Videogames can contain all kinds of material. Some can get gory and way too intense like Mortal Kombat or Doom, a little too sexual like Catherine, or have too much vulgarity for my tastes like Grand Theft Auto V. As a Christian, I find myself sometimes having to pick and choose what kind of content I will ignore, or decide not to play the game entirely. For me, if a game has a lot of sexuality or vulgar language that’s an immediate turn off for me. I’m not condemning anyone that does play them, but I choose not to.
There’s another genre of games that can make some people hesitate to play, and that is fantasy. Christians, in particular, are careful to allow occult symbols, religious rituals or imagery to permeate their home through any media. I am in agreement with this, in fact, I also won’t purchase certain games that are focused on those subjects.
Everything we watch, read, listen to, play or even people we spend time with will influence us. It’s an invisible force that even if you “don’t want” to be, you will be for the good or bad. So just like food, we have to be careful with what we are consuming but that’s doesn’t mean it’s all bad!
Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
Fantasy and magic permeate many games, some more than others. Some that immediately come to mind are Legend of Zelda, Witcher 3, World of Warcraft, Elder Scrolls, Final Fantasy, Tales Of series, Chrono Trigger, Dragon Age, Kingdom Hearts and the list goes on and on. Just like books, you can’t judge a videogame by its cover. You can certainly judge it though, by watching gameplay and learning more about it!
Christians and non-believers alike have to learn to be educated before rejecting something right away. There are some amazing videogames that have great biblical lessons and morals, even though they contain magic in them. For example, Kingdom Hearts has a story which focuses on light overcoming darkness and how unity is important to overcoming obstacles. Legend of Zelda deals with a hero saving a kingdom and rescuing the princess, among other adventures. Some of the online games have communities that players can join and make friends.
Many people don’t believe in the supernatural or believe that witchcraft and everything that pertains to it is fake. This is a lie that the devil would want everyone to accept, but magic is a real thing. Not as fantastical as a videogame, movie, or book would portray it to be but enough where you can open doors to forces you do not want to mess with.
In the end, when it comes to videogames or any other form of media, Christians need to decide what is Holy Spirit leading them to do. For the most part, videogames are harmless as many of them use magic as skills or attacks, there aren’t symbols or rituals happening. There are some games that do deal heavily with magic, and those are some you should play with caution.
We all need to use wisdom and discretion when purchasing a game. Do your research, and don’t be afraid to try out something new. If you don’t feel comfortable, just return the game and get a refund. Trust in God’s will, and let Him guide you.
Check out my videogame recommendations page