The term "video game" has been used since the mid seventies. Since then, the design and technology behind video games has been dramatically and, as a result, many new genres of video game have emerged. They also became colloquially known as just "games".

Long story short, do you think all video games can be considered games, or are there some video games which break the boundaries of what can be typically called a game?


My thoughts:

-Sandbox games don't have a clear goal, so they can't be considered games. These would be more along the lines of toys. Minecraft would be a good example.

-Simulators have education as the primary motivator for the player. They can also be open ended, to boot.

-Some badly designed games are made purely to persuade the player. They aren't common, but they do exist. Ethnic Cleansing, a game with a name that speaks for itself, is one of these games.

-Artsy indie games and survival horrors are more about experiencing certain things, rather than achieving goals. The goals are there, but they're not the motivation for the player. I guess this depends on the player more than the game but this entire thread is mostly subjective anyway.