By: u/Lone-Wolf-6314

Some argue that video games are a fictional outlet—an immersive experience where we can play as morally complex characters, even criminals, or in “bad guy vs. bad guy” scenarios.

After going through a long period of inner conflict, I decided that I would only play video games where the protagonist aligns with Christian values. If a game asks me to do something I wouldn’t agree with in real life, then I choose not to play it. However, this feels extremely limiting and cuts out so much content for me.

So, if I’m playing as a cowboy or a samurai seeking revenge against other wrongdoers—something I wouldn’t do in real life—then I feel I shouldn’t be engaging with a game like that, especially if it doesn’t emphasize forgiveness or reflect what we, as Christians, are called to do.

This personal standard has really limited the kinds of stories I feel comfortable engaging with in games.

I do want to play the video games and stories for the arc, storytelling, climax, plot, but the guilt and anxiety I feel from virtually playing as a gray or evil character upsets me even if it’s for the storyline and game.

There’s also another thing to consider: Everything is permissible, but not all things are spiritually beneficial. I feel like by playing as a worldly character, it can alter or change me. The other side of me however argues that I want to explore fiction and imaginative scenarios told through video games and art.