50 most controversial games of all time

50 most controversial games of all time

Video games will always be controversial so long as there are Karens to complain about them.
For example... well, here are 50 examples.
Here are the 50 most controversial games of all time!

Undoubtedly this list might cause controversy. You can't please everyone...

NOTE: this list is in no particular order


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#1

Custer's Revenge

Atari 2600

1982 * Mystique

Reason: Sexism, racism

Control Custer the manlet and have your way with a Native American lady strapped to a cactus.
Because the woman is tied to a cactus, it can be assumed he is raping her.
The game gives points for banging her. You are being paid to rape!
Women's rights groups and Native American groups were offended, as were gamers everywhere.


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#2
Lula: The Sexy Empire

PC

1998 * Interactive Strip

Reason: adult content

Rise to the top of a porn empire by starting on your knees and working up to the CEO's chair.
Hire and fire staff, create 'plots' for your films, and avoid the FBI.
We've been spoilt by modern porn because this content isn't sexy now or then.


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#3
Grand Theft Auto series

Various consoles

1997-present * Rockstar Games

Reason: sexism, racism, promoting violence, adult content, the works.

The GTA games have been blamed for everything under the sun.
Each game has something new to bitch about, like waterboarding or sex minigames.
If 'video games cause violence' is a royal court, GTA would be the king.


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#4
Berzerk

Arcade and Atari

1980 * Atari

Reason: allegedly caused actual deaths

This classic game has caused the alleged death of a few people.
Granted, they likely had heart problems beforehand, but Evil Otto certainly didn't help.
He's the evil smiley face that hunts you down to quicken the pace.


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#5

Sniper: Path of Vengeance

PC

2002 * Xicat Interactive

Reason: bad timing

This crappy FPS game came out at a bad time.
It was released right before the D.C. sniper attacks.
Surprisingly, the media didn't latch onto it with sensationalist bullshit like they usually do.
Probably because it's a crappy game no one cared about.


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#6

Dungeon Keeper

iOS, Android

2014 * Mythic Entertainment

Reason: microtransactions, review manipulating

A port of the 1997 classic PC game to mobile devices? Oh boy!
EA got its claws into the game with microtransactions.
The game was nigh impossible to play without paying the microtransactions to speed things up.
To give feedback you had to give it in a five star review.
No one was happy, not even Peter Molyneux.

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#7
Harvester

PC

1998 * Merit Studios

Reason: violence, obscenity

Ah, the 90s, where FMVs in games were an exciting thing.
Now how about FMVs with violence, ethnic slurs, homophobia, and kids being cannibals?
The game was hardly revolutionary and hardly fun.
One of the actors was later arrested for CP about 14 years after the game's release. Classy.


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#8
Vida: Interactive Girls

PC

1993 * Interactive Girls Club

Reason: porn game that is very short

Another porn game with the (easy) objective of getting in Vida's pants.
The offensive part is the length: you can beat the game in around five minutes.
Even my foreplay is longer than that!
The fact that you order this game from an ads at the back of a porn mags speaks a lot.
Selling this unrated game, among other porn games, caused Interactive Girls Club to go defunct.


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#9:
Armor Attack

Arcade

1980 * Leijac

Reason: subliminal message

The Morse Code playing throughout the game says "D-O-N-T-R-E-G-I-S-T-E-R".
This is in reference to the draft registration that the US government reintroduced in 1980.
Obviously this caused a stir in the military.
Now that's sticking it to The Man!


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#10:

Street Fighter X Tekken

PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Vita, iOS

2012 * Capcom

Reason: on-disc DLC

It wasn't the first or last time it has happened, but it was the biggest case.
Twelve characters locked! Some of these are cool fan-favourites, like Bryan Fury and Elena.
Excluding ready-made content behind a paywall rustled everyone's jimmies.
The controversy of this game has lead to less on-disc DLC in games, and hopefully its extinction.


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#11

Macplaymate

Mac

1987 * Pegasus

Reason: Porn-game

In the 80s if you wanted porn you either had to settle for 14.4 kbit/s internet or crusty mags.
This was one of the games to capitalise on the empty porn game market.
Undress Maxine and use toys on her, and hit the panic button when the boss or momma arrives!
Bosses and mommas were outraged. So was Playboy, who sued Pegasus and settled out of court.


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#12
America's Army series

PC

2002 * U.S. Army

Reason: propaganda

The military loves to get their hands on every fighting fit cadet they can.
So they focused on the pimple-faced shut-ins demographic with this series.
Because the game glorifies violence regardless of morals and ethics, it had people talking.
All this effort, millions spent in development, for maybe a handful of recruits, if that. Pfft.


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#13
RapeLay

PC

2006 * Illusion Soft

Reason: rape, CP

Stalk a mother and her two daughters and then rape them. What could go wrong?
No one but sick fucks were impressed by the game.
A watchdog lobbyist group even got the game withdrawn in Japan. In JAPAN of all places!


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#14
Duke Nukem series

Various consoles

1993-present * 3D Realms

Reason: sexism, violence

Duke is a womanizing, cigar-chomping, one-line dropping parody of action film shlock of the day.
Duke Nukem 3D is a classic but it drew crowds of angry parents and feminists.
Then there is Duke Nukem Forever, which took forever to come out and was better off vaporware.
Regardless of the controversy, always bet on Duke.


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#15
Payday 2

PS3, Xbox 360, PC

2013 * Overkill Software

Reason: lied about no microtransactions

Overkill said that there would be no microtransactions. They lied.
Two years after release they patched in key rewards that required real-life dosh to buy.
Even worse, some rewards couldn't be claimed unless you owned the DLC for it!
A year later Overkill removed all the microtransactions, and the fandom rejoiced.


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#16
Hooligans: Storm Over Europe

PC

2002 * DarXabre

Reason: violence

This game focuses on the dark side of the beautiful game: the not-so-beautiful hooligans.
Control fat skinheads and masked men and duke it out in the stands and fields.
FIFA and various governments were not thrilled that the game encouraged violence at footie games.
Japan also published the game there, just before FIFA World Cup in Japan. Frowning ensued.


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#17
Thrill Kill

PS1

1998 * Paradox Development

Reason: violence

Here's a game that is so violent, so blood-soaked, that it wasn't published.
It was the first game to get an Adults Only rating for something other than sexual content.
The game was quickly leaked onto the Internet to spite Virgin Interactive and the virgins.
The same engine was used to make Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style, which is also ultra-violent.


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#18
Leisure Suit Larry series

Various consoles

1987-present

Reason: adult content

Play pervy sleazebag Larry as he chats up and beds skimpy broads with bigger cup size than their IQ.
On top of the already bed-shaky premise, there is also a slew of double entendres and bad puns.
Some of the more recent games in the series have been banned from some countries.


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#19
Too Human

Xbox 360

2008 * Silicon Knights

Reason: stolen game engine

Silicon Knights were being cheeky dimwits about this one.
They began working with the Unreal Engine 3 in 2005.
Over time they edited the engine to their liking until they declared it an original engine.
They stopped payments to Epic Games and actually sued them. Epic counter-sued and won hard.
This led to this game being recalled, games being cancelled, and their eventual bankruptcy.


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#20
Fallout 76

PS4, Xbox One, PC

2018 * Bethesda

Reason: being a mess of a game

For a gaming journalist, Fallout 76 is the game that keeps on giving.
From poor pre-orders, to lying about non-cosmetic microtransactions, to performance issues.
To hackers stealing your equipment right off you, to bugged weapon damage, to being boring.
If Bethesda had taken an extra year to develop the game, this could have been a winner.
If games are being sold as a service, this is a mighty disservice.


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#21
The Guy Game

PS2, Xbox, PC

2004 * Topheavy Studios

Reason: adult content, CP

This tasteless quiz game rewards correct answers will female breast exposure.
One of these women was 17 at the time, making her underaged.
A lawsuit saw this game recalled and the young girl removed, and released as a DVD game. Class.


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#22
Battlecruiser 3000AD

PC

1996 * 3000 AD

Reason: sexy advertising, aggressive developer

This game was an early example of a developer writing cheques his game couldn't cash.
Derek Smart would instigate many flamewars on Usenet forums defending his game.
Another source of criticism came from the advert: a near-naked Jo Guest holding the game box.
Adding fuel to this fire was its long development history.
Take-Two Interactive called his bluff and released the game prematurely to negative reception.


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#23
State of Emergency

PS2, Xbox, PC

2002 * Rockstar Games

Reason: violence, political overtones

State of Emergency involves a police state and the nation-wide riot from freedom fighters.
The US government didn't like that this game contained cop killing and coup d'états.
Considering the then-recent 1999 World Trade Organization protests, it hit too close to home.


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#24
Limbo of the Lost

PC

2008 * Majestic Studios 

Reason: plagiarism

After around 13 years in development, Limbo of the Lost was finally released.
Immediately gamers began to recognize art assets pinched from other games.
Finding the sources of the lifted artwork became more fun than playing the game.
Critics savaged the game for being outdated bog. The plagiarism only sunk the scores lower.
This led to the game being withdrawn. Now the physical copies are rare collectible items.


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#25
Kingpin: Life of Crime

PC

1999 * Interplay Entertainment

Reason: violence

To be the kingpin you've got to whack every mook you can.
Interplay made this as violent as possible.
The Columbine school shooting was still fresh in the minds of politicians and concerned parents.
Every gaming store, save for Electronics Boutique, boycotted the game.


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#26
BMX XXX

PS2, Xbox, GameCube

2002 * Z-Axis Ltd

Reason: adult content

Take Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2, slap in some topless women, and you've got controversy.
BMX XXX is a solid game but the digital tits got it into hot water.
Feminists and concerned parents whinged about it exploiting women.
Many stores, and even some countries like Australia, refused to stock it.
This game is one factor that led to Acclaim's bankruptcy in 2004.


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#27
Riana Rouge

PC

1997 * Black Dragon Publishing, Inc.

Reason: adult content

The very first thing that happens in the game is you witness a molestation and rape.
Then you're transported to a weird land on some quest for jewels or something.
Have sex scenes in loincloths until you realise you are a lesbian. Hmm.


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#28
Doom

Various console

1993 * Id Software

Reason: violence, Satanic imagery

The father of all shoot 'em ups, the one that put them on the map, the king of them all.
This game and its sequel had religious groups and concerned parents frothing at the mouth.
An early version of the game had a swastika as part of the level design!
Then Columbine happened, and it just so happened that Dylan and Eric were avid Doomers.
No, there is no WAD based on their school for target practice... we think.


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#29
Night Trap

Sega CD

1992 * Digital Pictures

Reason: violence

Night Trap is a mixed bag of B-movie cheesy cutscenes and violence against women and children.
The game was even hauled before congress to be judged by suited-up boomers who never played it.
It didn't help that the fake news media said the goal was to kill the women, not save them.
This led to stores not stocking it, and the creation of the ESRB rating system


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#30
Rape Day

PC

2019 * Desk Plant

Reason: obscene content

This visual novel aimed to be the most sick twisted piece of interactive fiction ever.
This game glorifies rape, incest, baby killing, necrophilia, and bad language.
Steam, which usually platforms despicable garbage, actually took down this game.
Owning this game should have you justifiably rounded up and put on a train... into outer space.


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#31
Manhunt series

PS2, Xbox, Wii, PSP, PC

2003-2007 * Rockstar

Reason: violence

When it comes to games from Rockstar, controversy is never far behind.
Manhunt and its sequel had mothers and politicians talking, specifically by how violent it was.
It has even been linked to an actual murder!
The series almost caused Rockstar to break up. Thank god it didn't.


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#32
Daikatana

N64, PC

2000 * Ion Storm

Reason: aggressive advertising

Daikatana played hard and fast with garnering an image for itself.
Who can forget "John Romero's About To Make You His Bitch"?
Daikatana was delayed several times and finally released after three years to lukewarm scores.
So in a way he did make you his bitch.


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#33
Star Wars Battlefront II

PS4, Xboc One, PC

2017 * Electronic Arts

Reason: loot box mechanics

EA really did it this time with their god awful loot box and progression system.
If you wanted to play as your fave characters, you would have to play many hours or buy them.
EA's damage control on Reddit led to the most downvoted comment of all time on the site.
Greed is good? Tell that to your shareholders and investors, Electronic Farts.


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#34
Ethnic Cleansing

PC

2002 * National Alliance

Reason: racism, violence

Play as a neo-Nazi, a skinhead, or a klansman and kill minorities!
Blacks hoot like chimps, Hispanics are dressed in sombreros, and Jews are whiny (hmm).
The goal? To kill Ariel Sharon, who was the Israeli prime minister at the time.
No one was entertained, not even the target audience, because it is a shitty game.


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#35
Beat 'em and Eat 'em

Atari 2600

1982 * Mystique

Reason: sex content

Control two naked sluts and catch the cum shot out by a dude on a rooftop. Yes.
Parents were concerned that kids might see this sex-themed version of Kaboom.
If you are a female then try out the inverse version: Philly Flasher.
Control two naked studs as they catch the breast milk lactated by an old witch. Yes.
Parents were also concerned by that version. No one purchased either, not even fratboys.


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#36
Standoff

PC

2018 * Revived Games

Reason: violence

Play as a school shooter or a SWAT member who has to take out the shooter.
Tension was high as there was a school shooting earlier that year.
Valve, who usually hosts crap that's on this list, removed this game following petitions.
Then went the dev team's Paypal... then their website... good.


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#37
Hatred

PC

2015 * Destructive Creations

Reason: violence

Here is another game whose only plot is to kill.
This game is all about killing innocent people.
Steam did remove it but restored it. That either says something about Valve or this game.
Everyone roasted the game for being edgy and promptly ignored it.


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#38
Bully / Canis Canem Edit

PS2, Xbox 360, Wii, PC

2006 * Rockstar Games

Reason: violence, allegedly encouraging bullying

Be a bully and beat up the bullies, it's a kid's life in this sandbox game.
Parents and the infamous Jack Thompson were onto this game like flies to honey.
Another point of contention was that the male protagonist can kiss a boy. Shock horror!
The game did well despite, or maybe because of, the controversy.


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#39
NBA 2K20

PS4, Xbox One

2019 * 2K Games

Reason: microtransactions

The minigames of this basketball sim resemble gambling games you'd find in casinos.
Lootboxes were already seen in government's eyes as gambling, which 2K dismissed.
Granted, you don't need to play these minigames or engage with the loot box system.
It doesn't help that one of the trailers for the game didn't show much basketball action.
Hopefully this serves as a wakeup call to not to shove microtransactions into every AAA game.


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#40
Mortal Kombat series

Arcade. various consoles

1992-present * Midway

Reason: violence

Mortal Kombat took fighting games up to 11 with its brutalities and bloodshed.
The original game was cast before congress to condemning eyes.
But the series weathered the storm to become a beloved franchise.
Shoutouts to Mortal Kombat X with their Easy Fatality microtransactions. Pffft.


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#41
Spore

PC

2008 * Maxis

Reason: intrusive DRM

Spore was bundled with the infamous SecuROM DRM.
This DRM limits three activated copies per user, and can legit damage a user's computer.
This meant that pirated copies are actually better than the legit copy, leading to mega piracy.
Thankfully SecuROM has fallen out of favour... for other intrusive DRM.


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#42
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002

PC

2001 * Microsoft

Reason: 9/11

It is rumoured that some of the 9/11 hijackers use this game for practice.
This claim was later debunked.
Just to be safe, Microsoft removed the Twin Towers from later versions of the game.
On a side note, there's a new Microsoft Flight Simulator that out in 2020.


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#43
Carmageddon

PS1, N64, PC

1997 * SCi

Reason: violence

Carmageddon has little plot but lots of bloodshed.
What raised the ire of moral guardians was that the blood comes from pedestrians and animals.
In some countries the pedestrians were changed to zombies with green blood.
Amusingly, Australia, the country that bans any game that looks at them funny, gave it a MA15+.


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#44
No Man's Sky

PS4, Xbox One, PC

2016 * Hello Games

Reason: misleading previews and broken promises

No Man's Sky is a modern day darling of 'bad game on launch, decent game after patches'.
We were promised dinosaurs, space pirates, water worlds, factions, and more. There was none.
The game was a mighty big disappointment for players at launch.
The NEXT patch rectified many of the grievances and added new content.
The patch raised the game from 'misleading' to 'what the game should have been at launch'.


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#45
Chiller

Arcade, NES

1986 * Exidy

Reason: graphic content

Violence is tolerated if it is for a good cause, like killing animal abusers, pimps, and pedos.
But senseless violence? It's senseless, as many arcade owners and concerned parents saw.
You play as a torturer that must cut, slice, burn, impale, and eviscerate prisoners.
Even the NES, known for family friendly fun, had this ultra violent game. Goodness gracious.


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#46
Postal series

PC

1997-present * Running with Scissors

Reason: violence and anti-government stance

Postal is basically grandpa Hatred: kill as many as you can in an isometric perspective.
Once again you are killing innocent people, raking up that required fatalities before death.
This was another game that had a debate drummed up around video game violence.
The USPS even allegedly sued the devs... well they do know a thing or two about 'going postal'.


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#47
Pokémon Go

Android, iOS

2016 * Niantic

Reason: exploited by criminals

Wander around cities, alleyways, and places of worship to find them Pokemon.
Criminals would often hide out at good Pokemon spots and mug the players.
Then there are cases of people winding up dead having played the game.
And what about the case of a Koffing in a holocaust museum lol.
A neat idea to get the shut-ins outside walking around but it does have its pitfalls.


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#48
Diablo Immortal

Android, iOS, PC

2022 * Blizzard

Reason: being a mobile clone of a grindy game

At BlizzCon 2018, Blizzard announced a new Diablo... an MMO for mobile phones.
Wait, why are you booing? Do you guys not have phones?
Sadly it was not an out-of-season April Fool's joke.
This is a fun game but wrapped in many complex mechanics with over 20 currencies.

It can cost a shit load of money, over $100k in some sources, to max your character, if you're lucky.
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#49
Warcraft III: Reforged

PC, Mac

2020 * Blizzard

Reason: ruining the original game, broken promises

This is a remaster of the classic 2002 game that is still played to this day... or was.

The graphics were modernised but gameplay features were cut, and online gaming was broken.

The trailer for the game was one lie after another, such as the 'new' cutscenes.

The client is updated so that you can't even play the original game.

Blizzard updated the EULA to gain ownership of everything you make.

Combined with their bending the knee to China, Blizzard is no longer the industry darling.

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#50
Cyberpunk 2077

PC, PS4, Xbox One, Stadia

2020 * CD Projekt RED

Reason: released unfinished, a disaster at launch

This was to be the game of the year, hell, the year of the generation.

Years of hype, flushed down the toilet when it was rushed to release in an embarrassing state.

More bugs and glitches than you can count. Piss-poor optimisation made the game unplayable.

Sony removed it from the PlayStation Network for a time. Lawsuits are brewing.

Constant crunch time and then a rush for a release... surely a cautionary tale right there.