How do goals and games help our social interactions?

Perhaps we can all agree that life is a series of games. There are small games that we play with ourselves to establish motivation toward our own perceived end goals. But if we take a step back, perhaps we notice that this goal that we think is ours is something that benefits the group as well. We have been socialized so that we compete and protect each other within a particular structure. This set of rules for group games allows us to cooperate to achieve an end that is better for the group at large, with each individual doing their part.