A video game is an electronic game played on a screen, where you control characters or objects using buttons, keyboards, touch screens, or other devices. Unlike board games or card games that use physical pieces, video games create virtual worlds through computer graphics and sound, letting you explore dungeons, race cars, solve puzzles, build cities, or compete in sports, all displayed on a television, computer monitor, or handheld device.

Video games began in the 1970s with simple games like Pong, where two players bounced a dot back and forth like table tennis. Since then, they've evolved into complex experiences with rich stories, detailed graphics, and online connections that let millions of players interact. Some video games test your reflexes and hand-eye coordination, like platformers where you jump between moving obstacles. Others challenge your strategic thinking, like chess-style games where you plan several moves ahead. Still others tell compelling stories where your choices shape what happens next.

The term covers an enormous range: quick puzzle games you might play for five minutes, sprawling adventure games that take a hundred hours to complete, educational games that teach math or history, and competitive games where professional players compete for prizes. Whether played alone or with friends across the internet, video games have become a major form of entertainment and a significant part of modern culture.