I once walked into my cousin’s living room. His ten-year-old son was glued to the screen. The sounds of gunfire and shouting filled the air. On the screen, a character was stealing a car after a violent shootout. My cousin just shrugged, saying, “It’s only a game.” But it’s not just a game. The digital worlds our children visit shape their minds. An +18 rating isn’t a suggestion; it’s a warning.
These ratings exist for a reason. They signal content that is unsuitable for a developing mind. Below is a list of popular games that frequently end up in the hands of children. These titles contain material that can be confusing, frightening, or just plain inappropriate for anyone not yet an adult.
Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V)
This game is a massive, open world where players can do almost anything. That freedom includes stealing cars, robbing banks, and engaging in shootouts with police. The story follows three criminals. Their lives are filled with violence, foul language, and adult situations.
For a child, the line between right and wrong is still forming. GTA V presents a world where criminal acts are central to progress and often portrayed as cool or exciting. This can blur a child’s understanding of real-world consequences.
Mortal Kombat 11
Mortal Kombat is famous for one thing: its graphic finishing moves, known as “Fatalities.” These are not cartoonish bops on the head. They are highly detailed, brutal animations of characters being dismembered, decapitated, and worse.
Exposing a child to this level of gore can desensitize them to violence. It can make real-world aggression seem less serious. The intense, realistic depiction of bodily harm is not something a young person’s mind is prepared to handle.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)
This first-person shooter places you in the boots of a soldier in modern combat scenarios. The action is fast and intense. The game aims for realism in its portrayal of war. This includes scenes of terrorism, civilian casualties, and morally difficult choices.
One mission, “No Russian,” from a previous title, became infamous for its depiction of a mass shooting in an airport. While this specific mission isn’t in the 2022 version, the game still contains intense, realistic violence that can be disturbing and stressful for a child.
Cyberpunk 2077
Set in a dark, futuristic city, this game is a deep role-playing experience. It is also saturated with adult themes. The world is rife with extreme violence, substance abuse, and explicit sexual content. The story explores complex topics like corporate greed, body modification, and loss of humanity.
These are heavy subjects for adults. For a child, they can be overwhelming and confusing. The game’s atmosphere is bleak and often disturbing.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Many see this as a fantasy masterpiece. It is. But it’s a fantasy for adults. The world is morally gray. There are no clear good guys or bad guys. The main character, Geralt, faces choices with no right answer, often leading to tragic outcomes. The game also contains significant violence, gore, and sexual themes. A child needs clear moral guideposts. The Witcher 3 offers a world of complex ambiguity that a young mind is not equipped to process.
Outlast
This is a pure horror game. You are a journalist trapped in a psychiatric hospital run by its homicidal patients. You have no weapons. Your only tools are a video camera and your ability to run and hide. The game relies on jump scares, a constant sense of dread, and disturbing imagery. This is not fun-scary like a haunted house.
It is designed to create genuine terror and anxiety. For a child, this experience can lead to nightmares, fear of the dark, and lasting anxiety.
Resident Evil 4 Remake
Another titan of the horror genre, this game puts you against hordes of infected villagers. The tension is constant. The enemies are grotesque, and the violence is graphic. You must manage limited resources while fighting for your life. The atmosphere is one of decay and dread. The jump scares and intense combat sequences can be too much for children.
It’s a stressful experience designed to frighten, which is not healthy for a young person.
Doom Eternal
This game is about one thing: fast, brutal, non-stop action against demons. The player is encouraged to perform “Glory Kills,” which are gory finishing moves used to regain health. While the tone is more over-the-top than realistic, the violence is constant and extremely graphic.
The screen is almost always filled with blood, guts, and demonic creatures being torn apart. This relentless exposure to hyper-violence is not suitable for children.
Rust
Rust is a multiplayer survival game. You start with nothing and must gather resources to survive. The biggest threat is not the environment; it’s other players. The game has a reputation for being a harsh and often toxic social space.
Players will kill you and take your things without a second thought. Voice chat can be filled with profanity and abuse. It’s an unforgiving world that can be a source of genuine stress and negative social interactions for a child.
The Evil Within
From the creator of Resident Evil, this game is a journey into psychological horror. It features some of the most disturbing and surreal imagery in any game. The world shifts and changes, creating a sense of disorientation and madness.
The enemies are nightmarish creations, and the violence is both gory and psychologically unsettling. This game is designed to get under your skin. Its content is the definition of nightmare fuel and is absolutely not for kids.
Psychological Risks for Children
It’s not just about seeing something scary or violent. Consistent exposure to mature content in games can have deeper effects. A child’s brain is still developing empathy, impulse control, and a moral compass. Seeing constant, graphic violence can numb a child’s response to it. They might have trouble separating game aggression from real-world conflict.
Horror games like Outlast or The Evil Within can create real anxiety. The constant state of fear and tension can disrupt sleep patterns and cause a child to feel unsafe in their own home. Complex adult themes, like those in The Witcher 3 or Cyberpunk 2077, can introduce moral confusion.
A child might struggle to understand why a “hero” makes bad choices or why bad things happen to good people in the game’s story.
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Safe Alternatives for Kids
Protecting your child doesn’t mean banning all video games. It means guiding them toward age-appropriate ones that are fun and can even be beneficial. There are many great games that encourage creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork.
- Minecraft: A classic for a reason. It’s a digital sandbox that lets kids build anything they can think of. It promotes creativity and planning.
- Stardew Valley: A charming game about running a farm. It teaches patience, resource management, and the rewards of hard work.
- Overcooked! 2: A chaotic and fun cooperative cooking game. It requires communication and teamwork to succeed, making it a great family game.
- LEGO Games (e.g., LEGO Star Wars): These games adapt popular movies with humor and charm. The violence is mild and cartoonish, focusing on problem-solving and collecting.
- Kerbal Space Program: For the aspiring astronaut. This game teaches the basics of physics and engineering as players build and launch rockets.
Instead of worrying about violent titles, give them games that spark creativity and teamwork. At AR-Pay, you can buy digital gift cards for child-friendly platforms like Minecraft and many more—delivered instantly and securely.
Conclusion
Video games can be a great source of fun, learning, and creativity—but only when chosen wisely. Mature-rated titles are designed with adults in mind, containing violence, strong language, or disturbing themes that young players are not prepared to process.
Allowing children to engage with these experiences risks shaping their understanding of the world in harmful ways.
As parents and guardians, the most effective step you can take is staying informed. Always check a game’s rating, watch previews, and, most importantly, talk with your child about what they play.
By setting clear boundaries and encouraging safe alternatives, you can help ensure that gaming remains a positive and healthy part of their life.
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FAQs
Why are +18 games harmful for children?
Because they often include intense violence, explicit content, and complex themes. A child’s brain is still developing, and repeated exposure can blur their understanding of right and wrong, increase anxiety, or desensitize them to aggression.
What rating system should I check before buying a game?
Look for the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) in North America or PEGI (Pan European Game Information) in Europe. Both provide clear age ratings and content warnings on physical and digital game stores.
What signs show my child may be affected by inappropriate games?
Watch for nightmares, sudden aggression, loss of interest in age-appropriate play, or withdrawal from family and friends. These can indicate that a game is too mature for them.
Are all violent games bad for kids?
Not necessarily. Some titles feature mild cartoon-style action that is not harmful (such as LEGO or Mario games). The concern lies with realistic violence, gore, or mature subject matter.
What are some safe alternatives my child can enjoy?
Popular family-friendly options include Minecraft, Stardew Valley, LEGO video games, Overcooked! 2, and Kerbal Space Program. These games foster creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving without exposing children to harmful content.
How can I stay more involved in my child’s games?
Play together when possible, set screen time limits, and talk openly about the games they enjoy. This helps you guide their choices while strengthening trust and communication.
Hager Hesham
Content Writer and your go-to gaming expert. I'm here to share my best practices, valuable strategies, and professional gamer guidance. Also, I'm a gem hunter for the best deals and gift cards, just to enjoy games at almost zero cost with AR-pay.
