Videogames can be the most immersive experience someone can have, and that comes with good and bad things. On the plus side, they can give memorable experiences that you’ll remember for years. The problem is, those experiences might be more than what you bargained for.
In some cases, the discomfort is intentional, meant to provoke a reaction or deliver a message. That, of course, does not make the discomfort any less disturbing. And of course, there are moments when the uncomfortable comes from unexpected places. These are the moments that didn’t just stick with players, they made them wish they could look away.
BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea – Episode 2
A first-person lobotomy scene forces players to endure a graphic, slow procedure, complete with sound design and visual cues that make it feel disturbingly real and far more intense than expected.
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin
The ending involves an unsettling encounter with Alma that blends horror and sexual imagery, creating a deeply uncomfortable sequence that many players found unnecessarily disturbing rather than purely frightening.
Dead Space 2
The eye surgery sequence requires player input while a needle slowly approaches Isaac’s eye, blending gameplay with body horror and creating a level of tension that many found almost unbearable.
Spec Ops: The Line
The white phosphorus scene forces players to confront the consequences of their actions, revealing civilian casualties in a way that is intentionally shocking and emotionally difficult to process.
The Last of Us Part II
A brutal early death and later forced confrontations between characters push players into uncomfortable emotional territory, making them question their role in the violence rather than simply observe it.
It Takes Two
A seemingly lighthearted game includes a scene where players must tear apart a crying toy elephant, creating a moment that feels unexpectedly cruel and tonally jarring.
Doki Doki Literature Club
A sudden shift into psychological horror includes a shocking character death that is presented in an uncomfortably direct and lingering way, catching many players completely off guard.
Grand Theft Auto V
A torture sequence forces players to actively participate in interrogating a captive, turning what could have been implied violence into an uncomfortable, hands-on experience.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
The “No Russian” mission allows players to participate in a mass shooting, creating one of the most controversial and unsettling sequences in mainstream gaming.
Heavy Rain
The finger-cutting trial forces players to mutilate the protagonist in a slow, deliberate sequence, making the player complicit in a moment that feels more disturbing than necessary.
Detroit: Become Human
Certain routes involving abuse and control of android characters create scenes that feel uncomfortably close to real-world issues, especially when player choices directly enable or resist that behavior.
God of War
A notorious minigame involving implied sexual activity feels out of place compared to the rest of the narrative, creating an awkward tonal shift that many players found unnecessary.
Until Dawn
Certain scenes involving traps and character deaths force players to make split-second decisions that can lead to brutal outcomes, emphasizing helplessness in ways that feel intentionally distressing.
Cyberpunk 2077
Some romance scenes and character interactions can feel awkward or oddly staged, especially when player choices lead to unexpected tonal shifts or uncomfortable intimacy.
Persona 5
Early storylines involving abuse and exploitation are intentionally dark, but their presentation can feel uncomfortably intense, especially given the contrast with the game’s otherwise stylish tone.
