10 Gutsy Video Games That Tackle Polarising Subject Matter

The protagonist of Disco Elysium is one of the sorriest sons of bitches this side of fictional media, and it's through him that the game is allowed to shine.

Through the perspective of this man the player experiences some of the most emotionally charged and realistic depictions of drug abuse, heartbreak, and existential breakdowns one could possibly hope to find in video games.

When the player first wakes up they don't know the characters name, his past, or even where his damn shoes are. All they know is what their reptilian brain and their horrific necktie tells them: they partied until they couldn't remember anything, and they're unrelentingly pathetic.

Throughout the rest of the game the player is dealt some harsh truths about the characters current state of affairs, how they got there, what they were like before the drug induced amnesia. They're also free to play into those truths too, taking drugs regularly helps with the games insanely difficult skill checks and often keeps the voices in line.

It's a horrifying take on what a good man can turn into through a few poor decisions and it's up to the player whether to continue down the path, or try and be better.