If you’re looking for games to play on Father’s Day, we have some recommendations.
Fathers are represented in a variety of ways in the world of gaming. From the quirky indie game Octodad to the post-apocalyptic action-adventure game The Last of Us, we’ve been shown time upon time again that fatherhood can take many forms in video games. Whether you’re fighting zombies or teaching your kid how to hunt, here are five video games that depict the highs and lows of fatherhood:
The Last of Us Part I
By Timothy Raj Augustin
The Last of Us Part I is, in many ways, a story about fatherhood. Its story follows Joel Miller, a grieving father who lost his daughter during a tragic fungal outbreak that turned human beings into mindless monsters. Over a decade later, Joel has become a bitter and disgruntled survivor struggling to survive–at all costs–by smuggling resources in and out of quarantine zones for others illegally. When Joel discovers that his next smuggling job involves a cross-country road trip with a young girl named Ellie, however, everything changes for him.
The Last of Us makes one thing clear: Joel is not a perfect father figure. When keeping Ellie safe, he routinely shrugs off her attempts to connect with him–as any child would with their guardian–in an attempt to protect himself, arguably, from losing another kid. He treats her as just another bundle of cargo to smuggle, and is rather transparent about the fact that he's refusing to form any emotional attachment with her.
Joel and Ellie’s parent-child relationship blossoms against his better judgement, however, and their bond informs the game's sequel The Last of Us Part II deeply. The Last of Us explores the lengths a parent would go to for their child–even if they seem to be a tad too far for everyone else.
Resident Evil: Village
By Arianne Blanco
Resident Evil’s eighth entry was more than just a groundbreaking entry to the longstanding franchise; it was a story made to show players what a good dad should be. Protagonist Ethan Winters may have been dealt a rough hand, but that didn’t stop him from doing his damndest to save his infant daughter from the claws of Mother Miranda.
Ethan is dedicated, protective, and sacrificed everything he was and could be just so his daughter, Rose, could have a future, even if she was (spoiler alert) not exactly human to begin with. The game didn’t just gas Ethan up as the greatest dad of all time, though; it also showed us his initial fears and reservations about fatherhood, his fear of his child and himself. Ethan is still haunted by the events of Resident Evil VII: Biohazard, but he pushed through his trauma to prove to us that he’s definitely the number one dad.
God of War (2018)
By Tommy Makmur
No game has taught me more about the trials and responsibilities that come with being a father than God of War, specifically the 2018 version. The game picked up Kratos' story following the end of his journey in Greece, where he settled in Midgard and raised a family with Faye, his wife, whom he fell in love with in Midgard. When Faye died, he and the child they had together, Atreus, set out on a journey to spread her ash in the highest peak of the nine realms.
At the beginning of their journey, Kratos behaved roughly, and seemingly didn’t show affection for Atreus. It was only later revealed that he didn't know how to be a good father to his son. Along the way, Atreus learned that his father was a god from a foreign land, a fact that Kratos had hid in the hope of a better life in Midgard.
When he learned that he was a god’s son, Atreus fell victim to hubris and arrogance, to the point that Kratos had to teach his son that the power of a god doesn't make someone better than anyone else. The game also developed Kratos and Atreus’ relationship as a father and son, going from being a mess of one-sided communication to becoming a duo who trust each other and have each other’s backs. God of War is a masterpiece that deserved every acclaim it's gotten, and might just the next generation how to be better parents.
BioShock 2
By Anna Bernardo
The original BioShock introduced players to Rapture, an underwater city built to be a utopia free from governmental and moral constraints. Instead, it collapsed into chaos after the discovery of ADAM, a powerful substance harvested by Little Sisters and protected by towering, armoured guardians known as Big Daddies. While the first game allowed players to decide the fate of the Little Sisters, BioShock 2 takes things a step further, putting them directly in the shoes of one of their guardians.
Set 10 years later, BioShock 2 follows Subject Delta, the very first Big Daddy, as he fights to reunite with his bonded Little Sister, Eleanor. At its heart, it’s a story about fatherhood. Through Delta’s quiet resolve and the choices you make, the game explores what it means to protect, guide, and ultimately let go. Eleanor’s growth is shaped by how you play, showing just how deeply a parental figure can influence a child’s future.
Even with all the noise, chaos and violence in Rapture, BioShock 2 finds space for something more personal: a story about care, responsibility, and the bond between a father and daughter. It’s less about power and more about the kind of legacy you leave behind through the people you shape.
Octodad: Dadliest Catch
By Kurt Lozano
Being a dad is hard. You have to juggle doing your job, spending time with your wife and kids, doing chores around the house, and keeping your secret identity as an octopus hidden–all while eluding an evil chef who is determined to reveal your secret and cook you. Oh, I misspoke. I meant to say being an Octodad is hard.
If you're looking for a more lighthearted romp through the mundanities of fatherhood with a nice splattering of absurdity (you're playing as an octopus masquerading as a suburban father, after all) then Octodad: Dadliest Catch is for you. The sequel to the original Octodad game, a freeware indie game released in 2010, Octodad: Dadliest Catch lets you take control of the titular Octodad as he navigates daily life as an octopus trying his best to be a good husband and father to his blissfully unaware wife and kids.
Being Octodad is easier said than done, however, as even the most basic tasks like cleaning around the house or doing groceries can be difficult when you're an octopus. Your tentacles aren't exactly designed to perform tasks for humans with opposable thumbs. That, and you also have to keep your true identity a secret while foiling the aforementioned evil chef from ruining your dream life. But hey, nobody ever said that being a dad, much less an Octodad, was easy.
