Editor’s Note: This post was updated on May 16th, 2025, with some new games. Harold Halibut and Valiant Hearts: The Great War were taken off the list, but they are still tremendous games that you should check out!
Also, I unfortunately still haven’t played Shadow of the Colossus. Maybe next year.
It wasn’t that long ago that arguments would still pop up from time to time declaring that “video games are not art.” By the strictest definition of art, it was almost always an absurd statement. Oxford Dictionary says that art is “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.” Perhaps you could argue that some of the earliest forms of video games were not art, but anyone who played Chrono Trigger in 1995 would be insane to still say that video games were not art at that point. That view was completely due to ignorance.
Over time, as technology improved, and more and more excellent storytellers got involved with gaming, it became pretty much impossible for anyone to say otherwise.
In fact, to me and many other gamers, video games are the greatest form of art that we have. The interactivity that video games provide offers a level of immersion and emotional resonance that no other medium can when the storytelling is on point. The tech is now there for developers to craft all sorts of beautiful, eye-catching worlds to complement that storytelling. To top it off, video game soundtracks are often just as good or better than any television or movie soundtrack that you will find out there.
Trying to rank video games as art was inspired by the fact that I have played multiple video games this year that have struck me as some of the best pieces of art this industry has ever produced. This was not an easy task. A few of these games are here solely for the emotional power of their storytelling. Others are here for their visual beauty. But most of them are on this list for some combination of both.
I am one man and have not played every video game out there, so there will certainly be some games that are not on here that probably should be. One of my greatest gaming sins is never playing Shadows of the Colossus, and I imagine that very well would have ended up on this list as an example. Despite these misses, I feel great about the 10 games I was able to come up with for this list. With that, here are my top 10 “video games as art.”
10. Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth
I feel like this one might be controversial or considered recency bias, but this is truly one of the most beautiful games I have ever played for so many different reasons. First off, while the game does have some awkwardness with lighting and character models, it is still an absolutely gorgeous game. In the 70+ hours that it took me to beat the game, I have to think at least 3-4 of those hours involved taking in the scenery at all the lovely landscapes that the game puts you in. The music in the game is also incredible and arguably one of the best video game soundtracks of all time.
But more than anything else, Rebirth is art to me for its incredible character arcs, with almost every character undergoing a real personal journey of some sort. This game is packed with so many incredible moments that I ranked 25 of them! The entire Loveless sequence alone involves some of the greatest art I have ever seen in a video game. Rebirth is a masterpiece in every possible way.
9. Gone Home
I think video games have been “art” for a long time. But as I did research for this post, I really noticed that 2013 felt like a true turning point for the medium. Several big releases that even a video game skeptic would have to admit are art were released that year (stay tuned to the rest of the list!). Even with big blockbuster masterpieces from that year, the simple Gone Home sticks with me as much as any of them. Gone Home was one of the first games that showed me how video games could tell a story unlike any other medium. It’s a game where you simply explore a house to piece together what happened to the main character’s sister. Depending on how much you explore, you can pick up on very different story beats, and the game leaves tons of context clues around to help you discover what happened as well. It’s a lovely coming of age story, and it dealt with a lot of topics that gaming didn’t always tackle as much back then. This is one of the rare games that even someone who doesn’t like video games should be able to play and enjoy.
8. Gris
When I originally posted this list, I had multiple people ask me if I had ever played Gris. At the time, I had not, but this seemed like a sign to finally pick it up, especially with Nomada Studio’s new game, Neva, also on the way.
After playing both games last year, Neva is definitely the more visually striking game. But Gris hits on its themes in much more complex and masterful ways that I found to better exemplify the kind of interesting and beautiful stories that can be told with video games.
Gris is a game that takes you through the stages of grief as a woman mourns the loss of her mother. It’s a tremendous concept that leads to an incredibly emotional ending.
I honestly didn’t even love Gris as a video game, I thought it was OK, but I can’t get several moments from this game out of my head. It’s especially emotional to play as a parent. It tackles such difficult themes in such a touching and almost healing way. This is also a story that truly couldn’t be told in any other way besides as a video game. I’m so glad that so many people recommended it after reading the original list.
7. Hellblade I and II
I combined these games, but they would both make this list as standalone games as well. Obviously, both of these games are incredible looking. I just played Hellblade I recently and was still struck by the visuals and art direction seven years later. The recently released Hellblade II is likely the best-looking video game of all time, with cutting-edge tech that makes it impossible to not stop and admire the scenery constantly.
But it’s not just about the looks here. Hellblade I has an intense story that features one of the most powerful character arcs you will ever see alongside a very touching and disorienting look at mental health. Hellblade II tackles grief and power in interesting ways as well. Combine in some excellent music choices, and this series is an absolute masterclass in showcasing video games as art.
6. Bioshock Infinite
The original Bioshock contains one of the best stories in gaming history and fantastic art direction. But also, it was a game that took place entirely underwater. Going to the sky instead gave Irrational Games a chance to truly showcase their talents, with one of the most beautiful gaming worlds out there. This game is still just as stunning over 10 years later as it was back then.
While Infinite is much more controversial than the original Bioshock, I still view this as a fantastic and stunning story, with one powerful moment after another leading up to an incredible ending. Bioshock showed how great video game storytelling could be all the way back in 2007, and while I think that is the superior experience overall, Infinite showcased even more what this medium could become just six years later.
5. Death Stranding
Every time I think about Death Stranding, I just feel so happy that I finally picked it up this year. Everything about this game screams art. The barren landscapes of America in the game are so sad and beautiful. The story about connecting with others is so important, especially with the pandemic that was soon to follow after its release. As a father in particular, the power of parenthood is also present and touching throughout.
Of every game on this list, Death Stranding might be the one game where I view the gameplay as art as well. The amount of care and effort that went into building the unique gameplay systems that make this game tick is so apparent. The simple act of walking is overlooked in video games for the most part. But in real life, it’s not always an easy task. Death Stranding does the near impossible and not only makes walking a highly compelling gameplay loop but also makes it feel like true art.
4. Okami
Every other game on this list was at least released in 2013. Okami was released in 2006. Despite this, its art style is still talked about to this day. That is an incredible achievement.
This is the only game on this list that I don’t have on here for its story at all, but I felt the need to recognize how beautiful this game was, especially for when it came out. Despite being almost two decades old, it still holds up today. The soundtrack was also at the top of its class back in 2006. Okami was a major achievement for the movement to consider video games as art, and for that, it deserves accolades.
3. The Last of Us
If there were still any “video games aren’t art” people out there, it seems like they may have finally been completely shut down in early 2023. The Last of Us TV show became a critical and ratings sensation, all while almost completely following the trajectory of the original game.
To this day, I still believe that The Last of Us has the best story in gaming history. The world and characters are so compelling. There are so many memorable moments, and of course, an ending that I will never forget. Gamers make grandiose statements like that all the time, but I can’t remember another ending that still gets discussed as much as this one does. This was also an incredible looking video game back in 2013, and now, with remasters, it still holds up today.
There has been a lot of discussion about this recently, but I feel comfortable in saying that The Last of Us helped change public perception of video games, especially after the tv show. And there is a damn good reason for that, as the story is pure art.
2. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
I’d usually feel a bit nervous putting a game I just played so high. But I have no question I my mind here. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is pure art.
The story is deep and riveting. It tackles heavy themes like grief with grace. It is extremely well-written, with very natural and flowing dialogue.
And then, it also has some of the best art direction that I have ever seen in a video game, combined with an absolutely beautiful score. This is ART!
It’s no surprise after playing it that the game already has a movie deal in place. This hits on every possible note, and I think whoever makes the movie has an easy yet impossible task ahead. I can’t wait.
1. Journey
Honestly, I had this game at number two when I originally made this list. But when I started reflecting on some of the moments that I experienced when I played this game, I suddenly felt myself moved in the same ways I was when I first experienced it twelve years ago. For a game to have that kind of power, despite having no dialogue is absolutely incredible. Especially when the meaning of the game is left extremely open-ended.
Perhaps the most powerful thing about this game also ends up being your interactions with other players. I was skeptical about the co-op elements when the game was introduced to me. Yet, I still remember the odd, wordless bond I felt with random co-op partners as we experienced some of the greatest emotional moments in all of video games together.
I have no idea what the people I played Journey with look like or sound like. But I will always be connected with them in ways that are difficult to comprehend. In the end, I chose Journey as my #1 because those moments of working together can not be replicated in any other medium. This game is the pinnacle of art in video games to me, and it’s going to be a difficult one to ever top.
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