Articles

Should Christians Play Video Games?

Published: Apr 11, 2026

Updated: Apr 14, 2026

This article was written for Christian audiences. Our hope is that it’ll help you decide not only if video gaming is something you should partake in, but also how to make the right call on a per-game basis.

If you’re not a Christian, then checking out our ‘The Gospel‘ page would be a good next stop.

Like other ministries who have attempted to cover this topic, we’ve come to the conclusion that the most sensible way to assist you, is to point you to Scripture and encourage the use of good discernment. The more we study, the more we’re convinced there is no catch-all answer for all Christians.

That said, our conviction is that video gaming as an activity is not inherently sinful or prohibited, and is something that can be appropriately enjoyed as part of responsible Christian liberty.

But not all games are Pong. What about the games that reward you for simulated and/or actual sinful and unlawful activities?

Let’s get to work.

Starter Questions

A great place to start when weighing if something such as video gaming is acceptable for Christian consumption, is to start with these two questions:

  1. Has God, through the Bible, identified this practice as good and acceptable?
    • If yes – proceed according to God’s instructions
    • If no – proceed to the next question
  2. Has God, through the Bible, prohibited this practice?
    • If yes – avoid it
    • If no – then we exercise good discernment based on the the principles we adopt from studying the Bible

Key Considerations

If a video game, or video gaming in general, is negatively impacting your spiritual growth or hindering your Christian responsibilities, then you would do well to pray for wisdom, evaluate its place in your life, and seek guidance from your pastor. Get a hold of it, before it gets a hold of you, or strip it out of your life.

Consider these areas, and if video gaming is adversely affecting them:

  • Spiritual growth:
    • Growing in sanctification/likeness to Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18, Galatians 5:22-23, Philippians 2:3-5, 1 Peter 1:14-16)
    • Fleeing from sinful behaviour and proponents of sinful behaviour (Romans 12:9, Romans 14:22-23, Ephesians 4:22-23, Ephesians 5:11, Ephesians 5:15-16, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:22, 1 Peter 1:14-15)
  • Christian duties:
    • Prayer and meditation (Psalm 1:2-3, Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Philippians 4:8, 1 Peter 4:7)
    • Bible study (Psalm 119:105, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 2:15, Hebrews 4:12)
    • Spousal responsibilities (Ephesians 5:22-24, Ephesians 5:28-29, Titus 2:4)
    • Raising children (Proverbs 22:6, Ephesians 6:4)
    • Church attendance and fellowship opportunities (Galatians 6:2, Hebrews 10:24-25, James 5:16)
    • Evangelism opportunities (Ephesians 2:10, 2 Corinthians 6:3, 1 Peter 3:15)
    • Work (Proverbs 12:11, Ephesians 4:28, Colossians 3:23-24, 2 Thessalonians 3:10, 1 Timothy 5:8)
    • Live peaceably (Romans 12:18, Romans 14:19, Ephesians 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:9-13, Hebrews 12:14, James 3:17-18)

Mediate on Scriptures Concerning Conscience

Now it’s time to prayerfully, diligently consider if your interests conflict with Scriptures that test your conscience. We’ve put together a series called Gaming With Discernment which highlights additional Scriptures for you to review.

Balancing Liberty and Wisdom

As a ministry, we must clearly distinguish between Biblical doctrine and our opinion. We walk a fine line in encouraging or discouraging games based on their moral and spiritual content. We pray we never confuse readers, become a stumbling block to fellow believers (Romans 14:13-14, 1 Corinthians 8:9), or negatively impact anyone’s walk with the Lord (Matthew 18:5-7). If we should fall short, please use our contact form to reach out and offer correction.

We recommend reading our ‘About Our Content‘ page next to learn more about our review methodology and how we determine which games to cover.

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