After "as if," many people prefer the subjunctive. The subjunctive refers to something that is NOT a fact. She acts as if she WERE rich. (She is actually poor.) He spoke to me as if he WERE the boss. (Actually, he cleans the toilets.) Why are you dressed as if it WERE summer? (Actually, it is winter.) Some books explain that "as if" is a shorter way to say, for example: She acts AS she would act IF she were rich. ***** In regular, everyday conversational English, many American speakers might just say: I teased at life LIKE it WAS a foolish game. (a) "Like" is not considered choice (elegant) English in this sentence. (b) "Was" is not considered correct in this sentence, for we are NOT referring to a fact.

I think, the text in the third line (I teased at life as if it were a foolish game) actually means 'I teased at life AS THOUGH / AS IT WOULD BE a foolish game' and suppose that - in this context - WERE is correct.