LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream gaming is fairly new, but games with queer themes have always existed. Throughout the last decade, dozens of games have been released that include gay, lesbian, and trans characters, among other identities.
Today we’re bringing you a compilation of the most impactful queer stories you can experience in video games, complete with an explanation about each LGBTQ+ character and how their identity impacts the plot. If you’d like to play a diverse tale that truly represents who you are, then you’re in the right place.
The Last Of Us Part 1 – A heartbreaking gay romance
The Last Of Us Part 1 is a post-apocalyptic action game that doesn’t shy away from diversity. The main character, Ellie, is a young girl attracted to other women, but her sexuality is explored primarily in DLC and The Last Of Us Part 2. More central to the plot of Part 1, Bill is a gay character who Joel and Ellie work alongside to survive.
Although Bill’s sexuality isn’t directly mentioned, you can find hints about his previous relationship with a man named Frank. During the plot, you find Frank’s dead body while working with Bill, in addition to a note stating that he was angry at Bill for their previous fight, which the couple never had the chance to reconcile.
Bill and Frank may be one of the saddest tales of a gay couple in gaming, but their story’s subtle impact helps players to understand that LGBTQ+ characters can exist in all genres of media, even where you least expect them. The relationship is further explored in the TV adaptation of The Last Of Us, which shows the progression between the two characters meeting and falling in love.
The Last Of Us webpage offers options for buying both games in the series.
The Last Of Us Part 2 – An action-packed tale of trans youth
The Last Of Us Part 1 features deep representation for the gay and lesbian communities. However, Part 2 also introduces a young trans boy who shaves his head and changes his name from Lily to Lev. Since Lev is part of a religious cult, he initially tries to ignore his gender dysphoria. However, once he’s assigned to become an elder’s wife, he explains his identity to his people, which results in Lev being forced to flee.
Eventually, Lev meets protagonist Abby, and they form an ironclad bond. Throughout The Last Of Us Part 2, the narrative delves into Lev’s identity by exploring his family’s perspective and allowing him to live his truth – even if it costs Lev his life. The best thing about Lev is that his actor, Ian Alexander, is also a trans person, and he uses his own experiences to add a touch of realism to the fictional character’s story.
In addition to Lev, The Last Of Us Part 2 includes a diverse cast of characters and relationships. Ellie and Dina are two female characters who are involved with each other romantically, and the writers weren’t shy in creating scenes that cover queer topics. Both The Last Of Us games were released as PlayStation exclusives; however, Part 1 is now available on PC as well.
The Last Of Us Part 2 has its own webpage where you can explore key details about the second iteration in the story.
Celeste – A trans feminine battle against depression
If you’re looking for an indie game about a trans girl fighting her inner demons, then you’re in the right place. Following Madeline’s path, you must scale a mountain fraught with challenges to eventually make it to the top and overcome her fears.
Celeste is a platformer developed by Madeline Thorson, a trans woman. Throughout the plot, Madeline battles negative thoughts from within herself, comparable to what trans people experience in the struggle to accept their identity and transition. She’s chased by a seemingly evil version of herself, only to reconcile with this part to eventually reach the mountain’s peak – and truly gain control of her anxiety and depression.
Although Madeline’s gender identity isn’t heavily explored during the plot, it’s easy to see how the themes in Celeste mirror the experiences of many trans people, which helps spread awareness about the struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community as a whole.
If you’re itching to play this beautiful platformer, you can direct yourself to the Celeste webpage.
Life Is Strange – A supernatural coming of age story about two queer women
The first Life Is Strange game is a love letter to youth questioning their sexuality. You play as Max Caulfield as she discovers her new time control powers and potentially her sexuality too. Throughout the story, you meet her male and female love interests – but only you have the power to choose which direction Max will take in her romantic life.
The narrative primarily revolves around Max and Chloe, her best friend and female love interest. Max and Chloe are both three-dimensional bisexual characters who are in the process of exploring their sexualities. The first Life Is Strange game is renowned for its queer characters and supernatural plot direction, but you can also try Life Is Strange 2 to play a bisexual male character named Sean with a similar diversity of romantic choices.
If you’re looking for the best lesbian romance in video games, then Life Is Strange is for you. Life Is Strange also has a prequel called Before The Storm, which further explores Chloe’s relationship with the now-deceased Rachel Amber, whose death is a pivotal plot line in LiS.
If you’re already a fan of Life Is Strange, what you may not know is that there’s a comic book that continues the relationship between Max and Chloe. You can find more information about the comic on the Square Enix website.
Visit the Life Is Strange webpage to buy the first game and all other entries in the series. You can also browse the website to find more information about Life Is Strange: Double Exposure, the newest chapter in Max’s story, which is releasing on October 29th, 2024.
Tell Me Why – A choice-based tale of trans masculinity
Tell Me Why is similar in narrative to the Life Is Strange franchise. Composed of three chapters, you play as siblings Tyler and Alyson Ronan. Tyler is a trans man who is still in the process of transitioning. The story is set in their small hometown, where you investigate details surrounding their mother’s death years after the tragic event took place.
Tyler Ronan is one of the first trans male protagonists in a video game to date, and the narrative also makes an effort to explore his sexuality by introducing other characters with a diverse range of attractions.
Tell Me Why’s narrative is that of a strong trans person’s journey into adulthood, which is why it’s such a fantastic example of queer representation with a gripping story to boot.
If you’re ready to start a new journey in a virtual world, you can explore the Tell Me Why webpage for purchase options.
Undertale – A unique story complete with gender nonconformity
Undertale was a smash success upon its release in 2015. The story revolves around a gender nonconforming character in their journey to reach the surface. You’ll encounter a plethora of LGBTQ+ characters throughout the Underground, such as Alphys or Mad Mew Mew, who acts as an allegory for trans identities.
Frisk is perhaps the most notable queer character since they’re the protagonist. Gender-ambiguous and referred to by they/them pronouns throughout the story, Frisk is a quiet child who explores the idea that just like sexuality, gender doesn’t have to be pre-set for a main character.
There are very few games that offer the ability to play as gender non-conforming characters, so Undertale should be in your backlog if you’re looking for a chance to explore a world full of gender diversity and queer themes.
Undertale’s creator, Toby Fox, has also created another game with LGBTQ+ characters called Deltarune. The protagonist is named Kris and also uses they/them pronouns.
Visit the Undertale website if you want to start your fantastical adventure today.
The Outer Worlds – A race through space with queer representation across the board
If you’re itching to play an action-packed adventure with diverse representation – then try The Outer Worlds. In this space-themed RPG, you play as whoever you want to, with choices in every dialogue encounter that shape your character into their own person. Although you can’t romance other characters, there are an array of interesting individuals you’ll meet across the Halcyon System that represent sections of the LGBTQ+ community rarely explored in video games.
One such example is Parvati, an asexual mechanic and one of the first companions you can recruit. Parvati’s asexuality is explored during her companion storyline, but The Outer Worlds does a fantastic job of explaining to players that while she’s asexual, she’s still romantically attracted to other people. You can even help Parvati with her romantic struggles during a companion quest.
The reason that Parvati’s sexuality is so extensively explored is because she was partially designed by Kate Dollarhyde, an asexual woman who shared her experiences with the character to help build the best possible representation for the asexual community. Not only does The Outer Worlds contain unique representation, but the character’s identities are explored to the fullest extent possible and designed with lived experiences in mind.
If you’re ready to take on the Halcyon System, you can purchase The Outer Worlds on the Obsidian website.
The Elder Scrolls Online – A surprising bastion of LGBTQ+ diversity
Previous The Elder Scrolls games allow you to marry the same sex, like Skyrim. However, The Elder Scrolls Online is a giant game with hundreds of quests to complete, so it has its fair share of set queer characters scattered throughout Tamriel. For example, Lord Vivec is a mortal god you meet on Vvardenfell, and if you dive into Elder Scrolls lore, you’ll find that Vivec is intersex.
Perhaps the most in-depth LGBTQ+ character in The Elder Scrolls Online, Alchemy is a trans woman who’s a member of the House of Reveries in the Summerset Chapter. During your interactions with Alchemy, you’ll hear the story of her identity, an explanation of how others in The Elder Scrolls world transition between genders, and even help her share news of the transition with her sister.
The inclusion of diverse NPCs in video games is great, but telling thought-provoking stories like that of Alchemy’s transition is what queer people truly need to feel represented in gaming. Plus, it’s interesting to hear about how gender transitioning might exist in a fantasy world where technology is replaced by magic, and The Elder Scrolls Online offers a fitting explanation.
Unlike many MMOs, you can play this one without a subscription, and you can buy a copy today on The Elder Scrolls Online website.