The rise of "walking simulators" – valid storytelling or not games?

I cried at the end of Red Dead Redemption 2. No spoilers, but you know.

Walking simulators ARE games – they're interactive stories.

Narrative-driven games are my favorite – I play for the story first.

Undertale's pacifist/genocide routes are genius meta-commentary.

The plot twist in Bioshock is still one of the best in any medium.

I love when games tackle mature themes like mental health (Hellblade, Celeste).

The best stories are the ones that stay with you after you turn off the console.

Environmental storytelling in Dark Souls is brilliant – piecing lore together from item descriptions.