10 most violent games named

Family Media Guide ranks the goriest games of the year; Resident Evil 4, GTA, 50 Cent make list.

Resident Evil 4. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. God of War. It might read like a list of Game of the Year nominees, but it's actually a sampling of games from Family Media Guide's recently released Top 10 Most Violent Video Games list.

Based on content assessments provided by sister company PSVratings, the parent watchdog group Family Media Guide released the list of titles on Thanksgiving, at the start of the holiday shopping season, stating that "this year, some of the most ultraviolent video games ever created are being made available." While the 10 titles were all a cut (and probably a kick, and perhaps a stabbing) above the rest in terms of violent content, the group did not put their top 10 in any specific order of odiousness.

Not everyone agrees with the appropriateness of the titles on the list. For instance, Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification refused to classify 50 Cent: Bulletproof, effectively banning the game in the country and suggesting it isn't appropriate for anyone. 50 Cent himself, on the other hand, went on the record last week saying that parents could use his game as a teaching tool for their children.

The 10 games named by Family Media Guide and the reasons given for their inclusion are as follows:

Resident Evil 4--"Player is a Special Forces agent sent to recover the President's kidnapped daughter. During the first minutes of play, it's possible to find the corpse of a woman pinned up on a wall--by a pitchfork through her face."

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas--"Player is a young man working with gangs to gain respect. His mission includes murder, theft, and destruction on every imaginable level. Player recovers his health by visiting prostitutes then recovers funds by beating them to death and taking their money. Player can wreak as much havoc as he likes without progressing through the game's storyline."

God of War--"Player becomes a ruthless warrior, seeking revenge against the gods who tricked him into murdering his own family. Prisoners are burned alive and player can use 'finishing moves' to kill opponents, like tearing a victim in half."

NARC--"Player can choose between two narcotics agents attempting to take a dangerous drug off the streets and shut down the KRAK cartel while being subject to temptations including drugs and money. To enhance abilities, player takes drugs including pot, Quaaludes, ecstasy, LSD, and 'Liquid Soul'--which provides the ability to kick enemies' heads off."

Killer 7--"Player takes control of seven assassins who must combine skills to defeat a band of suicidal, monstrous terrorists. The game eventually escalates into a global conflict between the US and Japan. Player collects the blood of fallen victims to heal himself and must slit his own wrists to spray blood to find hidden passages."

The Warriors--"Based on a '70s action flick that set new standards for 'artistic violence,' a street gang battles its way across NYC in an attempt to reach its home turf. Player issues several commands to his gang, including 'mayhem,' which causes the gang to smash everything in sight."

50 Cent: Bulletproof--"Game is loosely based on the gangster lifestyle of rapper Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson. Player engages in gangster shootouts and loots the bodies of victims to buy new 50 Cent recordings and music videos."

Crime Life: Gang Wars--"Player is the leader of a ruthless street gang, spending time fighting, recruiting new gangsters, looting, and of course, more fighting. Player can roam the streets and fight or kill anyone in sight for no apparent reason."

Condemned: Criminal Origins--"Player is an FBI serial killer hunter in one of the first titles for the Xbox 360. Game emphasizes the use of melee weapons over firearms, allowing players to use virtually any part of their environment as a weapon. The next-generation graphics provide a new level of detail to various injuries, especially 'finishing moves.'"

True Crime: New York City--"Player is a NYC cop looking for information regarding the mysterious death of a friend. Player can plant evidence on civilians and shake them down to earn extra money."

478 Comments

  • BlueZ06

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 5:30 pm PT

    I am totally with Kang, WTH is freakin Manhunt. I played the hell outa that game and def deserves to rank in this list. Hell it should rank over GTA any day. Sure you kill people and whatever and it had the hot coffee mod but it was nothing like Manhunt. Tsk tsk.

  • chedarcheese190

    Posted May 20, 2009 5:36 pm PT

    like they think we dont know this sh!t.

  • KangLao

    Posted Apr 26, 2009 3:18 pm PT

    wiat a minute!!! Wheres manhunt?

  • KangLao

    Posted Apr 26, 2009 3:16 pm PT

    The Warriors, should be at the top, hell YEAH...
    what a gay list, Resident Evil 4 is only up there because of one thing you see in the game? Pfah.....

    The Warriors is the most Violent game i have played

  • jamesknoxpolk

    Posted Apr 23, 2009 1:53 pm PT

    manhnt,manhunt 2,

  • 96jake

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 5:13 pm PT

    That is the WORST list I have ever seen!!!!! Where's Man Hunt?! And 50c? ARE YOU ****ING SERIUOS?!!! GAYIEST LIST EVER!!! }8 - (

  • gunswordfist

    Posted Nov 23, 2008 7:36 pm PT

    lol That is hilarious NejiKusa. And I didn't know this about Killer 7 "Player collects the blood of fallen victims to heal himself and must slit his own wrists to spray blood to find hidden passages."

  • NejiKusa

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 6:43 pm PT

    LOLZ at liquid soul giving you the ability to kick peoples heads off

  • Testify_exe

    Posted Sep 20, 2008 5:45 pm PT

    this is kinda retarded. GTA:SA's violence isnt all that bad. SUre you can kill tons of people but it all looks real fake...

  • majorstefan

    Posted Aug 17, 2008 7:33 pm PT

    This list is bullcrap, the warriors and GTA SA should be replaced with scarface and manhunt

  • metal_4_life

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 11:57 pm PT

    Ok...where in the world is Soldier of Fortune 2? WTF...

  • furior_celtica

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 1:34 pm PT

    HAHA! This is one funny-ass joke. Yeah you can find a lady pinned up by a pitchfork in RE4. Better than being pinned up by stupid parents for thinking you kid is going to do the same to the neighbors cat.

  • hellbound99

    Posted Jul 25, 2008 4:46 am PT

    Manhunt is the most violent game of all time and it isn't even mentioned!

  • agamepro2U

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 2:03 pm PT

    True Crime? violent? Max Payne is more violent....

  • suns21

    Posted May 31, 2008 7:28 am PT

    that is not wat true crime of new york is all about! did u play the game?

  • norberto1995

    Posted May 30, 2008 8:33 am PT

    oh wait did i called NARC , Sorry that game sucks 2

  • norberto1995

    Posted May 30, 2008 8:31 am PT

    Ahem... Bulletproof violent?? pffff......... Ur crazy that game SUCKS !! that should be the #1 bad grap,bad acting,dumb story kiddy games who are just fan boys from Mr. Cent. GTA SA + NARC + The Warriors are the most REAL,FUN,GREAT violent gamez i played

  • nicknicknick333

    Posted Apr 5, 2008 8:31 am PT

    Bulletproof as a learning tool? Great idea 50 cent

  • DaJJ

    Posted Apr 2, 2008 5:30 pm PT

    This is ******. Games do not screw people up or make them homicidal. And what about Sexually suggestive games? my dad wouldn't let me get srs cos there was a bikibi girl on the cover. WTF

  • Elann2008

    Posted Apr 1, 2008 3:25 am PT

    I think it's another case where the government shifts the blame to another industry, which is the gaming industry. There is no proven theory that video games make people become psychos, lunatics, and derranged people. I think the number one cause of crime, violence, and issues in this world is money. Now, if you dont agree with me on this, then you're absolutely nuts. Just think about it. What do people complain about most? Why do families fall apart? Why do wars occur? Why are there homeless people? World hunger? Epidemic wars and battles going on all over the world. And we dont even know it. All over what? Money.

  • alipeewee

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 9:13 am PT

    This is soooooo idiotic, do they think that violent games cause people to become psychos? I'm fourteen, and I've played RE4 and GTA: San Andreas, and I have yet to kill anyone (in real life, that is. The games were absolute kill-fests ) In the news today, there is yet another video-game crackdown on violence, because of claims that they are overly violent. Was SAW banned? it may have been a movie, not a game, but that shouldn't make a difference. This government is justtrying to turn us communist

  • sqareenixfan

    Posted Mar 21, 2008 9:44 am PT

    I'm not going to say how stupid this is since everyone else pretty much feels the same way I do about this. I'm just going to say one thing: they really should've replaced 50 Cent with Manhunt.

  • nick_manthe

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 8:14 am PT

    They should just shut up already because nothing is going to change, it's just annoying.

  • afriendofnayru

    Posted Feb 13, 2008 9:10 pm PT

    The "fight" against violence (no pun intended) in videogames is a battle that will never be won by the group who started it. In other words, there's something called freedom. Video game companies can release whatever they want, whenever they want. The ESRB was designed to rate the games, not to criticize them. When family networks overlook these ratings, and target these games, they hold no ground. The reason why the game has a rating of "M" for "Mature", or 17+ is because they are obviously not meant to be played by 6 year olds. The more violent games are obviously geared towards older players. Video games aren't supposed to be real. They're fantasy. Sure, they may be reality based, but that doesn't mean the games are teaching anyone violence. Everyone knows what a gun is or a knife. All the 8 year old boys watch the Spiderman movies (that have guns. knives. murders. ) with their mommies and daddies. What makes a person truely violent is their mental state, not the game. The world is a dirty place. **** happens, and everyone has at least one problem or flaw. It's natural, and no one's perfect.

  • MasterJP80008

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 10:24 am PT

    This is something stupid cause the thing is that the list wont prevent the games from selling it will be the contrary the people are going to read it and say '' it's possible to find the corpse of a woman pinned up on a wall--by a pitchfork through her face. COOL I HAVE TO GET THAT GAME !!!! so please let the games be cause you talk like if this games were meant to be played by little childrens and they are not they are M 17+ so stop messing whit someone elses buissness.

  • marked-one101

    Posted Feb 1, 2008 7:16 pm PT

    I just think that's dumb. I mean it's not like most of us are gonna get screwed up by playing videogames. I just hate those watch groups that watch videogames and say "ALL VIDEOGAMES ARE BAAADD!!!!". They are just hypocritical, if you think about it. They bash games but yet they're watching like, i don't know, maybe like SE7EN?! Besides, there are MUCH worse games out there. RE4 isn't killing humans, THEY'RE ZOMBIES that look like they're still alive because a...i aint gonna spoil it for those who havent played it yet, but still. C'mon, it's just games...not real life.

  • fienno123

    Posted Jan 30, 2008 2:12 pm PT

    Resident Evil 4--"Player is a Special Forces agent sent to recover the President's kidnapped daughter. During the first minutes of play, it's possible to find the corpse of a woman pinned up on a wall--by a pitchfork through her face." actually its an axe thorugh the face and i am 12 and when i saw that i just though "thats sick" but not in a "sexist" way more of a "thats pretty gory and bloody" type of way. i am enjoying this game LOADS and im honest with you, i woundn't say its bloody unless villagers take a head shot or the chainsaw guy and when i saw him, i didnt want to go to go onto the street and kill people.

    games dont make you want to kill. im 12 im a female and i want to play resident evil 4. its dosnet make me want to go on a kill-fest but it does hel[p me stay alert

  • vasquezinus

    Posted Jan 22, 2008 8:09 am PT

    .... so you played the first ten minutes of RE4 then.

    ha.... ha.... you talk like hoes are part of the damn storyline. Is that even in san andreas? i remember that being on a GTA3 cheat sheet because it was so damn hard to even figure out ...
    i could write sooooooo much more. something wrong wit everything... but i already submitted that.. and it cut me off after i was done tlakin about san andreas.... which really really really pissed me off

  • killerchurro

    Posted Jan 12, 2008 3:44 pm PT

    HAHAHAH i love Resident Evil, no matter how sexist it is

  • Nicksta101

    Posted Dec 31, 2007 5:36 am PT

    NARC? What the hell, where's Manhunt, Mortal Kombat and Hitman. And since when do you gain health by taking in prosies. Eating and health pickups too.

  • sonic_nhl

    Posted Dec 17, 2007 6:08 am PT

    Where the **** is Manhunt!?

  • SuperMario848

    Posted Dec 16, 2007 9:31 pm PT

    Where the hell is Manhunt... everyone knows that game was pretty much banned for how violent and sadistic it is!!!!

  • Stavr0s

    Posted Dec 15, 2007 5:10 pm PT

    Wasn't Dead Rising out then?

    If it was, it should've been up there . .

  • jakeisdisturbed

    Posted Dec 13, 2007 1:29 pm PT

    PasteHunter- God of War should easily be up there. It's a pretty decent list, but the two that I don't like are The Warriors and True Crime. Other than that, the list is pretty good.

  • stewiegriffin78

    Posted Nov 24, 2007 6:37 pm PT

    I just lol'ed at the 50 Cent description-"Game is loosely based on the gangster lifestyle of rapper Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson." LOL! Loosely based? I'm osrry, but he isn't a gangster. He's a wannabe, who just milks the fact that he got shot many times, and lived. He should be grateful, not prideful....moron.

  • DJDeji

    Posted Nov 22, 2007 9:16 am PT

    What? GTA San Andreas: Visiting Prostitutes To Gain Health. That's Not Violence Thats Sexual Content! lol. 50 Cent Is More Violent That GTA. By Far. And You Don't Have To Beat The Cra* Outa People To Gain Money. You Can Be A Taxi Driver Or Medic Or Even A Firefighter!

    50 Cent Game: Committing counter-Kills With Blood Spraying...

    GTA: A Few Punches, Thats It! Or Maybe A Few Bullets Or Rockets. What Makes It Worse Than James Bond?

    Just Because A Game Is Popular Doesn't Make The Violence Worse. I've Seen More Violent (some Banned) Games That Didn't Make It Anywhere Near That List.

  • Nathanisawesome

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 3:34 pm PT

    This list sucks terrible... Some of the games were good and all but the only gory games i noticed were Resident Evil 4, God of War, and maybe the Condemned!! But the other ones suck...Espicially the 50 Cent game..

  • Djinnator

    Posted Nov 12, 2007 11:15 pm PT

    only five of those games are any good, and they are fictional. These people need not worry unless thier kids are already a bit crazy

  • Goliath_unit

    Posted Oct 28, 2007 4:03 pm PT

    "The next-generation graphics provide a new level of detail to various injuries, especially 'finishing moves.'"

    WTF does that mean? i hate these "family" thingys, always blabbing away about video game violence and the children!! stfu and let the teens decide >_>

  • red_raven01

    Posted Oct 28, 2007 2:15 am PT

    I understand Resident Evil and God of War being a violent game...

    But GTA?

  • Spectre77

    Posted Oct 16, 2007 7:19 pm PT

    It's pretty clear that people like the ones in these "parent watchdog groups" don't actually PLAY the games before making these decisions and accusations. Anyone who's played GTA3 and up knows that its POSSIBLE for the player to recover "health by visiting prostitutes then recovers funds by beating them to death and taking their money", its not even remotely close to being the ONLY way to regain health, nor the best way to do it, nor the most popular. They obviously heard about this scenario once and decided to round up all the old ladies in the neighborhood to form a damned organization.

  • Tim57282

    Posted Oct 1, 2007 11:09 pm PT

    "50 Cent himself, on the other hand, went on the record last week saying that parents could use his game as a teaching tool for their children."

    Ha ha ha that is hilarious.

    i mean, what exactly does it teach children? How to be a gangster and 50c idol?

  • grantiscool10

    Posted Oct 1, 2007 2:25 pm PT

    yep it is just for 2005, and anyone notice half the games there have to do with gangs and stuff? just sayin...

  • grantiscool10

    Posted Oct 1, 2007 2:21 pm PT

    i think this is a list just for 2005, could be wrong though. theres a couple i never heard of

  • Panther_Dud_E3

    Posted Sep 29, 2007 8:22 am PT

    First of all where the heck is Manhunt and Postal. Replace GoW with GoW II and take off True Crime thats barely over the average violence.

  • santanadedios

    Posted Aug 29, 2007 10:01 pm PT

    what about prince of persia warrior within?

  • More_Dakka

    Posted Aug 29, 2007 11:13 am PT

    Dead Rising and Gears of War were made AFTER this list was made, so thats why they aren't on it. Wouldn't be surprised if they made it on the list if a new one was made.

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