In the early days of video games, no one could have imagined that pixelated screens and bleepy soundtracks would one day be the battleground for a debate as deep and complex as the one surrounding art versus entertainment. Games, once the domain of arcades and childhood nostalgia, have evolved into powerful tools of storytelling, emotion, and expression. Today, we're no longer just asking whether a game is "fun" — we're asking what it means. Can a game be considered art? Or is it simply entertainment? And perhaps most importantly: does it matter?

Let’s unpack this.

The Evolution of Games: From Pong to Profundity

In the 1970s and 1980s, games were mostly about skill and score. Pong, Pac-Man, Space Invaders — these were mechanical challenges, lighthearted and competitive. They didn’t aim to say anything — at least, not intentionally.

Fast-forward to today, and games like The Last of Us, Journey, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, and Gris are tackling topics such as grief, mental illness, spiritual journeys, and existential dread. These are experiences meant to be felt, not just played. Developers now have the tools, both technical and narrative, to craft deep, layered experiences that evoke complex emotions — the very hallmark of art.

So the question becomes not whether games can be art, but when — and why — they cross that invisible threshold.

Defining Art and Entertainment

Before we dig deeper, let’s clarify what we mean by art and entertainment. These two aren’t necessarily opposites — but they’re not the same thing either.

• Entertainment is often about amusement. It’s designed to engage, distract, or delight. Think of a popcorn movie or a party game.

• Art, on the other hand, tends to be about expression. It’s a reflection of the human condition. It challenges norms. It communicates something deeper, often leaving space for interpretation.

Of course, art can be entertaining, and entertainment can be artful. But when a game makes you pause and reflect long after the screen has gone dark — when it says something about the world, or you, or what it means to be — that’s where things start to shift.

When Games Become Art

Several landmark titles have sparked debates precisely because they didn't just entertain — they moved players emotionally, intellectually, and even spiritually.

1. Journey (2012)

A silent traveler crosses a vast desert toward a distant mountain. There’s no dialogue, no combat, and no clear objectives — just movement, music, and mystery. The game’s minimalist design evokes feelings of loneliness, wonder, and transcendence. Journey doesn’t tell you what to feel. It invites you to feel something on your own terms. That’s art.

2. Papers, Please (2013)

This "dystopian document thriller" places you in the role of a border patrol agent in a fictional authoritarian country. You inspect passports, make judgment calls, and face moral dilemmas. Do you follow the rules to support your family, or do you break them to help those in need? It’s not fun in the traditional sense. It’s not meant to be. It’s commentary. It’s reflection. It’s art.

3. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (2017)

This game delves into psychosis and trauma, blending Norse mythology with psychological horror. Developers worked with neuroscientists and individuals who experience psychosis to ensure authenticity. The result? A game that feels more like an experience inside a tortured mind than a hack-and-slash adventure. It forces players to empathize in ways rarely seen in any medium, gaming or otherwise.

The Interactive Edge: What Makes Games Unique

What makes games so powerful — and perhaps more capable of being art than other mediums — is interactivity. Unlike film, painting, or music, you don’t just consume a game. You participate in it. Your choices matter. You shape the story.

This agency blurs the line between creator and audience. In games like Detroit: Become Human, Life is Strange, or Undertale, your decisions directly influence the outcome, making the experience deeply personal. That kind of emotional investment is rare — and it’s one reason why games are such fertile ground for artistic expression.

But What About Entertainment?

Let’s not forget that fun is still a crucial part of gaming — and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Mario Kart, FIFA, Fortnite, and Call of Duty are all valid expressions of game design and player engagement. They offer thrills, laughter, competition — classic hallmarks of entertainment.

But does that make them any less meaningful?

Not necessarily. Entertainment is valuable. It offers escapism, community, and joy. And sometimes, fun itself can be an artistic act. A perfectly designed game mechanic — like the satisfying jump of Super Mario or the kinetic gunplay of DOOM — can be its own kind of beauty. In that sense, even "pure" entertainment can be a form of artistry in design and execution.

The Resistance: Why Some Still Don’t See Games as Art

There’s still cultural resistance to the idea of games as art. Part of that stems from gaming’s commercial nature — many games are made to sell, not to speak. There's also lingering stigma around games being “childish” or “violent.”

Famed film critic Roger Ebert once famously claimed that “video games can never be art.” But he made that claim in 2010 — before many of the games we’ve discussed had even been released. Even Ebert later softened his stance, admitting he hadn't played many games and was speaking from the outside looking in.

The tides have turned since then. Museums like MoMA have curated video game exhibits. Universities offer courses on game design as an artistic discipline. And awards shows now recognize narrative, performance, and emotional depth in games on the same level as film or theater.

So... Art or Entertainment?

The truth is, it's not an either/or.

Games are a medium — like film, literature, or painting. Within that medium, there are games that aim to entertain, games that aim to express, and games that somehow do both. The beauty of this form lies in its flexibility. It can be a playground, a classroom, a theater, or a canvas — often all at once.

What matters most is intention. When developers set out to say something, to make players feel or think or question, they are stepping into the realm of art — whether they call it that or not.

We’re living in a golden age of gaming, where indie creators and major studios alike are experimenting with storytelling, aesthetics, and emotion. Games are no longer just diversions. They’re experiences. They’re mirrors. They’re stories we don’t just watch — we live.

So, when is a game more than a game? When it touches something human. When it leaves a mark. When it becomes more than pixels and code and becomes something you carry with you.

Art or entertainment? The best games are both. And perhaps that’s what makes them so uniquely powerful.