Can one say [ゲームを遊ぶ ]?

Question

So I know that commonly people say 「ゲームをする」or 「NOUNで遊ぶ」 yet on the　Japanese playstation website, I see 「ゲームを遊ぶ」written, even though the verb is intransitive. Are they both correct or is it sorta like an Incorrect usage but commonly understood, like some english phrases?

Answer 1

I think ゲームを遊ぶ and ゲームで遊ぶ are both perfectly correct. Although some dictionaries say 遊ぶ is only intransitive, you can find some transitive usages of 遊ぶ on BCCWJ, including:

• ゲームを遊ぶ
• マリオを遊ぶ
• 月を愛で歌を詠み、御座の間などでも花を遊ぶ
• 何を遊ぶかということではなくて、どのように遊ぶか
• 渋谷の夜を遊ぶ
• ホノルルを遊ぶ (although this を may be taken as a location marker)

The difference is usually subtle and unimportant, but ゲームを遊ぶ sounds like ゲーム is the main purpose, whereas ゲームで遊ぶ sounds like ゲーム is just a method to have fun. The following article intentionally distinguishes ゲームを遊ぶ and ゲームで遊ぶ:

• ｢ニンテンドースイッチ｣レビュー：”ゲームを遊ぶ”と”ゲームで遊ぶ”。2種類の遊び方をスイッチできるゲームハードの究極進化系