| Playing Games | |
| Cover: | Summer Walker - Playing Games.png |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Summer Walker |
| Album: | Over It |
| Recorded: | 2018 - 2019 |
| Length: | (extended version) (with Bryson Tiller) (album version) |
| Producer: | London on da Track |
| Chronology: | Summer Walker |
| Prev Title: | Girls Need Love (Remix) |
| Prev Year: | 2019 |
| Next Year: | 2019 |
"Playing Games" is a song by American singer Summer Walker from their debut studio album, Over It (2019). The song was released as the lead single from the album on August 23, 2019.[1] The extended version features guest vocals from American singer Bryson Tiller. The song samples Destiny's Child's song "Say My Name" (1999).[2]
Alphonse Pierre of Pitchfork said that, in the song, Walker "addresses the lame dudes that continue to take their passion for granted" while not acknowledging "their relationship on Instagram".[3] The Fader named it one of the best songs on Over It, reasoning their choice by stating that the chorus is a "full interpolation of one of Destiny’s Child’s most ubiquitous preachings" despite Walker not "phoning it in" and compared it to an old Nelly song.[4]
The music video was released on October 8, 2019, and was directed by Christine Yuan.[5] Despite being featured on the extended version of the song, Bryson Tiller does not appear in the clip. The video features shots of Walker sitting and lying on a bed surrounded by bright city lights in the backdrop.[6] During the video, Walker has one man tied up and hanging from the ceiling while another one is seen being confined to a chair.[7] Being fed-up with lies, Walker goes on to ignore a man bringing them flowers and apologizing.[5]
| Chart (2019) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[8] | 83 | |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[9] | 43 | |
| Ireland (IRMA)[10] | 76 | |
| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[11] | 20 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[12] | 16 | |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[13] | 9 | |
| US Rhythmic (Billboard)[14] | 37 | |
| US Rolling Stone Top 100[15] | 36 |
| Chart (2019) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand Hot Singles (Recorded Music NZ)[16] | 15 | |
| US Rolling Stone Top 100[17] | 10 |
| Chart (2019) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[18] | 75 | |
| Chart (2020) | Position | |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[19] | 64 |
| Date | Format | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | August 23, 2019 | |||
| United States | October 1, 2019 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | [20] |