The Problem With Christian Games

Written By Brock Henderson

Christian games don’t have a great reputation. In fact, some laughably bad games were published under the label “Christian.” Why is that?

Looking back through history, some of the most celebrated works of art were Christian in their subject matter. Consider the music of Bach and Handel, Michelangelo’s sculpture of David, or his work in the Sistine Chapel. Each work is breathtaking—pinnacles of their mediums and divinely inspired. This rich history goes all the way back to Exodus, which records that the first person filled with the Holy Spirit was an artist. Bezalel was the chief artisan tasked with building the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant.

If this is our storied past, how have we stumbled with games?

The Moon Channel on YouTube explains some of his ideas in his video essay: Why Aren’t There Any Good Christian Games? After reflecting on Moony’s video, I sat down with some friends to wrestle with this question. This was our discussion; I hope you enjoy it.

 
 
Brock Henderson

Brock believes the world is a better place when we play together. As co-founder and CTO of PxlPug, he is excited to share that message with the world. PxlPug’s purpose is to create a healthy community where individuals are valued for who they are and are encouraged to grow into who they were created to be. The studio does this by crafting games that bring people together.

A designer, developer, and entrepreneur, he has a passion for creating video games and a proven track record with over 25 shipped titles and 3+ million downloads. Before entering the games industry, he co-founded the design firm Paper Tower where he served as creative director for over a decade. During that time, he designed interactive experiences for clients like Coca-Cola, Motorola, and Harvard.

Brock currently resides in a small town in Iowa with his beautiful wife Vanessa and their six children.

https://brockhenderson.com
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The Beauty of Games