Why Video Games Are the Most Underrated Art Form

When Roger Ebert famously said video games could never be art, he sparked a debate that continues today. But after years of creating in multiple mediums, I'm convinced games might be the most complete art form we have.

The Convergence of Everything

Think about what goes into a modern game:

**Visual Art**: Character design, environment art, UI design, animation

**Music**: Original scores, sound design, dynamic audio that responds to gameplay

**Writing**: Dialogue, world-building, branching narratives

**Performance**: Voice acting, motion capture

**Architecture**: Level design, spatial storytelling

A single game can contain more artwork than a gallery, more music than an album, more writing than a novel.

The Unique Element: Interactivity

But what makes games unique is something no other art form has: meaningful player choice.

When you read a book, you experience what the author decided. When you play a game like "Disco Elysium" or "Undertale," your choices shape the experience. You're not just observing art—you're participating in its creation.

Games That Changed My Understanding of Art

Journey (2012): No words, no text. Just movement, music, and another player somewhere in the world. It made me feel more connected to a stranger than most films make me feel about their characters.

The Last of Us (2013): Storytelling that rivals any prestige TV drama, with moral complexity that haunts you long after the credits.

Celeste (2018): A game about climbing a mountain that's really about climbing out of depression. The mechanics ARE the metaphor.

Outer Wilds (2019): A mystery told through exploration. No markers, no quest log—just curiosity rewarded.

Creating for Games

If you're a traditional artist considering game development:

Your skills transfer directly (concept art, UI, environments)

Game jams are a great way to start (48-72 hours to make something)

Unity and Godot are free and beginner-friendly

Start small: a complete tiny game teaches more than an unfinished big one

The Future of Art

As VR matures, as AI enables more personalized experiences, as game tools become more accessible—the line between "game" and "art installation" will blur completely.

The question isn't whether games are art. It's whether we're ready to take them seriously as such.