Ask her if she has ever heard of Graphic Arts. Then ask why they have the word arts in it. Lmao.
If...
Art may be considered an exploration of the human condition; that is, what it is to be human.
So imho for me if a game uses innovative techniques and an innovative artistic design in a unique story that expresses the human condition, then I say it's art.
IMHO Some Final Fantasy games have done this, Ni No Kuni has done this in some areas, Red Dead Redemption has done this in some areas, Bayonetta has done this in some areas.
The story for me has to express some human condition issues and effect you. The artistic game design has to be a hybrid of hand drawn art and have some originality/creativity and draw you in on some level to hold your attention or simply be breathtakingly beautiful. It should make you take notice, and give you something to think about/question in the world. And hopefully it teaches/communicates to the subject something of value in a fun/interesting/exciting way. That's my view on art.
