May Day Protests: 5 Video Games That Teach Workers’ Rights

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Thousands of people across the U.S. – including workers, students, and families – are participating in May Day protests on May 1st. As part of the May Day Strong movement, they’re boycotting work and school and avoiding shopping, making it one of the largest International Worker’s Day demonstrations in recent years, according to the Guardian. The movement is supported by a wide range of groups, including labor unions, immigrant rights organizations, and political groups nationwide.

Video games have a history of exploring important themes. Even before recent events, many popular games have subtly questioned authority, the value of work, and how people react when things break down. If you’re looking for an engaging way to connect with current issues, or simply to better understand them, here are five games that tackle these ideas.

Final Fantasy VII

In Final Fantasy VII, a powerful company controls the planet’s energy, creating a stark divide between the wealthy and everyone else. The rich live in luxury above a massive plate, enjoying clean air and bright city lights, while those below struggle with pollution and darkness. The resistance group you join, AVALANCHE, initially tried peaceful methods like writing letters and organizing protests before resorting to weapons. However, the Shinra Corporation, which controls the very systems meant to oversee it, always shut them down. Final Fantasy VII doesn’t hide its message; it presents it openly through the characters’ conversations. It’s a surprisingly progressive game for its time, and its themes have been clear since its release in 1997.

Hardspace: Shipbreaker

In Hardspace: Shipbreaker, you start already owing a massive $1.2 billion to the Lynx Corporation – just for the chance to have a job. You spend your days dismantling old spaceships with a laser cutter, slowly chipping away at a debt you’ll likely never fully pay. It’s a very direct commentary on the struggles of labor, but it’s also a surprisingly relaxing and engaging game. The story of your fellow workers considering a union, and the predictable response from Lynx, is a particularly powerful and touching part of the experience.

Disco Elysium

Taking place in the aftermath of a failed revolution, Disco Elysium is a remarkably insightful political game. It doesn’t tell you what to think, but instead explores complex issues like ideology, the consequences of failure, and how people cope when their beliefs don’t pan out. You play as a detective solving a murder in a city still scarred by past upheaval, and the game gives a fair hearing to all sides of the political spectrum – without excusing anyone’s actions.

Papers, Please

In the game Papers, Please, you play as a border inspector in a controlling, made-up country. You have to review documents, and if you don’t process them quickly enough, your family won’t have enough to eat. The game subtly draws you into supporting an oppressive system, not by making you a villain, but by putting you under pressure from exhaustion, financial hardship, and the harsh realization that fighting back has consequences for your loved ones. It’s a ninety-minute experience that will leave you reflecting on how everyday people become part of unfair systems long after you finish playing.

Cyberpunk 2077

Beyond the flashy lights and action, Cyberpunk 2077 is fundamentally about the consequences of losing all worker protections. The game’s Night City depicts a world where corporations rule, healthcare is paywalled, and your body essentially becomes company property if you accept their enhancements. It’s a warning disguised as a power trip, and the fact that it’s so engaging to play actually adds to its unsettling message.

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2026-05-01 22:04