Unveiling the Forbidden: 10 Shocking Western Games Notoriously Censored in Japan

Highlights

Japanese releases of Western-developed games often undergo censorship, just like localized Japanese games. Example: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

The Japanese releases of games such as The Last of Us and The Witcher 3 have been altered to reduce violence and eliminate nudity in order to accommodate cultural sensitivities. This censorship has also affected well-known games like Crash Bandicoot and Call of Duty: Black Ops in Japan, prompting inquiries about the purpose behind their release in the country.

Censorship is a highly controversial topic in the world of gaming. Games often reflect the values and norms of the societies in which they are created, making it challenging to adapt them for different cultures. When Japanese games undergo localization, dedicated fans quickly point out the many alterations made, often to the detriment of the original content.

However, what often escapes notice are the numerous changes that Western-developed games undergo when released in Japan. Which cases stand out as particularly notorious examples of Western games being censored in Japan? Let's delve into it and find out!

10 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is often regarded as one of the most influential games of the sixth generation of consoles. This open-world sandbox offered players limitless possibilities within the imaginative streets of San Andreas. Naturally, as a Grand Theft Auto title, the game became renowned for its compelling features like unbridled chaos and daring vehicular maneuvers.

To the surprise of many franchise enthusiasts, the Japanese release of the game faced significant censorship. Numerous alterations were made, such as reducing sexual references, eliminating sound effects associated with pedestrian collisions, and minimizing violence towards innocent civilians.

9 The Last Of Us

Considered one of the greatest narrative-driven games ever made and the inspiration for the immensely popular HBO series, The Last Of Us is globally acclaimed for its groundbreaking game design.

With a primary emphasis on protagonists Joel and Ellie, The Last Of Us delves into their harrowing journey through a post-apocalyptic United States in their desperate quest for survival. Consequently, a significant portion of gameplay revolves around combating the infected, a task that, in line with Naughty Dog's meticulous attention to realism, frequently entails graphic dismemberment and visceral explosions.

However, in the Japanese version of the game, dismemberment is removed entirely, along with all references to the act in the game’s many cutscenes.

8 Fallout 3

Fallout 3, the third installment in the renowned Fallout series, introduced a dynamic camera and intuitive controls, enhancing the impact and significance of player decisions.

7 Crash Bandicoot

In the Japanese version of this seventh-generation RPG, several crucial choices for players were completely eliminated. Specifically, these choices were related to the detonation of atomic bombs in densely populated areas. It is evident that these choices were deliberately omitted to avoid any references to the real-world events involving the nuclear bombings in Nagasaki, Japan.

When we think of game censorship, we don’t often find ourselves thinking of the loveable orange marsupial Crash Bandicoot.

As one of the PlayStation's earliest and most notable games, Crash Bandicoot is widely recognized as one of the greatest platformers ever. Its distinct and vibrant art style, reminiscent of Saturday-morning cartoons, has greatly contributed to its iconic status.

Interestingly, the original game's memorable slapstick violence was actually dialed back in anticipation of its release in Japan.

6 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is now widely acknowledged as one of the greatest role-playing games ever made, owing to its intricate gameplay mechanics, profound player agency, and captivating narrative.

Similar to other contemporary high-fantasy sagas such as Game Of Thrones, The Witcher franchise dives into themes of violence, graphic content, and nudity.

However, much of the violence was reduced in the Japanese release of the game, while all instances of nudity were removed outright!

5 Call Of Duty: Black Ops

The genre of first-person shooters has consistently dominated the world of video games. By enabling players to assume the perspectives of various characters within the games and employ a plethora of weapons, both genuine and fantastical, it comes as no surprise that this genre has gained tremendous popularity.

4 Mortal Kombat

One surprising fact that often catches people off guard is that a significant portion of the violent and gory elements that made Call Of Duty: Black Ops infamous were completely omitted from the Japanese version of the game. This decision sparked curiosity and raised questions about the purpose of releasing Black Ops in Japan.

Upon its release in October 1992, Midway's Mortal Kombat instantly distinguished itself from other fighting games in a remarkable way. Boasting violent and gory graphics, the series rapidly gained immense popularity. This allowed players to immerse themselves in a substantially more visceral and intense fighting experience, far surpassing what series such as Street Fighter had to offer.

3 Until Dawn

But, to minimize the violence, numerous notorious fatalities from the original game were notably dampened or completely eliminated in the Japanese version. As a consequence, the Mortal Kombat released in Japan appears almost unrecognizable when compared to its counterparts!

Until Dawn is a cutting-edge horror game that excels at stunning and horrifying players, setting itself apart. One of the aspects that contributed to this astonishment was the significant player agency that the game emphasized. In the event of a character's demise, it was entirely attributable to the choices made by players within the game.

However, one of the game's most memorable deaths, where a character is sliced in half by a circular saw, is completely removed in the Japanese version.

Critics of Until Dawn have strongly criticized the decision to remove this scene, especially the abrupt manner in which it was handled. Instead of making edits, the game abruptly transitions to a black screen, with only the sound of the scene playing.

2 Doom 64

Doom 64 is a straightforward game that utilizes gratifying mechanics. Encounter terrifying hellish creatures, eliminate them, and receive gratifying bursts of blood. The game's simplicity is a key factor in its success. However, in the Japanese version of the Nintendo 64 release, the gratifying bursts of blood were completely removed.

In the Japanese version, instead of the monsters bursting into crimson-red viscera, they instead release green blood when shot, making the game appear significantly less violent.

1 Mafia 3

Given that Mafia 3 revolves entirely around the rivalries of crime families, it is to be anticipated that the game would exhibit abundant instances of excessive violence, sexual material, and foul language.

Nevertheless, the release of Mafia 3 in Japan showcases distinctive censorship measures. Rather than outright removing a significant portion of the game's nudity and sexual content, much of it has been considerably toned down.

In scenes of nudity, black stars were implemented, to cover up any suggestive elements, and to significantly tone down the adult nature of the scenes.