10 Most Violent Video Games (and 10+ Alternatives)
Posted: 06/24/2013 3:15 pm
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Among teen and preteen gamers, the names of violent video games travel fast. And before you know anything about these games, your kid wants to play them. It's difficult to stay on top of it -- and it's even harder to know exactly what's in a game in order to make an informed decision about whether or not to buy it.
Of course, many video games can provide enriching experiences and learning opportunities. But with ultra-violent video games, the negatives clearly outweigh any positives for kids. (Read Media and Violence: An Analysis of Current Research for an assessment of the studies measuring the effects of media violence on kids.) Complicating the issue is that many ultra-violent video games are actually technically superb -- which is why many games that we label "not for kids" receive five stars for quality on Common Sense Media.
But here's the thing: Violent video games may get a lot of attention, but there are always less-violent alternatives available. If your kid is asking for a game you've never heard of, consider your options.
No parent wants to say "no" all the time. So, we've rounded up 10 of the most violent video games out there -- explaining the details that put each one on our list -- as well as more than 10 that you can say "yes" to. Our reviewers play literally thousands of hours of video games a year -- they know games inside and out.
But we're not trying to be sensationalistic, which is why we're offering less-violent alternatives. Our alternatives include three categories: less-violent games in the same genre as the violent game listed, less-violent games with a similar theme, and less-well-known but still great titles that play on the same system.
(If you want zero violence in your kids' games, check out our list of nonviolent video games. And check out our list of Engaging Alternatives to Ultra-Violent Games, too.)
Without further ado, here's the list:
- Saints Row: The Third:
This story about rival gangs revels in actions both depraved and
violent. In an attempt to push the M-rating envelope, the game
encourages players to go out and do bad things to innocents. They can
take chainsaws to enemies, resulting in tons of blood and chunky flesh.
They can drive into people with vehicles and use weapons including
pistols, shotguns, grenades, rockets and swords to destroy both enemies
and innocent civilians. Players can also kill police. Plus the game
boasts sexual imagery, drugs and profanity.
Alternative action/adventure games: Mirror's Edge, Batman: Arkham City, Skylanders Giants, Minecraft.
- Dead Space 3:
Not only do you kill thousands of alien creatures using an assortment
of weapons, but they can also explode into red chunks, rip in half,
catch on fire, and be dismembered and decapitated. The heroes, too, can
die a dramatic death in slow motion, including being cut in half or
decapitated. You'll also see execution-style murders and suicide. As
with the two earlier installments in this series, Dead Space 3 is an extremely violent, bloody, gory, and scary action game.
Alternative sci-fi game: StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm
- Hitman: Absolution:
Players become a cold-blooded assassin in this extremely violent game
that features tons of blood and lots of gore. As a hit man, you use a
number of different guns, knives and explosives (and your bare hands) to
snuff out targets. Occasional slow-motion attacks dramatize the action.
You can acquire a sniper rifle and take out targets with "head shots"
or by activating a mode that lets you tag targets with time standing
still -- and then you see each character bite the bullet once you resume
the action. The online "Contracts" mode encourages gamers to create and
share their own custom assassination challenges. This M-rated game also
has drug use, profanity and partial nudity.
Alternative action/adventure game: Infamous 2
- God of War: Ascension:
This game is a nearly nonstop series of intensely graphic, highly
visceral combat scenes involving a wide range of fantastical beasts. Few
games feature blood-soaked battles with more severed body parts or
spilled innards. It's gory enough to make even media desensitized
grown-up gamers occasionally whistle in disbelief. Players use
sharp-edged melee weapons -- chain blades, swords and spears -- as well
as blunt weapons like mauls and hammers to not just kill, but also
eviscerate their enemies. The game also carries some mature sexual
themes and the game's protagonist is so vengeance-obsessed that he kills
just about every creature he comes in contact with.
Alternative PS3 games: Portal 2, Injustice: Gods Among Us
- Gears of War 3:
Using weapons including machine guns, grenades, and chainsaws, you'll
shoot, slice and stomp on alien creatures that explode. The game shows
fallen humans displayed with plenty of blood. Players earn "Rewards" for
creative killings, and they can perform a finishing move on an alien
that results in a gory display (including crushing skulls, dismemberment
or decapitation). All of this violence is coupled with loads of
profanity.
Alternative sci-fi action games for Xbox 360: Star Trek, Lost Planet 2, LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
- Dead Island Riptide:
This very violent and gory zombie shooter has players destroying,
dismembering and beheading tons of zombies using a wide assortment of
weapons -- both range and of the melee variety -- and they can also
stomp on the undead's head (with a dense splash sound). Images of dead
body parts and hanging bodies can be seen in this game, which is
designed to scare. The game is also laden with very strong profanity and
sexual references, and players can drink to get drunk.
Alternative zombie games: Plants vs. Zombies, Teenage Zombies: Invasion of the Alien Brain Thingys, Plants vs. Zombies Adventures
- Shadows of the Damned:
In this visceral, bloody game filled with sex jokes and intense
profanity, players assume the identity of a demon hunter who blows apart
countless demons while having to watch his girlfriend die over and over
again in disturbing and ghastly ways as she's tortured in hell. Players
use a variety of upgradeable fantasy weapons -- including a handgun
that shoots bones and an automatic rifle that fires teeth -- to dispatch
hordes of nonhuman demons. Blood and gore are a part of every kill.
Crimson coats the environments, and limbs explode in a shower of guts.
Demons often engage in self-mutilation, with one pulling out and eating
its own beating heart. Players can restore their health by chugging hard
liquor.
Alternative action/adventure games: BattleBlock Theater
- Darkness II:
In this extremely violent game, players take on the role of a heartless
mafia boss who kills hundreds of people and beasts throughout the game.
The game fuses traditional weaponry -- such as rifles, pistols and
swords -- with the unique supernatural ability to kill enemies using
"Demon Arms" that can tear someone apart. Players can rip out hearts,
remove spines and decapitate people and creatures. Blood and gore are
seen often, sometimes with dramatic finishing moves, and enemies scream
in pain. The game also shows sexual acts performed (though there's no
nudity) and has drug references, and players can hear very strong
profanity.
Alternative first-person action game: Portal 2 or first-person puzzle game: Quantum Conundrum
- NeverDead: Intentionally over the top, NeverDead's
500-year-old demon hunter can break apart and survive. Players will see
him ripped apart limb by limb and then watch his body parts roll or hop
around to reattach again. Gamers can even roll his disembodied head
into hard-to-reach places. Bizarre and extremely violent, gory and
bloody, this game isn't for young eyes -- or for anyone with a weak
stomach. You shoot or slash enemies into red pulp using a variety of
guns and swords. Cut scenes show some of the extreme violence in slow
motion, including impalement and beheading. Demons scream out in pain
when defeated. Plus, there are close-up camera shots of female body
parts and some profanity.
Alternative demon hunter game with less violence: Dungeon Siege III
- Call of Duty Black Ops II:
This gritty, extremely violent military first-person shooter involves
constant killing using realistic weapons, with blood and gore pouring
across the screen during more intense scenes. Cinematic sequences can be
even more dramatic and graphic, with soldiers and civilians alike dying
in horrible ways, including graphic melee kills, people burning to
death, civilians killed in crossfire, torture and a shipping container
filled with rotting corpses. In one scene, the player steps into the
shoes of a villain and goes on a murderous rampage against soldiers, the
screen turning red with blood rage as he takes damage. This M-rated
game also has frequent profanity, some sexual themes and drug use.
Alternative PS3 game: Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch or less-violent co-op combat game: Guardians of Middle-earth
Compiled by Common Sense Media's expert game reviewers, who play thousands of video games a year and contribute reviews to USA Today, National Post, AARP, and Yahoo!, as well as Common Sense Media.
Do you think violent video games are OK to play, or do you just say no?
About Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology. We exist because our kids are growing up in a culture that profoundly impacts their physical, social, and emotional well-being. We provide families with the advice and media reviews they need in order to make the best choices for their children. Through our education programs and policy efforts, Common Sense Media empowers parents, educators, and young people to become knowledgeable and responsible digital citizens. For more information, go to:www.commonsense.org.
