Totally agree. Recently read Finite and Infinite Games[1] and The Grasshopper: Life, Games, and Utopia[2] and I'm more or less convinced motivations are always essentially games.
[1] is an exceptional book for a bright teen, especially so if you suspect the teen leans into their intelligence/abilities to gauge their self worth (I don't know a single person, let alone teen who doesn't do this). The book's main theme states that being a good player has nothing to do with skill, but rather with the ability to create playful environments that encourage growth, humility, and most importantly, more play.