Art Games
Games as artistic expression
Art games prioritise aesthetic experience, emotional expression, and meaning over traditional gameplay mechanics, challenging definitions of what games can be.
Overview
Art games use the interactive medium for artistic expression rather than entertainment-first design. They may subvert game conventions, explore emotional states, or create contemplative experiences. The category sparked debates about what constitutes a “game” while expanding possibilities for the medium as artistic expression.
Fast facts
- Origins: Rod Humble, Jason Rohrer, Tale of Tales.
- Peak discourse: Late 2000s to early 2010s.
- Relation: Overlaps with walking simulators, experimental games.
- Distribution: Often free or low-cost.
Defining characteristics
What makes an art game:
| Trait | Traditional game | Art game |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Win condition | Experience |
| Mechanics | Core loop | May be minimal |
| Message | Optional | Central |
| Audience | Broad | Niche |
| Length | Hours | Minutes to hours |
Foundational works
Early influential titles:
- Passage (2007, Jason Rohrer): Life and death in five minutes.
- The Marriage (2006, Rod Humble): Abstract relationship dynamics.
- The Graveyard (2008, Tale of Tales): Walking, sitting, mortality.
Jason Rohrer’s contributions
Prolific art game creator:
- Passage: Mortality and companionship.
- Gravitation: Creative process and family.
- Sleep Is Death: Two-player storytelling.
- Minimalist design philosophy.
Tale of Tales
Belgian studio’s approach:
- The Graveyard: Contemplative elderly experience.
- The Path: Little Red Riding Hood reinterpretation.
- Sunset: Housekeeper during revolution.
- Prioritised atmosphere over mechanics.
- Eventually left game development.
Critical debates
Questions raised:
- Are art games actually games?
- Do mechanics matter?
- Is “not fun” valid design?
- Who decides what qualifies?
- Does commercial failure equal artistic success?
Related movements
Overlapping categories:
- Walking simulators: Exploration focus.
- Notgames: Deliberate genre rejection.
- Empathy games: Emotional understanding.
- Serious games: Educational/awareness.
Mainstream crossover
Art game influence on commercial titles:
- Journey: Emotional, minimal.
- Flower: Meditative, aesthetic.
- That Dragon, Cancer: Personal grief.
- Gris: Emotional visual journey.
Festival and exhibition presence
Art games in galleries:
- Museum of Modern Art acquisitions.
- IndieCade selections.
- Game festival curated sections.
- Academic study subjects.
Design philosophy
Art game approaches:
- Subvert expectations.
- Create discomfort purposefully.
- Embrace ambiguity.
- Trust the audience.
- Meaning through interaction.
Commercial reality
Business challenges:
- Small audiences.
- Low price expectations.
- Sustainability difficult.
- Grant funding common.
- Critical acclaim rarely equals sales.
Legacy
Art games expanded gaming’s expressive range. Even if individual works remain niche, their influence on mainstream design and the conversations they sparked about games as medium continue to shape development.