A History of Queer Interest Video Games
Note, inclusion of this list is NOT an endorsement of the quality of these games in any way, including their relationship to queerness. Bad representation and queerphobia are also of interest.
Please make any suggestions you have, this is always a work in progress. This list is intentionally broad: the goal is to log everything of potential interest to those invested in queerness and queer issues. So while incredibly direct examples like Dys4ia are included, so are things like Final Fantasy VII because the crossdressing sections would be worth looking at when studying queer and adjacent queer-coded representation in gaming.
Please make any suggestions you have, this is always a work in progress. This list is intentionally broad: the goal is to log everything of potential interest to those invested in queerness and queer issues. So while incredibly direct examples like Dys4ia are included, so are things like Final Fantasy VII because the crossdressing sections would be worth looking at when studying queer and adjacent queer-coded representation in gaming.
221 Games
44 Comments
Mother 3?
Added, thanks!
I never played it and I don't think a lot of people did but I believe the main characters of Fear Effect Sedna are in a lesbian relationship.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim - one scenario has a character falling in love with a crossdresser, the game explores this relationship
NieR - intersex character
Steins;Gate - trans (coded) character, people argue over this similar to Danganronpa/P4 though because of portrayal
Umineko: When They Cry - spoilery, I'm sure others can vouch for it
Wonderful Everyday - gay character, falls under a similar stereotype as Ace Attorney 3 there. More stuff that's spoilery
Hashihime of the Old Book Town - BL murder mystery (not played this one yet admittedly).
AI: The Somnium Files - not played this one yet either but there was a line from a character that expressed support for the LGBT community that caused some controversy because people thought it wasn't in the original Japanese (lol). Think there's also like a gay bar
NieR - intersex character
Steins;Gate - trans (coded) character, people argue over this similar to Danganronpa/P4 though because of portrayal
Umineko: When They Cry - spoilery, I'm sure others can vouch for it
Wonderful Everyday - gay character, falls under a similar stereotype as Ace Attorney 3 there. More stuff that's spoilery
Hashihime of the Old Book Town - BL murder mystery (not played this one yet admittedly).
AI: The Somnium Files - not played this one yet either but there was a line from a character that expressed support for the LGBT community that caused some controversy because people thought it wasn't in the original Japanese (lol). Think there's also like a gay bar
Wonderful, thanks so much for the suggestions!
Summon Night: Swordcraft Story has some LGBT theming, picking the female partner w/ the female main character has her be attracted and the same is true with two other girl characters.
Fate/Grand Order has multiple instances of characters being explicitly non-binary or transgender along with some gay representation.
Tri Force Heroes has crossdressing Link and the devs even asking pre-release if that'd be fine, if you think that counts.
Valerie Rose in Fantasy Strike is a lesbian and it factors into her story.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses has multiple gay relationship options for both genders.
I hope these suggestions were helpful!
Fate/Grand Order has multiple instances of characters being explicitly non-binary or transgender along with some gay representation.
Tri Force Heroes has crossdressing Link and the devs even asking pre-release if that'd be fine, if you think that counts.
Valerie Rose in Fantasy Strike is a lesbian and it factors into her story.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses has multiple gay relationship options for both genders.
I hope these suggestions were helpful!
The Yakuza series has consistently portrayed crossdressing bars and the Japanese queer culture in the nightlife setting, pretty much every game has characters involved from that background.
Can someone clarify which Yakuza games in particular? I'm hesitant to add things when I'm not sure of specifics like that.
tysm for the suggestions, added!
The Yakuza games were actually kinda transphobic early on but I think I read that the creator befriended a Trans person and they got much better about it after that, the remasters were even retranslated to remove the transphobia.. I'd say the safe bet is putting any Yakuzas that released after Yakuza 5, and the remasters. Or just the games this character appears in https://yakuza.fandom.com/wiki/Ako
I'll start by adding those, but jsyk plenty of the games on here are queerphobic, my intent isn't to log only good representation: "Note, inclusion of this list is NOT an endorsement of the quality of these games in any way, including their relationship to queerness. Bad representation and queerphobia are also of interest."
That's my bad for not reading close enough.
Since not-so-good representation is also applicable then Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal would qualify because of these 2 https://megamitensei.fandom.com/wiki/Angel_and_Julian
thank you~
I don't know if this take is seen as hot, but fuck it. I think that using a stereotype is not inherently insensitive. I think that Angel and Julian aren't exactly queerphobic considering the fact that it doesn't seem like the developers/writers intended to offend people. I think it was more of a joke. Just me, though. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I can't comment on the games in question, but intent isn't the deciding factor on if a representation is good or not. I agree that stereotypes can be used in ways that are not queerphobic, but that's a really complicated issue.
I don't want this to turn into a debate comment section, though. Let's leave it at that. This list isn't trying to judge these things anyway.
I don't want this to turn into a debate comment section, though. Let's leave it at that. This list isn't trying to judge these things anyway.
I noticed that you included Borderlands 1 and 2. You should also include Pre-Sequel and 3. In Pre-Sequel, there is a lesbian character called Janey Springs. In 3, Sir Hammerlock from 2 comes back and has a male fiancee.
Added, thanks~
cool list .could you explain some of the entries?
Fire Emblem Awakening.
Here's list of videogames with lgbt characters on wikipedia. Think it will be helpful.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_games_with_LGBT_characters
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_games_with_LGBT_characters
The Hex: A gay couple exist but it's a secret and somewhat of a spoiler.
Killer7: Suda has stated that Kevin Smith is gay.
Also could you add notes for these games, I don't remember any LGBT characters existing in Mario Odyssey or Breath of the wild, but it's been a while since i've played both.
Killer7: Suda has stated that Kevin Smith is gay.
Also could you add notes for these games, I don't remember any LGBT characters existing in Mario Odyssey or Breath of the wild, but it's been a while since i've played both.
Edit: Sorry, didn't see the rest of the description.
This comment was deleted
Thank you for the additions! Breath of the Wild was due to the whole sequence surrounding the Gerudo outfit, and Odyssey is due to Mario being able to wear a dress.
Butterfly Soup
Archangel made a pretty good argument about Birdo (specifically Super Mario Bros. 2 and Captain Rainbow): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V8Be53QXaA
Ah you have SM2 on here already, my bad.
What's super metroid doing here?
kirbybestie
3 years ago