The popular game about 'gold diggers' is sparking debate about sexism in China

"He's more obedient than a dog... I hope there are more of these idiots," boasts a woman in a new game that has fueled a debate about sexism in China.

In the game "Revenge on Gold Diggers" (Revenge Against Gold Diggers, in free translation), the protagonists are men lured into relationships by manipulative women interested only in their money — and the way the player reacts defines the course of the story.

The title topped the Steam sales charts just hours after its release in June, but quickly became the subject of controversy. Some criticized it for reinforcing offensive gender stereotypes, while supporters claim the game warns against dating scams.

The criticism was so intense that the next day the creators quietly renamed the game "Emotional Anti-Fraud Simulator" (Anti-Coup Emotional Simulator).

But the change wasn't enough to stem the tide. The game's lead director, Hong Kong filmmaker Mark Hu, ended up banned from several Chinese social media platforms.

The creators claim they never intended to "target women" — they say the goal was to promote "an open dialogue about emotional boundaries and the gray areas of modern relationships."

Xu Yikun, an artist who tested the game and found it deeply offensive, rejects this justification. She accuses the developers of following "a classic business model that profits from creating content that generates controversy and division."

Critics like her point out that the term "gold digger" itself carries a strong misogynistic connotation.

"It's a label used too often against women," Xu says. "Sexist jokes and derogatory terms like this have infiltrated our everyday vocabulary."

"If you have a rich boyfriend, you're called a gold digger. If you try to get laid, you're called a gold digger... Sometimes, all it takes is accepting a drink from someone for that label to come along," she adds.

Some players, however, find the criticism exaggerated.

"The game isn't saying all women are gold diggers ... I don't see it attacking either gender," said Zhuang Mengsheng, 31, who used a pseudonym to speak to the BBC. "Both women and men can be gold diggers . "

Yet, in the game, all the "gold diggers" are women. From an innocent-looking digital influencer to an ambitious entrepreneur, they are all portrayed as manipulators trying to convince men to spend money and give them gifts.

"Want to know if a man loves you? See how much he spends," says one of them.

The game has even divided local media. A newspaper in the central province of Hubei claimed the game is "labeling an entire genre as scammers."

Already the Beijing Youth Daily (the official newspaper of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Youth League of China) praised the work's "creativity," citing the financial impact of romance scams: an estimated 2 billion yuan (approximately R$1.46 billion) in 2023, according to data from the National Anti-Fraud Center.

"We need to combat emotional blows as soon as possible," the newspaper said in an editorial.

Controversy aside, the game's sales continue to soar. It's already among the ten most popular PC titles in China, surpassing even "Black Myth: Wukong," considered the most successful Chinese game in history.

"I don't understand why people are so upset. If you're not a gold digger, why do you feel attacked by the game?" says a 28-year-old man.

"Actually, I thought the game's creators were very bold. These topics [like emotional fraud] are still rarely discussed in China."

Some people online have suggested the game was inspired by the true story of a Chinese man known online as "Fat Cat," who committed suicide last year after a relationship ended.

His death sparked intense debate on social media, where the term "gold digger" was widely used, with some accusing his ex-girlfriend of exploiting him, leading him to take his own life. Police dismissed these allegations.

Women who spoke to the BBC expressed concern that the game reinforces problematic gender norms in China—a society where women are expected to stay in the home, while men are seen as the primary providers.

Therefore, for many women, marrying well has always been seen as more important than achieving professional success.

The official discourse of the male-dominated Chinese Communist Party reinforces this view—leader Xi Jinping has repeatedly stated that women should embrace their roles as "good wives and mothers."

The government has also cracked down on a growing number of activists advocating for gender equality.

"I feel like a game like this just fuels hostility between men and women," said a woman who preferred to remain anonymous for fear of online attacks.

"Once again, he portrays women as the inferior gender who must find ways to please men to secure their livelihood."

Text originally published here