Discover the surprising downsides of “theorycrafting” in “Optimizing Play: Why Theorycrafting Breaks Games and How to Fix It” by Christopher Paul. This insightful book, available at The Bookish Owl, explores how the pursuit of optimal strategies can paradoxically lead to game stagnation and player disengagement. Paul, drawing from diverse fields like game studies, ecology, and sports analytics, reveals how even popular video games like Overwatch and League of Legends, and professional sports, suffer from “meta” development that limits creativity. Learn how designers can avoid these optimization traps and ensure games remain dynamic and engaging for all players. A must-read for game developers, players, and anyone interested in the science behind play.