9 Modern Gaming Criticisms That Actually Suck

9. 'Graphics Aren't Important'

The video game industry is obsessed with creating the shiniest, most cutting-edge looking releases, and for years the pushback to that has been the criticism that graphics don't matter as long as the gameplay is good.

For a lot of titles, that criticism admittedly does hold water. Something that boasts robust and rewarding mechanics shouldn't be marked down simply because it doesn't have the time and resources to look as good as Red Dead Redemption 2. However, saying that graphics don't matter in general invalidates an important element of the gaming experience.

The visual design of a game can both increase the base enjoyment of it (for instance, a huge part of Fornite's appeal comes down to its accessible, cartoon aesthetic), as well as contribute to an overall atmosphere that complements the narrative themes.

Likewise, some games tell their stories entirely through visuals, and the impact of said stories can be weakened if the graphics are poor or the design slapped together.

Graphics aren't the be all and end all of a game, but art direction and visuals in general are still an important part of the experience, and can be just as, if not more important than, gameplay.