In a recent video message, Pastor Vlad Savchuk is calling believers to rethink how they engage with video games, warning that some titles are far more than innocent entertainment—they’re potential spiritual traps.
“This is not about legalism,” Savchuk says. “This is about discernment and spiritual victory.”
Entertainment Isn’t Always Harmless
Savchuk points to 1 Corinthians 10:23, where Paul writes, “All things are lawful to me, but not all things are helpful.” It is imperative that Christians evaluate whether their entertainment choices are spiritually beneficial or harmful.
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“Entertainment today is one of Satan’s greatest weapons,” Savchuk warns. “He doesn’t always come to you with horns and fire. He comes with deception, he comes with distraction, and he wants to desensitize you to the things of the demonic kingdom.”
Video Games as Spiritual Gateways
Not every game is demonic, Savchuk acknowledged, but many are spiritually dangerous due to their themes and interactivity.
“You don’t just watch it; you participate in them,” he says. “They make your spirit more vulnerable.”
Savchuk specifically cites games like Diablo, Dungeons and Dragons, Elden Ring and The Witcher, titles that are often built around themes of witchcraft, necromancy and occultism. “These are not just fictional,” he explains. “They are replicas of real occultic powers. You are this virtual person that’s in that game… You’re not just playing a game, you’re participating.”
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He warns that content involving witchcraft, spiritism and bloodlust is more than thematic—it’s spiritual. “You’re simulating rituals, spells, summoning spirits. Your spirit is not just simulating, it’s participating.”
How the Enemy Gains a Foothold
Savchuk gives a clear breakdown of how the demonic realm uses video games as access points:
“Demons operate through legal access. They look for agreement. It’s stuff you watch, things you say yes to, things you participate in—that matters.”
He outlines the spiritual progression this way:
- Curiosity – A casual interest in dark themes.
- Participation – Actively engaging with occult elements.
- Imagination – Allowing your mind to dwell on what you’re experiencing.
- Invitation – Opening the door for spiritual torment.
“Your spirit is not just simulating,” he emphasizes. “It’s participating.”
The Other Trap: Distraction
Even games that don’t contain witchcraft or violence can be spiritually dangerous if they consume too much time and attention.
“Many of them are distracting,” Savchuk says. “They leave you numb, busy and disconnected from God.”
He adds: “The devil doesn’t have to destroy you if he can distract you. You’ll miss your destiny while beating the next level in the video game, but you miss the next level in God.”
Self-Examination: Questions Every Christian Gamer Should Ask
Savchuk encourages viewers to honestly ask themselves the following before diving into a game:
- Does this video game glorify sin or righteousness?
- Is it filled with witchcraft, violence, or sexual perversion?
- Do I feel clean or convicted after playing?
- Is this game helping me grow or pulling me away from God?
“If your game grieves the Holy Spirit,” he asks, “why would you entertain it?”
Real Stories of Deliverance
Savchuk shares that his ministry has helped individuals suffering from nightmares, addiction and torment after playing certain games.
“There are cases of people we’ve done deliverance on, who through those games got so attached that they needed deliverance because something entered them,” he says.
Even if it doesn’t lead to demonic oppression, excessive gaming can damage spiritual life and relationships. “Close family members, usually wives, are grieving because their husbands walk with God, but they also spend hours in front of a screen.”
How to Break Free
Savchuk closes the message with practical advice for anyone ready to take a step toward freedom:
- Ask the Holy Spirit – “Ask Him to reveal any games you need to disconnect from, delete and remove.”
- Repent and Renounce – “Repent and renounce open doors you’ve opened by participating in witchcraft games.”
- Replace Gaming Hours – “Replace your gaming hours with time with God’s presence, God’s people and developing God’s purpose.”
- Seek Deliverance if Needed – “Go to somebody and tell them, ‘Hey, I can’t stop. I need help.’”
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“Games can be fun, yeah, but freedom is better,” Savchuk says. “Don’t trade your calling for a controller. Don’t play with demons, get delivered and stay free.”
If you’ve been struggling in this area, this is a call to courage, conviction and change.
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
