Manhunt 2 is banned in Ireland and the UK. Battlefield 4 was banned in China. Postal 2 was banned in New Zealand. Each of these bans has a different root cause: government content review boards, publisher distribution decisions, or platform-specific policy. Here's what's actually behind game availability by country, and why it varies so much.
Why Games Are Banned or Region-Locked
Game restrictions happen for several distinct reasons:
- Government censorship: Countries like China, Germany, and Australia have classification boards that can refuse to classify a game — effectively banning it from legal sale without a developer releasing an edited version
- Rating board issues: Games that fail to get an age rating (or receive Adults Only ratings that retailers refuse to stock) cannot be sold in mainstream channels
- Legal disputes: IP rights conflicts, music licensing issues, or lawsuit settlements can force a game to be removed from sale in specific territories
- Developer strategy: Some games are released in specific markets first as soft launches, or never released globally due to localization costs
- Platform agreements: Console exclusivity deals sometimes result in games available on one platform in some countries and another platform elsewhere
Notable Games Banned or Region-Locked by Country
| Game | Restricted In | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Manhunt 2 | Ireland, UK (physical) | Excessive violence rating |
| Battlefield 4 | China | Government — "harms national image" |
| South Park: The Stick of Truth | Germany, Australia | Content censorship (Nazi imagery, sexual content) |
| Postal 2 | New Zealand (previously) | Refused classification |
| Football Manager 2005 | China | Taiwan listed as separate country |
| Many Valve titles | Germany | Blood/gore ratings — often sold in cut versions only |
| Early access indie titles | Various countries | Developer choice not to launch in certain markets |
The Legal Method: Regional Store Switching via VPN
When a game is "banned" or unavailable in your country, what is actually restricted is the purchase point in your region's store — not necessarily the game files themselves. By accessing the store of a country where the game is available and purchasing it there, you receive a legitimate, full license that works globally.
This is the same regional pricing method used for Game Pass and PS Plus — applied to individual game purchases.
For Steam Games
- Connect NordVPN to a server in a country where the game is available (usually US, UK, or Australia)
- Navigate to store.steampowered.com — the store will reflect the connected country's catalog
- Find and purchase the game using an international payment method or regional gift card
- The game is added to your Steam library permanently — it will download and run without VPN once purchased
Important: Steam's Terms of Service discourage changing regions frequently for pricing arbitrage, but purchasing a game available in another region is a normal use case that Steam supports (evidenced by their gift card system and international user base).
For Games Not on Steam (Epic, GOG, Itch.io)
- Epic Games Store: Same method — connect to a country where the game is available, purchase normally
- GOG.com: GOG has very few regional restrictions and sells games DRM-free globally — most "banned" games on other platforms are available on GOG without restrictions
- Itch.io: Virtually no regional restrictions. Independent developers sell globally. Most indie games unavailable on mainstream stores appear here
For Console Games (PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch)
- Create a secondary account set to the target country's region (detailed instructions in our Game Pass guide)
- Purchase the game using the secondary account with a regional payment method or gift card
- The game installs on your console and is playable by all accounts on that console (primary account system)
Countries With the Fewest Game Restrictions
If you want a store region that has the broadest catalog with the fewest restrictions:
- United States — broadest library, strong First Amendment tradition on media
- United Kingdom — slightly fewer restrictions than US, excellent library
- Canada — similar to US, very open market
- Japan — extensive library especially for Japanese titles unavailable in the West
- Netherlands — EU member with broad game access and few national restrictions
What About Games Banned Outright (Not Just Sold in Another Region)?
Some games have been legally prohibited in certain countries at the government level — making even importing them a criminal offense. These are country-specific laws, not platform policies. Examples: several titles are subject to import bans in specific Middle Eastern countries regardless of where they were purchased.
This guide covers commercially available games with regional restrictions — not content that is subject to domestic criminal law. Research your country's specific regulations before accessing content that may be subject to local law.
Speed Check: Make Sure You Can Download These Games
Regional games are often large files — especially older titles that were never optimized for digital download sizes. Make sure your connection can handle large downloads: run DCSpeedTest.com and check your download speed. If you are seeing slow speeds, your ISP may be throttling your connection during download hours — see our guide on fixing slow game downloads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to buy games from another country's store?
In most countries, yes. Purchasing a legitimately licensed game from another country's official store gives you a valid, legal copy. The same principles that allow book imports, international online shopping, and DVD region unlocking apply to digital games in most jurisdictions. Always check the specific laws of your country for any content-specific restrictions.
Will a game bought in another region work in my country?
Yes, for digital games. Once a game is in your library (Steam, Epic, PSN, Xbox), it downloads from local servers and works regardless of which regional store you purchased it from. You do not need the VPN active to play after purchasing.
What if a game requires online play and the servers are region-locked?
Some multiplayer games run regional matchmaking servers that place you in lobbies based on your IP location — not your account region. If you want to play on a specific region's servers (e.g., Japanese servers for lower populated regions), keep NordVPN connected to that country while playing online. For most global games, servers are shared across regions automatically.
Can Steam detect and ban me for using a VPN?
Steam does not ban accounts for VPN use. Steam's policy violations relate to commercial fraud and mass account creation — not individual users accessing regional stores through a VPN. Millions of Steam users access international stores through VPNs without any account action.