“Play The Game” commences with a series of overlapping rushing noises on an Oberheim OB-X synthesiser, heralding the band’s acceptance of electronic instruments into their once explicitly “no synths” sonic repertoire. They played it in their live shows from 1980-82.
The song features a soft vocal by Mercury, ending with a strong A4 rising in pitch all the way to C5 in chest voice (contrary to the other C5s being hit in falsetto). Mercury also played piano on the track.
Later singles “It’s a Hard Life” and “You Don’t Fool Me” revisit the theme presented in “Play the Game”, with Mercury writing from the same lover’s perspective years later in the former song, and reflecting on the memories of the failed relationship in the latter. Both “Play the Game” and “It’s a Hard Life” are of a similar structure, revolving around Mercury’s piano playing and the band’s multi-layered harmonies.

Music video : The cover of the single, as well as its promotional video directed by Brian Grant, marked the first time Mercury appeared in either format with what later became his trademark mustache. The video is also notable in that Brian May did not use his trademark Red Special guitar, instead using a Fender Stratocaster replica made by Satellite. This was due to the risk of damage involved in the shot, in which Mercury snatches the guitar from May, then appears to throw it back to him. They mimed this during filming, playing the shot in reverse in the final video, making it easier for May to play his solo after “catching” the guitar. A shot of the band in the unedited blue screen set for the video was later used for the cover of the “Another One Bites the Dust” single release.