6 ms·
My gf thinks videogames cannot be art. What to show her?
Good day,
My partner thinks videogames cannot be art. I told her we gotta play 3 games before she can say something like this.
She likes literature, theater, paints, poetry, detective/case solving TV, fantasy is also good/ok.
I've only got these chances.
What should she play?
Would really appreciate your recommendations!
- QuantumQuester 1y agoBaldur's Gate 3 or Cyberpunk 2077
- Gerard0 1y agoBG3 is a strong candidate of mine!
- billconan 1y agotiny glade https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzNNoo0Zpns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzNNoo0Zpns
- evanjrowley 1y agoGreat choice if the individual values creative expression
- itronitron 1y agoI think you should start off with something stereotypical and crass like Grand Theft Auto to set her expectations very low, and then introduce her to Breath of the Wild.
- Gerard0 1y agohaha! Yea so GTA or CS is what all videogames are about in her head.
- znpy 1y agoThe door. Show her the door.
- rufus_foreman 1y agoHave to agree with this. When someone tells you who they are, believe them.
- I_Am_Nous 1y agoDepends on what she thinks IS art. Are movies art to her? Something cinematic might be good if so. Otherwise, show her Mario Paint and MAKE some art :)
- Gerard0 1y agoMovies are definitely art for her!
- xyzzy123 1y agoDisco Elysium.
- lordkrandel 1y agoA dictionary. From Miriam-Webster: "Art, meaning n.4: the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects". https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/art https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/art Aesthetics: a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste and with the creation and appreciation of beauty. So as long as anyone finds beauty in it, and it's consciously made with skills and creative imagination, it's art.
- Gerard0 1y agoNice reply, I agree and get the spirit, but also a bit smartass :D
- lordkrandel 1y agoOh, come on, it's the right time and age to be. xD I'm not even 5% than other people in the news :rofl:
- salawat 1y agoThere's No Time to Explain! https://store.steampowered.com/app/368730/No_Time_To_Explain_Remastered/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/368730/No_Time_To_Explain...
- Gerard0 1y agoInteresting... thanks but I think this would make her quit after 10 seconds!
- arresin 1y agoInscryption is a legitimate work of art. Literally worthy of being studied. (and also one of the most fun single player computer games I’ve ever played).
- Gerard0 1y agoWow. I am not sure I will play this with her but pretty sure I will. Thanks!
- btschaegg 1y agoIf she has little experience with video games, Journey and Gris might be good candidates. For a more "technical" argument how gameplay mechanics can be a unique way to deliver an emotion to the player (arguably a major part in the role of art): Brothers: A Tale of two Sons. You'd have to make sure that she finishes it, though (estimate: ~3h). Two trippy games that defy categorization (but won't be good examples for someone not willing to learn mechanics/logic in depth): Thumper and Cocoon.
- Gerard0 1y agoNever heard of any of these. Checked them out and they all look great. Hard to decide but I think I will include one of yours. Thanks a ton!
- ChoGGi 1y agoGoing into it blind; Journey is a special treat. If she is a fan of detective stories, then you wish to look into L.A. Noire or Shadows of Doubt. Ori and the Blind Forest Jusant or Tiny Glade have a distinct look. Edit: Not art but for two player games, try Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime, Untitled Goose Game, or Trine.
- sflanker 1y agoPresumably she is young enough to have completely missed out on Myst, which will be very dated now but was groundbreaking at the time and is most definitely a work of art. These puzzle games are all very distinctive and beautiful in my opinion: - Limbo - Manifold Garden - Monument Valley I think on its face the question “can video games be art?” Is both absurd and obviously answered. The question are their games your partner will enjoy playing and want to spend time on is obviously totally different.
- marssaxman 1y ago"Myst" is exactly what came to my mind; it's almost more art than it is game.
- Gerard0 1y agoThank you! Go for the original or the remake?
- evanjrowley 1y ago>detective/case solving TV, fantasy Elder Scrolls (Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim) and Soulsborne (Demons Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Elden Ring) games both have lots of mysterious lore and fantasy elements. Maybe the lore videos would help her appreciate the art? Lore videos could also pique her interest in a video game without her actually having to play it, which could be a gateway to eventually getting a contoller into her hands. > literature, ... poetry Charred Thermos put together a well-researched theory explaining the lore of Bloodborne is based on history, poetry, and literature from Victorian-era Edinburgh in Scotland. Bloodborne has feminine (child birth, menstration). I'd caution against it if she's squeamish because it is a bloody (good) game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkNVKkYpgVU&list=PLon6Mvsc0MckrRA0AV-HfhxpkRScLqMs- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkNVKkYpgVU&list=PLon6Mvsc0M... Elden Ring in particular has tons of lore and this is partly due to George R. R. Matin, author of Game of Thrones, working with Fromsoftware to develop the lore foundations of the game. To get an idea of this, here's VattyVidya 13 hour playlist of quality lore videos on Elden Ring: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYDs_Inzkz4&list=PLWLedd0Zw3c6-pVaCxtqkUtBGDOU2nw1Z https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYDs_Inzkz4&list=PLWLedd0Zw3... Additionally, I can recommend what is possibly the most in-depth lore/mystery videos about Elden Ring, by Tarnished Archaeologist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrxAMoEujZss9Vez20A3b3ES458N8Y8OQ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrxAMoEujZss9Vez20A3b... Elder Scrolls games, particularly Skyrim, also have significant lore and mysteries she may enjoy. It's much easier to digest than Soulsborne lore. See these examples by EpicNate315: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibf642CCf20 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibf642CCf20 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KzooXHOyRg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KzooXHOyRg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baQfeYJJkWY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baQfeYJJkWY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gya8eIorwN8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gya8eIorwN8 If she's very new to games and wants something aesthetically pleasing, then the best experience might be exploring the wilderness of Skyrim while following interesting quests. Oblivion is an older game that also does this well on a smaller scale. Morrowind feels quite old and may not be her cup of tea, but some players like that the exploration is much more self-directed. The Soulsborne games are all relatively hard but rewarding in their own way. For anyone who likes mysteries, they'll appreciate that all Soulsborne games do not directly explain the lore very much, and it's up to the player to figure things out. Demons Souls and Dark Souls are great, but lore-wise, Elden Ring and Bloodborne are the best. Bloodborne is shorter and self-contained, while Elden Ring has many questlines that a player can choose to follow. Following the questlines of NPCs is a rewarding experience. Personally I wish I could convince my fiancee to play some video games because I imagine it would be valuable to share the same meaningful experiences that come with great moments in games. Her reasons aren't that the games lack artistry, but the games themselves are too scary for her. I just have to accept she has different tasts and hope maybe one day a non-scary / violent video game will be interesting to us both.
- deleted 1y ago[deleted]
- ajoseps 1y agoOuter Wilds
- borderprepper 1y ago[dead]
- tobinfekkes 1y agoPortal
- Gerard0 1y agoOne or two? I remember reading here on HN that one (or both?) of them is great. I never got to play them myself.
- tobinfekkes 1y agoI was debating whether to specify which one, but then decided I would leave ambiguous. Frankly, they're both great. I think I have more of an affinity to Portal 1, not because it's "better", but because it was first. That was a very distinct moment in my memory when the game mechanics "click" at the beginning, and you realize what's going on and there's no other game world like it.
- halosghost 1y agoKentucky Route Zero [0], which managed to not just be beautiful in its own right, but so perfectly captures the visual language it's aiming for that you'll just lose yourself in moments of experience. Also, Pathologic 2 [1] (probably, if you have more fortitude than me, maybe the original or HD remaster are of value [2]). All the best, -HG [0] https://www.gog.com/en/game/kentucky_route_zero https://www.gog.com/en/game/kentucky_route_zero [1] https://www.gog.com/en/game/pathologic_2 https://www.gog.com/en/game/pathologic_2 [2] https://youtu.be/JsNm2YLrk30 https://youtu.be/JsNm2YLrk30
- garte 1y agoAsk her if a banana taped to a wall is art.* If she says no she has no idea what art is, apparently. Or there is no actual concept what constitutes as art and what doesn't. ;) *https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2024/nov/21/maurizio-cattelans-duct-taped-banana-artwork-fetches-us52m-at-new-york-auction https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2024/nov/21/maurizi...
- gus_massa 1y agoI liked this with the old ending (like 10 years ago). https://www.decisionproblem.com/paperclips/ https://www.decisionproblem.com/paperclips/ (I don't like the new ending :( .) It's fun to be consider a game, but it had a very strong message.
- hyperman1 1y agoThis war of mine.
- Nab443 1y agoCeleste definitely is one, already cited but Outer Wild is another.
- Gerard0 1y agoCeleste was also on my list. Thanks!
- helicone 1y agoheavy rain is good art. and its really accessible to first-time gamers because its more like an interactive movie than a game
- Tarsul 1y agoIf I had to pick just one it would be Gorogoa. Just look at it, it plays even better. https://www.gog.com/en/game/gorogoa https://www.gog.com/en/game/gorogoa
- Gerard0 11mo agoThis looks amazing! I will get it either way! Thanks!
- Tarsul 11mo agoVery good. Since she likes art/paintings, I could suggest Behind The Frame: The Finest Scenery. It has a great narrative and doesn't take too long (2h). Not sure if I would put it in the top3 but thats your decision anyway. Good luck. South of The Circle is another narrative game which left me pondering. I think thats the perfect genre for her anyway, whether she uses the word art or not ;) PS: Please post the result of the competition :D