We often hear the expression, “It’s not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game, that is important.” But no matter how many times they hear it, some people still find it difficult to accept defeat. They “play to win” and, if they lose, often feel upset with themselves or others. To such people, games are no fun unless they win. In my opinion, they are missing the point of games because we can gain a lot by playing them even when we lose.

Playing games brings us a lot of fun in several ways. First of all, it is something we do with others, so it provides us with companionship. Furthermore, playing games often allows us to meet people who have the same interests as we do. Second, we can test and challenge ourselves when we play games. Rather than worry about defeating our opponent, we can concentrate on improving our own performance. In this way, we are bound to get satisfaction from the game. Third, we can learn from the people we play with. When we play with others who are more skilled or knowledgeable than we are, we can observe their actions and improve our own skills.

The above are just three of the ways that we can have fun when playing games with others. However, in order to have fun, it is important to remember that winning is not always the most important goal of a game. In conclusion, if we take care to develop good sportsmanship and take a more relaxed attitude toward the outcome of the game, we will certainly enjoy ourselves more when playing.