History Bowdlerise / VideoGames

* Several of the ''VideoGame/TonyHawksProSkater'' games had to do some censoring of the licensed soundtrack in order to retain a Teen rating. ''Pro Skater 3'' probably had the heaviest amount of soundtrack censorship, with songs like Guttermouth's "I'm Destroying The World" and Redman's "Let's Get Dirty" being heavily edited for foul language. Outside of curses being removed from songs, Music/TheRamones' "Blitzkrieg Bop" had an implied reference to gun violence removed ("shoot 'em in the back now"), and Del Tha Funkee Homosapien's "If You Must" dropped a reference to hard liquor ("he had a can of O.E." [[note]] O.E. being short for Olde English 800, a brand of malt liquor - apparently the issue was that the song mentioned a specific, particularly strong, brand of alcohol, since the aforementioned Guttermouth song still gets a general reference to beer by[[/note]]). Contemporary protests by MoralGuardians about violence in video games also led them to list the title of Agent Orange's "Bloodstains (Darkness Version)" as "Speed Kills" in ''Pro Skater 4''.

** The localization of the SNES version of ''Ys III: Wanderers From Ys'' removes the crucifix from the back wall in Valestein Castle.

* The NES version of ''VideoGame/BionicCommando'' is one of the most famous examples of Bowdlerisation in video game history. The plot of the Japanese version is about the Nazis attempting to use secret weapons and technology to [[ApocalypseHitler resurrect Adolf Hitler]] and take over the world. As per Nintendo of America's strict content guidelines at the time, the Nazis were renamed to the "Badds", [[NoSwastikas all instances of swastikas were changed]], and Hitler was renamed to "Master-D"... though they never bothered to actually edit his portrait in-game, nor the scene where [[YourHeadAsplode his head explodes]].

* When Capcom's ''VideoGame/{{Commando}}'' was released in West Germany, due to European content laws regarding violence, the game was renamed to ''Space Invasion'' and all human enemies were slightly redrawn to look more like robots.

*** The game was originally going to feature a trophy of the character Tharja from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'',[[note]]a T-rated game,[[/note]] as evidenced by [[https://www.ssbwiki.com/Leak#ESRB_leak a famous leak from the ESRB]]. However, this trophy did not make it to the final release, presumably because her {{Stripperiffic}} design ([[VideoGamePerversityPotential that could've been viewed from any and all angles in the Trophy Viewer]]) would have required the game's [[UsefulNotes/EntertainmentSoftwareRatingBoard E10+ rating]] to have been pushed up to a [[TeenRating T rating]].[[note]]It should be noted that ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'', the previous game, was also given a T rating, but mainly because of its DarkerAndEdgier presentation compared to the other games in the series.[[/note]] Additionally, a trophy of Lyn from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade'' was altered in the Japanese version of the 1.0.6 update to make it less revealing.

** The GBA ports of the first two games had the blood changed to green to maintain a T rating and the Nazi references in the secret levels were replaced again. Some things snuck through, however (such as the bloody status bar face when at low health, and blood already existing on Former Sergeants), and the censorship mostly affects blood the monsters shed. The Cacodemon isn't censored as it has blue blood and the Baron of Hell and Hell Knight already have green blood.

* ''VideoGame/YourBizarreAdventure'' (a ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' FanGame made with ''VideoGame/{{Roblox}}'') had to rename the [[FightingSpirit Stand]] "Sex Pistols" to "Six Pistols" to comply with Roblox's content guidelines, which prohibit any reference to sexual activity.

* In ''[[VideoGame/{{Tekken}} Tekken 3]]'', instead of having her top pulled off by Nina, the English version of Anna's ending has Anna walking away.

* In ''[[VideoGame/{{Uncharted}} Uncharted 4]]'', the Doughnut Drake skin that provided FatComicRelief for the past three games was cut from the final version after the new director Paul Druckmann decided it was too offensive.

*** The Japanese version features a different trophy of [[VideoGame/TheWonderful101 Wonder Pink]] with a different pose and darker shading on her legs to obscure her underwear.

*** This isn't the first time the games have censored gambling. The Australian version of ''Crystal'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfMwIHLFc9I changes dialogue relating to the Game Corner to some laughably bland lines,]] presumably to avoid portraying gambling as exciting.

** In the Japanese version of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'', the jugglers in Clock Town are a pair of flamboyant CampGay guys who flirt with each other while practicing their act. In other versions of the game, their dialogue was completely rewritten so that they tell jokes instead.

* ''VideoGame/TheBlueMarlin'', a fishing-themed [[RolePlayingGame RPG]] for the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]], has various events that can occur while a fish is being reeled in. In the Japanese version, one of them shows the fish [[{{Squick}} vomiting up its own stomach]] to [[ShownTheirWork show that it is very weak]]. This was censored in the American version, and the text was altered to remove mention of it as well, though the graphics for the poor thing's innards still exist in the game's data.

** ''[[VideoGame/RoboWarrior Bomber King]]: Scenario 2''[[note]]otherwise known as ''VideoGame/BlasterMaster Boy'' (US) or ''Blaster Master Jr.'' (EU)[[/note]] for the UsefulNotes/GameBoy had the boss of Stage 4 changed from an alien creature vaguely resembling a snake to an actual snake, due to the original design's [[FreudWasRight unintentionally phallic resemblance]].

** In ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireII'', the Gold Fly says "Uh, damn..." after you defeat it. The UsefulNotes/VirtualConsole re-release changes this to "Uh, darn..."
** ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireIV'' was hit with this particularly severely (even compared to the rest of the ''Franchise/BreathOfFire'' games, almost all of which have either suffered some Bowdlerising, dodgy translation, or both). The UsefulNotes/PlayStation international versions had a bit of fanservice (in essence, an [[HotSpringsEpisode onsen scene]] involving Nina and Ursula) and a scene involving Ursula preparing to drop her pants to prove her womanhood (which were not so important to the plot) cut entirely--as well as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr_EL20mPZw a third, ''very'' plot-important scene]] where [[spoiler: Fou-lu decapitates Emperor Soniel]]. International versions just ''fade to black'' at the latter scene and people are left [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse wondering just what the hell happened]]. It's particularly puzzling [[spoiler: as the scene where Fou-lu actually offs Soniel is only depicted by black-on-red "washi screen" GoryDiscretionShot]]--very common to keep games in the equivalent of a PG rating as well as to get around Australian "blood bans"--and which would be considered quite safe for inclusion in UsefulNotes/PlayStation games of the period. In the adaptation of ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireIV'' published by Comic Blade Avarus there is a bit of a TakeThat response to both the (relatively mild) original Japanese Bowdlerisation and the (completely censored) international [=PS1=] and Windows versions; the "graphic novelisation" is considerably bloodier and more explicit in the depiction of that scene. Of note, the two scenes that could be seen as being at Ursula's expense aren't included at all in the manga.

* The menu icon for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch port of ''VideoGame/{{Carrion}}'' was changed in an update after some controversy ensued over the original menu icon's resemblance to a vagina.

*** The MissionPackSequel for the UsefulNotes/GameBoy, which was released in all regions, makes the same change to the identical first boss outside of Japan, and also changes the church bell tower (with a cross on top) in the game's intro into a regular tower... [[SoundtrackDissonance but doesn't remove the sound effect of the bell ringing]].

* ''VideoGame/ChipsChallenge'': In the UsefulNotes/AtariLynx version, Chip only goes through the challenge because he wants to go out with Melinda to the prom (with the cover art blurb implying he's in it for the sex). In the Microsoft Windows version, this is toned down to Chip being genuinely interested in joining the Bit Busters club and proving his worth to his peers. The sequel ''Chip's Challenge 2'' sticks with the Lynx canon.

* ''VideoGame/ChikiChikiBoys'': In the original Japanese arcade version, starting from Round 4-1, the player would occasionally come across bikini-clad women tied up and hanging from the ceiling by rope. Upon freeing them, depending on their color, the player would either receive a kiss and a hint on an upcoming area, or just receive points. When the game was brought overseas as ''Mega Twins'', they were removed, though their sprites were changed and their hints were completely translated. They're completely absent from the [[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Genesis/Mega Drive]] port in all regions.
* ''Chou VisualNovel/DengekiStryker'': The {{UsefulNotes/Steam}} version [[CensorSteam censors nudity with mist]].

* ''VideoGame/CriminalGirls'': The localized [[UpdatedRerelease re-release]] for [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationVita PS Vita]], ''Criminal Girls: Invite Only'', to avoid an AO rating, has audible comments and moans removed from the motivation mini-game, and covers the screen with [[CensorSteam a translucent pink mist]]. The [[VideoGame/CriminalGirls2PartyFavors sequel]] removes the audio as well, but uses slightly redrawn art (downplaying the bondage elements and making it look more consensual) instead of steam.

* ''VideoGame/DevilsCrush'': In the original [[UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine]] version, the localization changed the pentagrams visible throughout the main table into octagrams. This was [[InvertedTrope inverted]] somewhat in the [[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Genesis/Mega Drive]] port, ''Dragon's Fury'', where the localization changed the hexagrams (that are used in place of the pentagrams in the original) ''into'' pentagrams. The Virtual Console release of the game and others going forward further edited them into triangles.

* In the UsefulNotes/NeoGeoPocket Color game ''Dive Alert'', the game's main submarine is known as the [[FunWithAcronyms Armored Systematic Submarine, or "ASS" for short]] in the Japanese version. This acronym is actually important to the game's story, but it's also still PlayedForLaughs every so often, as the script occasionally makes fun of it. In the English versions, the order was swapped around, so the sub is known as the Systematic Armored Submarine, or "SAS" for short instead. Any and all jokes relating to the sub's name were removed from the script as well.

* ''Dragon Knight 4'', the fourth installment in a [[LongRunners long-running]] series of [[HGame Eroge]] {{Visual Novel}}s for [[UsefulNotes/{{PC88}} Japanese]] [[UsefulNotes/{{PC98}} home computers]], eventually received a port to the Super Famicom that mainly uses the small window where visuals are present as a means of cropping out any and all moments of explicit sex/nudity throughout the game. [[AbridgedForChildren Some scenes are skipped entirely]] (including those that contain {{Sexposition}}), which has the side effect of creating {{Plot Hole}}s at varying levels of severity.

* The English language version of the Russian VisualNovel ''VisualNovel/EverlastingSummer'' was initially released uncensored. But a few days later, {{UsefulNotes/Steam}} released an update which removed the option to enable adult content.

* With ''[[http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/exile/exile3.htm Exile]]'', many items that were drugs in the original ''XZR II'' were already censored in the Japanese console versions. However, the UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 translation by Creator/WorkingDesigns also obscured the religious themes, at NEC's insistence: Christians, for instance, became "Klispins."

*** The dancer in Baron strips to her bikini mid-dance in the Japanese version. The English versions keep her clothes on. This extends to the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance UpdatedRerelease. The English SNES version also removes the hidden Developer's Room in Dwarf Castle, presumably to prevent you from getting the Dirty Magazine item inside. All other ports keep this in, however.

*** There's also the line about Edgar [[TheJailBaitWait hoping that (ten-year-old) Relm will still be around in eight years after he finds out about her age]]. In the Japanese version, he says that he needs to get ahold of himself before he commits a crime. Relm's response towards his statement is also much more biting and harsh in the Japanese version. And in the SNES and UsefulNotes/PlayStation versions, Locke threatens to rip the lungs out of a man who calls him a thief. In the GBA version, he simply calls him rude, [[SpiceUpTheSubtitles because the "rip your lungs out" was never in the original Japanese version]].

* ''UsefulNotes/GameAndWatch'': The Gold title ''Helmet'' was released as ''Headache'' in the United Kingdom due to vulgar connotations with the former name.

** In the original UsefulNotes/GameAndWatch releases of ''Fire'' (Silver in 1980, Wide Screen in 1981), the jumpers who weren't caught by the player were implied to have died; they disappeared after hitting the ground, and the miss icon was a [[WingedSoulFliesOffAtDeath little angel]]. In the ports released as part of the ''Gallery'' series, they [[NotTheFallThatKillsYou get up and storm off the right side of the screen]], and the miss icon was changed to a bandage.

** The UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor ports of the first two games were heavily censored to cater for the handheld's target audience (which is perhaps mostly composed of 8 to 12-year olds or something along the lines of that), removing all references to profanity and gore. ''Grand Theft Auto Advance'' later averted this, as the game was released for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance complete with all that you can expect from a typical GTA series game.

** The ''GTA V'' {{remaster}} for UsefulNotes/TheNinthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames underwent some censorship such as the removal of the {{Creepy Crossdresser}}s outside the Cockatoos gay bar and the removal of the Cops n Crooks game mode from ''Online''.

* The memetic favorite "[[VideoGame/SoundVoltex Brain Power]]" was censored slightly on ''VideoGame/GrooveCoaster'' due to one of its vocal samples mentioning "cocaine". The song's visuals -- which in this case, are essentially a LyricVideo (in reference to a popular fan-made lyric video for the song), do censor the word visually with a triangular caution sign. The UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch version of the game also bleeps out the word.

** Rare example of a game being censored in its own country: in the original PC version, there are shots of a red blood splatter on screen occasionally. When the time came for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 remake, the color of the blood was censored into blue/dark colors (due to the Japanese rating system undergoing a change at the time, this was done to avoid an 18+ rating). The blood is red again in the DS remakes.

* ''VideoGame/HuniePop'': The UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} version, without the uncensored patch, replaces images of nudity with images of girls wearing lingerie.

* ''Kato-chan & Ken-chan'', a ToiletHumour-filled UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 game featuring two Japanese comedians, featuring fart attacks, crapping birds, urinating on walls, taking a dump in the bushes, etc., was changed into ''J.J. and Jeff'' for the US. The other character no longer pisses on walls or craps in bushes, the fart attack was replaced with spray paint/pepper spray, although there were still the dog/bird turds and a few other things.

*** In the original SNES release, Wham Bam Rock, the final boss of ''The Great Cave Offensive'', has a quite organic appearance, including a leafed ornament above its face, round golden earrings, and large orange lips. Due to the boss's {{Hollywood Native|s}} resemblance (only worsened by the fact that [[{{Blackface}} the fight takes place on a black background]]), when the game was [[VideoGameRemake remade]] on the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoDS DS]] as ''Kirby Super Star Ultra'', its appearance was completely overhauled to be much more overtly rock-like. All cameos of Wham Bam Rock in later ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' games also use the ''Kirby Super Star Ultra'' design.

** One game later, in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening'', one of the [[ChainOfDeals trading sequence]] items was changed from a mermaid's bra into her necklace, which explains why you never see any part of her except her head until she gets it back. Additionally, diving underwater near the mermaid will cause her to swim away from you. While she says that she has already looked for her necklace there in the English version, if you try doing this in the original Japanese version, the mermaid will [[HandsomeLech call Link a pervert]]. Also, the hippo in Animal Village was originally a nude model (with visible breasts) with a towel which she pulls up when Link enters the studio. She tells you to go away when you talk to her, which explains why she's sitting on the ground facing away from Link. All of these changes would later carry on to the 2019 UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch remake, including the Japanese version.

* When ''VideoGame/{{Lemmings}}'' was ported to the SNES, the Japanese version stayed very faithful to the original UsefulNotes/{{Amiga}} version, but Nintendo of America's censorship policies required some changes be made:

* ''Littlewitch Romanesque: Editio Regia'': H-scenes are censored in the {{UsefulNotes/Steam}} version.

* ''VisualNovel/LorenTheAmazonPrincess'': The {{UsefulNotes/Steam}} version censors armor and romance scenes.

** ''VideoGame/{{Shadowgate}}'': In the original [[UsefulNotes/AppleMacintosh Mac]] and NES releases, when the rock in the sling is used to knock the cyclops in the courtyard unconscious, the protagonist shouts "Death to the '''philistine'''!" in homage to the [[UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}} Biblical]] story of David and Goliath. The 1999 UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor port, ''Shadowgate Classic'', removes the religious reference and changes the line to "Death to the '''tyrant'''!" instead.

* ''Mahjong Gakuen: Higashi Kan Shuu Shirou Toujou'', a strip mahjong game for the [[UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 PC Engine]], attracted a lot of controversy in Japanese game news coverage when it was initially released due to its erotic nature. This eventually led [[GeorgeLucasAlteredVersion the game's developer, Sakindo, to release a censored version]] seven months later called ''Mahjong Gakuen Mild'', which cuts out any and all moments of female nudity.

** The ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' series, [[DarkerAndEdgier being more oriented towards older audiences]], deals with serious subject matter such as war and genocide. That said, it is still not immune to NeverSayDie censorship, as most mentions of death or killing are referred to as "retirement" instead in the English versions of the games. The ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' games did not fall victim to this as much despite covering some of the same topics, as many mentions of death/killing were retained in the English scripts of the original UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance releases, though there were some exceptions.[[note]]Ciel's line in ''[[VideoGame/MegaManZero1 Mega Man Zero 1]]'' about Copy X trying to "kill" all members of the Resistance was changed to trying to "retire" them, her line in ''VideoGame/MegaManZero2'' about Reploids [[ValuesDissonance being sent to concentration camps for "execution" was changed to "retirement"]], etc.[[/note]] By the time of the release of the ''Zero Collection'' on the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, the ESRB became more strict about references to death/killing in E-rated games, so nearly all of them were written around in various ways to compensate. These script changes extend to the ''Zero/ZX Legacy Collection'' as well.

*** Again in the first game, one sidequest requires you to get a magazine for Jim. In the Japanese UsefulNotes/PlayStation version, this item is called the Erotic Magazine, and it has some rather racy images on it, as well as named references to ''VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}}'' ladies Felicia and Lilith. The English versions change it into a Comic Book and make its appearance much more generic. The English versions of the UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 port still refer to it as the Comic Book but keep the original appearance, and the Japan-only UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable version refers to it as the Comic Book with the art from the English [=PlayStation=] version.

** In the original ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI'', one of the early {{Dream Sequence}}s shows a bizarre ritual including two cloaked guards. In the [[UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 PC Engine CD]] and [[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Mega CD]] versions, the guards are fully nude from the neck down with BarbieDollAnatomy, but in the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem Super Famicom]], UsefulNotes/PlayStation, and UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance versions, they're wearing pants.

* Even a game like ''VideoGame/{{Minesweeper}}'' was not immune to Bowdlerisation, as evidenced in 1999 when Sergio Chiodo of Italy started a campaign to ban the game internationally unless it was censored, decrying it as being insensitive to victims of RealLife minefields. Microsoft took note of this, so the versions bundled with the Italian localizations of [[UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows Windows ME, 2000, and XP]] are renamed to "Prato fiorito"[[note]]lit. "Flower Field"[[/note]], the mines are replaced with flowers, and the explosion sound upon losing is replaced with a brief jingle.
* ''Monster Monpiece'': The [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationVita PS Vita]] US/EU release has around forty cards only showing their level 1-3 evolution art, as the higher level evolution art is considered "too exposed".

** ''VideoGame/MortalKombatII'': While the English version of the SNES port of the game remained entirely uncensored[[note]]this was due to the poor reception of the censored SNES release of the first game compared to the Genesis version that could be uncensored via CheatCode, resulting in it outselling the SNES version 3:1[[/note]], the Japanese version recolors all blood green, and forces a grayscale filter whenever a Fatality is performed (except for the StageFatality on The Bridge). All other Japanese releases of ''Mortal Kombat'' games were completely uncensored (including the Japan-only UsefulNotes/PlayStation release of ''II'')... until the franchise was banned in Japan outright for being too violent.

** The edits in the English version of ''MOTHER'' (known officially in its UsefulNotes/WiiU Virtual Console release as ''VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings''):

*** Many of the enemy sprites were slightly edited. For example, the sprites for the Gang Zombie, Shroudley, and Dr. Distorto were edited to remove any instances of blood. The female robot enemies Kelly, Nancy, and Juana had the shading on their breasts adjusted to [[NippleAndDimed avoid implying the presence of nipples]]. The Crow and B.B. Gang enemies lost the cigarettes they smoke in the Japanese version, while [[{{Delinquents}} Teddy]] lost the knife he holds during the brief boss battle against him. Notably, the edited sprites carried over to the Japan-only CompilationRerelease ''MOTHER 1 + 2,'' as well as the Japanese version of the UsefulNotes/WiiU UsefulNotes/VirtualConsole release.

*** As CERO, the Japanese rating board, adopted more strict policies in games intended for children, rereleases of ''MOTHER 2'' contain many text changes to tone down or remove excessive instances of ToiletHumour (mainly relating to vomit, feces, or other bodily functions) or [[NeverSayDie mentions of death/killing]]. This extends to the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance port as part of ''[[CompilationRerelease MOTHER 1+2]]'', the demo included as part of the Masterpieces in ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl Dairantou Smash Brothers X]]''[[note]]though the five-minute [[TimedMission time limit]] of said demo only allows for a small portion of the game's opening act to be played, so any notable text changes are only visible through hacking[[/note]], and the UsefulNotes/WiiU Virtual Console port.

* The non-eroge version of ''{{VisualNovel/Nekopara}} Vol. 1'', which was released on the Nintendo Switch with an M rating from the ESRB for "Sexual Themes", wasn't enough for Sony. The [=PlayStation=] 4 version is rated ''E'', the CensorSteam was increased compared to the UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} version, and the [[JigglePhysics breast jiggle]] feature was removed among other changes.

* ''[[VideoGame/{{Panic}} Panic!]]'': The US release of the game on the Sega CD removes two of the animations, one of them involving a Japanese [[NoSmoking cigarette vending machine]]. When the game received a Japan-only UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 port in 2002, the developers realized that [[DistancedFromCurrentEvents/SeptemberEleventh it wasn't a good idea to release a game that depicts the destruction of world landmarks]], so the animations were changed to said landmarks either [[ToiletHumour having diarrhea or turning into feces]] instead. The game's bad ending was also changed from [[Film/PlanetOfTheApes1968 the Statue of Liberty being buried in the middle of a desert]] to [[GainaxEnding the Earth turning into feces and being rolled into a black hole by a giant dung beetle]].

** ''VideoGame/Pikmin2001'': In the original UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube version, the journal entry for the Mamuta has Olimar compare the eponymous creature's smack to the time a mosquito landed on his head and his wife tried to get it. In the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch port, this was changed to him fearing that the Mamuta's smack might crack open his helmet, likely to avoid any reference to domestic abuse.

*** Due to the new graphical capabilities of the UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor, ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'' were the first games to edit Jynx's in-game sprites outside of Japan by making her skin purple instead of black, due to the controversy at the time over her heavy resemblance to {{blackface}}. All subsequent installments in the series would do this as well, even extending to the 3DS UsefulNotes/VirtualConsole release of ''VideoGame/PokemonYellow''.

** In the original [[UsefulNotes/{{PC88}} Japanese home]] [[UsefulNotes/{{MSX}} computer versions]] as well as the Famicom version, Saladoria has a cigarette shop and a liquor store. In the NES localization, they were changed into a coffee shop and a juice bar, respectively. All graphics and FetchQuest items related to alcohol or smoking throughout the rest of the game were also accordingly changed.

* ''VideoGame/{{Psychosis}}'', a ShootEmUp for the UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 with a SurrealHorror theme, has the game's BigBad taunt you every time you finish a level. In the English versions, he says "Come on!" with his index finger raised, but in the Japanese version, ''Paranoia'', he's laughing while FlippingTheBird.

* The Japanese version of the UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor port of ''VideoGame/Rayman1'' depicts Rayman with five fingers on each hand instead of the usual four. This is due to [[FourFingeredHands some of the negative connotations that four-fingered hands have in Japan]].

** In the UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube remake of the first game, the Hunter's OneHitKill DeadlyLunge no longer decapitates the protagonist. And both localizations of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilCodeVeronica'' lack decapitation animations, although you still hear the sound of a head exploding when you get a headshot. And in all versions of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'', decapitations occur offscreen via GoryDiscretionShot.

** In the UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} version of ''Richman 4'', probably because of Chinese censorship, the stage selections are list as "Stage 1", "Stage 2", "Stage 3" and "Stage 4" instead of "Taiwan", "China", "Japan" and "U.S.A" in the original.

* ''VideoGame/SNKVsCapcomSVCChaos'': Setting the UsefulNotes/NeoGeo's BIOS to English will remove the JigglePhysics in [[MsFanservice Mai Shiranui]]'s animations.

* The English versions of ''VideoGame/{{SOS}}'' for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]] make the ship's bar inaccessible (and two people inside (Brian Dexter and Anthony Paines) unable to be rescued later on as a result). Redwin's minor alcoholism was removed from his character, and his job status as a minister in the Japanese version was changed to him being a counselor.

* The 9/11 terrorist attacks happened very shortly after ''VideoGame/SpiderMan2EnterElectro'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation finished development, so the developers had to quickly delay the game and [[DistancedFromCurrentEvents/SeptemberEleventh change anything that could be considered to be in poor taste]]. Four levels had name changes to avoid any references to planes or the World Trade Center, and the FinalBoss battle against Electro was changed from being on top of the World Trade Center to being on top of two nondescript buildings connected by a bridge.
* The UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 port of ''VideoGame/{{Splatterhouse}}'' (which was also released on the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}'s Virtual Console) was Bowdlerised, but not as badly as people might think. While a fair amount of the violent content remained intact (some of it ''was'' toned down -- but that can partially be blamed on hardware limitations), there was some censorship, most notably in Level 4. The boss of the level in the arcade version is a possessed upside-down cross, surrounded by severed heads, and following its defeat, Rick moves further into the chapel where it resides and kneels before an altar with a crucifix in hand, while a hymnal theme plays and light shines into the chapel; in the console version, the cross is changed to a demonic-looking skull, and the altar is removed from the post-fight scene (though the hymnal and lighting effects inexplicably remain).

* ''[[VisualNovel/{{Sunrider}} Sunrider: Mask of Arcadius]]'': The {{UsefulNotes/Steam}} version removes two scenes with adult content. These scenes can be re-enabled with a patch.

** In the North American version of ''VideoGame/DrMario 64'', Octo (one of the [[GuestFighter guest characters]] from ''VideoGame/WarioLand3'') has orange skin on his face and big red lips. In the later Japanese version released as part of ''[[CompilationRerelease Nintendo Puzzle Collection]]'' on the UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube, the skin on his face is black. The former change was done to avoid resembling {{Blackface}}, though Octo's original appearance in ''VideoGame/WarioLand3'' depicts him with black skin in all regions.

*** Most of Mr. UsefulNotes/GameAndWatch's attacks make him [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin take the forms of characters from various Game & Watch games]]. One of these moves is his side smash, which has him take the form of an enemy from ''Fire Attack'', complete with a large Native American feather on his head as seen during pre-release coverage.[[note]]ItMakesSenseInContext, as ''Fire Attack'' is about defending a wooden fortress from [[TheSavageIndian Native Americans that are trying to burn it down]].[[/note]] The public quickly took notice, and lots of controversy ensued, leading Nintendo to eventually remove the feather in the final release of the game, making the attack resemble the ''VideoGame/GameAndWatchGallery 4'' version of ''Fire Attack'' instead.

* ''[[VideoGame/XKaliber2097 X-Kaliber 2097]]'', a {{Cyberpunk}} PlatformGame for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]], had two instances of pentagrams altered when it was localized from ''Sword Maniac'': one in a cutscene was removed, and the one the FinalBoss battle takes place on was changed to a generic grid pattern. [[DamselInDistress Alyx]] (known as Cynthia in ''Sword Maniac'') was removed from the FinalBoss's sprite as well, presumably because her pose greatly resembled crucifixion.

*** The English UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem version repositions the title on the [[https://tcrf.net/images/e/ee/Ys1sms_title_en.png title screen]] to obscure the nude goddess's body. Compare to the [[https://tcrf.net/images/5/56/Ys1sms_title_jp.png Japanese title screen]].
*** In most versions, the fortuneteller Sarah was strongly implied to have died as the antagonists discovered [[HeKnowsTooMuch she knew too much about their plans]], so she writes a letter to tell Adol the details before she's found. In the localization of the [[UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 TurboGrafx-CD]] version, she was said to be kidnapped, leading to a WhatHappenedToTheMouse situation as she's still never accounted for in any enemy strongholds.

*** Zalem wears {{Stripperiffic}} clothing in the original [[UsefulNotes/PC88 PC-88]] version of ''Ys II'', but was given a conservative robe for the North American [[UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 TurboGrafx-CD]] version.

* The Japan-only UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn port of ''VisualNovel/YuNo'', released about a year after the original UsefulNotes/PC98 version, shortened and toned down the sex scenes. The Windows version, despite being sold as PornWithPlot, blanked out some words in the dialogue to obscure the fact that some of them qualify as ParentalIncest. The 2017 remake, the first ever official English release, [[AbridgedForChildren removes them entirely]].
* The [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]] Zapper got a redesign in 1989 that changes the primary color of the controller from gray to orange, due to new U.S. laws that require toy guns to be better distinguishable from real guns. Even the original gray Zapper could be considered a Bowdlerisation, as the Japanese Zapper very heavily resembled a Colt revolver. ItMakesSenseInContext, as one of the first two Zapper games released in Japan, ''VideoGame/WildGunman'', is [[TheWildWest Wild West]]-themed.

** [[EvilKnockoff Blood Falcon]]'s vehicle is known as the Hell Hawk in the Japanese version of ''F-Zero X''. The Western releases change its name to the Blood Hawk, which later ''F-Zero'' games adopted in all regions. Despite this, Captain Falcon's alternate costumes in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series which give him the appearance of Blood Falcon always have "HELLHAWK" printed on the back of his jacket.
** ''F-Zero Maximum Velocity'' had a few {{Clean Dub Name}}s instated between the eastern and western releases. The [[TheSavageIndian Crazy Horse]] vehicle was renamed to the Wind Walker, and the Dirty Joker vehicle was renamed to the Sly Joker. The Laputan Colony track was renamed to Empyrean Colony ([[DidNotDoTheBloodyResearch since "la puta" means "the whore" in Spanish]]). J.B. Crystal and Fighting Comet's ending portraits were also slightly modified to make their shirts less revealing.
** In the Japanese version of ''F-Zero GX'', Roger Buster says in his post-game interview that he'll use the prize money to buy himself a beer. The English versions make it so that he just wants a drink instead.

* ''VideoGame/TheBlueMarlin'', a fishing-themed [[RolePlayingGame RPG]] for the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch NES]], has various events that can occur while a fish is being reeled in. In the Japanese version, one of them shows the fish [[{{Squick}} vomiting up its own stomach]] to [[ShownTheirWork show that it is very weak]]. This was censored in the American version, and the text was altered to remove mention of it as well, though the graphics for the poor thing's innards still exist in the game's data.

** Early on in ''Mists of Pandaria'', the Monk class had to have a debuff from the Brewmaster's Keg Smash renamed from "Blackout Drunk" to "Dizzying Blows", the original intent being that the Brewmaster was forcefully making the enemy drunk enough to strike themselves, changed to just slapping them so dizzy they would hit themselves, Likely to avoid getting Blizzard in trouble in countries with strict drinking laws and UnfortunateImplications that it was okay for a heroic character to make people imbibe alchohol by force.

*** The censorship could get a little incosistent, though, especially during the time the Cup Series was sponsored by Winston cigarettes. While the in-game graphics would replace the Winston Cup banners and logos with generic "NASCAR Cup Series" logos (albiet still using the Winston-originated colors and font, and even then a few [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF_L-s_xdso trackside banners]] [[https://tcrf.net/NASCAR_Thunder_2004_(PlayStation_2,_Xbox)#Uncensored_Winston_Cup_Logo slipped through uncensored]]) and blurred out the Winston Cup patches on driver suits and video footage when possible, Lightning Challenge intros and announcer chatter would use still use the Winston name instead of generic replacements.

** Between 2001 to 2005, Mark Martin was sponsored by Viagra, an erectile dysfunction drug which have led to awkward questions from children to their parents. In ''NASCAR Thunder 2002'', his car was censored as if it was an tobacco/alcohol car with Martin's name on the hood and sides. Other games such as ''NASCAR Heat 2002'' and later editions of EA's NASCAR games would put the manufacturer of the drug, Pfizer, instead.[[note]]Martin did run a Pfizer-sponsored car without any mention of Viagra in real life, in 2001 and 2002 at races held at Rockingham (North Carolina) Speedway.[[/note]] Ironically, Viagra is left uncensored in ''NASCAR Racing 2003 Season''.

** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestI'' had some elements toned down in its western NES release. Holy Water was renamed to Fairy Water, any direct mentions of God in the script were made much more vague, the woman in the locked building in Garinham was rewritten so that she just hates people in general instead of [[DoesNotLikeMen only hating men]], and the woman in Rimuldar who offers the player puff-puff was changed to her remarking that she [[NonSequitur "has no tomatoes today"]].

** The original versions of "Fever for the Flava" and "Goin' Down On It" by Hot Action Cop had [[IntercourseWithYou extremely naughty lyrics]], so they were heavily censored when they appeared in ''Hot Pursuit 2''.

** The 2021 remake of ''VideoGame/LegendOfMana'' changed the character designs of Hamson and Roger, presumably due to their big lips and a worry that big lips somehow made them racist caricatures. Roger's lips were shrunken and his hoop earrings were removed. Hamson just had a bushy beard sloppily added. The item 'Virgin's Sigh' was also renamed to 'Damsel's Sigh.'

*** One of Mario's partners, Vivian, is implied to be a UsefulNotes/{{transgender}} woman in the Japanese and most European releases. The Japanese version simply [[QueerPeopleAreFunny played it as a joke]] at her expense, while ultimately treating her as a male at the end of the day. In contrast, the European versions turned Vivian's gender identity into [[TheWoobie a more sympathetic story]] to make her be more than just a punchline, but this is never implied in the English and German translations, where her sister Beldam taunting her birth sex and gender identity was changed to her simply calling Vivian "pug-ugly".

*** Peeka, the Boo who guards the entrance to the Pianta Syndicate headquarters, had bunny ears in the original Japanese version; essentially, she was a Boo PlayboyBunny. They were changed into cat ears in all other versions of the game to remove a reference to an adult magazine, and/or because the Playboy Bunny outfit is trademarked.
*** In Chapter 5, Admiral Bobbery asks Mario to find him a bottle of [[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga Chuckola Cola]]. In the Japanese version, it's a bottle of wine called Vintage Red.

*** The game also had a single enemy who unexpectedly [[JumpScare pops out of a large oven]] to rush the player [[InfernalRetaliation while on fire]]. This guy didn't make it into the German version, probably due to [[MoralEventHorizon unspeakable things the Nazis did]]. In fact, the German version was so badly censored that German gamers largely refused to buy it, importing versions from other countries.

* ''VideoGame/ShadowWarrior'''s UK release had the shuriken weapon replaced with darts. 3D Realms made a patch available online that would patch the game back to the original form. Regardless of which version of the game you have, the graphics for the dart weapon are actually present, even if they're not used because the game isn't the modified version.

** ''VideoGame/{{Persona}}'':

* ''VideoGame/TheTwistedTalesOfSpikeMcFang'': In the Japanese version, the game's shopkeeper is a [[HornedHumanoid unicorn-horned]] blonde girl with a [[BuxomBeautyStandard large bust]] and a CleavageWindow. The American version swaps her out for a [[BodyHorror radish-like mummified cyclops with four tentacles]].

** Often seen in NASCAR-themed video games if a driver is sponsored by a beer brand (or in earlier years; tobacco company). One early example was the first officially sanctioned UsefulNotes/{{NASCAR}} video game, ''Bill Elliott's NASCAR Challenge'', was released in 1990 and its cover was censored to have the publisher's name, Creator/{{Konami}}, in place of Elliott's sponsor at the time, Coors Beer (which sponsored Elliott during his 1980s glory years racing for Melling Racing); owing largely to avoid appearances for glamorizing alcohol in a game aimed toward kids. Other examples would include various games where Rusty Wallace (sponsored by Miller Beer[[note]]specifically, Miller Genuine Draft from 1990-94; a general Miller sponsorship from 1995-96 and Miller Lite from 1997 onwards[[/note]] from 1990 until his retirement in 2006; and before that was sponsored by the Kodiak brand of chewing tobacco) would have his name replace the "Miller Lite" name in the logo but was still very obviously Wallace's (or his successors, Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski) Miller Lite paint scheme.