Games have long since become a medium where creators can explore different themes and difficult-to-tackle concepts that explore the human element in a way other media can’t. Stories with churches being less than ideal aren’t anything new but still can provide impactful storytelling involving the exploration of faith, power, and those within the delicate balance of the spectrum.
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There are certain… elements of each church that they have in common, and it only becomes more glaring the further down you go. Whether it’s the desire for power and greed, or a misguided attempt to bring salvation to those whoseek solace with their respective god(s), each of these churches shows its true colors under the holy surface.
7The Chantry - Dragon Age Series
The Chantry on the outside looks likea typical mythological religion. You have most believers acting in good faith and just trying to live as Andraste’s will, and you have those who would do terrible things under the name of the Chantry. Most people, clergy or layman, tend to be somewhere in the middle of this spectrum. Which makes some of the values and traditions the Chantry upholds that much more insidious.
Elves have been long separated from the rest of society and have been placed in dilapidated neighborhoods called Alienages. They are treated badly by humans and are often only able to take laborious jobs that they are screamed at and demeaned. Not to mention, they require all of their active Templars, their anti-mage protection, to ingest lyrium. Lyrium works as a drug for the Templars to increase their anti-mage abilities but causes the Templars to become addicted. If they become too much of a problem, the Lyrium-addicted Templars are tossed out onto the street.
6The Church Of Yevon - Final Fantasy 10
The Church of Yevon inFinal Fantasy 10was a pillar of strength, comfort, and hope for those living under the constant threat of Sin. They have reached across continents far and wide spreading the notion that all you have to do is believe in Yevon and stay away from Machina, and all will be well. If you’ve played this or any other JRPG before, you know that they are simply full of it.
Turns out, that all of those stories and scriptures that were the basis of Yevon were completely made up and used as a means to control all of its followers. Not to mention that they actively campaigned against the Al Bhed for their use of Machina. When one of the main tenets of your faith is racist, then something might be wrong at the top.
5The Order - Silent Hill Series
The Order in Silent Hill operates as a church in name only. Their actions are more akin to a crime syndicate than a place of worship. They kidnap young women who they think could be the vessel to bring forth their Old God, allow and even encourage drug trafficking to those they want to keep faithful, and they also indoctrinate hundreds of kids into followers from a very young age.
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The thing about their god is that she’s real. Well, as real and tangible as a god can get on earth. She grants powers to the women who inherit the leadership position as well as creates an alternate reality wherecreatures of your worst nightmares manifest to torment you. About as honest with your intentions as you can get.
4Your Cult - Cult Of The Lamb
Technically, you are the protagonist in Cult of the Lamb and seem to be the least of evils in comparison to the other cults in the game, as you are shown to be compassionate and caring to your flock. Is that all there truly is to your goals though? You are building up followers to worship you as a god, after all. Worse still, you’re doing it in the name of another and not your own.
Throughout the game, there isn’t a catastrophic event thatrequires you to build up your followersto save it, nor are you at war with anyone trying to hurt people in your land. You are simply gathering followers to spread your influence and overtake the other cults in the vicinity. Either way, the people are the ones who lose their free will.
3Project At Eden’s Gate - Far Cry 5
Each antagonist of the Far Cry series had a different reason for committing the crimes they were on their lands: Far Cry 3 were pirates who smuggled illicit things, and Far Cry 4 was a struggle between powers. In Far Cry 5, however, it seems as though faith is the leading motivation. Fitting, as it takes place in a twisted version of rural America.
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Joseph Seed is the charismatic leaderof the Project of Eden’s Gate and sees both his church and his mission as the means to protect Hope County, and ostensibly, the world from catastrophic destruction. If you play your cards ‘correctly’ in the game, it turns out that Joseph was right all along. Doesn’t excuse all the violence and drug running though.
2Los Illuminados - Resident Evil 4
The only thing the Los Illuminados have in common with a church is the name and the building. They don’t worship a centralized concept of a higher being. Instead,they worship the parasitesthey inject inside their followers called Las Plagas. They believe that by spreading the parasite, they are spreading the correct will.
The Church doesn’t have humble beginnings either. Originally, the founding members were part of a less-than-legal paramilitary squad who has taken over the island by force. Their leader, Osmond Saddler, used the opportunity to build the Cult up for eventual world domination using the Plagas.
1The Order Of Leonar Chruch - Chained Echoes
On the outside,Chained Echoes’Order of Leonar does a lot of good for all of Valandis. They pay royal taxes for needy families, provide free housing for all citizens in need, and give food to the hungry. All they ask in return is for them to believe in The True God and be fruitful. They’ve done their best to spread their gospel all over the continent.
Benevolence is a great camouflage, as it turns out. Despite all the goodwill they’ve done, it was all towards a singular goal: to sacrifice all of those said followers. Each person they’ve helped or converted has only been an offering to the Harbinger to bring forth ultimate destruction. Again, those caught in the middle are simple folk who have to pay the price of trusting the church.
