Video games as an art form

**Video games as an art form** is a commonly debated concept expressed within the gaming and larger entertainment industry.

## List of Sony Interactive Entertainment titles considered artistic

* *Vib Ribbon* (1999; NanaOn-Sha): A rhythm game noted for its minimalist visual style which uses vector graphics and its game design which is affected by the player's choice in music. Collected as part of a video game exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art.
* *Ico* (2001; SIE Japan Studio): A cult classic action-adventure video game with a minimalist story, often cited as a notable example of video games as an art form for its evocative art design, unique gameplay and story which were noted as influential on future video game developers, including the likes of Naughty Dog and FromSoftware.
* *Shadow of the Colossus* (2005; SIE Japan Studio): A spiritual successor to *Ico* which was widely praised for its haunting landscapes, aesthetic style, unique gameplay and its emotional depth. As with *Ico*, it is frequently considered an artistic video game that influenced future video game developers, including SIE Santa Monica Studio.
	+ *Shadow of the Colossus* (2018; Bluepoint Games): A high-definition remake of *Shadow of the Colossus*, noted for its ability to recapture the original game's concept, atmosphere and art design.
* *Flower* (2009; Thatgamecompany):
* *Demon's Souls* (2009; FromSoftware/SIE Japan Studio): A pioneering action role-playing video game that is credited with creating the "Soulslike" sub-genre, and was praised for its gothic aesthetics and melancholic atmosphere, obscure storytelling and focus on difficulty and methodical combat that encourages the player to push through its challenges.
	+ *Demon's Souls* (2020; Bluepoint Games): A remake
* *Heavy Rain* (2010; Quantic Dream): An interactive drama/adventure video game with multiple choices noted for challenging the player's principles and can result in the permanent deaths of the game's four protagonists.
* *Gravity Rush* (2012; SIE Japan Studio): An action-adventure video game with unique gravity-focused traversal and combat systems whose art direction, soundtrack and thematic elements have been cited as artistic.
* *Journey* (2012; Thatgamecompany/SIE Santa Monica Studio): An indie video game frequently cited as an artistic video game for its distinctive visuals, dynamic audio design, co-operative gameplay design which consists of meeting other players within the game's world and the emotional impact left by it. The unique method in which players can communicate with, only through music notes or actions, was praised for its ability to form trust and companionship between the players.
* *The Unfinished Swan* (2012; Giant Sparrow/SIE Santa Monica Studio):
* *The Last of Us* (2013; Naughty Dog): A post-apocalyptic survival-horror video game focusing on a bitter survivor and a young girl crossing the United States, and has been widely praised for its nuanced storytelling and characterization, as well as immersive locales and audio design, visceral combat, ambiguous morality, emotional depth and progressive depiction of female characters in video games.
	+ *The Last of Us: Left Behind* (2014): An expansion pack for *The Last of Us* serving as a prequel, widely praised for its positive depiction of female and LGBT characters in video games which was cited as a "major breakthrough" in the medium.
* *Uncharted 4: A Thief's End* (2013; Naughty Dog): The forth and final mainline installment in Naughty Dog's *Uncharted* series, which has been described by *Electronic Gaming Monthly* as a "true work of art" and a "challenge to the medium" by GameSpot. for its emotional weight and storytelling, as well its dense environments and world-building.
* *The Last Guardian* (2016; SIE Japan Studio/GenDesign): A spiritual successor to *Ico* and *Shadow of the Colossus*, noted for the advanced and realistic artificial intelligence used for the animal-like character Trico and how gameplay revolves around building a bond with the beast. It was also praised for its detailed environments akin to its predecessors, natural animations and character dynamics between the protagonist and Trico that form the game's emotional crux.
* *Gravity Rush 2* (2017; SIE Japan Studio): A sequel to 2012's *Gravity Rush*, praised for expanding on its predecessor's foundations and distinctive art style which has been favorably compared to Studio Ghibli productions.
* *Concrete Genie (2019; PixelOpus): A video game with focus on art, noted for its themes of bullying, domestic abuse and depression, and usage of art for comfort and connecting people.*
* *Death Stranding* (2019; Kojima Productions): A post-apocalyptic video game directed by Hideo Kojima, cited as an artistic video game for its evoking landscapes, immersive soundtrack and polarizing gameplay with a unique approach to the open world design. Its narrative and setting were noted for their political commentary and existentialistic themes, while several elements with the game have been compared and contrasted with the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic which broke out roughly a month after the game's release.
* *The Last of Us Part II* (2020; Naughty Dog): The sequel to 2013's *The Last of Us*, whose polarizing narrative drew multiple responses regarding its writing, characterization and themes that touch on the cycle of revenge, depiction of violence and forgiveness. Its release, which was considered controversial, caused several discussions regarding its themes, characterization, world-building and quality.
* *Ghost of Tsushima* (2020; Sucker Punch Productions): A samurai epic that received near-universal recognition for its visuals and aural elements which include a strong art direction, immersive soundtrack and cinematic quality likened to Akira Kurosawa movies and samurai cinema.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.moma.org/collection/works/162460
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAs4Dy-lh8E&ab\_channel=PBSIdeaChannel
3. ↑ https://kotaku.com/gravity-rush-the-kotaku-review-5914819
4. ↑ https://egmnow.com/uncharted-4-a-thiefs-end-review/
5. ↑ https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/uncharted-4-a-thiefs-end-review/1900-6416423/
6. ↑ https://www.gameinformer.com/games/uncharted\_4\_a\_thiefs\_end/b/playstation4/archive/2016/05/04/uncharted-4-review.aspx
7. ↑ https://www.usgamer.net/articles/gravity-rush-2-ps4-review
8. ↑ https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/605017-concrete-genie-review