Did You Play These Games Before They Were Banned?
From boarding school youngsters to notoriously violent stories, you’d never guess how many of your favorite games never saw the light of day again. Let’s see which board and video games lost their battle to The Man—and which ones clawed their way back.
1. Ouija Board, 1890
We kick off the list with a supposed channel to the afterlife—and to the surprise of no one, it ruffled a few feathers. Though it was never outright “banned” worldwide, many religious groups prohibit its use altogether. Religious groups claim it opens a portal to the underworld, but that only made it more popular.
2. Carmageddon, 1997
Carmageddon wasn’t always hailed as a beloved racing classic. It turns out that the UK and Argentina had an issue with poor pedestrians being struck down, and they quickly banned the game from shelves. All was made right in the UK when humans were swapped for zombies, but it remains fully banned in Buenos Aires.
3. Escape From Colditz, 1973
This 1970s board game was all about strategy. It seemed fine—until you saw that the original artwork for this Germans vs. Allies game featured unfortunate symbols from history. It was particularly upsetting in Germany, where the game was pulled and re-released with the Bundesadler (Federal Eagle) instead.
4. Manhunt, 2003
Rockstar’s never shied away from controversy, and their 2003 hit (and its 2007 sequel) caused quite a stir. We had bags over heads, splatters of red, cracked bones…you name it. While players fell in love with the violence, the UK, South Korea, New Zealand, and Ireland were among some countries that banned it entirely.
Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
5. Dungeons and Dragons, 1974
It’s hard to imagine a world without DnD, especially after the sweeping success of Baldur’s Gate 3. But this tabletop game caught all kinds of flak in the 80s. Some claimed it endorsed witchcraft, others bought into the Satanic panic, and several American prisons believed it encouraged gang activity. To this day the game remains banned in prisons across Idaho and Wisconsin.
6. Bully, 2006
Rockstar strikes again. You know, if you think about it, Bully was educational. You attended graded classes and learned about the importance of friendship—okay, we’re kidding. Among other things, the game followed our sour-faced protagonist Jimmy through slingshot upgrades and fistfights with teachers. It was banned in Brazil (though that was lifted in 2016), the UK, and almost in Florida.
7. The Sinking of the Titanic, 1975
Who could’ve guessed that this board game upset some folks? Milton Bradley really tried to turn this tragedy into family fun, which went about as well as expected and forced them to re-release it under a new name. It became Abandon Ship in 1976 and the world was better for it.
Courtesy of NOAA/Institute for Exploration/University of Rhode Island (NOAA/IFE/URI). on Wikimedia
8. Hotel 626, 2008
If you were on the internet in 2008, you undoubtedly remember this horrifying flash game. However, you may not remember how this Doritos-made terror came to be. You read that right—Doritos, beloved chip brand, was behind this ‘08 game. While it wasn’t exactly “banned,” legality issues popped up about the unorthodox collection of personal information for its jumpscares (like asking for your phone number or using your name). As quickly as it came, the game soon disappeared from the internet.
9. Public Assistance, 1980
“Why bother working for a living?” So went the offensive tagline of this 1980s board game. To satirically comment on America’s welfare system, players’ mission was to collect as much money as they could before taxes, and it caused enough of a stir that some shelves pulled it. Cards rewarded your teenage daughter’s pregnancy while the board squares asked you to “hang out in front of the liquor store” or “rob a taxicab.”
10. NecroVisioN, 2009
NecrovisioN seems pretty tame by today’s standards, but that didn’t stop Germany from outright banning it in 2009. A less violent version was released to comply with regulations, but we can’t imagine that went over well with fans.
11. Assassin, 1980
When the goal of your RPG is to knock off as many players as you can, don’t be surprised if it bothers non-players. Modern players donned Nerf weaponry or water pistols, but this game was still banned across college campuses and became the subject of news stories—in 2016, four teenage girls ran around their Oakville, ON neighborhood with ski masks as they played the game. Police allegedly shut down the street.
12. Criminal Girls: Invite Only, 2010
Right off the bat, we have a game set in the underworld and seven young girls under our care. Put them together and you’re looking at New Zealand bans, censored versions in North America and the UK, and undesirable ratings across the board.
13. Gay Monopoly, 1983
Don’t worry, it’s not what you think. This was supposed to be a celebration of the community. Though the Parker Sisters’ heart was probably in the right place, their spinoff didn’t pass copyright suits and was eventually yanked from shelves.
14. Yandere Simulator, 2014
Ah, Yandere Simulator—the game that lives in a perpetually unfinished state. However, players never minded and gobbled up any updates, especially ones that let you blackmail other students or straight-up attack them in the halls. (How dare they breathe near Senpai?) After years of chaotic missions, Twitch banned it from the platform.
15. Reality, 1994
Your reality likely differs from this Swedish board game (at least, we hope it does). Your objective is simple: squirrel away enough money for a ticket to India or wipe out every other player. To make money, you could deal contraband or hold up stores, and those options were enough to incite some pretty angry campaigns that allegedly got it pulled.
16. Hatred, 2015
If you yearn to play as an 8-foot-tall edge lord in a black trench coat, Hatred is the game for you. Though, you’ll have a better time with classic games that do it all better. Thanks to its unforgiving violence, Twitch and Valve pulled it, but both eventually reneged and the game remains available.
17. Ghettopoly, 2003
Yes, you read that right—and yes, it’s just as offensive as you’re thinking. From racist artwork to offensive cards, this game was so bad it caught the NAACP’s attention. Thankfully, it got pulled everywhere and Hasbro was even rewarded $400,000 in damages after suing the creator.
18. Fortnite, 2017
It may be one of the most popular games in the world but that doesn’t mean it’s above the law. Specifically strict laws in China, which resulted in Fortnite getting banned for its violence. It hasn’t been available since 2021.
19. Hart an der Grenze, 2006
Come, family. It’s time to play a game about smuggling goods across the border. Despite picking up several awards, Brazil allegedly banned it because they felt the game encouraged people to ignore government regulations. But that didn't stop its re-implementation and it eventually turned into the Sheriff of Nottingham.
20. Agony, 2018
This aptly named game sure was agonizing, just not for the reasons it hoped. With slow controls and brutal violence, the game didn’t pick up much positivity. (Not to mention, it was dark enough to give late GoT seasons a run for their money.) Its graphics earned an Adult-Only rating and they had to seriously dial it back before a proper release.
