What are finite and infinite games?

Finite and infinite games are distinguished by their goals and winning conditions. Tobi Lütke explains that finite games, like tennis, have clear objectives and endpoints. Participants agree upon the winning condition, and the game operates within a set of defined rules. For instance, a tennis match ends when a player wins a certain number of sets, making it a finite game with a clear outcome each time it is played 1.

In contrast, an infinite game, like pursuing fitness, has no predefined goal or endpoint. The primary aim of an infinite game is to continue playing. There are no winners or losers because the game doesn't end; the journey itself is the game. This concept can apply broadly, from personal development to managing a business, where the focus is on continuous improvement and adaptation rather badge-than achieving a specific finite goal 1.