Example that just came up in a discord I'm in: Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. I havent played this game but someone who had said the game's story of "Roxas hates his day job but tolerates it because afterwards he can hang out with his friends" is enhanced by the gameplay being "player hates the mission structure but they tolerate it because the story cutscenes are amazing"
Someone else said they doubt that was intentional, and I agree. But I asked the question of whether Death of the Author applies to game mechanics.
I say yes. But its something I hadnt considered before for sure.
Spec Ops the Line, cliche and unimaginative shooting mechanics feel both like a commentary of the genre, and also like they weren't very good at making the mechanic interesting. And then it hits you over the head with the white phosphorus mission and goes "look at what you've done!"
Yeah that was on purpose though I think.