Forbidden games: 20 of the most disturbing titles ever made

About this gallery:

For this list, we're diving into games that were either disturbingly close to illegal or outright banned across parts of the globe. While we’re keeping things image-friendly here, consider yourself warned — some of these games (if we can even call them that) tackle topics that range from controversial at best to downright dark at worst. Proceed at your own risk! | © Asmik Ace Entertainment

Night Trap (1992)

If there’s one game that sent parents in the ‘90s into a frenzy, it’s Night Trap. This interactive movie game has you spying on a group of teenagers having a slumber party, using security cameras to protect them from vampires. Sounds innocent enough, right? Not according to the U.S. Senate, which accused it of promoting violence against women, despite the game’s comedic B-movie feel. It led to so much outrage that Night Trap was one of the games responsible for creating the ESRB rating system! | © Digital Pictures

LSD: Dream Emulator (1998)

Just as weird as the title sounds, LSD: Dream Emulator takes players on a surreal journey through a dream world that’s as unpredictable as it is unnerving. Released only in Japan, this trippy game doesn’t really have a plot—players just wander through bizarre, often unsettling landscapes that shift and distort with every playthrough. It’s like being trapped in a fever dream where reality is a suggestion, not a rule. While it wasn’t banned outright, its strange, unsettling nature has kept it in cult status among horror game fans. | © Asmik Ace Entertainment

Manhunt 1 & 2 (2003, 2007)

Manhunt didn’t just cross the line—it practically sprinted over it. In both games, you play as characters forced to commit increasingly brutal acts of violence, all for the entertainment of an underground audience. The gory executions and gritty, voyeuristic style got Manhunt banned or censored in several countries, with Manhunt 2 facing even more backlash for upping the brutality. These games aren’t for the faint-hearted and pushed the boundaries of video game violence to a level few dared to match. | © Rockstar Games

Postal (1997)

Postal takes chaotic violence and cranks it up to 11. In this infamous top-down shooter, you play as a man who just snaps, taking out civilians, cops, and anyone else who gets in his way. What could go wrong? Well, just about everything. It was widely criticized for “encouraging” real-life violence and has been banned in several countries for its over-the-top rampage theme. It’s basically a stress-relief game for anyone who can stomach the controversy. | © Running With Scissors

Carmageddon (1997)

In Carmageddon, the goal is to wreck your car into as many pedestrians as possible—talk about road rage! This game was immediately banned or censored in multiple countries due to its absurd premise of earning points for hitting people. It’s less about racing and more about how much carnage you can cause, which didn’t sit well with regulators. It’s gory, silly, and surprisingly addictive, but only if you don’t mind mowing down people for points. | © Stainless Games

Custer's Revenge (1982)

Ah, Custer's Revenge, a game that somehow managed to be offensive on every conceivable level. We wish we could share a gameplay screenshot with you, but there's nothing in this game that could be deemed "safe for work." You play as General Custer whose sole mission is to “get revenge” by assaulting a Native American woman. It was widely condemned as sexist, racist, and downright disturbing, quickly drawing protests and bans. It’s no wonder this game faded into infamy rather than history. | © Mystique

The Guy Game (2004)

The Guy Game sounds like a frat boy’s dream—trivia with real footage of women “revealing” themselves if you get the answer right. But it got yanked off shelves fast when one of the women turned out to be underage, which turned the game’s cheeky concept into a legal nightmare. It’s the game equivalent of a bad idea taken to a worse extreme, and it’s now a relic of “what not to do” in gaming history. | © Topheavy Studios

Hatred (2015)

In Hatred, you play as a nihilistic antihero on a mass-killing spree, delivering monologues about his hatred for humanity. Critics called it “sadistic” and “pointless,” and it was removed from platforms like Steam before being reinstated due to its controversial nature. The game’s over-the-top violence and cynical tone made it one of the most divisive games in recent years, loved and loathed in equal measure. | © Destructive Creations

PETA Flash Games

Leave it to PETA to turn animal activism into brutal parody games. They’ve created Flash games that spoof popular titles like Pokemon and Cooking Mama, aiming to educate players on animal rights in the most in-your-face way possible. With blood and gore galore, these games are disturbing not for their content, but for the shock factor PETA aims to use to get its message across. Whether it’s effective is up for debate. | © PETA

Left Behind: Eternal Forces (2006)

Left Behind: Eternal Forces takes the biblical “End Times” concept and makes it into a strategy game where players convert or “eliminate” non-believers. Critics called it offensive and said it encouraged religious intolerance. It wasn’t banned everywhere, but it was certainly a controversial take on strategy gaming and had people debating its message for years. | © Left Behind Games

Hong Kong 97 (1995)

Few games are as baffling as Hong Kong 97. Released on the Super Famicom, it’s a low-quality shoot-em-up where players fend off waves of Mao Zedong heads — yes, really. But what makes it truly disturbing is the infamous game-over screen, which features a real photo of a dead body. Combine that with its bizarre, offensive portrayal of Chinese characters, and you have a title that’s shocking in all the wrong ways. It’s almost so bad it’s funny—almost. | © HappySoft

Kanye Quest 3030 (2013)

This unlicensed RPG had players fighting through a dystopian future as none other than Kanye West himself. But what really put Kanye Quest 3030 on the map was a hidden message that seemed like a cult recruitment tool, sparking conspiracy theories galore. It was taken down quickly, but not before it had left players scratching their heads in disbelief. | © Phenix

Quest for Saddam & Quest for Bush (2003, 2006)

Quest for Saddam and Quest for Bush are politically loaded games where players take down figures like Saddam Hussein and George Bush, respectively. Created to poke fun at U.S. politics and Middle Eastern tensions, these games have stirred outrage for their insensitive portrayals. They’re a lesson in why mixing politics and video games isn’t always the best idea. | © Psycho Software / Global Islamic Media Front

Super Columbine Massacre RPG! (2005)

One of the most controversial games of all time, Super Columbine Massacre RPG! recreates the Columbine High School shooting as an RPG. While the developer claimed it was a commentary on media violence, the game was widely condemned as tasteless and offensive. It’s a title that sparked serious debates on the boundaries of art in gaming. | © Danny Ledonne

V-Tech Rampage (2007)

This poorly made Flash game reenacts the Virginia Tech shooting, drawing condemnation for exploiting a tragedy. The creator claimed it was meant to provoke discussion, but most saw it as a disrespectful cash-grab that only highlighted the worst in shock-based gaming. Not surprisingly, it was quickly banned. | © Ryan Lambourn

Kanoguti Games

Kanoguti is known for creating dark, often bizarre adult-themed games that push boundaries in disturbing ways. Their titles are mostly obscure, often blending horror with explicit themes. While they aren’t banned everywhere, they have a reputation for being unsettling, with a fan base that loves them for being as off-the-wall as possible. | © Kanoguti

The Story of Kamikuishiki Village

This Japanese game is based on the Aum Shinrikyo cult, infamous for the Tokyo subway sarin attack in 1995. The game’s focus on such a dark, real-life event made it deeply controversial, especially in Japan. While it’s not widely known, it’s still an example of poor taste in video game subject matter. | © Unknown

JFK Reloaded (2004)

In JFK Reloaded, you play as the infamous shooter trying to replicate the assassination of President John F. Kennedy as “accurately” as possible. The creators argued it was educational, but that didn’t stop it from being condemned as disrespectful and exploitative. The idea of turning a national tragedy into a game was a line too far for many. | © Traffic Games

KZ Manager

KZ Manager is a German simulation game where players manage a concentration camp—a concept so offensive it was outright banned in Germany. It’s hard to imagine who thought this was a good idea, but it’s certainly earned its place in the “what were they thinking?” hall of fame. | © Unknown

177

177 is a Japanese adult game infamous for its disturbing content related to assault, making it one of the most offensive titles on this list. Banned in multiple countries, it stands as a reminder of how game developers occasionally stray far beyond the limits of decency in pursuit of shock value. | © Unknown