14 video games that were (surprisingly) banned

There are a lot of video games intended for mature audiences, which may result in some countries banning them. However, some video games get banned for unexpected reasons, and the last entry on this list may surprise you.

The most common reasons for most video games to get banned are graphic violence and sexual content, and some countries may ban games more than others. Germany, we’re looking at you. However, a country may also ban a game because of how a country might be portrayed or fears over how its technology is used.

What’s more, while some bans may be permanent, others do get lifted, even if it's many years later, long after much of its hype has died down. In some countries, the best that gamers can hope for is it being edited for release. Sure, that last option is not ideal, but in most cases, it’s better than an outright ban. But hey, at least we can import from just about anywhere in the world.

That all being said, let’s take a look at some of the biggest and most surprising video games that have been banned in various countries on planet Earth.

14 video games that were or are still banned today

Dead Island, Deep Silver

Dead Island

The first-person zombie action game in the series was banned due to its graphic violence and dismemberment. It was banned in Germany and censored in some other countries. The German ban was lifted in 2019.

Command & Conquer: Generals

This got banned in China because of its depiction of the country, rather than actual violence, even though it’s a war-themed strategy game. In particular, the Chinese government did not appreciate Beijing being destroyed...

Pokemon GO

This popular mobile game was banned in some countries, first in Iran. The reason is that concerns were raised due to its implementation of GPS and location data.

Bully

Basically, in this Rockstar Games title, you play as a kid who gets bullied and also does some bullying at school. There is a lot more to this fantastic game, but concerns about kids replicating the game in real life were a justification for banning it in some countries. Bully was released in the UK, but it had to be renamed as Canis Canem Edit.

Wolfenstein

This series was very similar to DOOM, but while it did have graphic violence for its time, it was the use of Nazi’s, which included flags, symbols and a robotic Adolf Hitler boss fight, which got it initially banned in Germany. That ban was lifted in 2019.

GTA V

The Rockstar Games title was banned in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia due to its violence and sexual content. However, that ban was lifted in July 2025.

READ MORE: Five countries where GTA 6 could be banned from release

Spec Ops: The Line

This military shooter was not only banned for its brutal depiction of the realities of war, but also because it was set in a real place in the UAE. It featured some very harrowing war crime scenes, which were perhaps a little close to home.

Manhunt

The third Rockstar Games title on this list is a very violent game that was banned due to its graphic content. It was banned in Australia, New Zealand and Germany. Its sequel was also banned in some countries and was initially refused classification in the UK. Manhunt is no longer banned in those countries.

Manhunt, Rockstar Games

South Park: The Stick of Truth

The Ubisoft RPG inspired by the ever-popular animated series got banned or heavily restricted due to your playable character, the “New Kid”, and Randy Marsh being anal probed by aliens.

Mortal Kombat

The Street Fighter rival was banned in multiple countries due to its graphic violence, especially when it concerns its fatalities. In some countries that allowed its release, it was heavily watered down.

Hatred

This game was banned in multiple countries due to its indiscriminate murder sprees at the hands of its nihilistic playable character.

DOOM

The original DOOM caused a storm in the news media due to its graphic violence and satanic themes. As such, it was banned in many countries, though many of those bans have long been lifted.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

To say that the ‘No Russian’ mission caused quite a stir would be an understatement. The mission involved gunning down innocent NPCs in an airport. Killing the NPCs was optional, but that didn't stop the NPCs on your team from doing the dirty work. The mission could be skipped, but that didn't stop it from being banned in some countries.

Football Manager

Yes, we’re talking about the management sim. Football Manager was banned in China because it falsely represented its sovereignty and territorial integrity by having Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and Tibet as individual entities. However, despite being banned in China, the game was never officially released in the country to begin with.