'''Basic Trope''': A video game gives the player the option to do horrible things.
* '''Straight''': The player can [[GroinAttack shoot guards in the crotch]] and listen to them scream.
* '''Exaggerated''': The player has total control over the lives and deaths of everyone in the game, and there's dozens of in-built torture options that are very heavily incentivized.
* '''Downplayed''': If the player attacks other characters in the same way they attack enemies, they will react to it but not be injured.
* '''Justified''':
** The game follows a real history event involving cruel acts done to people, such as the Spanish Inquisition.
** The game goes for the "realistic" slant, allowing you to do things to friends that you could to enemies, and you can do some bad stuff to your enemies.
** The game characters mistreated you and you happen to have the option to go for a revenge.
** The game has the purpose to help players manage their inner demons, by giving them a chance to leash out their violent urges.
** It allows you to EarnYourBadEnding.
* '''Inverted''':
** The only one being tortured is the player character.
** VideoGameCaringPotential
* '''Subverted''': The game drops hints of a high cruelty potential, but all the [[NonPlayerCharacter NPCs]] are invincible.
* '''Double Subverted''': The [[NonPlayerCharacter NPCs]] may be invincible, but there are lots of ways to screw with their emotions.
* '''Parodied''': "Gosh, I sure hope nobody shoots my kids today!"
* '''Zig-Zagged''': The game lets players be jerks, only it turns out there are limits to the cruelty, which can be lifted by in-game choices.
* '''Averted''':
** The game is a non-violent sort.
** Combat is straightforward and lacking in torture methods.
* '''Enforced''': "MurderSimulators are fun. Who are we to judge?"
* '''Lampshaded''': "What cruel god would let this happen to me?!"
* '''Invoked''': "Time to find out what my new dark powers can really do!"
* '''Exploited''':
** Game testing revealed that the players indulged in a lot of ComedicSociopathy, so the developers made it so there are certain unlocks and achievements you could get by indulging in it.
** The game developers were also aware of this tendency, and made sure players who ''did'' unlock those "achievements" got humiliating [[MedalOfDishonor awards]] and [[EarnYourBadEnding the bad ending]]
* '''Defied''': "I refuse to sink to the level of sadistic lowlifes."
* '''Discussed''': "[[InnocentBystander Why is it we]] always [[TheChewToy seem to be cosmic chew toys]] to "champions of justice" that are really [[SociopathicHero psychos]], or some [[GodIsEvil evil god]] controlling everything?"
* '''Conversed''': "Did you just plant a bomb on that guy?"
* '''Deconstructed''': VideoGameCrueltyPunishment
* '''Reconstructed''': The game has multiple endings, one of which requires the player be an evil jerk... in order to get LaserGuidedKarma for their deeds.
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If you use the gravity gun to send that mook through the wall, the VideoGameCrueltyPotential page should be on the other side.
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%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
%%
%%* '''Implied''': ???
%%* '''Plotted A Good Waste''': ???
%%* '''Played For Laughs''': ???
%%* '''Played For Drama''': ???