To me it is really strange that video game as a new medium for art has not taken more traction yet. Every ingredient seems to be there for the recipe: novelty of the medium, specific set of constraints that need to be overcome, ability for a single person to create their vision, etc.
I know some of them are already, e.g. Machinarium, but is still marginal it's it not?
Once could hypothesise that when non-gamers think of games, they think of the most popular games, which means the most commercially viable. I would equate it to thinking of advertising illustration or graphic design when talking about "visual art".
Of course, people often think games should be fun in some way, so the kookier games that are artistic expressions might not become popular, because people don't want to experience those works.
Some examples of games I consider arty:
- Moirai [0]
- Sisters of the Amniotic Lens [1]
- Gone home [2]
- The Stanley Parable [3]
[0] http://store.steampowered.com/app/496920/
[1] http://store.steampowered.com/app/287140/