I think it depends. Some people are openly playful. They like to flirts, the back and forth. It is kind of a "foreplay". But they aren't trying to trick you.

The problem is that some people call "game" to basic manipulation. That is the real problem. Games might be childish but there is nothing implicitly wrong with childish as long as you know when you need to be responsible. Having fun while dating is good. Manipulation is problematic even if it is done in an adult manner.

For what I read, it seems they have adapted and "countered" part of the PUA advice. I guess there are two sides of the same coin. XD