5 Games That Prove Video Games Are Art

Many consider BioShock the poster boy of gaming as an art form, and with good reason. Between the gorgeous design of the art-deco city of Rapture, the unsettling tone, and the nerve-racking combat, BioShock is something special. But put all of those factors to the side, because the true artistry of the game and the aspect I'll be discussing is the shocking plot twist.

You know the one (and if you somehow don't, then spoiler alert):

Andrew Ryan reveals that Jack has been brainwashed to obey any command that follows the saying "Would you kindly." Everything Jack did throughout the entire game was not by his own volition; he was Atlas' puppet all along.

"A man chooses, a slave obeys." When Andrew Ryan says this he's speaking not only to Jack, but to the player as well. Like Jack, the player followed Atlas' instructions throughout the entire game. Did players have any say, or were they under the developers' control the whole time?

The theme of control is present throughout BioShock, as Rapture itself was created as safe haven for the elite members of society to flourish without government or religious interference. Even the main conflict of the game is a battle for control of Rapture.

By using the theme of control to analyze the relationship between players and developers, the developers of BioShock were able to blur the line between reality and entertainment in a way that could only be done in gaming.