History WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids / VideoGames

* The [[ShoddyKnockoffProduct pirate original]] Famicom game ''TheLionKing 5'' seems like a perfectly kid friendly game at first, that is until you get a GameOver and find [[spoiler: the character committing suicide. Yes, really.]] [[DudeNotFunny It seems like it was done as some sick joke by the programmer]].

* [[http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/watchdog-group-nintendo-no-longer-quot-family-friendly-quot-/1295531 The National Institute on Media and the Family]] has taken Nintendo to task for releasing ''MadWorld'' on their "family friendly" system {{Wii}} (never mind the fact that it was actually {{Sega}} that published the game). Apparently they didn't notice ''RedSteel'', ''NoMoreHeroes,'' ''HouseOfTheDead'', ''VideoGame/TheGodfather'', ''DeadRising'', ''DeadlyCreatures'', ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'', and ''{{Manhunt}}'' (not that those were released by Nintendo either, but they're still on the Wii) and thus, they became one more laughing-stock on the Internet. Nintendo countered to [[FunWithAcronyms NIMF's]] claim about the Wii being "for the entire family" by saying that the Wii is indeed for everyone... and when saying "everyone", they throw in hardcore gamers in the equation. Apparently, [[FanDumb no one associates "hardcore gamer" with "family" today]].

* [[http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/watchdog-group-nintendo-no-longer-quot-family-friendly-quot-/1295531 The National Institute on Media and the Family]] has taken Nintendo to task for releasing ''MadWorld'' on their "family friendly" {{Wii}}. Apparently they didn't notice ''RedSteel'', ''NoMoreHeroes,'' ''HouseOfTheDead'', ''VideoGame/TheGodfather'', ''DeadRising'', ''DeadlyCreatures'', ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'', and ''{{Manhunt}}'' and thus, they became one more laughing-stock on the Internet. Nintendo countered to [[FunWithAcronyms NIMF's]] claim about the Wii being "for the entire family" by saying that the Wii is indeed for everyone... and when saying "everyone", they throw in hardcore gamers in the equation. Apparently, [[FanDumb no one associates "hardcore gamer" with "family" today]].

-->Soul Nomad was rated T by the ESRB. This clearly indicates that the ESRB never actually played the game, because among other things Soul Nomad has [[ClusterFBomb near-constant swearing]] [[http://lparchive.org/LetsPlay/soulnomad/1-Gigbanner33.jpg from the main character]], rape, murder, slavery, a dash of genocide, and all sorts of other happy fun times. And most of that’s in the Normal Path. [[NightmareFuel The Demon Path is]] [[ItGotWorse much, much worse.]]

* [[http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/watchdog-group-nintendo-no-longer-quot-family-friendly-quot-/1295531 The National Institute on Media and the Family]] has taken Nintendo to task for releasing ''MadWorld'' on their "family friendly" {{Wii}}. Apparently they didn't notice ''RedSteel'', ''NoMoreHeroes,'' ''HouseOfTheDead'', ''VideoGame/TheGodfather'', ''DeadRising'', ''DeadlyCreatures'', ''ResidentEvil'', and ''{{Manhunt}}'' and thus, they became one more laughing-stock on the Internet. Nintendo countered to [[FunWithAcronyms NIMF's]] claim about the Wii being "for the entire family" by saying that the Wii is indeed for everyone... and when saying "everyone", they throw in hardcore gamers in the equation. Apparently, [[FanDumb no one associates "hardcore gamer" with "family" today]].

* If you insert ''TalesOfTheAbyss'' into your 3DS, the first thing you'll see is a RidiculouslyCuteCritter running around a ball, saying "Let's Play! Mieu! Mieu! Mieu!" Anyone unfamiliar with the series would suspect this game is for a toddler, [[spoiler: when its plot includes mass-murder, some suggestive dialogue (including discussions of a party member's bust size and references to prostitution), and mild swearing (damn and hell is about as strong as it gets).]]
** It goes back farther--as a rule, there's a reason the TalesSeries typically has T-ratings.

* ''VideoGame/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice'' (the Telltale series). It looks like a kid-friendly game on the outside because of the cute animal characters, but the humor is definitely not for kids. Sure, it may not be as bad as other examples on this page, but ''still''.

-->Soul Nomad was rated T by the ESRB. This clearly indicates that the ESRB never actually played the game, because among other things Soul Nomad has [[http://lparchive.org/LetsPlay/soulnomad/1-Gigbanner33.jpg near constant swearing from the main character]], rape, murder, slavery, a dash of genocide, and all sorts of other happy fun times. And most of that’s in the Normal Path. [[NightmareFuel The Demon Path is]] [[ItGotWorse much, much worse.]]

* This [[http://kotaku.com/5753506/kids-shouldnt-play-games-about-jerking-off story]] about Kotaku columnist Luke Plunkett discovering Stroker for the Commodore 64 as a young child only reenforces this trope.

** This was compounded by the fact that Conkers appeared in the kid-friendly racing game Diddy Kong Racing.

** It must be noted that only the NES and Game Boy Advance titles and ''MysteryOfTheEmblem'' are particularly bright and colourful; save for the obligatory use of YouGottaHaveBlueHair, every other title in the series is much more subdued and realistic in colouring, bordering on RealIsBrown at times.

** It goes back farther-- as a rule, there's a reason the TalesSeries typically has T-ratings.

* ''VideoGame/MetalGearGhostBabel'' is rated E for Everybody, the only game in the entire ''Franchise/MetalGear'' series released during the existence of the ESRB which got less than a T rating (and all but one got an M). The game includes: ethnic cleansing, a serial killer who makes life-size dolls out of his victims, said serial killer discovering the dismembered corpse of his sister, and a boss who commits suicide by burning himself to death while crying out in orgasmic joy. [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking On the plus side, Snake doesn't smoke in this one!]]

* ''CallOfDuty'' is still subject to this, even though all the games after the third have been rated M. The ones made by Treyarch turn this UpToEleven with more gore and cursing.
* ''VideoGame/{{Glitch}}'' is a browser-based game with cute graphics, talking animals and trees (including an eggplant which, naturally, grows eggs) - which also features alcohol, drug use (in the form of no-no powder which temporarily gives you unlimited energy - then you die unless you take another dose), some sex-related jokes, and a somewhat disturbing level in hell. According to the terms of service, the game is not intended for children under 14, and children under 18 need parental agreement.

** And then comes the new short "Meet the Pyro", in which we find out that as Pyro kills his opponents, [[spoiler:he sees it as him playing around with cherubs in a [[TastesLikeDiabetes magical, colorful world]].]]
* If you insert TalesOfTheAbyss into your 3DS, the first thing you'll see is a RidiculouslyCuteCritter running around a ball, saying "Let's Play! Mieu! Mieu! Mieu!" Anyone unfamiliar with the series would suspect this game is for a toddler, [[spoiler: when its plot includes mass-murder, some suggestive dialogue (including discussions of a party member's bust size and references to prostitution), and mild swearing (damn and hell is about as strong as it gets).]]

* The Fable series has cartoony graphics and a generic fantasy setting. It is ''far'' from a children's game, especially Fable II.

* ''CallOfDuty'' is still subject to this, even though all the games after the third have been rated M. The ones made by Treyarch turn this UpToEleven with more gore and cursing.

* The Fable series has cartoony graphics and a generic fantasy setting. It is ''far'' from a children's game, especially Fable II.

* ''KingdomHearts'' has become this since ''KingdomHeartsII''. With the way the plot just went darker, very deep, interesting and less {{Narm}}-like one wonders why people still think this is a game for 5 year olds. Is it because of the presence of Disney characters?

* {{KingdomHearts}} has become this since {{KingdomHeartsII}}. With the way the plot just went darker, very deep, interesting and less {{Narm}}-like one wonders why people still think this is a game for 5 year olds. Is it because of the presence of Disney characters?

* {{KingdomHearts}} has become this since {{KingdomHeartsII}}. With the way the plot just went darker, very deep, interesting and less ({{YMMV}}){{Narm}}-like one wonders why people still think this is a game for 5 year olds. Is it because of the presence of Disney characters?

** A father actually wrote on his blog about how terrible this game is for making fun of adopted children (like his own). This ignoring 1. his daughter is 10 and the game is rated T, and 2. the person saying it (or vegetable in this case) is known for not being of the most sound judgement.

* This [[story http://kotaku.com/5753506/kids-shouldnt-play-games-about-jerking-off]] about Kotaku columnist Luke Plunkett discovering Stroker for the Commodore 64 as a young child only reenforces this trope.

** Most of the controversy surrounding the game stems from the "video game ghetto;" MoralGuardians think that only kids should play video games and therefore making one about violent crime is absolutely heinous.

* ''ShinMegamiTensei'': a RPG with pixies and Jack Frosts... where the USA fall under the control of a fanatic Christian cult ruled by supernatural beings which uses the US nuclear arsenal to rebuild civilization around a fascist theocracy, and God '''[[GodIsEvil really approves]]''' of what they are doing--and he's ''still'' the closest thing to a good guy in the story.)
** Any game from Shin Megami Tensei/Atlus. For something that kids can buy, ''VideoGame/DevilSurvivor'' has to be one of the most fucked up games ever (and it's only rated T!). Proving once again that parents should read the back of the box before letting kids buy video games.
* ''Shin Megami Tensei'''s spinoff series, ''{{Persona}}'', gets it just as bad:

** And then comes the new short "Meet the Pyro", in which we find out that as Pyro kills his opponents, [[spoiler:he sees it as him playing around with cherubs in a magical, colorful world]].

* ''VideoGame/MetalGearGhostBabel'' is rated E for Everybody, the only game in the entire ''Franchise/MetalGear'' series released during the existence of the ESRB which got less than a T rating (and all but one got an M). The game includes: ethnic cleansing, a serial killer who makes life-size dolls out of his victims, said serial killer discovering the dismembered corpse of his sister, and a boss who commits suicide by burning himself to death while crying out in orgasmic joy. On the plus side, Snake doesn't smoke in this one!

* The ''VideoGame/ArcTheLad'' series. The hero of the first episode is a terrorist whose uncle committed genocide against the people of the hero of the second episode before turning said hero into the prototype of bioweapons made by turning children into bloodthirsty monsters. And that is just the beginning, for it gets worse after that. But it has cute graphics... and people complain about some [[DummiedOut unwatchable]] consensual sex scene in ''GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas''?[[hottip:* :Obviously, the answer to that question lies in PublicMediumIgnorance.]]
* ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay'' has {{talking animal}}s and has a cartoonish appearance, but is rather bloody and ridden in profanities[[hottip:*:a few words are bleeped out, although words like "shit" and "twat" remain]], and advancing through parts of the game involve getting drunk, and that's just the start. It does have numerous warnings that it's not meant for anyone under 17, as well as a giant ESRB M-rating on the box; still didn't prevent children from playing it.

* ''GrandTheftAuto''. It is amazing and disgusting how many parents think it's fine for their kids to play GTA. A personal favorite parental defense: "Grand Theft Auto is the only M-rated game we let him play."

* In the same vein as ''Call of Duty'' is ''{{Halo}}'', which has a bit of that ''StarWars''-ish look to it, what with big heroic guys in green space armor gracing the cover. Needless to say, any bit of knowledge of the game makes it clear that it is most definitely ''not'' for children. Of course, being a massive big-name game, children are sure to hear of it and make their parents well aware of that fact, hence you will always - ALWAYS - find at least one 5-year-old playing on Xbox Live with you.

* The Fable series has cartoony graphics and a generic fantasy setting. It is ''far'' from a children's game, especially Fable II.

* ''MetalGearGhostBabel'' is rated E for Everybody, the only game in the entire ''MetalGear'' series released during the existence of the ESRB which got less than a T rating (and all but one got an M). The game includes: ethnic cleansing, a serial killer who makes life-size dolls out of his victims, said serial killer discovering the dismembered corpse of his sister, and a boss who commits suicide by burning himself to death while crying out in orgasmic joy. On the plus side, Snake doesn't smoke in this one!