Encourages Anti-Social Behavior
The game incentivizes players to lie, cheat, or backstab other players to get ahead.
Some games encourage anti-social behavior. Combat games may encourage you to kill other players in violent ways. Driving games may encourage you to drive recklessly and break the law. Other games may encourage you to lie, deceive, steal from or backstab other players to get ahead in the game. Some games may even allow or encourage some form of cheating.
Within the context of the game, these behaviors are normalized, but you still feel bad when you are on the receiving end of one of these anti-social behaviors. If you have invested time and perhaps money into a game and then lose some of that because a friend backstabs you, that's going to cause some unwanted bad feelings. If someone steals some of your in-game resources, that may make you angry and require you to spend more time and money earning those resources back.
For some players, being on the receiving end of one of these behaviors may make them feel a need for revenge. If the player is part of a team, they may be able to enlist their teammates to pick on a particular player in the game. This will cause a negative experience for that player and may prevent them from enjoying the game.
Within the context of the game, these behaviors are normalized, but you still feel bad when you are on the receiving end of one of these anti-social behaviors. If you have invested time and perhaps money into a game and then lose some of that because a friend backstabs you, that's going to cause some unwanted bad feelings. If someone steals some of your in-game resources, that may make you angry and require you to spend more time and money earning those resources back.
For some players, being on the receiving end of one of these behaviors may make them feel a need for revenge. If the player is part of a team, they may be able to enlist their teammates to pick on a particular player in the game. This will cause a negative experience for that player and may prevent them from enjoying the game.
Citations and Sources • Dark Patterns in the Design of Games
• Wikipedia :: Video Game Controversies
• Wikipedia :: Video Game Controversies
Examples
Old School RuneScape"All player vs player activities are in specific areas that are clearly marked, although going to these areas can be required for some quests."
Town of Salem - The Coven"This is the main objective of the game. You lie, kill and backstab other players to win the game."
LEGO® Legacy: Heroes Unboxed"You are incentivized to participate in PvP battles in exchange for crowns."
Lords Mobile: War Kingdom"horrible behaviours"
Brawl Stars"The point of the game is to kill other players."
Love Live!School idol festival"Event leaderboards can get very competitive, especially in the JP version."
Among Us"The whole point of the game is to be either a teamplayer or imposter. When you are an imposter you need to sabotage the work of the other players and murder them all by staying unseen."
Star Trek Fleet Command"The game caters to basement dwellers and 40 year old virgins bullying, creating chaos, taking away from the fun of the game play."
World of Tanks Blitz MMO"Yes, but that's given with being a competitive Tank MMO."
Walking Dead: Road to Survival"You can organize to make tourneys manageable. But you could also be sneaky and lie. Leaving factions is also a way to lie. Cheating has been a trouble issue since this game began."