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Should Christians Play Video Games?

Name: GodlyScore Review: Should Christians Play Video Games?
Item: Video Games (Christian Guide)
Rating: 3.3
Author: GodlyScore

Video games are the largest entertainment industry in the world, surpassing movies and music combined. Christian families are navigating this landscape with everything from Minecraft to Call of Duty to Elden Ring. Unlike a movie you watch passively, video games involve active participation — which makes the discernment questions both more important and more nuanced.

GODLY

Video Games (Christian Guide)

Mixed

★★★☆☆3.3/5 · GodlyScore 65/100

Gaming itself is neutral — the content of specific games varies enormously, from excellent to deeply problematic.

View Full Score →

Is Gaming Itself Sinful?

Gaming is not inherently sinful any more than watching movies or reading novels is inherently sinful. It is a medium — a way of experiencing interactive stories and challenges. 1 Corinthians 10:23 notes that 'everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial.' The question for Christians is not whether gaming is permissible but whether specific games and gaming habits are beneficial.

The unique element of gaming is interactivity — you are not just watching violence, you are performing it; not just watching occult ritual, you are executing it. This may or may not matter theologically, but it is a genuine difference from passive media that Christians should think through.

A Framework for Evaluating Games

Christians can apply the same signals used by the GodlyScore algorithm to evaluate specific games. The key questions are: What is the violence level and how is it presented? Does the game require or reward sinful behavior as its central mechanic? Does it involve occult practices presented as spiritually real? How much time does it consume, and is that time being redeemed?

Some games score very high by Christian standards: Minecraft (creative, educational, no violence), Stardew Valley (peaceful farming sim with community themes), the Mario franchise (family-friendly adventure), and many puzzle and strategy games have no content concerns whatsoever. See our individual game reviews for specifics.

The Games Christians Should Avoid

The clearest cases for avoidance are games that make sin the primary mechanic — where the game rewards and celebrates sinful behavior with no redemptive framing. Grand Theft Auto's core gameplay loop involves violent crime, prostitution solicitation, and moral chaos presented as entertainment. The Witcher series involves extensive sexual content including explicit scenes. Certain horror games involve genuine occult ritual as gameplay mechanics.

Philippians 4:8's standard of dwelling on what is pure, noble, and admirable applies to the content we actively participate in through gaming, not just what we passively observe.

The Time Question

Beyond content, the time question is uniquely significant for gaming because games are designed to be addictive — infinite progression systems, social competition, and achievement mechanics are engineered to keep players playing. Ephesians 5:16 calls believers to 'make the most of every opportunity.' Christians who find gaming consuming hours that should be spent on relationships, service, prayer, or work should take that seriously regardless of the game's content.

How to Evaluate Video Games as a Christian

Video games present unique discernment challenges: the interactive nature means the player makes choices and is rewarded for certain behaviors — creating different engagement than passive media. GodlyScore evaluates not just what content is present but what behaviors and mindsets the game rewards and trains. Score: see full guide.

Age Guidance and Practical Notes

See our Christian Game Reviews hub. Common Sense Media and Plugged In provide detailed content breakdowns for specific game titles.

For a specific free-to-play shooter parents are asking about, see our guide Is Overwatch 2 Appropriate for Christians?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it a sin for Christians to play video games?

No — gaming is not inherently sinful. Like any entertainment medium, the discernment questions are about specific content and time investment rather than the medium itself. Games with clean content used in moderation are entirely appropriate for Christians.

What video games are most appropriate for Christian families?

Minecraft, Stardew Valley, the Mario franchise, Animal Crossing, Tetris, and most puzzle and strategy games have no significant content concerns. For older gamers, Halo, The Legend of Zelda, and many RPGs have relatively clean content by comparison to more explicit titles.

Should Christians play Grand Theft Auto?

GTA is one of the clearest gaming avoids for Christians — the core gameplay loop involves violent crime, solicitation of prostitutes, and moral chaos presented as fun. It scores at the bottom of any biblical content assessment.

Can Christians play games with violence?

Violence in games — like violence in films — exists on a spectrum. Cartoon violence (Mario) differs from realistic military combat (Call of Duty) which differs from torture mechanics. Christians should evaluate the nature and purpose of violence in specific games rather than applying a blanket rule.