This is a list of video games that have been censored or banned by governments of various states in the world. Governments that have banned video games have been criticized for a correlated increase in digital piracy, limiting business opportunities and violating rights.
Afghanistan During the first reign of the Islamic Emirate government in Afghanistan (1996–2001), Western technology and art was prohibited and this included video games. Between 2001 and 2021, no video games were officially banned in Afghanistan, except for PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. In April 2022 Taliban spokesperson Inamullah Samangani confirmed that PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is still banned under the Taliban administration to 'protect younger generations from a bad influence'.
Albania In 2019, a ban on online gambling went to effect in Albania.
Argentina Carmageddon was banned in the capital city of Buenos Aires because it depicts people being killed by motor vehicles.
RapeLay was banned because it promotes and supports the use of violence to compel a person to submit to sexual conduct, as well as the exploitation of young people for sexual purposes.
Australia
By Australian law, all media is rated by the Australian Classification Board (ACB), with works potentially receiving MA15+ (Mature Accompanied 15+), R18+ (Restricted 18+), X18+ (Restricted 18+), or even denied at rating (RC, Refused Classification). The ratings are enforced by law, restricting retail sales of R18+ and X18+ works to adult consumers and preventing the sale or import of RC works. Penalties may vary up to 3 years in prison, or $200,000 in fines.
Until 2011, video games in Australia could only be rated up to MA15+. At the time, the R18+ classification rating could be given to films, but a video game with content deemed fitting for the R18+ rating would be classed as 'Refused Classification' due to an appropriate classification not being available for the medium. In July and August 2011, all Australian state Attorneys-General agreed to instate an R18+ rating for video games, which would be available by the end of 2011. Many games previously refused classification would now fit into the R18+ rating and, if the publisher chose to pay the reclassification fee, would theoretically be able to sell their game in Australia. The date was later changed to allow the rating to be introduced at the beginning of 2013.
Due to the licensing of the International Age Rating Coalition software for developers to rate their own game, several hundred games have been banned from various app stores as of 2015.
Belgium In Belgium, games such as Phantasy Star Online 2, FIFA 17, Gears of War 4, Mario Kart Tour, Call of Duty: Mobile and others have been banned due to the usage of loot boxes (which constitute gambling under the country's existing laws) and their equivalents. More are expected to be banned for the same reason.
Brazil Since 1999, Brazil has banned several video games, primarily due to depictions of violence and cruelty, making their distribution and sale illegal. The Brazilian advisory rating system requires all video games to be rated before they can be sold in the country. However, since 2022, developers are allowed to self-rate their games using rating symbols approved by the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC), provided the game is submitted through a participating digital storefront.
Bully was banned for showing violence and harassment in a school setting. The ban was lifted on 23 June 2016; the game can be acquired in physical and non-physical format through Steam.
Counter-Strike was banned because of violence and a map simulating a Favela in 2008. The ban was later lifted and the game is available for sale.
EverQuest was banned because the player is able to go on quests for both good and evil. The ban was later lifted.
Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City was banned in Barueri because it uses music by the Brazilian composer Hamilton da Silva Lourenço without proper permission. It has been resolved and was lifted in 2012.
China A large number of games were banned throughout China. Home gaming consoles were banned in mainland China from June 2000 until 2013. When the ban was lifted, eighth-generation consoles such as the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 were allowed in the country.
As of April 2019, after implementing a new mandatory local rating and approval system, any and all games containing depictions of violence, blood, gambling and imperial history are de facto banned from all accessible platforms in the nation (unless otherwise changed to comply with local standards).
Notable games banned in this region are:
Name ReasonAlliance of Valiant ArmsBanned because it contains blood, gore and vulgar content.Animal Crossing: New HorizonsAnimal Crossing: New Horizons was banned in mainland China since 10 April 2020. The game was pulled from Taobao as players created and posted anti-government messages in-game with a custom pattern tool. There has been no official announcement whether the ban was enforced by the Chinese government or by Taobao. However, the game is still on-sale on the Chinese grey market.Battlefield 4Banned for discrediting China's national image. The Chinese government claims that the game shows a "cultural invasion".Command & Conquer: GeneralsBanned for "smearing the image of China and the Chinese army", although the game presents China as a protagonist and glorifies the People's Liberation Army. Additionally, the China campaign has the player destroy questionable targets such as the Three Gorges Dam and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in order to snuff out an invading terrorist organization.DevotionBanned due to an easter egg insulting Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping. The easter egg was later removed, but the game remains banned. On 21 February 2019, players discovered a fulu talisman decorating a wall in the game contained the words "Xi Jinping Winnie-the-Pooh" (Chinese: 習近平小熊維尼) in Chinese seal script, referencing a Chinese internet meme that compared him to the Disney character.Football Manager 2005Banned for recognizing Hong Kong, Taiwan and Tibet as independent countries. An edited version without them was later released globally.FortniteBanned for containing blood, gore, and vulgar content.Free FireBanned because it contains overly-revealing female characters, blood, gore, and vulgar content.Hearts of IronBanned because it depicted disputed territories such as Tibet, Manchuria and Xinjiang as independent nations and because the island of Taiwan is shown to be under Japanese control.I.G.I.-2: Covert StrikeBanned because of "intentionally blackening China and the Chinese army's image".PaladinsBanned for containing overly-revealing female characters, blood, gore and vulgar content.Plague Inc./Plague Inc. EvolvedBanned as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.PUBG: BattlegroundsBanned for containing blood and gore. The game was too violent.Roblox Banned for "anti-communist propaganda".
Cuba
No video games have ever been banned in Cuba, but few games were sold in that country until 2007 when restrictions were eased. In 2010, the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops generated a lot of controversy as there is a mission where the player attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro, only to end up killing a double.
Germany
The list of confiscated video games was published as part of the official "BzKJaktuell" magazine by the Federal Agency for Child and Youth Protection in the Media. The list was last published in issue 1/22. No further list entries are known since then, although some titles have since been removed from the list.
Video games that have been confiscated by a court in Germany may no longer be sold, even to adults (however, private possession and use are permitted).
The list of confiscated media should not be confused with the List of Media Harmful to Young People (also known colloquially as The Index), as indexed video games are not considered banned. However, indexed video games are subject to strict restrictions and may only be offered and sold to adults.
From 2003 to April 2021, the List of Media Harmful to Young People was kept in four parts: Liste A contains physical media classified as harmful to minors (similar to an “adults only” rating). Liste B contains physical media which, in the opinion of the review panel, have criminal content. Liste C contains online media classified as harmful to minors (similar to an “adults only” rating). Liste D contains online media which, in the opinion of the review panel, have criminal content.
Liste C and Liste D contain online media and are not published because the content is accessible without barriers. These lists are contained as an encrypted database in online search engines or optionally in routers or youth protection filters.
Although inclusion in Liste B did not yet mean a ban, some titles were later confiscated by a court, so an entry on Liste B was often seen as a warning not to continue distributing the game in Germany (even if an entry in the Liste B is not a prerequisite for confiscation), although some games were moved to Liste A after a re-examination.
Video games that have been rejected by the Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle are not banned. These games may also only be offered and sold to adults on the German market.
List of games confiscated by court in Germany NameReasonCondemned: Criminal OriginsAdded to the Liste B in April 2006.Confiscated by the district court of Munich in 2008 for violating German Criminal Code section 131 (depictions of violence).AG München, Beschlagnahmebeschluss vom 15.01.2008, Az.: 855 Gs 10/08Condemned 2: BloodshotAdded to the Liste B in April 2008.Confiscated by the district court of Munich in 2008 for violating German Criminal Code section 131 (depictions of violence).AG München, Beschlagnahmebeschluss vom 27.8.2008, Az.: 855 Gs 384/08KZ ManagerConfiscated by the district court of Neu-Ulm in 1990 for violating German Criminal Code section 130 (incitement of the masses).AG Neu-Ulm, Einziehungsbeschluss vom 29.10.1990, Az.: Gs 754/90, rechtksräftig: 19.11.1990ManhuntAdded to the Liste B in March 2004.Confiscated by the district court of Munich in 2004 for violating German Criminal Code section 131 (depictions of violence).AG München, Beschlagnahmebeschluss vom 19.07.2004, Az.: 853 Gs 261/04Manhunt 2Added to the Liste B in November 2008.Confiscated by the district court of Munich in 2010 for violating German Criminal Code section 131 (depictions of violence).AG München, Beschlagnahmebeschluss vom 10.03.2010, Az.: 853 Gs 79/10Scarface: The World Is YoursAdded to the Liste B in May 2007.Confiscated by the district court of Munich in 2007 for violating German Criminal Code section 131 (depictions of violence).AG München, Beschlagnahmebeschluss vom 20.11.2007, Az.: 855 Gs 426/07A censored version was released.Silent Hill: HomecomingAdded to the Liste B in August 2010.Confiscated by the district court of Frankfurt in 2010 for violating German Criminal Code section 131 (depictions of violence).AG Frankfurt am Main, Beschlagnahmebeschluss vom 31.01.2011, Az.: 4843 Js 238595/10 – 931 GsA censored version was released.Soldier of Fortune: PaybackAdded to the Liste B in December 2007.Confiscated by the district court of Amberg in 2008 for violating German Criminal Code section 131 (depictions of violence).AG Amberg, Beschlagnahmebeschluss vom 17.06.2008, Az.: Gs 598/08A censored version was released.WolfensteinAdded to the Liste B in October 2009.Confiscated by the district court of Detmold in 2010 for violating German Criminal Code section 86a (use of symbols of unconstitutional organisations) and section 131 (depictions of violence).AG Detmold, Beschlagnahmebeschluss/Einziehungsbeschluss vom 19.01.2010, Az.: 3 Gs 99/10A censored version was released but later withdrawn because an overlooked swastika was still present in the game.