One of my deep interests lies in examining strategies in game theory and forecasting.

While literature on game theory, gamer mentality, and Harrison’s Applied Game Theory (HAGT) exists, grasping and applying these concepts through rational thought, memorization, or rote learning can be quite difficult at times.

To effectively master applied game theory, it's beneficial to consistently observe sports, watch films and television, read literature, and analyze how particular actions, films, or narratives either succeed or falter. I often find myself drawn to biographical documentaries about remarkable individuals.

Consider a remarkable performer — such as the tap dancer Taylor Swift, the singer Beyoncé, the entertainer Lady Gaga, the rapper Jay-Z, or the violinist Nadia Solerno-Sonneberg.

What allows them to achieve the perfection, speed, and artistry in their performances? They engage deeply with their craft, which, in turn, embraces them. Effective gamer-thinking is a blend of logic, technique, intuition, and critical analysis.

Regardless of the medium or sport you choose to engage in gamer-thinking, the ultimate goal is to identify how essential problem-solving elements are successfully applied, and how various media portray practical approaches to resolving a range of challenges.

From my own experience and discussions with adept gamer-thinkers, I’ve concluded that a fundamental way to acquire these skills is through a method known as modeling.

Modeling a specific behavior involves absorbing and replicating certain ideas and actions. One effective approach is self-hypnosis — employing visual, auditory, and kinesthetic psychological “implants.” This occurs as we observe and internalize specific action patterns by identifying and emulating the behaviors of uniquely gifted individuals and through the gamer plotlines presented in various books, TV shows, online videos, and films.

Here is a compilation of my favorite films that exemplify principles rooted in applied gamer thinking, politics, psychology, and game theory.

1. A Beautiful Mind — This biographical film portrays the life of John Forbes Nash, Jr., a Nobel Prize-winning mathematician, inspired by Sylvia Nasar’s book. Nash’s contributions are pivotal to game theory, and the film received critical acclaim, winning the Academy Award for Best Picture, despite some factual liberties. This film sparked my interest in game theory and gamer thinking.
2. Lincoln Lawyer — This American legal thriller is adapted from Michael Connelly's novel of the same title.
3. In the Name of the Father — Set during the “Troubles” in Northern Ireland, it illustrates the Prisoner’s Dilemma.
4. Rebel Without a Cause — This film showcases the Chicken Game.
5. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb — One of the finest representations of the Hawk-Dove Game. Director Stanley Kubrick was inspired by an article from Nobel Prize-winning Game Theorist Thomas Schelling, which discussed Peter George's novel Red Alert, leading to the film’s creation in 1964. This film is a remarkable cinematic illustration of various game theory concepts.
6. Reservoir Dogs — A stellar film showcasing a Truel, which refers to a competition among three players where they can target one another while ensuring their own survival.
7. The Warriors — This film represents the Stag Hunt Game.
8. Ned (Also known as Waking Ned Devine) — A prime example of the Ultimatum Game.
9. Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan — This film delves into the Kobayashi Maru scenario (a Lose-Lose Game), used by Star Trek enthusiasts to illustrate a no-win situation that tests character and requires a redefinition of the problem to manage an impossible scenario smoothly.
10. Donnie Darko — More complex than others, this film incorporates elements of a specific type of lose-lose situation known as a Catch 22 and includes aspects of Quantum Game Theory.
11. Sophie’s Choice — This situation embodies a Cornelian Dilemma (CD), essentially a lose-lose game where the player must choose between two mutually exclusive actions, each leading to negative outcomes.
12. The Dark Knight — A prime example of classic game theory plot devices, featuring the Prisoner’s Dilemma, the Cornelian Dilemma, and the Pirate Game, a more sophisticated version of the Ultimatum Game.
13. Usual Suspects — This film revolves around a simple game structure layered with deceit, twists, cognitive biases, and violence, culminating in a shocking reveal that the payoff was unexpectedly a zero-sum, simultaneous, imperfect information game.
14. Eye in the Sky — A 2015 military thriller that investigates mixed strategies, decision-making, and the ethical dilemmas in drone warfare. A multinational team coordinates a capture mission against terrorists in Nairobi, debating various strategies to achieve their goal while minimizing collateral damage. As decisions are made, changes in the game dynamics prompt new discussions on the best course of action and who should ultimately decide on actions against the terrorists, knowing collateral damage is inevitable.
15. House of Games — A heist-thriller film rich in various game theory elements, featuring gambling and con artists, with Ricky Jay, one of the world’s greatest magicians, in the cast.
16. The Spanish Prisoner — This neo-noir suspense film revolves around corporate espionage through an intricate confidence scheme. Despite its title, the plot bears only superficial similarities to the actual Spanish Prisoner scam, showcasing significant gamer-thinking.
17. The Game — An American mystery thriller featuring a wealthy banker presented with a mysterious opportunity to engage in a complex Life Game, blurring the lines between reality and the game, leading to a surreal experience.
18. The Last Casino — Loosely based on the MIT Blackjack Team, this film depicts three students and a professor employing a counting cards technique to “defeat” a Canadian casino.
19. The Imitation Game — An American historical drama that, while somewhat inaccurate, is based on Andrew Hodges' biography, "Alan Turing: The Enigma." It narrates the life of Alan Turing, a gay British cryptanalyst who played a crucial role in decrypting German intelligence codes during World War II and is often regarded as the “father” of modern computing.
20. Crazy Rich Asians — In this comedy rooted in game theory, an Asian-American economics professor navigates adversarial zero-sum players to challenge outdated Chinese traditions and pursue love and happiness.
21. Molly’s Game — Based on the true story of Molly Bloom, a former elite skier who organized the most exclusive poker game for over a decade. This film stands out as one of the clearest representations of applied game theory, where every flawed decision carries significant repercussions, involving A-listers, the Russian Mafia, the Jersey Mob, the IRS, and the FBI.
22. Searching for Sugar Man — This 2012 documentary chronicles the quest of two Cape Town fans in the late 1990s to uncover the truth about American musician Sixto Rodriguez, whose music, although largely unsuccessful in the U.S., achieved massive popularity in South Africa.
23. The Boxer — This narrative is set against the backdrop of the end of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, exploring the dynamics of a win-lose game player striving to adopt a win-win approach while facing those still entrenched in a win-lose mindset, often violently.