Fancy stepping into the shoes of a detective for the evening? Such is the promise of "jubensha," the murder mystery role-playing games that are all the rage in China. And while they're proving highly popular among young people in the country, they're increasingly subject to Beijing's censorship.
Getting together with a few colleagues or friends to solve mysteries is now the pastime of choice for many Chinese Millennials, as they momentarily slip into the shoes of Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot during games of "jubensha" (or "scripted homicide" in Chinese).
These role-playing games in the form of murder investigations originated in 2016 in the country. They are inspired by the "murder parties" referenced in the novels of Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie, but also by "Who's the Murderer." This entertainment TV show is particularly popular with young Chinese viewers, reports Dao Insights. Each episode follows a group of celebrities as they attempt to solve a murder mystery by gathering clues.
The various "jubensha" games follow the same basic formula, much like escape games. However, aficionados of these Chinese role-playing games do not hesitate to dress or even speak like the character whose identity they assume as part of the investigation. More and more players are trying the experience, and are ready to put their hands in their pockets to do so. Indeed, the analyst firm iiMedia Research estimates that "jubensha" fans spent $2.7 billion on such games in 2021.
Soon to be censured?
However, the Chinese authorities are not happy about this craze for such detective games. They are concerned about the "jubensha" scripts and storylines, which have so far escaped any form of censorship. These could expose the country's youth to obscene and violent content, and even harm their health, the authorities fear. In fact, a 22-year-old student was hospitalized after playing a game of "jubensha," reports The Economist, citing a Chinese state media source. The storyline of the game seemingly terrorized her so much that she reportedly suffered a brain hemorrhage.
Many Chinese internet users are rightly concerned for the future of "jubensha" in the wake of this case. For several months, Beijing has been stepping up its efforts to severely restrict the entertainment industry, accused of corrupting the country's youth. Video games have notably paid the price. The country's regulator of audiovisual, publishing and broadcasting announced in August 2021 that it would limit gaming for minors to three hours a week. Tencent, NetEase and other video game developers have also been ordered to better check and filter online games, strictly banning content including pornography and gory images.
And the Chinese authorities are now targeting "jubensha." In January, Shanghai became the first city in the country to regulate the content of these role-playing games, banning those that promote sex, violence and which "threaten national security." More recently, the central government declared that Chinese people under 18 will no longer be able to visit "jubensha" venues, except on weekends and public holidays. Still, it's likely that it will take more than that to curb the enthusiasm of the country's youth for this form of entertainment.
