8 Video Games That Tackle Incredibly Polarising Subject Matter

The gaming industry is no stranger to political controversy. Scapegoating the medium for 'inspiring' any random acts of violence was very much the norm of the mainstream media for some time - especially the 90s and early 2000s.

This narrative, forever lampooned and discredited by sensible voices on all sides of the political spectrum, is now a thing of the past. But apart from this obvious display of reactionary opinion, are video games now inextricably linked with political subject matter?

There is much to be said, however, of 'accidental politics', and the strive for neutrality when dealing with inherently complex and controversial themes. Indeed, Ed Smith's enlightening contribution to this discussion and its relationship to Battlefield: Hardline is essential reading for anyone interested by the problematic nature of games with potentially volatile contexts.

As Smith notes, Hardline epitomises the idea of a game that uncomfortably avoids discussion surrounding its context, one that becomes "not just highly political but politically dubious". As the drug-fuelled Ghost Recon: Wildlands also approaches, it is certainly an argument to bear in mind.

After all, what is a truly great story without social commentary? Inherently political or otherwise, we are now seeing many video games find themselves bound in external and internal political meta-narratives.

Indeed, as Hardline has shown already, shying away just simply isn't an option...

Grand Theft Auto has never been a bastion of satire in the industry. Honestly, contrary to many who believe so, the franchise's incongruous methods of parody have never really managed to stoke discussion, indeed, even going as so far as to completely chastise debate in the first place. It offers a poor imitation of the denigrative approach pioneered by South Park co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, but in a manner that barely manages to provoke discussion. Quite simply, there is no 'hoo-ha' to get with GTA.

Fun free-roamer it is, iconoclastic satire, it is not.

There is one mission, however, that bucks the trends of the series' past; one that garnered controversy, again, due to the preeminence of controversial voices in the media.

For those who have played 'By the Book', they should know that the violence portrayed is anything but gratuitous. Rather, it offers a forceful examination of the use of Government-sanctioned torture, particularly in relation to the United States' War on Terror following the attacks on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon in September 2001. It's an immensely uncomfortable experience to sit through, but Rockstar knew this, and I'd be beyond surprise if it wasn't their intention.

Trevor is a character we're already well accustomed to by the time this mission approaches. One who, in an ironic parody of the chaotic nature of GTA itself, thrives off violence. He is, however, completely repulsed by his acts here, and even goes as far as to offer a scathing monologue on torture itself before giving his victim the chance to escape, after being instructed by the FIB to murder him.

We're also shown just how useless torture is as a method to extract information, as Michael struggles to discern who his target is based on the vague and nondescript intel gained from Trevor's acts.

For a medium so often lampooned for its almost repetitive use of violence as a solution to threats, this was a welcomed discussion to be had, no matter how obtuse it might have been.