Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) adds video games to its collection

Tetris, Myst and a dozen other video games will arrive at the esteemed art and design institution in 2013.

By Andrew Frisicano Thu Nov 29 2012

Museum of Modern Art (MoMa)

Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) Photograph: Michael Kirby


In 2013, gamers will get a new video-game arcade in a somewhat unlikely place. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) announced this morning that it would be adding 14 video games to its collection, as part of a larger initiative to feature playable games in its Philip Johnson Architecture and Design Galleries.

The inaugural titles range from the classic (Pac-Man) to modern critical favorites (Portal) and go on display in March 2013. The museum also tipped its hand about future acquisitions, which will include The Legend of Zelda, Street Fighter II and Grim Fandango (more details on the project are on MoMA's blog). The list of initial games is below.

• Pac-Man (1980)
• Tetris (1984)
• Another World (1991)
• Myst (1993)
• SimCity 2000 (1994)
• Vib-Ribbon (1999)
• The Sims (2000)
• Katamari Damacy (2004)
• EVE Online (2003)
• Dwarf Fortress (2006)
• Portal (2007)
• Flow (2006)
• Passage (2008)
• Canabalt (2009)

MoMA isn't the only museum that will be recognizing video games in the near future. The Museum of the Moving Image opens its tribute to pioneering simulation Spacewar!, featuring 20 playable games inspired by the shooter, on December 15.

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