Games That Send You To Prison For In-Game Crimes

Key Takeaways

In some video games, crime systems are designed to penalize players with jail time for in-game offenses.
In Kingdom Come: Deliverance, players can evade jail by paying fines or using skills.
Crime repercussions in the Red Dead Redemption franchise are less severe compared to other games.

As someone who’s spent countless hours in virtual prisons, I can attest that these games have a knack for making incarceration feel almost… inviting. Take Kenshi, for instance – a game where time nearly mirrors real life, and your character could find themselves enslaved for 100 to 200 hours of in-game time! Now, that’s commitment, my friend!

Video games sometimes allow players to engage in activities that are generally considered criminal, which they wouldn’t do in real life. However, this doesn’t exempt them from the consequences within the game world. Prisons and jail cells are common elements in video games, but it’s usually not by choice. Some games even have entire levels or missions set inside prisons, or require players to break out of jail or eliminate prisoners. Yet, it’s important to note that if a player breaks the rules within these games, they could face consequences such as being banned or penalized.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed that role-playing games (RPGs) often create criminal systems where the rules of their fictional world must be followed, or else we, the players, suffer consequences – like lengthy prison sentences. These penalties can slow down skill development, halt progress, put our character in danger, or simply consume a frustrating amount of my real-life time. In these games, I often find myself wishing I could turn back the clock and skip the punishment, realizing every moment spent behind bars was a second wasted.

6 Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Released Prisoner Debuffs and Upcoming Branding, Pillories and Medieval Punishments

In the game “Kingdom Come: Deliverance“, players are transported to medieval Bohemia, which is now known as the Czech Republic, in the year 1400s. The main character, Henry, seeks revenge for his family. This RPG strives for historical accuracy, though it avoids the brutal medieval executions that were common during this period. Instead, law-breakers face a jail system where they can serve sentences ranging from 10 to 20 minutes in real time. The penalties include a decrease in Reputation and a temporary ‘Released Prisoner’ debuff that lowers Strength, Agility, and Vitality. Interestingly, the justice system seems to prioritize certain actions, such as firing arrows at people, picking locks, or attacking NPCs, more harshly than actually killing someone, for which the penalty is only 6 days.

In the eagerly awaited sequel, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, impulsive gamers who prefer chaos over waiting for lengthy loading screens might be dismayed to learn that the crime system has been tightened up significantly. Breaking the law in this game could lead to severe consequences such as pillories, executions, and other medieval punishments. Caught offenders will find it harder to evade capture. Engaging in illegal activities will leave a lasting impact on one’s Reputation, with thieves being marked for life, ensuring that Henry’s actions are met with disapproval by non-player characters. The extent of the sequel’s prison system remains unclear, but those familiar with the Kingdom Come: Deliverance series should brace themselves for an unpleasant surprise.

5 The Red Dead Redemption Franchise

Cutscenes and Jailbreaks For The Lawless Outlaw

In the Red Dead Redemption series, it’s problematic for a character like Arthur or John, who are outlaws and gun-for-hire, to commit crimes such as robbery and murder. This is because these actions will lead to a bounty being placed on their head, which can be paid off or cleared by surrendering. Any witnesses will alert the authorities, potentially resulting in law enforcement tracking down the player’s character. Killing lawmakers may provoke an angry mob, but serving jail time is as straightforward as watching a cutscene and being released, with less money depending on the cost of clearing the bounty.

Some people argue that the criminal justice system in the video game “Red Dead Redemption” seems unnecessary or overly lenient since the player’s abilities remain unchanged, and guards don’t confiscate the protagonist’s belongings during imprisonment. In “Red Dead Redemption 2,” players who accumulate a large bounty by committing numerous murders, robberies, and assaults might be treated to a cutscene where Arthur’s friends free him from prison using methods like paying bail, bribing guards with alcohol, or executing daring jailbreaks involving explosives. The criminal justice system and prisons in the “Red Dead Redemption” series appear to be underdeveloped, which could be advantageous for promoting legendary outlaw behavior. In the original game, you can explore abandoned jails as remnants of the past, suggesting this design choice supports lawlessness.

4 Star Citizen

Mining For Merits and Freedom

Few would recommend investing in Star Citizen due to its long, controversial, unfinished development history spanning over a decade, resulting in the heavily fan-funded project being released in modules, demos, and updates that have been riddled with ‘unplayable’ glitches since 2013. Intended as a sandbox space simulator and massively multiplayer online game, Star Citizen has an established crime system that punishes players for in-game felonies such as kidnapping, assassinations, and enslavement. Those who earn a CrimeStat above 2 are arrested and imprisoned at the Klescher Rehabilitation Facility. Repeat offenders or those with a CrimeStat of 4 can receive between 5-8 real hours of prison time.

Instead of traditional prisons that utilize loading screens or the monotony of looking at an empty cell, Star Citizen offers a prison with its distinctive gameplay that’s worth exploring. Inmates can potentially shorten their jail term by mining in a cave system for merits (while dodging hostile fellow prisoners), or they can try to break out of Star Citizen’s prison by hacking into a security terminal, wiping out their CrimeStat. The penitentiary system within Star Citizen serves as an engaging test of consequences for players, although some gamers might argue that the wait for a complete game release is punishment enough.

3 My Summer Car

Drinking Beer, Building Cars and Inescapable Prison Time

Players who found joy in constructing a vehicle without assistance or instructions, except for online guides, might have become frustrated when confronted with imprisonment within the unusual survival-meets-racing simulation game, “My Summer Car”. At first glance, this 2016 Finnish curiosity seems to allow an unsupervised teenager to drink, smoke, and cause mischief without consequences while assembling a car for amateur racing. Even entire buttons are designed to let the teen curse, relieve themselves, and flip off others with little backlash from apathetic NPCs (except for an angry Grandma). However, it’s ironic that this game world also features one of the most rigid prison systems, as players have spent countless real-life hours waiting to be freed from jail.

In the game “My Summer Car,” a variety of offenses can result in imprisonment, ranging from short stints of 2-3 days for minor infractions like resisting arrest or unpaid fines, to longer sentences of 5 or 10 days for more serious crimes such as fatalities or manslaughter. At first glance, these penalties may seem fair, but it’s important to note that in the game, one day equates to two real hours. Therefore, a 10-day sentence translates to a grueling 20 hours of unavoidable gameplay time. With limited entertainment options like a radio and a toilet within the cell, players might feel compelled to escape as a means to combat boredom. However, escaped convicts will find law enforcement waiting for them at their homes and Teimo’s shop, making it difficult to access resources. While it’s possible for players to survive while on the run, they will be restricted from many activities, leading to frustrated inmates either resuming their original sentence or quitting the game altogether.

2 Kenshi

200 Hours in a Corrupt Post-Apocalyptic Prison

In the gritty, post-apocalyptic world of Kenshi, where slavery is prevalent and NPCs engage in deadly combat without hesitation, some gamers might erroneously believe that law enforcement is non-existent within this 2018 RPG. However, this universe is deeply corrupted, and the penal system is no exception. Players can amass bounties for various activities like stealing, looting, and trespassing, but they will only be apprehended by certain factions that enforce their own distinct set of rules. If a player happens to be unfortunate enough to be captured by a pro-slavery group, they will likely be enslaved during their sentence, often confined in small cages at night while working in mines.

In the game Kenshi, real-time gameplay closely follows real-life time, which might pose a challenge for aspiring villains. The penalties for major crimes in Kenshi range from 100 to 200 hours of detention, but players can try to avoid this by attempting escapes or bribing police, inquisitors, or guards. An interesting aspect of being incarcerated in Kenshi is that the game continues while you’re in prison, allowing you to explore fascinating landscapes and engage in various activities, such as gathering disguises in an effort to break free. For newcomers to Kenshi, navigating this complex, intricate yet unforgiving world may require some guidance, as managing (or enjoying) prison terms is just one of the challenges you’ll face.

1 The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim

A Unique Prison For Every Crime and Climate

In the Elder Scrolls series, most of the heroic characters begin as prisoners who are set free, allowing players to develop their character from humble beginnings into a skilled and powerful individual. While being freed from prison is predetermined in Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim, it’s essential for players to follow the rules of various guilds and factions to avoid ending up back where they started: behind bars. The reason for each character’s imprisonment at the start of the game is shrouded in mystery, but a player’s actions could reveal whether their character was unjustly accused or truly criminal.

In the world of The Elder Scrolls (Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim), the gravity of crimes remains fairly consistent across different systems. The severity determines the bounty, with murder and shapeshifting being the gravest offenses. A high bounty triggers an immediate arrest, and prison terms are typically equivalent to one day for every 100 coins of a player’s bounty. While incarcerated, one or more of a player’s skills will gradually decrease. The prison system in The Elder Scrolls stands out because there are approximately ten prisons per game, each with its distinct design, NPC guards and inmates, security levels, and escape routes, ensuring an engaging experience despite the inconvenience.

2024-09-21 14:34