---
key: lens/schell-017
type: lens
id: schell-017
lang: en
title: The Toy
summary: Check whether interaction is enjoyable without a required goal.
updatedAt: '2026-10-10'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/lens/schell-017/'
jsonUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/lens/schell-017.json'
markdownUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/lens/schell-017.md'
aliases:
  - The Toy
  - '17'
tags:
  - Concept and ideas
sourceIds:
  - source-a5287443699910bb
  - source-f546a7168effffbb
sources:
  - id: source-a5287443699910bb
    title: 'Schell: 113 second-edition lenses'
    url: 'https://schellgames.com/art-of-game-design'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-f546a7168effffbb
    title: The Toy
    url: 'https://deck.artofgamedesign.com/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - title: In the original collection
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/lenses/#schell-017'
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  number: '17'
  theme: concept
  author: Jesse Schell
  originalTitle: The Toy
  referenceUrl: 'https://deck.artofgamedesign.com/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial explanations and review questions based on the
  user-selected Schell notes and attributed primary references. External
  concepts and source material retain their rights.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
---
# The Toy

id: schell-017
type: lens
key: lens/schell-017
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/lens/schell-017/

Check whether interaction is enjoyable without a required goal.

## Principle

Check whether interaction is enjoyable without a required goal.

## Review questions

- Is interacting still appealing when victory and scoring are disabled?
- Which system property invites experimentation?

## Attribution and limits

Jesse Schell · Schell: 113 second-edition lenses

The concise explanations and review questions are original gamemechanics.pro wording. This is an independent reference, not a translation of the cards or a substitute for the book. Names, concepts and external material remain their authors’ work.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original editorial explanations and review questions based on the user-selected Schell notes and attributed primary references. External concepts and source material retain their rights.

- [Schell: 113 second-edition lenses](https://schellgames.com/art-of-game-design) (id: source-a5287443699910bb)
- [The Toy](https://deck.artofgamedesign.com/) (id: source-f546a7168effffbb)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors