A good way to avoid your child playing something they shouldn’t is by checking age ratings; if the game isn’t for children, it’ll be labeled as such. But we all know parenting isn’t that simple, and kids will often ask for games that, while targeted at mature audiences, might not really be that bad.
Well, these next few games are that bad, and no child should really play them. Some of their covers give the problems away, but not all of them. If you need to know the most controversial games your child shouldn’t play, or if you’re looking for something with true adult themes, these are the games to watch out for.
Dead Island 2
Known for its hyper-detailed gore system, the game emphasizes dismemberment and realistic damage to enemies. Its focus on graphic violence makes it one of the most viscerally disturbing mainstream releases in recent years.
DOOM The Dark Ages
Fast-paced combat revolves around tearing apart demons in brutal, close-range executions. The game’s emphasis on aggressive violence and graphic finishing moves makes it unsuitable for younger audiences.
Mortal Kombat 1 (2023)
Famous for its “Fatalities,” the game features highly detailed finishing moves involving dismemberment and gore, pushing boundaries of violence in fighting games and making it particularly unsettling for children.
The Last of Us Part II
Beyond its violence, the game is emotionally heavy, depicting revenge, trauma, and morally complex decisions. Its realistic brutality and bleak tone make it especially intense for younger players.
Resident Evil Requiem
Combines survival horror with graphic violence, including disturbing enemy designs and intense combat scenarios, creating an experience that can be frightening and overwhelming for younger audiences.
Dead Space
Players must strategically dismember grotesque enemies, with the game leaning heavily into body horror and unsettling imagery, reinforcing its reputation as one of the most disturbing sci-fi horror experiences.
Outlast Trials
Set in a disturbing experimentation program, the game features torture, psychological horror, and disturbing scenarios, making it one of the more unsettling modern horror experiences.
Scorn
Its biomechanical world is filled with grotesque imagery and disturbing design, focusing more on discomfort and atmosphere than traditional gameplay, creating an experience that can be deeply unsettling.
Cyberpunk 2077
Features mature themes including violence, drug use, and explicit content. Its open-world freedom allows players to engage in morally questionable activities that parents may find inappropriate.
Grand Theft Auto V
Still widely played, the game includes crime, drug use, and explicit content, allowing players to engage in violent and illegal activities freely, making it the most common concern for parents.
Dying Light 2: Stay Human
Combines parkour with brutal zombie combat, featuring graphic dismemberment and intense horror elements that make it unsuitable for younger audiences.
Alan Wake 2
A psychological horror experience with disturbing imagery and themes, relying on tension and fear rather than constant action, making it deeply unsettling in a different way.
Sniper Elite 5
Features detailed “kill cam” sequences that show bullets impacting bodies in slow motion, including graphic internal damage, which can be unsettling despite its tactical gameplay.
God of War Ragnarök
Combines intense combat with mature themes about violence, fate, and loss, making it more emotionally and visually intense than its fantasy setting might suggest.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Includes mature themes such as violence, explicit romance options, and morally complex choices, giving players freedom that may not be appropriate for younger audiences.
Hitman 3
Centers on assassination gameplay, encouraging players to creatively eliminate targets, often in morally questionable or darkly humorous ways.
Far Cry 6
Depicts a violent revolution with torture, executions, and intense combat scenarios, making its themes and imagery unsuitable for children.
Dead by Daylight
A multiplayer horror game built around chasing and killing survivors, featuring iconic killers and disturbing imagery that can be frightening for younger players.
Horses
A controversial indie title exploring themes like abuse, slavery, and psychological trauma, so disturbing it was removed from major storefronts, highlighting just how uncomfortable its subject matter is.
