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Why So Many Video Games Are Obsessed with Good vs. Evil (And What That Says About Us)

Why So Many Video Games Are Obsessed with Good vs. Evil (And What That Says About Us)

You don’t need a theology degree to know that the world is full of moral gray areas. But step into a video game and suddenly things get a lot simpler: You’re either the noble hero saving the world or the villain burning it to the ground. From Baldur’s Gate 3 to Elden Ring, games have long been obsessed with the battle between good and evil. And whether we’re aware of it or not, these pixelated battlegrounds are teaching us something about ourselves, our world and how we navigate right and wrong.

The Digital Morality Play

Video games thrive on conflict. That’s what makes them fun. But the most compelling ones don’t just throw faceless bad guys at you—they make you wrestle with moral choices. Do you side with the oppressive power or rebel for a better future? Do you spare an enemy who might betray you later? Games like Starfield and Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Libertyare built on these decisions and they tap into something fundamental: our innate desire for our choices to matter.

In real life, we don’t always get clear-cut moral victories. Doing the right thing can be messy and complicated and sometimes the bad guys win. But games give us a space where good vs. evil is more defined—where our choices have immediate tangible consequences. They offer us a world where justice (usually) prevails and where doing the right thing pays off. That’s intoxicating, especially when reality often feels far less fair.

The Allure of Control

If life feels like a chaotic mess of unpredictable outcomes, video games are the opposite. They tell us, Make this choice and this will happen. That kind of certainty is rare in real life. You can ace a job interview and still not get hired. You can do everything right in a relationship and still get ghosted. In games, at least, your actions lead somewhere—even if it’s just a different ending cutscene.

For Christians, this taps into something deeper. We believe in a sovereign God yet we also wrestle with our own agency. Games can be a (very imperfect) training ground for understanding responsibility. They force us to ask, What kind of person am I when my choices actually matter? That’s a question worth bringing into the real world.

Living Someone Else’s Story

Ever wanted to be a fearless warrior? A rebel pilot? A morally ambiguous rogue? Video games let us step into someone else’s boots and experience a life completely different from our own. That’s more than just escapism—it’s a way to stretch our empathy.

Jesus was all about storytelling for a reason. Stories make us feel things. They help us understand perspectives we’d never encounter otherwise. A game like God of War: Ragnarök forces players to reckon with love and loss. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 reminds us of the weight of responsibility. Even lighter games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom reinforce ideas about courage, wisdom and the cost of heroism.

For Christians, this is an opportunity. Games allow us to practice seeing the world through different eyes, which is something we’re called to do anyway. They remind us that everyone has a story even if we don’t always understand it at first glance.

The Thrill of the Mission

Most video games are built around a central mission: Save the world. Win the war. Take down the villain. The stakes are high and the player—you—are the key to everything. And while that’s great for gameplay, it also reflects something deeper: our desire to be part of a bigger story.

The Bible is full of people who were called into epic world-changing missions. Moses. Esther. Paul. Whether they felt qualified or not, they had a role to play. In a way, video games mirror this. They tap into our longing for purpose and impact—something that, if we’re honest, we sometimes struggle to find in our daily routines.

But here’s the catch: The real world doesn’t have save points. There’s no reset button. The challenges we face—whether it’s injustice, suffering or just figuring out what to do with our lives—require real courage, not just quick reflexes. The best games don’t just entertain us; they prepare us to take action when it actually counts.

Playing with Purpose

Look, no one’s saying video games are a replacement for real-world action. But they can shape us. They can train us to think critically about morality, to empathize with different perspectives and to embrace our role in a bigger story. And if they help us do that, maybe they’re more than just a way to kill time.

So, play the games. Enjoy the stories. But when the console goes off, remember: The real world needs heroes too. And this time, you’re not just playing—you’re actually in it.

© 2023 RELEVANT Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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