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As competitive and cooperative dynamics gain prominence in games, they present unique opportunities to study player behavior. This paper explores the orientations of different player types, as categorized by Bartle’s Taxonomy, through the lens of a Game With A Purpose (GWAP) called BartleZ. Bartle’s Taxonomy identifies four distinct player types–Achievers, Explorers, Socializers, and Killers. This study delves into how these different types approach competitive and cooperative gameplay, through structured dilemmas in BartleZ. Results with 45 participants, reveal that player orientations significantly influence engagement and decision-making. Achievers balanced both strategies; Explorers favored cooperation; Socializers consistently chose cooperation; and Killers preferred competition but adapted in some contexts. Overall, players leaned toward cooperation early on, with a shift toward competition as complexity increased. Our findings pinpoint the importance of tailoring GWAP mechanics with diverse player motivations, enhancing both engagement and problem-solving effectiveness. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

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