Do video games need to be fun to be good?

Well it depends, because by saying that you're implying that having fun and enjoying your time with something are the same thing. I'm glad that I got to witness the execution of the Red Wedding scene in Game of Thrones but just because I enjoyed seeing how it was executed I wouldn't argue that the scene is fun to watch; I personally found it quite uncomfortable.

You can appreciate that you witnessed something without finding it fun. I found The Stanley Parable funny, engaging, and different, but I wasn't thinking 'Damn this is fun' while playing it in the same way I would with something like Devil May Cry. If I sat down and thought 'Man, I feel like playing something fun' my mind wouldn't go to that game because I find it more enjoyable to experience than fun as far as core gameplay is concerned.

/r/Games Thread Parent