Very interesting episode. I like how Wesley and Robin Leffler interact and find a solution to the problem.
People aboard Enterprise being addicted to that game have a lot in common with nowaday's people gazing constantly on their smartphone, sufering from withdrawal symptoms when someone takes their toy away.
At the time, it felt like a throwback to season 1 - only with season 5's newer style and the result is quite good.
The episode has aged rather well, but addictions can take many forms. And, yeah, it's a weak point that the episode didn't explore withdrawal symptoms. "Symbiosis" did an infinitely better job with that. But being season 5, I'm shocked they didn't have - in a later episode - Troi dealing with having top stop eating chocolate due to getting a diagnosis of Diabetes, Type II. (Though that scene in the episode is award winning in of itself, any 90s Trek with a food scene is always a must-see -- whether it's Troi, Seven, or Ben.)
Especially how Data is handled far more effectively - he is put out of commission rather than becoming an addict (like how The Naked Now virus got to him, bizarrely).
Of course, Geordi got affected, but I just overlook the technical nuances to putting a headset over a VISOR.
And Risa seems to be a threat to the Federation if it's really that easy to saunter in and indoctrinate crew. Eww. Or is Riker - space cooties addict adventurer extraordinaire - the problem for seeking out new banging material all the time?! Yes, spies and espionage prevailing, TNG has done that trope far better - late season 4 having the Romulan posing as a Vulcan being a first rate example and I'm not referring to Simon Tarsis, all the plot elements are there but strangely TNG would not delve into a potential arc. It's more DS9 territory anyway.
Don't get me wrong, "The Game" is one of my favorites of season 5 and in my top 25% of TNG as a whole series. The nitpicks are just fun to point out. As a story, it's 4.5/5 stars and it's nice to see season 5 still try these action adventure-themed episodes that drove and help build the show early on, of which "Power Play" is another (though if they had Ron Jones scoring it, it would have been a perfect 5/5...)
