New video game that allows men to r*pe female family members triggers backlash amid incel concerns

By Abby Amoakuh

Published Apr 8, 2025 at 01:36 PM

Reading time: 3 minutes

67419

After the Netflix drama Adolescence offered a haunting depiction of how easily young men can be corroded by misogyny and the manosphere, incel communities have been pushed to the forefront of cultural and political conversations. At the centre is the urgent question: how do we reeducate men in a culture that has normalised and glorified violence against women and girls?

It’s a mammoth task, especially given how deeply sexism is embedded in our society, in addition to how easily cultural fragments of the manosphere—remarks, jokes, expressions—are disseminated across the internet. Often, these ideas become so widespread and far removed from their source that kids repeat them without any idea where they came from.

@lindirahimi

disappointMENt

♬ The Carnival of the Animals: XIII, The Swan - Metamorphose String Orchestra & Pavel Lyubomudrov & Mikael Samsonov
@kattyinthehat

my jaw was on the floor when he said “other boys would have touched her I didn’t so I’m better than them” #adolescence #netflixseries #foryoupage

♬ original sound - jane

And yet, every now and then, we come across content so vile, so disturbing, that the only thing more shocking is how openly it’s been hiding in plain sight: Zerat Games’ new release No Mercy has sparked significant backlash for allowing players to take on the role of a man who rapes his female family members.

Even more alarming is the fact that the game is available on platforms accessible for ages 12 and over, fuelling urgent concerns about the amount of harmful content online accessible to young boys that could lower their aversion to violent crimes.

“After catching your own mother betraying your father, you uncovered the true nature of women, especially her. But she’s no ordinary housewife: she’s hiding a dark secret that’s haunted her for years. Now, it’s your turn to uncover it, blackmail her, expose her, and rebuild your family on your terms. Own her,” the description for the game reads.

It continues: “Fuck your mom, fuck your auntie, and even fuck your friend’s mom. Why not? Already a fan favorite in the NSFW Game Incest community. Take what’s yours and show No Mercy.”

Next to incest and non-consensual sex, also known as rape, the game features gang rape options: “If you want a sharing scene, cover her eyes with blindfold and let Tommy join in.”

One notorious porn and gaming website promoting the game uses the markers “big tits,” “family sex,” “forced,” “humiliation,” and “mother-son,” reflecting rhetoric that is both objectifying and degrading.

Although the game is designated as 18+, there seemingly aren’t any barriers preventing children from accessing it, along with its pornographic and already highly disturbing trailer.

The game can be found on multiple platforms catering to twelve and over audiences.

Anti-sexploitation advocacy group Collective Shout launched a campaign against No Mercy and called on video game developer Valve, owner of Steam, to remove it from all platforms. Additionally, Collective Shout is committed to persuading Valve to no longer host games promoting rape and violence against women.

The non-profit argued that content like it is fuelled by attitudes of contempt for women and a sense of entitlement to their bodies.

“In a porn-saturated world, No Mercy is yet another form of media marketed to young men and boys that serves to fuel entitlement, destroy empathy and promote dominance and abuse,” Collective Shout argued.

In 2019, the charity led a similar campaign to get the game Rape Day removed by Valve, which allowed players to assume the identity of a sociopath using a Zombie apocalypse as an opportunity to rape women.

Women In Games, a non-profit organisation fighting gender discrimination in video, mobile, online games and Esports, reached out to SCREENSHOT to share its shock about the creation and proliferation of No Mercy.

“The fact that a game like this is available on Steam—one of the world’s largest gaming platforms—is utterly unacceptable. It sends a clear and distressing message: that violence against women is not only tolerable but playable. That message has no place in our industry, our communities, or our society,” Chief Executive Dr Marie-Claire Isaaman stated.

“This is exactly why Women in Games exists. Our mission is to challenge the harmful biases, systemic barriers, and cultural toxicity that continue to drive women and marginalised genders out of games—whether as players, developers, or leaders,” she continued.

“We call on Valve Corporation, the owners of Steam, to act urgently. This game must be removed. Stronger content moderation policies must be implemented. And a zero-tolerance stance on misogyny and hate must be visibly enforced. Women and girls deserve better from this industry. We invite all allies to stand with us—to speak up, act, and support the future of a safe and inclusive gaming world,” Isaaman concluded.

If Adolescence showed us where radicalisation ends, No Mercy shows us where it begins — in plain sight, and too easily in reach. It’s proof we still haven’t grasped how quickly online rot becomes real-world harm.

Keep On Reading

By Abby Amoakuh

What is National Rape Day, the TikTok manosphere’s most enduring and disturbing idea?

By Malavika Pradeep

Of course the manosphere has a Female Delusion Calculator, and it’s just as toxic as it sounds

By Abby Amoakuh

Drake calls for release of Tory Lanez, proving once more that he’s a rapper for the manosphere

By Eliza Frost

The Summer I Turned Pretty is getting a movie. Could it be here in time for Christmas?

By Eliza Frost

Taylor Swift’s Release Party of a Showgirl is coming to cinemas everywhere, and it’s already made $15M

By Eliza Frost

Taylor Swift announces new album on Travis Kelce’s podcast. Everything we know about TS12 so far

By Charlie Sawyer

Is Brooklyn Beckham feuding with his family? Rumours circulate after the chef skips his dad David Beckham’s 50th birthday

By Charlie Sawyer

Transformers director Michael Bay officially confirmed to direct movie about viral Skibidi Toilet meme

By Charlie Sawyer

Will Greta Thunberg reach Gaza safely amid Israel’s aid blockade?

By Abby Amoakuh

You star Madeline Brewer faces misogynistic backlash after internet brands her character unlikeable

By Julie Huynh

Hockey fan edits are taking over TikTok, and it’s all thanks to Gen Z girlies

By Eliza Frost

How to spot a performative male out in the wild 

By Charlie Sawyer

Everything you need to know about toxic gossip site Tattle Life and how its founder finally got revealed

By Charlie Sawyer

Harry Potter TV series crew bewildered over production’s strange decision on location to film iconic scene

By Abby Amoakuh

BLACKPINK’s Lisa faces backlash after wearing civil rights icon Rosa Parks on her crotch at Met Gala

By Eliza Frost

How The Summer I Turned Pretty licensed so much of Taylor Swift’s discography for its soundtrack 

By Eliza Frost

What is Banksying? Inside the latest toxic dating trend even worse than ghosting

By Eliza Frost

Kylie Jenner now follows Timothée Chalamet on Instagram, but he doesn’t follow her back

By Eliza Frost

Couples who meet online are less happy in love, new research finds

By Eliza Frost

Is the princess treatment TikTok trend the bare minimum or a relationship red flag?