Graphic "narco‑culture" video games that simulate Mexico's cartel violence are attracting thousands of mainly teenage players, especially in northern states linked to organized crime. Critics, including President Claudia Sheinbaum, call the titles a commercialised glorification of violence and have proposed measures such as an 8% tax on violent games. Developers and some researchers argue the games can provide a sense of control or catharsis for youth raised amid violence, while others warn they may normalise brutality. Platforms like Roblox say they are strengthening age verification and protections for minors.
Narco Games in Mexico: How Graphic 'Narco‑Culture' Video Games Hook Teens and Spark Political Backlash
Video game developers like Angel Villaverde, 19, say the more realistically gruesome a game is, the more popular (Julio César Aguilar)(Julio César Aguilar/AFP/AFP)
In a country long scarred by cartel violence, graphic video games that recreate Mexico's narco war are drawing thousands of mostly teenage players and stirring a heated debate about culture, commerce and public safety.
What The Games Look Like
Available on user-created platforms such as Roblox, dozens of militaristic titles let players assume roles ranging from cartel hitman to police officer or soldier. Gameplay centers on high-speed chases, brutal shootouts and missions to seize control of locations like gas stations or neighborhood shops. Visual flourishes include gold-plated pistols, customised ballistic helmets and heavily modified vehicles bearing demonic artwork and symbols tied to real armed groups.
Who Plays Them
Developers and local reporting say most users are between 13 and 18 years old, concentrated in northern states long associated with cartel activity — Sinaloa, Chihuahua and Baja California. Some popular games attract around 1,000 daily players. While the titles are free to play, developers monetise them by selling upgrades, weapons and cosmetics for real money.
Voices From The Field
"It really draws me in, seeing things I'd like to have in real life — who wouldn’t want a Lamborghini, a big truck, a big house?"
Young developers and players defend the games as entertainment or fictional catharsis. "It’s something warlike, it’s something grotesque, but it’s fictional at the same time," said an 18-year-old student and game developer.
Critics And Official Response
Critics, including President Claudia Sheinbaum, argue these games are a monetised glorification of a wider "narco‑culture" found in music, film and fashion. The federal government has proposed measures such as an eight percent tax on violent video games and public campaigns denouncing what officials call an "apology for violence."
Observers also note that some in-game groups reference real criminal organisations. U.S. authorities and other international bodies have designated certain cartels as terrorist or transnational criminal organisations because of their role in countless killings, including civilian victims.
What Researchers Say
Behavioral scientists offer a more nuanced view. Some argue that for young people raised amid endemic violence, these games can provide a sense of control, a way to process fear, or a form of catharsis. Others worry repeated exposure to graphic depictions of brutality could normalise violence or desensitise players — especially minors.
Platform Measures
Roblox, which reported about 112 million daily users globally in the quarter cited by the original reporting, has tightened safeguards to protect minors. Changes include new age-verification tools and measures to reduce adult harassment, though critics say enforcement remains uneven on platforms that host user-generated content.
Why It Matters
The debate raises broader questions about the social responsibilities of developers and platforms, the commercial incentives that reward increasingly realistic depictions of crime, and how societies scarred by violence help the next generation make sense of — or escape from — a traumatic reality.
