The very best LGBTQ+ characters in gaming

WGTC: “Gaming, as an artform, has come a long way since the early days of Tetris and Pong. The turn of the millennium saw games more openly and proudly tell stories about people of different creeds, backgrounds, sexualities, and genders.”

[BigBosss]

umm okay..

[Mobis-New-Nest]

I know, how is this even a list when we can't even get the very best hardcore LGBTQ+ scenes uncensored with these characters. None of those characters even expressed XXX material in their game and you expect me to believe this is the best the LGBTQ+ has to offer. Take a walk.

[Kosic]

Wait...what?

[CDbiggen]

Haha underrated.

[Binarycode]

You are what you are, but I don't care what you are and I don't need to know about it.

Everyone has an opinion about gay etc. From animals being gay etc.

Everything these days is pushed by the media and in your face 24/7 to try and normalize it. First it was the gay thing. Then it was interacial agenda, Now atm it's the trans agenda.

Watch any series these days on netflix, There is always. 1. A man of colour with a white woman, A gay friend, A chinese or person of asian decent. It will also try moving into the trans agenda shortly.

It's like the old quote. Keep telling a lie long enough and soon it will be regarded as fact.

[darren_poolies]

Oh so you're racist and homophobic with a sprinkle of xenophobia. Hate to break it to you bud but interacial relationships, gay people and asians are normal, get over it.

[RaiderNation]

@darren_poolies

If it's "normal" then why do we need an annual commemoration in the month of June for it? Even the very concept of Pride Month makes zero sense to me. What are we taking "pride" in here? The fact that some people prefer same sex partners? Woohoo, good for you! I prefer opposite sex partners but it's not something I feel "prideful" about or feel the need for a special flag or month of the year to commemorate it to make myself feel better. Sexual preference is biological. It's not an accomplishment. So what exactly are we proud of here if it's as normal as you say it is? Another word for normal would be ordinary. Celebrations are reserved for extraordinary things, not ordinary things.

[RoseSapphire]

@RaiderNation

We need things like Pride month because of people like you.

TV and literature are 99.9999999999% cishet and you don't complain about that. Men and women kiss regularly on TV, date, or get married, and you don't complain. This is constant, it's so constant that it's normalized.

And yet, the second two men kiss or a trans character shows up people start screaming "woke" and complaining about special focus or some such nonsense.

This is exactly why it's needed, because people like you still complain and treat it like it's not normal.

[oldenjon]

On the same token I don’t really need to read your opinion or know what you think. You can literally flip your logic around to say the same about anything common or normal. Who cares? Paradigms are shifting. Get over it

[Binarycode]

darren_poolies

I never said I had an issue with black ppl, neither did I say I had a problem with gay ppl or Asian people.

That said. If Gay people are Normal. Lets twist it around. There would be no ppl around, because every man would be having sex with men. Makes no sense. Can men have babies. NOPE.

There are only two sexes, because that's is all you need. Male and Female versions. Your sole purpose on earth in truth is to create a child. Regardless of whether you want one or not. Because there are so many children now. It matters not.

But do I hate any of those people. NO. That's not who I am. I just notice how the world is and can think clearly without the media trying to brainwash me.

[RaiderNation]

@BranWheatKillah

"We need things like Pride month because of people like you."

It's called "Pride Month" and I simply asked what exactly are we taking pride in here? Sexual preference seems like a pretty flimsy reason to have a month-long celebration. If you've formulated your entire identity around who you sleep with, that's a rather hollow existence isn't it? Especially in 2022 when nobody gives a rat's a$$ anymore. Is that ALL that encapsulates you?

"TV and literature are 99.9999999999% cishet and you don't complain about that. Men and women kiss regularly on TV, date, or get married, and you don't complain. This is constant, it's so constant that it's normalized."

Wait, so you think the reason heterosexuality is the societal norm is because of it's overwhelming portrayal on TV and in books? LOL It doesn't work that way. Art imitates life, not the other way around. Oh and newsflash, the reason why relationships in TV and books are "99.9999999%" hetero is because in the real world, the vast majority of people ARE pro-creating heterosexuals. Thank GOD that's the case because that is what maintains the proliferation of the human race! if it was the other way around, humankind wouldn't last very long would it. Don't forget that it took a heterosexual couple to bring YOUR ass into this world. I'm sorry if you cannot handle that reality but it's the truth. The vast majority of our entertainment SHOULD be hetero-centric because that's what the vast majority of the paying audience is!

"And yet, the second two men kiss or a trans character shows up people start screaming "woke" and complaining about special focus or some such nonsense."

If you cannot see the blatant and rampant tokenizing of LGBTQ+ (CHRIST, get a better name) in movies and TV these days, I can't help you! And make no mistake! They are only doing this to gain social justice points and avoid social media backlash. That's why people call it "woke". Because of the ridiculous virtue signaling. Same with companies who rainbow up their packaging in June. But hey, whatever. Frosted Flakes and McDonald's fries taste just as good in June as they do the other 11 months of the year.

[Cuzizkool]

I never really played games that had romantic choices until I played Fire Emblem. I’m happy that with 3H they made (a few) same sex options. I’m just kinda hoping for more down the line. It’s nice to know there are more options out there for people like me.

[SullysCigar]

I don't understand why people think this kind of thing is important. I'm not saying you're wrong, just curious as to the reasons.

I can happily play a game as a male or female, tall or short, fat or thin, black or white, etc. I played a VR game the other day where your character is in a wheelchair. I'm not in real life, but I still enjoyed the game.

People have all sorts of preferences these days. They can't all be catered for, but where does it stop?

[darthv72]

Representation... that's the key word. Honestly i don't understand why it is important either. I mean I play games to be somebody else. I never pick what represents me. I can see the allure for others though, especially since its still a fairly recent trend (by recent i mean within last 10-20 years). Growing up in the 70's, gaming wasnt about representation. It was about shooting space ships or bouncing a block back and forth.

[Cuzizkool]

Well you played all those options because they were available, right? Playing fat/thin, black/white appealed to you at some point. Well now lgbt want to play what appeals to us. We just couldn’t before. Actually I remember now… when I was a hormonal closeted teen playing the Sims 1, I found out I could make same sex couples and my love for the game soared. Finally I could live out my dream that I was too ashamed to tell anyone! Of course it was 2000 and I was horribly closeted and hid the game from all my friends, but that’s a separate (and sad) story.
Edit
As for “where does it end”, unfortunately we’re living in a very… angry… age. And as they say, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease”. So whichever minority group is screaming the loudest gets the representation. It’s a broken system, but it’s what works. 😖

[SullysCigar]

^ haha I definitely agree about the squeaky wheel.

Fwiw though, I played those games because the games themselves appealed to me. I enjoy the gameplay, challenge or escapism, I guess, but never cared about the characters I controlled.

To me, they just fit the story and they don't represent me. Even if I create a character, I tend to make the one I think best fits the situation. To each, their own!

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

You only think it's weird to ask for representation because you already have it.

If all games only had gay characters (lol), people would say "It would be cool to see a character whose life is a bit more relatable to me. For every 10 characters like Nathan Drake, Duke Nukem and John Marston, banging dudes on their epic adventures (more than they bloody kill, tbh), it would be cool to see the odd straight guy, you know?"

"Oi, you, why do you care? Why are you questioning the norm? I could play as a character with sticks for legs, mate. Where does it stop?"

[TheLigX]

For those of us who are old enough, we know that it was not that long ago when the lgbtq was community was forced into the closet completely in terms of representation in entertainment. It’s actually a pretty big that the community has any representation at all.

[LordoftheCritics]

Why have characters, floating text is enough right?

[TheCaptainKuchiki]

Thousands of people are getting killed in this world because of their sexuality. Representation is a good thing. The only people who keep asking "why tho?" are those who actually have a problem with it. You're part of them.

[Tacoboto]

My straight co-worker asked me a while back how I felt about pride nights at sports arenas, because I am the only gay person he knows and talks to. His perspective - it's not needed, because *he* doesn't discriminate and doesn't understand why people do discriminate. Therefore, because he's "cool with it", he doesn't want to see it impacting his sports, because "sports are sports."

I asked him to name me a single publicly-out player in that sport. None. I asked him to name anyone publicly-out across any sport. None there either. I myself could only name two because it ALWAYS makes headlines. I asked him if he knew what happens during Pride Night; he also didn't - they donate proceeds to charitable organizations.

He knew NOTHING but yet still felt the need to express negativity about something he knew nothing about. Sounds kinda familiar, no?

It's all about representation of PEOPLE, not "preferences" or other ways people subtly dismiss the gay community. That's why it is important, simple as that.

Mario saves Peach. Link saves Zelda. Nathan Drake finds love with a pretty blonde lady into adventure. Same for Deacon in Days Gone. Kratos and Geralt have hot tubs full of naked ladies.

What do gays get? RPGs where we have to work to get our same-sex pity options thrown in for marketing. Two-sentence references in a character bio. NPCs with stereotypical behavior. Small indie titles. Finally, with TLOU2, a lesbian is the playable character of the most significant release to date yet on the PS4.

Then, online backlash. Story context is ruined, "Abbie is trans", "shoving it down our throat", the neverending references to the "gay agenda", Niell Cuckman. Naughty Dog wanted to shove it down our throat so much, that the ACTUAL TRANS character in the game didn't want to bring up the topic to Abbie when asked.

"It was about shooting space ships or bouncing a block back and forth"
Yep. Film started off with no audio. Films also had a very long era where white actors put on black face because black people weren't allowed to act. Mediums evolve in technology as well as with representation, especially when the people involved in making them are allowed to openly and legally be who they are.

[gamer7804]

Same. Usually play as anyone and usually they don’t look like me really. If I want real life I’ll do something in the real world.

[Noskypeno]

Not once while watching breaking bad have i wondered "you know what,this needs a 10 minute sex scene with detailed nudity". I also never needed to learn the sexuality of my science teacher. All these teen shows make it seem like without nudity or sex the show would bomb. Not against nudity or see, but it shouldn't just be used to make the show seem edgy.

[fr0sty]

Easy to say when there's many characters that are like you already in video games.

[Daeloki]

It's important because there are still so many lgbt+ people out there who are made to feel like they are wrong and don't belong in our world. Trough representation, these people can see part of themselves in a positive light, whether it's showing a meaningful and sincere romantic connection or a version of themselves as a powerful hero. It's important because it makes people feel good.

The thing I don't understand is why so many people insist on having a negative reaction on this. I mean just look at the comment section of N4G whenever there's any mention of lgbt+ characters or plot. Seeing stuff like that is so much more hurtful than people who make those comments realise. Whenever these people see posts like this, before they start complaining, they should stop and think, and remember that's probably how many lgbt+ people feel whenever the main character turns out to be straight like 90% of all the other characters out there.

[SurgicalMenace]

@LucasRuinedChild

No the f*** we wouldn't, we'd just label it for gays and keep it moving. What benefit is there to force representation where it's not naturally oriented? Never have I ever seen any example of a straight guy wishing he could be included in a gay environment. Have you ever thought that there's so much push back because it's not socially beneficial to anyone but yourselves? How did civilization make it this far? Heterosexuals. Weren't you born of a heterosexual union? Yes.

Perhaps if you kept your business to yourself instead of thinking that everyone is curious to know how you spend your time privately. Okay, you're gay, now what? I'm heterosexual so I don't believe I could care any less. You guys are acting as though hetero relationships have been forced into your faces like they're not the natural order that progresses society.

Yay, now you have more representation than African Americans do in games and the metric shows that their income makes up 63% of the industry. Are you going to make sure they get proper representation as well? Most likely not....

[Daeloki]

@SurgicalMenace You're seriously just proving their point further. As a straight person you will never be in the same position, you have never had to hide the fact you're straight, you have never had to feel ashamed for how you feel, you have never had to hear told you're mentally ill because of your feelings, you've never had to think there's something wrong with you because of who you like.

It's not forced representation, it's including more than you can see with your narrowminded point of view.

"Never have I ever seen any example of a straight guy wishing he could be included in a gay environment."
Oh really? You've never heard about straight pride?

[SurgicalMenace]

@Daeloki

What....Straight pride?🤣 Yeah, it's called being straight and adding to society through procreation and continuing the legacy of those who came before me. No more pride needed.

As far as shame or otherwise, that's personal. My people were lynched, drug, beat, and shamed so....may know a thing or two. In spite of all those conditions we had lawyers, police, judges, and the government against us. Last I checked all those avenues are there protecting and advocating for the inclusion of this movement with extreme prejudice.

Feelings are abstract without proof of action, with inaction there's no grounds to base fear on outside of imagination. As far as me experiencing any shame, for what?

Personally, I've never experienced shame without the intent of my actions 1st being in question. I can't speak for everyone but no one can make me believe what I stand for is wrong. If you're proud about your preference then hiding, feeling shame, etc are all examples that contend against the very definition of pride. So you're right, I don't know a life marked by examples of cowardice. Fear is for the weak. Author Ash, Rue Paul, Queen Latifah, Ellen, Elton, etc are but a few examples who embraced their choice without fear instead of doing all this posturing and whining that we're constantly met with today.

[Eonjay]

I'm sure that gay people aren't obsessed with straight representation so why are straight people so obsessed with LGBTQ representation.... I think its the feeling of being left out. No worries though. Eventually, someone with a brain is going to add S to the series of letters and it will stand for cis straight and then you can all stop obsession over someone else. Then when you dwell on it, at least it will make sense because it will include you! Why leave out straight anyway if the term is supposed to represent the wide array of preferences?

[Wrex369]

"I'm just asking questions" guy is real annoying it's okay to say you don't want to see gayness. Own the homophobia. Just own it. Lol

[Elda]

Cool to have games where the player can relate to the character or co-characters. Nothing wrong with inclusion. To each their own. Happy Pride!

[fr0sty]

It's sad how many bigoted fools hang around this place. It must really suck to live life afraid and full of bitterness and hatred towards people that you've never met and will never have any negative impact on your life.

[Elda]

Agreed. I've learned that several of the commenters here are bigoted,misogynistic, prejudiced & racist in some of the comments they post whenever the topics are about race,lgbtq & females.

[fr0sty]

@elda, a bunch of trashy, poorly raised 12 year olds and incels that crawled here from the depths of 4chan... which is why any story about nude mods instantly goes to #1 here, horny little bastards can't wait to see some digital titties. It's sad, really... but to see how many of them there are shows just how poor of a condition the gaming market is in. I guess we all game to escape, and those people tend to be miserable, in need of such an escape the most. If they'd only realize that being hateful to others only furthers their own burden... weighs them down even more. I used to be a bitter person way back in my teen days, I learned real quick that doesn't get you anywhere.

[Daeloki]

It really is sad, and it's not even remotely limited to N4G. A few days back, Marvel posted a really sweet picture of Wiccan and Hulkling kissing on Instagram (note, Wiccan and Hulkling have been a couple for years, so it's not even anything new). The amount of hateful and bitter comments was just exhausting... And don't get me started on 9gag

[HansyJ]

Get a grip lol you guys sound like Justin Trudeau calling everyone that doesn’t agree with your opinion a racist misogynist bigot. Use your brains

[Elda]

@Frosty..You read for the filth but you're definitely telling the truth. Misery loves company & every generation there are some folks that are miserable,insecure & immature, some are even taught to be that way instead of having a mind all of their own.

[-Hermit-]

I don't hate anybody, I just don't care. If minority groups want to make their whole personality about being part of that minority, then go ahead, but I don't have to give a damn about them and I don't want to hear about it every day.

Minority groups want to be treated like everybody else, but at the same time want all of this special attention.

[Takwin]

There are so many empowered bigots now who cannot "understand" obvious things like Pride month or Black History month. As a middle-aged white man, I still get it, I still support it, and I especially oppose the bigotry they try to hide behind religion - it's still bigotry no matter the reason!

[Elda]

They get it it's just they act like they don't get it because they're just negative & immature some were taught to be that way. Also some deflect because they're something going on within themselves & they don't want to face it or feel that way so they coat their ego by being negative & deflecting basically saying to themselves..."let me act as if I'm against it because I don't want anyone to think I'm that way"

[Wrex369]

They've found safe spaces to hate and bigot to their heart's content. This is one of those places. They are literally the snowflakes they seem to constantly berrate. Can't even see a rainbow now without them crying about equality and "why do I have to seeeeeee it" lol

[Rebel_Scum]

Brings back memories of my female Commander Shepherd getting punched in the face and then jumped into raging romance by Jack.

[Knightofelemia]

Jack doesn't romance the female Shepard she only romances the male Shepard.

[Rebel_Scum]

My male shep identified as female brah.

[Inverno]

Ellie's sexuality wasn't present at all in the first game until the dlc, and it was poorly shown in Part 2. Max and Chloe are not gay at all, Celeste only turned out to be trans after a Twitter post which is dumb, and you don't mention Sir Hammerlock?! Arguably one one the most casual gay characters in gaming, he sends you to kill one of his ex which is honestly the best way I've ever found out about someone being gay.

[fr0sty]

I knew Ellie was lesbian before I played through the DLC, it wasn't a surprise when it finally happened.

[Inverno]

Sexuality doesn't surprise me. Love who you wanna and screw who you want to, but I really wish they would've written hers and Dina's relationship better

[anast]

The symbolism between her and Bill's "special magazine" was enough to show this before the DLC.

[Inverno]

Seriously? You take that a sign? I just saw it as a funny scene.
The truth is, her sexuality did not matter in the slightest during the entirety of the first game and people only made a huge deal after the dlc.

[anast]

@Inverno Every cutscene is for a reason. It's too expensive to do a funny scene for funny's sake in any form of entertainment, especially when we are talking about cutscenes in a video game in where the time is even shorter. The symbolism is there that is why the DLC wasn't a shocker to anyone. The second one was just an in-depth characterization of Ellie, so her sexuality wasn't a shocker there either.

Sorry to keep editing: Signs and symbols are not the same.

[MadLad]

Can't quite tell whether they are more stunning, or more brave ..

[isarai]

Honestly the earliest not cringey example i can think of is Jimmy Hopkins in bully. You can literally romance any of the other students.

[Evan_Beezy]

Just make sure if it’s a main character shown 10 years down the line, like w Nathan Drake, they don’t have kids lol w them

[HankHill]

Grasping at straws with this list.

[Killer2020UK]

I could hear the comments as soon as I read the headline...

[DracaVEVO]

Sounds good

[Vengeance1138]

So where's the article on "The very best straight characters in gaming"?? Alphabet characters are NOT special. So since we're all on the same level let's see the best straight characters next.

[darren_poolies]

It's pride month...

[sourOG]

Emily from dishonored 2? I don’t remember anything about that. List seems like random characters that have a gay experience buried in lore somewhere. An elder scrolls online character?

[AKS]

They actually made a cringey list like this and Kainé didn't make it in there?

[frostypants]

Imagine thinking that lumping all of those disparate groups together is anything but condescending and marginalizing, whilst ironically thinking it's being open minded. Man we've regressed so far in recent years in the name of fake progressivism.

[_Decadent_Descent]

Since when was playing video games about trying to identify as the characters??

[specialguest]

The entire universe in the Cho Aniki horizontal shooter game from the 90s. Only a few will know this obscure Japanese game

[howyeman]

The very best LGBTQ+ characters in gaming... My f.... god. What's next, "The very best HBPTTTEISF++" (Horoscope Believing People That Think The Earth Is Flat) Characters. Who the f... cares what genitals the character love. Just create a good story with a character that is able to learn, evolve, improve and show us how awesome this cycle is, that's it.

[SurgicalMenace]

Exactly....🤣🤣

[Tzuno]

All need the Kratos "touch"

[ChiefofLoliPolice]

As long a the game, story and character are interesting, non woke, non pandering, non virtue signaling, and it actually makes sense to have that kind of character to world and adds something to the world, surrounding characters, plot I'm fine. Don't care if they are gay or not.

[fitofficial]

We here at [corporation] present to you a list of [things] to celebrate [cause] and promote [diversity and inclusion]. #[cause] #thefutureisterrible

[HansyJ]

Oh God lol no one cares. Stop shoving this crap down peoples throats

[iplay1up2]

Wow, so much hate here. Most of you don't realize what gay people have been through. In the late 60's gay bars were raided regularly. The people were outed just for being there. Hate crimes were laughed at. Things got better in the 70's, but then AIDS hit. The government ignored it for years. They did nothing while 1000's of gay men died for years.

It wasn't until Rock Hudson died in 1985, before the president even addressed AIDS. Regan was friends with Hudson. Almost 90,000 people dead before our government even acknowledged it. We have been through hell trying for acceptance. Being gay isn't something easy to accept. We are born this way.

[RaiderNation]

I don't support or condone violence against anybody. I am very much a live and let live person. I also do not appreciate being labeled a "hater" just for having an opposing viewpoint on a sociopolitical issue. The word hate is so overused that it's completely lost it's meaning. Same with labeling anybody a racist, bigot, homophobe, etc who doesn't agree with every viewpoint the LGBTQ + community holds. I find it ironic and hypocritical that the group that professes to hate labels the most are the ones who most use them.

Yes, what happened in the 1960's was awful. It never should've happened. Yes, ignorance and fear, combined with holding a dogmatically religious viewpoint is a potent combination and as a result of that combination, there has been plenty of examples of human tragedy in the history of this world for various reasons. But this is 2022. We are not doing this anymore. Acceptance? You HAVE it. You won! Nobody cares in 2022 who you sleep with and same sex marriage is the law of the land in every state in the union. But you know this. You know very well the issue is no longer about acceptance or tolerance. This is about political points now. This is about gaining Marxist-like control and wanting to become the driving force in the zeitgeist of every avenue of our culture. This is what I have a problem with. LGBTQ + (God, PLEASE come up with a better name), no longer functions as an organization that merely wants acceptance. If that's all it was then I would be your biggest supporter. However you and I both know that's not what it's about in 2022. It's about gaining power and influence and wanting to ENFORCE that ideology onto everyone else. This is what I have a HUGE problem with and I wont accept that.

[MadLad]

Exactly.
Nobody cares. There's still some bigots out there, but there's a person out there with hate for virtually everyone and everything.

LGBTQ rights activists, and I'm trying to not come off as vitriolic here, but they're so tone deaf.
The message is, supposedly gay/trans is all right and completely normal.
How do they choose to achieve this narrative? Shout from the rooftops how amazing and strong the LGBTQ community is, and then campaign for more and more and more inclusion in virtually any piece of media ever put out.

Like ... I'm on your side, but damn.

[anast]

Ellie by far. But I would say the possible LBGTQ+ representation of V in Cyberpunk is the most detailed.

[Imalwaysright]

Ellie in the original TloU is one of my favorite characters of all time to the point that if Joel didn't do what he did at the end of the game I would have absolutely hated the game. Irrational I know but that's how much I liked that little girl.

[moriarty1889]

Enough of this forced agenda in everything lately.

[Hofstaderman]

I don't play games to get swamped by PC rhetoric. The left media really need to stay in their lane and keep their agenda out of our hobby. By the way I had no issue playing as Ellie in TLOU2. Just don't push your crap down my throat in my favorite medium.

[strayanalog]

The irony here is that I get straight answers.

I was going to complain that Hana from Fear Effect wasn't on here, but when I realized this list was from the people who don't have anything covered I decided to complain about that.

[Cackocacho]

Is this site for real? My comment "lmao", was flagged as "inappropriate"?

That just makes me lmao even more. Apparently laughing at dumb things, is "inappropriate" around here. My god.

[CDbiggen]

It's sad, but fairly normal for here. At least anyone can still view the comment and like it, rather than it be removed entirely like some places.

[NotanotherReboot]

we need a gaming pride month for LGBT in games separate to pride maybe December

[gold_drake]

the fact that comments get the "inappropriate" flag is just ridiculous.

especially if its a simple, harmless word.

n4g needs a massive overhaul, and people need to chill out.

[moriarty1889]

Yes there are a lot of overly sensitive people here.