Who are the 10 Best Queer Video Game Characters?
We all know how important representation is in the media that we consume. For LGBTQ+ people, seeing characters and fictional storylines that resemble their own lives or desires can be life-affirming, and even life-saving. TV and film have both taken great strides with queer representation in recent years, but there's a certain dissonance between the viewer and the art on the screen. Video games close that gap in a way that other forms of entertainment can't.
When we control video game characters, it's almost like we're living through them. The action on the screen feels much more tangible than in a film or TV show. This is why queer video game characters and stories should get much more credit than they usually do for helping LGBTQ+ youth find themselves. Getting to put yourself into the skin of a queer character or avatar may be the first time you ever feel seen as an LGBTQ+ person. We're here to give you a list of our 10 favorite queer video game characters who have changed the landscape of the industry!
"Celeste," Madeline
"Celeste" is the masterwork of indie game developer Maddy Thorson. You play as the titular character Madeline (named after the creator), a transgender woman who uses every bit of strength she has to climb a mountain. The gameplay is a metaphor for the struggles it takes to overcome anxiety, depression, and especially gender dysphoria. The hidden messaging wasn't clear to every viewer on their first playthrough, but Thorson confirmed the character's transgender identity later on, after the release of the game.
"The Last of Us," Ellie Williams
Many readers will be more familiar with Bella Ramsey's portrayal of Ellie in the HBO television adaptation of "The Last of Us," but Naughty Dog's original characterization of Ellie as a lesbian in their 2013 video game is what we want to focus on right now. Ellie's sexuality is one of the most important aspects of her story. Making a main protagonist queer a decade ago is actually more of a big deal than many people may realize. Kudos to the developers for this choice that still resonates with gamers all around the world today.
"Super Mario Bros. 2," Birdo
This pink egg-spitting dinosaur from the "Super Mario Bros." franchise is one of the first characters to ever be identified by game developers as transgender. While the narrative techniques of gaming in the 1980s didn't really allow this aspect of her character to be explored, Birdo remains a pioneering queer character simply by existing. Young gamers surely were curious at the time about the character's gender identity, and this helps encourage research and education into transgender topics.
"Mass Effect," Commander Shepard
BioWare's signature science fiction franchise is acclaimed for its strong gameplay in the action role-playing genre along with intricate storytelling. The main character of the series, Commander Shepard, can be customized as either gender, and can even have a same-sex relationship. This once again shows how video games allow for more fluid storytelling that can be customized by the person playing the game, something that simply can't happen in TV or film.
"Earthbound," Tony
"Earthbound" turned every conventional RPG-element on its head back in the days of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It satirized typical generic tropes in Japanese role-playing, and it made insightful social comments about the time period. Tony is a side character in the game that falls in love with his male friend, Jeff. Developers of "Earthbound" later confirmed the character's gay identity.
"Chrono Trigger," Flea
Antagonists are disproportionately queer-coded compared to protagonists in almost all forms of entertainment, but the existence of transgender people in gaming at all during the 1990s serves as vital representation. Flea is one of the boss characters you fight with your party in this legendary Square role-playing adventure. He is a shapeshifter, which serves as both literal and symbolic representation of gender fluidity.
"The Sims," all Sims
"The Sims" is one of the most revolutionary video games ever made because it allowed gamers to live out the mundane moments in their daily lives, but with the twists and turns they may not be afforded in the real world. One of the defining aspects of the series is allowing same-sex relationships to manifest on the screen. By giving this option to queer players, simulation games such as these help closeted gamers feel more like themselves. It's a life-changing aspect of video games that other entertainment mediums can't provide so easily.
"Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door," Vivian
There aren't many video games with the plethora of colorful side characters that "Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door" has. The dialogue, expressions, and personalities of Mario's companions in this RPG add so much to the experience, and one of those characters is transgender. There are several references to Vivian's identity throughout the adventure, a game that was released in 2004. With transgender rights still under attack in 2023, seeing this type of representation almost 20 years ago was crucial.
"Hollow Knight," The Knight
"Hollow Knight '' is one of the best indie platformer adventure games of all time. Players control a gender-androgynous knight who traverses caves and underground perils like in the "Metroid'' series. The protagonist is completely unlabeled, an aspect of character development that many developers are starting to follow to give players comfort in their own gender identities. A sequel is predicted to be released later in 2023.
The Many Queer Characters of "Fire Emblem"
The "Fire Emblem" franchise isn't part of the simulation genre, but much like "The Sims," these games have come a long way in allowing gamers to pair up certain characters in same-sex relationships. The strategy franchise uses personalized storytelling that allows players to craft the story to their liking, depending on what romances they encourage. There's always more progress to make, though. Hopefully, gamers will have complete freedom to choose any character's sexuality in these games in the future.