Here's a wild fact: the Museum of Modern Art has officially collected 40 video games, including classics like Pac-Man and The Sims. If a cultural institution that houses Van Gogh and Warhol says they're art, that's a pretty big deal. Look, I get the skepticism. A lot of people see games as just shooters or racing sims—pure entertainment. But that's like saying all movies are just explosions. Games combine visual design, music, storytelling, and interactive choices that can make you feel things no other medium can. Think about a game like Journey—you literally experience a story through movement and silence. That's not just a toy. It's a crafted emotional experience, same as a film or a painting. You can't dismiss the whole category just because some games are shallow.

You're drawing a false line between contemplation and play. Rothko's paintings can be "beaten" in a way—you stand there until you get it. That's a goal. The difference is just that the rules are unspoken. Games are honest about having rules. But here's what I think you're missing: the interactivity itself is the artistic medium. A game like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild isn't just pretty scenery with a score attached. The way it lets you solve problems, the way the wind physics affect your glider, the subtle nudges toward curiosity—that's all crafted expression. No movie could do that. No painting could. And chess? Yeah, I'd actually argue a beautifully designed chess set is art. The game itself is a system of pure logic, but it's also a cultural artifact that's been refined for centuries. If we can call a ballet art—which has strict rules and structure—why not a well-designed game? You're just drawing the line too narrowly.

Look, you're still treating art like it has to sit still and be stared at. That's a pretty narrow view. A symphony isn't something you "beat" either, but you experience it over time. Games are the same—just with more active participation. You say strip the interactivity from Journey and it's still moving. Sure. But strip the interactivity and it's a completely different experience. You lose the personal pacing, the sense of discovery, the way your own choices create meaning. That's not decoration—that's the whole point. And Tetris? I'd argue there's a deep beauty in its elegance. Perfect systems, clean feedback loops, the zen of flow state. That's not just winning—that's an emotional and mental experience. You're mistaking function for lack of artistry. Architecture is functional too, but nobody argues the Sagrada Familia isn't art.