With more than 80 per cent of Australians playing some form of video games[1], the gaming industry is experiencing exponential growth. Now rivalling the popularity of film, social media and sports, video games are one of the key digital frontiers in today’s technology-driven world.
It also presents a unique opportunity for the Church, according to American priest and avid gamer, Fr Blake Britton:
“Video game culture is one of the most fertile grounds of evangelisation. The gaming community is filled with souls ready to be guided and formed. They are good people with hearts that desire greatness. All we need do is steer them in the right direction and allow them the opportunity.”
Video Games and the Hero’s Narrative
Below are some helpful articles and resources on video games and their implications for parents, families, the Church and society.
- ‘An introduction to the world of video games’ (NCE, The Bridge, 2021)
- Fr Rob Galea’s MetaSaint blends fun and formation (Mathew De Sousa, Catholic Weekly, 2024)
- Faith mode ON: Video games and the digital frontier (Fr Nathan Rawlins, Archdiocese of Melbourne, 2022)
- Gaming with a moral code (The Catholic Leader, Archdiocese of Brisbane, 2014)
- Catholic Game Reviews (US-based, operated by Catholic gamers, with a new game review each week, including parental warnings)
- Plugged In – Game Reviews (Produced by US-based Focus on the Family, a Christian organisation, and providing reviews and information about content in popular movies, videos, television episodes, songs and games)
- Video Games: A Lesson on the Importance of Aesthetics (Fr Blake Britton, Word on Fire, 2019)
- Game On: Why Video Games Appeal to the Hungry Heart (Fr Blake Britton, Word on Fire, 2019)
- VIDEO: Video Games and Culture (The Burrowshire Podcast – Brandon Vogt and Fr Blake Britton, 2020)
- VIDEO: Catholicism and Video Games (Daughters of St Paul, 2020)
- Should We Be Playing Violent Video Games? A Catholic Response (Sr Allison Gliot, 2020)
Disclaimer: These links are provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the National Centre for Evangelisation of any of the products, services or opinions of the organisation or individual. The National Centre for Evangelisation bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
[1] https://igea.net/game-research-and-facts/australia/digital-australia/