5 Games That Prove Video Games Are Art

5. Portal 2

Aside from the beautiful look of the decaying Aperture Facilities and the high-quality dialogue, Portal 2's artistry lies in its subtle and effective world-building.

If you took the time to explore Aperture instead of just completing tests as fast as possible, you were rewarded with an abundance of story-enhancing easter eggs. Stumbling upon the graffiti ridden dens in the game's early chapters will introduce players to Doug Rattman, the only surviving scientist left after GLaDOS's takeover.

Rattman's eerie dens reflect just how dark the world of Portal truly is, which is shocking considering the game's playful tone. But the smaller, darker moments in Portal 2 like the dens actually enhance the overall experience. Players that uncover the true darkness of Aperture end up even more emotionally connected to the game. Seeing the true evil of Aperture makes players all the more motivated to escape.

Later in the game, players traverse the original Aperture Science, which is now a dismantled wasteland. Players that investigated this area were rewarded with a stronger understanding of the world they are inhabiting. For example, discovering the missing Borealis ship connects Portal to the Half-Life franchise, adding another layer to Portal's already fascinating world.

The writing, gameplay, and design of Portal 2 are enough of a selling point on their own, but the game's fully realized world is a shining example of the art of gaming. Portal 2's developers were creative enough to incorporate both simplicity and depth, which resulted in a experience that is equally captivating whether its casually played, examined thoroughly, or anything in between.