By People say violent video games make gamers more violent in real life. Well, I beg to differ.
For me, violent video games help me let off some steam, which would have been otherwise directed at objects in my house.
I’m not a violent person, but I do feel angry and frustrated at times. When I do, I usually jump into one of these violent and brutal games to just let off steam by smashing some zombie heads or shooting a bunch of bad guys.
In this list, I’m sharing my favorites of the most violent games you’ll ever find. Some of these games are very old, but the gameplay still holds up.
See if you’ve played any of these before. If not, go try them out. But be warned, they are brutally violent.
1. Manhunt
Manhunt is the OG of all violent video games. This game is so violent that it was immediately banned in many countries.
Basically, in this game, you get to kill people using multiple methods. What makes it so violent is that performing those mechanics feels very realistic.
Manhunt 2 is even more violent, and you can’t even buy this game anymore. But if you sail the high seas, there are ways to grab it.
2. Scarface: The Game
Scarface is like GTA on steroids!
If you haven’t watched the Scarface movie, you probably won’t get what’s going on in the game. So go watch that masterpiece first before playing the game.
Scarface: The Game continues the story of the movie by adding an alternate ending. This game is brutally violent, and it mostly involves dealing drugs and killing rival gangs.
It’s available on consoles, but the PC version is nowhere to be found. You can still download it from the Internet Archive or other “uncommon” websites.
There was a rumor about a re-release of Scarface on Steam, but it wasn’t officially confirmed.
3. GTA V
Nothing beats that feeling of driving a fast car down a crowded street or open-firing an automatic rifle in GTA!
Any GTA game, especially GTA: San Andreas and GTA V are perfect for letting off steam. They offer sandbox-like environments for you to find creative ways to let go of that anger.
Just be sure to avoid GTA Online, as it will only make you feel more frustrated.
4. Dying Light
I still jump into the first Dying Light game from time to time just to reminisce on good old zombie-smashing memories.
It used to be my go-to relaxing game where I would just run around smashing zombies until nighttime came.
The original Dying Light still holds up in terms of gameplay and graphics. But you can also check out Dying Light 2 or Dying Light: The Beast if you prefer a newer game.
5. Mortal Kombat 11
Mortal Kombat series needs no introduction. It’s the most brutally violent game franchise ever made. And it’s also one of the few games that’s popular because of it.
Mortal Kombat 11 is not the latest game in the franchise, but it’s the last great game of the series. And it also has more active players than the latest title, Mortal Kombat 1.
This game features some of the most brutal finishers I’ve ever seen. There’s everything from body part dismemberment to pulling the heart out straight from the body.
6. Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is more than just a fantastic RPG; it also has one of the best combat systems in the open-world RPG genre.
In this game, you get more freedom to go crazy with weapons. When shooting bad guys or even good guys, you get to see blood splatter and brutal dismemberments.
You can also run things over with horses, blow stuff up, and get creative with your kills, like tying up bad guys and throwing them in front of a train or down a cliff.
7. Max Payne
The bullet-time mechanic in Max Payne is one of the coolest things ever invented in video games.
This mechanic alone makes you feel so badass and powerful. Max Payne is such an incredible game that not only features engaging gameplay but also has one of the best storylines of the TPS genre.
Max Payne 1, 2, and 3 are all perfect for letting off steam. Remakes of the original Max Payne games are also in the works.
8. Doom Eternal
Doom games are known for their brutal and violent gameplay.
The different disembowelment mechanics are my favorite in Doom games. Especially Doom Eternal has perfected those brutal moves so elegantly.
Doom: The Dark Ages is also pretty good and has more melee-focused combat. But any Doom game is perfect for letting off steam.
9. Shadow Warrior
Shadow Warrior is another FPS game that plays similarly to Doom.
In this game, there are a lot of Japanese-inspired fantasy gameplay themes and very satisfying combat mechanics.
You can combine both melee and firearm gameplay to experience the game in different ways.
Shadow Warrior has 3 games in the series so far, and they often go on sale.
10. Hatred
It’s difficult to describe Hatred while making it sound like a good thing.
In Hatred, you basically go around the town shooting down stores and buildings like a madman.
The game is brutally violent and features very themed environments that might be in bad taste, especially given some of the shootings that occurred in recent times. So proceed with caution.
The top-down view of the game was kind of a deal breaker for me, but overall, the game serves its purpose as a brutally violent game.
11. Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 is another violent game that focuses on defeating monsters and massive creatures.
In this game, you get to gear up and drop down to all kinds of weird locations to get rid of giant bugs and creatures. You can use guns, tanks, and even drop nukes to do massive damage. And it’s a brutally violent spectacle.
Helldivers 2 is more fun when playing co-op with friends. Of course, you can play it solo for an added challenge as well.
12. Batman Arkham Series
The melee combat system in Batman Arkham games is still unmatched to this day. You can truly feel the impact of each punch and kick in this game. Plus, you get to be Batman!
Arkham games have cool combos and beatdown mechanics that make you feel badass. But they are not as sophisticated as games like Mortal Kombat, so you don’t need to keep a notepad with you.
Batman Arkham bundle goes on sale all the time. Grab it and play the entire series.
13. Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 also gives you the freedom to choose your style of gameplay and let off steam.
You can go guns blazing, sword-wielding, or even bare-fisted into each fight. It gives you plenty of ways to craft skill builds and choose all kinds of weapons to feel more powerful.
I’ve played Cyberpunk three times and still can’t get enough of it. Give it a try in your spare time.
14. Sifu
Sifu is a martial arts game that features hand-to-hand combat. It’s best played with a controller to truly feel the power of each punch and kick.
Sifu plays like a rogue-lite game; each level resets if you die, and you have to start over. There are different types of enemies and weapons you can deal with as well.
The game is fun, engaging, and perfect for chilling out by beating up enemies.
15. Mad Max
Mad Max is not entirely a violent game, but I really love the combat system in this game. It feels so close and personal.
Mad Max also has a great story, engaging progression, and of course, you get to upgrade and drive around in the desert in your junk car.
To let off steam, you can drive around attacking enemy compounds. You can use hand-to-hand combat to really feel each punch or go guns blazing as well.
16. Rage 2
I still feel that Rage 2 is an underrated game. Sure, it did not get off on a bad launch, but the gunplay in this game is quite impressive.
Rage 2 mechanics from games like Doom and Just Cause to give you a very brutal and engaging gameplay experience.
The progression and the story in this game feel dull, but it makes up for it with the gunplay. It’s quite satisfying to see enemies blow up into pieces in many different ways.
