Chinese Video Game Draws Criticism for Reinforcing Gender Stereotypes

A new interactive film-style game called Revenge on Gold Diggers (later renamed Emotional Fraud Simulator) has sparked a major sexism debate in China, combining strong sales on Steam with intense online backlash.

Criticism: Reinforcing Sexist Tropes

Critics, including gender activists and cultural commentators, argue the game:

• Labels women as deceitful “gold diggers” and promotes a misogynistic worldview.
• Uses damaging language in character dialogue one quote reads, “Want to know how much a man loves you? See how much he spends,” reinforcing stereotypes.
• Depicts women as emotionally manipulative fraudsters, conflating all “gold diggers” with female characters.

Young female voices on social media highlight these concerns:

“It portrays women as underprivileged and needing to please men to survive,”

Developers’ Defense and Support

The developers responded by:

• Changing the title to Emotional Fraud Simulator, though content remained unchanged.
• Arguing the game is a role-based interactive anti-fraud tool, encouraging discussion about romantic scams.
• Describing characters as morally complex rather than one-dimensional caricatures.

Some state media echoed this idea, praising the game’s role in “strengthening awareness of relationship safety”

Public Reaction and Media Split

Opinions diverged sharply:

• Critics demanded broader condemnation, warning that the game stigmatizes women and stokes gender hostility
• Supporters defended it as innovative educational content that deals with emotional manipulation realistically.

Netizens dubbed the debate part of China’s broader “gender war,” with polarized discourse and social media bans the game developer’s accounts on Weibo and Bilibili were quickly blocked.

Sales vs. Sensitivity

Despite backlash, the game’s popularity continues to rise, driven by both curious players and controversy fans alike it remains in China’s top 10 PC titles on Steam.

Ongoing issues with gender portrayal in interactive media, not only in China but globally.

The complexity of using gamification to discuss real-world issues some applaud its innovative approach while others see cultural harm.

Echoes of prior controversies, such as those around Black Myth: Wukong, highlighting persistent systemic sexism in China’s gaming culture

The debate around Revenge on Gold Diggers highlights deep tensions in China’s evolving culture: the balance between creative storytelling, educational intent, and social responsibility. As the game continues to sell well, its impact both cultural and commercial offers a cautionary tale for game developers and regulators about gender representation in interactive narratives.