A controversial game with disturbing content was released on Steam and only removed after massive public backlash.
A video game that sparked outrage worldwide: In early 2025, No Mercy was released on Steam – a game that depicted sexualized violence and incest, packaged as a playable fantasy.
A Disturbing Game
In early 2025, the so-called "adult game" No Mercy, developed by Zerat Games, was released on the gaming platform Steam. The game sparked global outrage shortly after its release. The reason: In No Mercy, players take on the role of a man who commits sexualized violence within his own family. Particularly disturbing: The game’s description included phrases like “never take no for an answer” and “possess every woman”, wording that was widely condemned as glorifying rape and incest.
Free Access Despite Age Restriction
Although the game carried an official 18+ age rating, it was freely accessible on Steam – a platform legally available to users as young as 13. The mix of highly explicit content and low access barriers triggered concern and criticism in several countries.
International Reactions And Consequences
In countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, the game was quickly banned. In Switzerland and Germany, it was also removed following public pressure. Organizations such as Collective Shout and the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) strongly criticized the game, accusing Steam of tolerating content that trivializes sexualized violence. UK Secretary of State for the Home Department Yvette Cooper called the game “disgusting” and demanded that platforms like Steam be held more accountable to prevent such content from being published in the first place.
Steam Responds – But Only After Public Pressure
After several days of mounting criticism, No Mercy was eventually removed from Steam worldwide. As of now, there has been no official statement from Steam. Developer Zerat Games responded only vaguely to the accusations and initially defended the game by citing “artistic freedom.”
A Wake-Up Call For The Gaming Industry?
The No Mercy case raises fundamental questions about the responsibility of digital platforms. How is it possible that a game with such explicit and deeply problematic content could be published – and only removed after public outrage? It’s a clear example that age ratings alone are not enough. Without active review processes and strict content standards, even extremely troubling games can make their way onto mainstream platforms, potentially impacting young players and our societal landscape.
What do you think? Was the game rightfully banned or is this still just creativity?