Lara Croft Would Probably Get Canceled
While we look back at these pixels with fond memories, many developers took risks back then that would definitely trigger a massive social media firestorm right now. It's wild to see how much the industry has matured since the days when shock value was a primary marketing tool for gamers. With that in mind, here are 20 games from your past that would probably get “cancelled” today.
1. Duke Nukem 3D
This first-person game was famous for its hyper-masculine protagonist who threw cash at pixelated dancers between blowing up alien invaders. You'd likely find the depiction of women as background objects quite jarring compared to the nuanced characters we see in modern adventures today. It was a product of a time when "edgy" humor was all the rage.
2. Leisure Suit Larry
You played as a middle-aged man whose entire mission was to find a romantic partner through some incredibly questionable and persistent methods. The game centered around adult themes that would feel way too predatory or dated for a general audience in the 2020s. Most modern players would find the protagonist’s behavior more sad or creepy than lovable.
3. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
While the series is still around, the "Hot Coffee" hidden mini-game caused a national scandal that almost brought the entire industry to its knees. You’d be shocked to remember that the presence of a few low-quality interactive scenes led to congressional hearings and a massive ratings change. It’s hard to imagine a single extra file causing this type of turmoil in the media today.
4. Carmageddon
Run over innocent pedestrians to score money and extra time. That’s what you’re doing in Carmageddon. Nowadays, a game that explicitly rewards the player for targeting innocent bystanders would face an uphill battle for any digital storefront approval.
5. Postal 2
This game took "shock value" to a whole new level. You’d spend your time performing mundane errands that inevitably spiraled into senseless violence against every person in town. It leaned so hard into being offensive that it was actually banned in several countries.
6. Mortal Kombat (1992)
It’s funny to think that the fatalities in this game were once considered so realistic and violent that they led to the creation of the ESRB rating system. You’d see a handful of red pixels and a spine being pulled out. Compared to the photorealistic violence in modern titles, these old finishing moves look almost like a charming Saturday morning cartoon.
7. Bully
Rockstar’s high school simulator faced massive backlash before it even hit shelves because people assumed it would encourage actual schoolyard harassment. You’d find that the game was actually quite satirical and focused on standing up to the "real" bullies. In an era where school safety is a top priority, the idea of a "combat-focused" school game would be a PR disaster.
8. Conker's Bad Fur Day
Originally intended to be a cute platformer for kids, the developers flipped the script to include foul-mouthed squirrels and sentient trash. You’d encounter parodies of classic films that were filled with adult humor and surprisingly dark situations for a Nintendo 64 title. It’s a miracle this game ever made it onto a family-friendly console.
Nikita Kachanovsky on Unsplash
9. Night Trap
This Sega CD title used live-action video of teenagers being stalked in a house. You were technically trying to save them, but the "voyeuristic" nature of the cameras caused a massive moral panic among politicians. It was one of the key games cited during government debates about the dangers of video games for children.
10. Custer's Revenge
This Atari 2600 title is widely regarded as one of the most offensive games ever made due to its horrific depiction of violence. You played as a character who was trying to attack Native American women, which was an appalling concept even back in the early eighties.
11. Street Fighter II (Character Tropes)
Many of the original characters were based on some pretty thick national stereotypes that would be considered insensitive today. You’d see designs like Dhalsim or T. Hawk that relied on very shallow cultural clichés to establish their identity. Modern fighting games usually work much harder to ensure their global rosters feel like authentic representatives of their respective cultures.
12. Tomb Raider (1996)
Lara Croft is an icon, but how she was marketed was straight for the male gaze. Ads covered her body up to her chest and didn’t focus on her quest or gaming mechanics. Comparing old Lara to the new reboot, the original model was created with a very narrow scope of cloth and ratios.
13. South Park (N64)
The first South Park game featured a weapon that literally threw yellow snowballs at enemies. You’d find the constant crude sound effects and the objective of "taking out" turkeys or nurses to be a bit much for a mainstream release today. It was unapologetically gross.
14. Resident Evil 5
When the first trailers for this game appeared, many critics pointed out the uncomfortable optics of a white protagonist fighting his way through a rural African village. You’d see an entire community depicted as mindless monsters. The developers eventually added a second protagonist to balance things out.
15. BMX XXX
This game tried to sell copies by combining extreme sports with nudity, which resulted in many retailers refusing to stock it on their shelves. It’s a perfect example of a game that tried to use controversy as a substitute for actually having good mechanics or fun levels.
16. Manhunt
This stealth title focused entirely on the "art" of the hunt, rewarding players for making their attacks as gruesome and cinematic as possible. You’d feel a genuine sense of dread playing this game. It was so intense that it was blamed for real-world crimes in the UK.
17. Tomodachi Life
When this life simulator was first released, it lacked relationship options and inclusivity. This led to a massive outcry from the gaming community. You’d find it strange today that a game about social connections would exclude such a large group of people from its core mechanics.
18. Xtreme Beach Volleyball
The developers of this spin-off series focused almost entirely on skimpy outfits rather than the actual sport of volleyball. You’d find the entire premise to be a bit embarrassing if you had to explain it to someone. It’s the kind of niche title that would likely be relegated to a very specific corner of the internet today.
19. Super Mario 64 (The Penguin)
You probably remember the hilarious, albeit dark, thrill of dropping the baby penguin off the edge of the map while its mother watched. While it’s played for laughs, the gag might ruffle some feathers with modern activist groups. It’s a small detail, but it’s the kind of thing that would definitely get clipped and discussed on gaming forums for weeks.
Cláudio Luiz Castro on Unsplash
20. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (No Russian)
The "No Russian" mission allowed players to participate in an attack at an airport, which remains one of the most debated moments in gaming history. You’d be given the choice to skip it. However, the mere existence of the level sparked international outrage and political condemnation.
