We’re surrounded by Christian media every day. Whether you’re listening to your worship playlist on a drive to work, reading a C.S. Lewis book before bed, or setting up a Christian movie night, we see our faith reflected in countless artistic expressions.
Yet one area that often goes ignored when it comes to our faith is video games. Many of us enjoy gaming in its many forms, but rarely as a way to deepen our walk with God. To be fair, it’s not always easy to connect jumping on mushrooms or slaying ancient terrors to the Word of God. But what happens when God meets us there, too?
Let’s explore four games and see how they each try to connect faith and gameplay in their own way.
#1: I Am Jesus Christ
I Am Jesus Christ is an upcoming video game developed by SimulaM and PlayWay. The game retells the Gospels, letting players step into Jesus’ sandals and experience moments from His life.
From the moment you load in, it’s clear what this game wants to do: faithfully adapt the story of Jesus to a video game format.
Speaking to Vice about why he created the game, director Maksym Vysochanskiy said, “I was so inspired by computer-animated movies like Shrek and Toy Story that I thought, ‘It would be great to make such a movie about Jesus Christ.’” Over time, that idea turned into a playable game.
The first level puts you, as Jesus, on the path to find John the Baptist. You talk to villagers, search for clues, and snack on grapes. The game stays close to scripture, with verse references for the scenes you encounter.
The next level shifts gears: you fight Satan. This depicts Christ’s temptation in the wilderness but instead of quiet resistance, you battle Satan in a boss fight. After a quick tutorial, you deflect magical fire blasts with glowing hands, pray to keep your energy up, and use your powers to pull the Devil closer until he’s defeated.
This is where the game loses some players. Matteo Lupetti, writing for Vice, noted, “Something didn’t feel right.” The humble message of the meek inheriting the world clashes with the typical gaming mechanics of building unstoppable heroes.
Jonathan Floyd, president of Geeks Under Grace, saw potential in the early story moments, like exploring what it felt like for Jesus to leave his mother to begin His ministry, but felt that meaningful reflection got buried under action-heavy gameplay. “Maybe the emphasis should be more on the storytelling and less on the gamification,” he told Christianity Today.
Even though the game tries to stay true to scripture, putting yourself in Jesus’ shoes can feel unsettling. The questions it raises are sometimes powerful, helping you empathise with Christ’s journey, but sometimes odd: Would Jesus really sprint across deserts, rummage for berries, or blast Satan with fireballs? More than once, I wondered if what I was doing was something Christ would have done.
No game is a substitute for the Bible, but if I Am Jesus Christ can spark curiosity and invite deeper thought about who Jesus is, then maybe it’s worth watching to see where it goes next.
I Am Jesus Christ is available now, free on Steam.
#2: That Dragon, Cancer
That Dragon, Cancer isn’t your typical high-octane adventure. Released in 2016, this deeply personal narrative invites players into the life of Joel Green, a young child diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
The game was created by Joel’s parents, Ryan and Amy Green, who chose to tell their son’s story through the unexpected medium of video games. Joel was just over a year old when he was diagnosed in 2012, and not long after, the idea for the game took shape.
“There’s a process you develop as a parent to keep your child from crying, but one night it didn’t work,” Ryan told Wired. “It made me think, this is like a video game where the mechanics are subverted and it no longer works.”
You don’t play as Joel, or even as his parents. Instead, you become a silent witness to their journey, floating through surreal, dreamlike vignettes of hospital rooms, playgrounds, and prayers. It’s not a game where you win or lose, it’s a story you’re invited to experience.
What makes That Dragon, Cancer especially moving is the way it portrays faith – raw, tender, and unfiltered. Amy writes letters to God and pleads for healing. Ryan wrestles with logic and doubt, struggling to believe in a God who might not answer their prayers the way they hope. As Joel’s condition worsens, their faith evolves, deepens, and fractures in profoundly human ways.
In a gaming world that doesn’t often treat faith kindly, this game offers something rare: a compassionate, honest look at what it means to believe through suffering. Even secular critics noticed. Writing for Polygon, Colin Campbell observed, “Most of the religion I see in the world is ugly and destructive. But what I saw here was something beautiful, delicate, and curiously liberating.”
That Dragon, Cancer isn’t an easy experience. It explores grief, faith, and love in a beautiful and unique way.
You can find That Dragon, Cancer on Steam.
#3: Heroes: The Bible Trivia Game
If you’ve spent time around kids, you know the question’s coming: “Do you have any games on your phone?” Screen time is part of childhood now, but the challenge for many parents is making that screen time meaningful.
Introducing Heroes: The Bible Trivia Game, a mobile game designed to help kids (and curious adults) engage with Scripture in a fresh way.
The game’s creator, Sam Neves, was inspired by the explosive growth of the gaming world and Jesus’ call in Matthew 28 to “make disciples of all nations.” In 2013, the first version of Heroes launched, with users spending more than 10 million minutes exploring Bible stories. That momentum led to an improved second edition, with updated graphics and smoother gameplay.
Here’s how it works: you pick a profile, dive into one of 20 levels (each based on a Bible character or story), and read a short recap before tackling a quiz. Each question has four possible answers. Choose right, and your character cheers. Choose wrong, and you’ll get a sympathetic shake of the head.
The goal is simple: to make Bible learning fun. And in terms of educational value, Heroes hits the mark. But in the fun department? It might feel more like homework than a game, especially for younger players. The reading-heavy format could use a bit more pizzazz if it wants to compete with today’s fast-paced, visually rich mobile games.
Still, the intent is admirable. If you’re looking for a screen-time option that actually feeds your child’s spirit (and doesn’t involve candy-colored explosions), Heroes: The Bible Trivia Game is worth checking out.
Available now for Android and Apple devices.
#4: FIVE: Guardians of David
Think Diablo meets the Old Testament.
This action RPG drops you into the world of ancient Israel, reimagined through the story of King David and his mighty warriors. The game opens with a cinematic sweep of Israel’s formation and quickly zeroes in on two shepherds, Abishai and Benaiah who become part of David’s elite guard.
If you’ve read 1 Samuel through 2 Kings, the plot points will feel familiar, but the game takes creative license to build suspense and add gameplay-worthy tension. You play as one of five guardians, going on missions to protect Israel, slay enemies, explore dungeons, and collect loot to upgrade your skills.
The game does include Scripture and biblical context, but it’s far from preachy. As one Steam reviewer put it, “It doesn’t preach, and doesn’t require you to know the Bible to enjoy this.” Biblical literacy is helpful, but not required.
Gameplay-wise, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The screen can get chaotic with enemies swarming, which may overwhelm newer players. Boss fights also fall a bit flat, lacking the epic feel you might expect. But what stands out is the variety among the five characters, each with distinct skills, ensuring the action doesn’t get stale.
Among the games featured here, FIVE: Guardians of David is the most unapologetically video game. If you’re a Christian who enjoys hack-and-slash fun, it’s worth exploring. It may not teach theology, but it immerses players in a rich biblical world and that in itself could spark curiosity or conversations, especially with friends who might not otherwise crack open a Bible.
FIVE: Guardians of David is available on Steam.
