Gaming is a medium that has undergone significant transformations over the years. There was a time when violence and lewd content were frowned upon in video games, only for these two elements to become oh-so-prevalent in some of the best video games fans can enjoy today.
Some games have content so questionable that they offend almost everyone, especially when they make the news and outrage the general public. Some of these offenses may seem tame by modern standards, while others feel justified to an extent.
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Doom
The Violence Didn't Sit Right With Many
Doom (1993)
- Released
- December 10, 1993
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter
Doom is one of the grandaddies of PC gaming, and it helped the first-person shooter (FPS) genre attain a foothold in the industry. It also outraged adults with its depiction of hell and the brutal violence that ensues as players rip and tear through their foes.
The game sparked a global discussion, and it didn't help that the perpetrators of the infamous Columbine High School Massacre were obsessed with this game. Thankfully, despite this outrage, Doom has continued to stand strong as one of the greatest video games and one of the most influential as well.
Manhunt
Even People Working At Rockstar Were Offended
Manhunt
- Released
- November 18, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
Manhunt forces players to take part in a snuff film where they're incentivized to be as brutal as possible with their killings. Players could use a bevy of objects and use them to charge up stealth kills, with max charge leading to an elaborate and violent animation where protagonist James Earl Cash brutalizes his enemies before killing them.
Given Rockstar's infamous reputation among media outlets, it's easy to see why news channels jumped at the chance to decry this game's glorification of violence. However, in a first for the company, Manhunt was so depraved that even some of the developers at Rockstar pushed back against the game's violent content. It takes something special for a video game to be so disturbing that it upsets the very people working on it.
Mortal Kombat
The Controversy Led To The Creation Of The ESRB System
Mortal Kombat (1992)
- Released
- October 6, 1992
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
The original Mortal Kombat's release was a landmark event in the video game industry for a number of reasons. Not only did it mark the debut of one of the most iconic fighting games ever made, but it also sparked a debate about the need for censorship in video games.
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What many people saw as depraved violence (especially when it came to the fatalities) in Mortal Kombat eventually led to the rise of the ESRB system, whose purpose was to ensure that people were aware of the content in the games they were purchasing for their children. This negative PR ended up turning Mortal Kombat into a legendary franchise that has made waves in the industry with each entry.
Postal 2
The Over-the-Top Violence Offended Many
Postal 2
- Released
- April 13, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Open-World
Postal 2 is one of the most controversial video games ever made. The idea of partaking in violent action and terrorizing the residents of a small town wasn't as amusing for some people when they saw how depraved the protagonist could get. Brutal animal cruelty and desecration of dead bodies were just a few of the many acts in the game that shocked many people.
This led to Postal 2 becoming a controversial game. Ironically enough, the debate that it sparked brought more eyes to this title than ever before. The fact that this game is getting a remaster makes it clear that Postal 2's penchant to offend people worked in its favor, and it has gained popularity from its notorious reputation.
Bully
Controlling High School Students In Violent Escapades
Bully
- Released
- October 17, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Crude Humor, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox
Rockstar Games has often been an easy developer to bash, and in 2006, news channels were salivating at the prospect of tearing apart a game from this studio that took place in a boarding school. Reports came in about how this game glorified bullying and let players partake in violent actions as an underage protagonist.
As one would expect, Rockstar rode this wave of controversy to new heights, and it only ensured that fans would have a great time with Bully. Players get invested in Jimmy Hopkins' story as they help him get revenge on the person who turned him into a laughingstock in Bullworth Academy.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The Hot Coffee Mod Generated Ridiculous Controversy
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Released
- October 26, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
The funniest thing about San Andreas' controversy was how people were up in arms about content that wasn't even in the base game. Rather, it was the Hot Coffee mod that uncovered this content and turned CJ's adventures into one of the most diabolical media storms in gaming history. These game files involved an interactive minigame where players engaged in explicit acts.
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So many people got offended that Rockstar had to take out this content from the game altogether to avoid the dreaded Adults Only rating. Thankfully, none of this marred San Andreas' legacy, with many people considering it to be the best GTA game in the 3D Universe.
Punch-Out!!
The Racial Stereotypes In This Game Have Aged Poorly
Punch-Out!!
- Released
- September 18, 1987
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Sports
Punch-Out!! May be one of the most legendary video games of all time, but it has not aged well. The racial stereotypes personified by the game's cast of opponents are hard to swallow, especially in modern times.
It's easy to see why many people would be offended by the depictions of people from different countries in this title, with even the Wii version not doing much to dispel these stereotypes. That being said, fans still love this game and enjoy Mike Tyson's cameo in the original version, even if that had to be cut out later down the line.
Wolfenstein 3D
The Nazi Symbolism Made This FPS Extremely Controversial
Wolfenstein 3D
- Released
- May 5, 1992
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- FPS
Wolfenstein 3D is one of the most iconic FPS games of all time. As it was released around a time when any violent video game would offend people, it's little wonder that it generated some controversy. However, other aspects of this game were so questionable that it had to be censored in many countries.
The Nazi imagery and Mecha-Hitler being the final boss all had to be changed for the German release. The fact that this game offended an entire country just helped Wolfenstein 3D become more of a classic, with fans loving the simple yet engaging gameplay.
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