Metaphors are carriers of images that are used to enrich descriptions, communicate feelings and highlight certain values. In this comparative study, we explore how senior managers use game metaphors, within the context of mergers and acquisitions. Two ethnographically informed studies form the empirical basis for the discussion. We find that, for the studied managers, the power of the game metaphor lies in its ability to integrate various aspects of organizational life. We also find that there are distinctive differences in how gaming metaphor is employed in the two cases. By bringing the world of sports and games into work life the competitive side of business life is emphasized (i.e. in relation to other firms) and a vision of where the company is heading is conveyed (i.e. its goal). But the metaphor also functions as a tool for organizing work intra-organizationally, by implicitly communicating rules for social interaction and appropriate ways of working together.