Video games are games because they are, well... played. So gameplay should naturally be prioritized over story. Not to say video games can't tell stories on par with classic literature, but let's face it, game makers really really really suck hard at storytelling. I mean, the earliest games had simple premises as an excuse for doing whatever nonsensical abstract activities you're doing in a game (shooting aliens, saving princesses, etc.) just to provide some context.
But then there are the games where you effectively play the story. Visual novels and even games like Mass Effect which have some of the weakest gameplay and a strong narrative presence that is interactive. The Witcher pretty much consists solely of hack n' slash swordplay (and some lame horse ridding in the latter entry) and is predominately a vast interactive choose your own adventure.
Then you've got heavily narrative laden 'games' like Final Fantasy XIII which have horrendously poorly written linear plots and abysmal gameplay. These games primarily exist to resemble movies to make people and critics think that video games are on par with established media like cinema. These are the "Hollywood envy" products which tend to be void of creativity or expertise and are solely interested in the bottom line: $$$. Even games lauded for their strong linear stories like The Last of Us and Uncharted have minimal, if solid gameplay and just above average narratives and presentation. And even then their narrative premises are unoriginal (Zombies and Indiana Jones knockoffs).
Games should not be focused so heavily on story. They can be, but so many games I've played it is obvious that the director just wanted to make a movie and should have done that instead (I'm looking at you Kojima). Heck,as much as I enjoyed Bioshock Infinite I kept telling myself the game plays alright but the story would have been a lot better without all this shooting and trash can rummaging. Unsurprisingly the director Ken Livine quite to go make movies. I'd say he's found his calling.
Games can tell great stories entirely with gameplay. Elder Scrolls seem like some of the last true RPGs in that they have the decency to shut up to allow players to freaking play, yet mountains of lore exist for players who want to dive balls deep in all that narrative goodness. But it's up to players to ignore it if they want to. Still, the Elder Scrolls games tend to offer little in the way for players to affect the plot. Visual and environmental storytelling is a great way to convey story in an interactive medium. Riven is a remarkable example of this. Others would cite Dark Souls.
