half hours and hours of television.
1.
"Promises You Can't Keep" Season 1 Episode 12 - Dynasty
"Promises You Can't Keep" is a great reminder for why you don't bet against the house, especially when the Carringtons are the house.
2.
"Moving Up" Season 6 Episode 21 - Parks and Recreation
Ben Wyatt invented Cones of Dunshire. Beating Gryzzl at his own game should be a breeze. Still, with free wi-fi for Pawnee on the line, the stakes have never been higher.
3.
"Welcome to Game Night" Season 1 Episode 5 - The Neighborhood
Inviting the Johnsons over for game night leads to an argument between Calvin and Malcolm.
4.
"Twenty-Sided Die" Season 3 Episode 9 - iZombie
The only thing better than Liv acting as the DM in the hopes it will help her solve a murder is watching Clive turn from D & D skeptic to D & D enthusiast. If he keeps taking down the lich and other foes in suitably epic fashion, then he is absolutely right to suggest D & D should become a regular activity on iZombie.
5.
"Hartsfield Landing" Season 3 Episode 14 - The West Wing
Chess isn't just about outwitting your opponent. It's a way to connect with people on a deeply intimate level, as watching President Bartlet play against both Sam and Toby more than proves.
6.
"Games People Play" Season 14 Episode 14 - Grey's Anatomy
If no one follows the rules, does the game matter? Can a round of charades and Pictionary help the surgeons of Grey Sloan answer that question?
7.
"Video Game Release" Season 3 Episode 13 - Superstore
All Amy wants is to get a copy of "Barbarians Gate 3." It's a seemingly impossible goal with the mob of gamers overrunning the store. Enter Jonah with a plan that leads to him and Amy traveling into Cloud 9's unknown depths and the recall motherlode.
8.
"The Curious Case of Dean Winchester" Season 5 Episode 7 - Supernatural
Dean, Sam, and Bobby discover a he-witch is running a poker game where the players play for the years of their lives. With Dean's life (and looks) on the line, the episode becomes a funny and poignant exploration about getting older and being wounded.
9.
"Casino Night" Season 2 Episode 22 - The Office
Lady Luck is the boss at Dunder Mifflin's charity casino night. Michael is spinning when he unintentionally invites two dates. Angela teaches Dwight a thing or two about craps. However, it's the shippers who win the jackpot when Jim finally confesses his feelings to Pam.
10.
"Karen Peralta" Season 3 Episode 14 - Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Holt, Gina, Scully, and Hitchcock must learn to work together in an escape room. Meanwhile, Jake plays charades in an attempt to get a message across.
11.
"Chapter 39: The Midnight Club" Season 3 Episode 4 - Riverdale
A rainy day spent in Saturday detention led to Alice, FP, Fred, and the other Riverdale parents playing Gryphons & Gargoyles. The quests, the cosplaying, and the opportunity to escape from the real world made playing G & G a blast. At least it was until the game turned deadly.
12.
"Chapter 40: The Great Escape" Season 3 Episode 5 - Riverdale
The Gryphons and Gargoyles saga continues. In the present day, Jughead has become obsessed with the idea of outplaying the Gargoyle King. He begins narrating a quest that eerily mirrors Veronica and Betty's plan to rescue Archie from juvie.
13.
"Birth Day" Season 1 Episode 2 - The Handmaid's Tale
June is summoned into "An illicit journey into the world of triple word scores."
14.
"Game Night" Season 1 Episode 15 - How I Met Your Mother
A night of playing Marshall's latest game creation, Marshgammon, leads to everyone revealing their most embarrassing secrets.
15.
"Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers" Season 1 Episode 1 - Stranger Things
Watching Mike, Will, Dustin, and Lucas play Dungeons & Dragons was a great introduction to their personalities. It's also a great scene to rewatch because of how much the game hinted at the themes and twists to come.
16.
"Deal Me Out" Season 2 Episode 13 - M*A*S*H
Radar runs over someone. Hawkeye and Trapper are arrested. Then Major Burns causes guest star John Ritter to lose his cool. It's just your typical poker night at the 4077.
17.
"Game" Season 6 Episode 14 - Law & Order: SVU
Law & Order: SVU deliberates over the topic of whether games can cause someone to commit acts of violence when the detectives discover the perpetrators of a hit-and-run were imitating a video game.
18.
"The Scavenger Vortex" Season 7 Episode 3 - The Big Bang Theory
Out of all the episodes of The Big Bang Theory revolving around the characters playing a game, "The Scavenger Vortex" is a personal favorite. It combines great jokes with great action. The climax and resolution were more than satisfying. Best of all, Howard and Amy bonded over their mutual love for Neil Diamond.
19.
"The One With All The Poker" Season 1 Episode 8 - Friends
A poker game turns into a battle of the sexes, an exploration into the characters' competitive sides, and a philosophical discussion about appropriate snacks.
20.
"Playtime" Season 7 Episode 11 - Pretty Little Liars
This isn't just any board game. This is the endgame for the Liars.
21.
"Dim Sum Lose Sum" Season 2 Episode 5 - Pushing Daisies
Only Pushing Daisies could come up with a poker episode this zany and delicious.
22.
"Chess Pains" Season 3 Episode 18 - Frasier
Chess is considered the ultimate test of intellectual prowess. So when Frasier loses match after match to his beer-drinking, sports-loving dad, he takes the losses about as well as you would expect.
23.
"Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" Season 2 Episode 14 - Community
Once upon a time, in the community college of Greendale, Jeff the Liar assembled the Fellowship of the Study Group. Their quest was to save Fat Neil from falling into darkness with a game of Dungeons & Dragons. Will they succeed, or will Pierce the Dickish's evil plan win the day?