Why do we love to play games?

BBC Inside Science

BBC

Technology, Science

4.5 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 3 November 2025

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Inside Science explores the science and maths of games: why we play them, how to win them and the rise of gamification in our lives - with a particular focus on The Traitors - in a special programme with a live audience at Green Man Festival in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park.

Presenter Victoria Gill looks into whether humans are innately programmed to play games with Gilly Forrester, professor of evolutionary and developmental psychology at the University of Sussex, and investigates how maths can help us strategise and win games with mathematician and maths communicator Dr Katie Steckles.

We encounter the Prisoner’s Dilemma with broadcaster Jaz Singh of The Traitors series 2 fame – will he share or steal? Jaz also dives into the immersive world of The Traitors discussing his gameplay, the stakes and what makes an effective Faithful!

To discover more fascinating science content, head to bbc.co.uk search for BBC Inside Science and follow the links to The Open University.

Presenter: Victoria Gill Producers: Jonathan Blackwell and Clare Salisbury Editor: Martin Smith Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, podcasts.
0:07.3	Welcome back to the home of the oxymoron.
0:10.5	Evil genius.
0:11.6	He asked the newspaper to print his obituary early so he'd enjoy it.
0:15.5	That's like hiding at your own funeral.
0:17.1	Yeah, a bit great gig.
0:18.6	I'm Russell Kane.
0:19.6	Join me to weigh in on whether the biggest players in history are more evil or genius.
0:24.1	Becoming that rich, I'd say that is some level of genius.
0:26.4	It also helps it.
0:27.4	It's a long time ago, right?
0:29.4	It's like the podcast version of telling your kids the ice cream van plays music when it's out of ice cream.
0:34.9	Listen to evil genius on BBC Sounds.
0:38.0	This is the podcast of BBC Inside Science,
0:40.7	recorded at Green Man Festival on the 16th of August 2025.
0:45.3	Hello, lovely curious-minded listeners and Green Man Festival goers.
0:49.5	Welcome to a very special episode of BBC Inside Science at Green Man Festival.
0:54.6	We are here with a live audience.
0:56.1	Hello, live audience.
1:01.8	And we are in the stunning Breckenbeakens National Park, Orbanai Brecheniag.
1:07.3	Today we are exploring the science of games, why we play them, how to win them, and the rise of the gamification in all of our lives.
1:15.2	And I'm joined by three excellent guests who are all ready to play along and to give us some real insight.
	...

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