Representation is good. This is something that should need no explanation, but good representation in the media you consume allows for your world views to be expanded and for you to have greater understanding of groups who may not have a large voice. LGBTQIA+ representation is especially important these days in destroying old stigmas and normalizing these underrepresented groups.
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Games have an important role to play in representation as their interactive nature allows for either players to express their own identity or for players to be put right in the shoes of LGBTQIA+ people to better understand their experiences. Not to mention how many LGBTQIA+ creators there are in indie spaces, and you have so much excellent representation. So, here are some of the best to either feel at home with or to experience something new.
10Stardew Valley
Video games offer a unique service to the LGBTQIA+ community in providing a space where they can freely be themselves and express their identity in how they present or with romance options, giving a safe space to those who may not be out yet.Stardew Valleyis one such game that is open to everyone, as gender and appearance are very much up to the player.
Stardew allows you to dress your avatar however you like and present them how you want but more importantly is the romance. Improving upon its inspirations, Stardew allows anyone to date anyone, letting you be as gay or straight as you please. Sadly, there’s no overt representation or commentary, but the inclusive elements contribute tothe cozy and carefree time Stardew offers.
9Unpacking
Casual representation has to walk a line between making sure to give the representation actual attention and screen time while not making the whole story about it, and while there have been some great examples of it being done right, a lot of media still screws it up. But, some manage to pack their representation in perfectly. Unpacking is one such title – a relaxing game all about putting items where they belong.
Through the items you find, the change of homes, and the snippets of dialogue you come across, you can uncover a story of heartbreak, discovery, and finding one’s identity told in such a subtle yet refreshing way.
8Deltarune
Deltaruneis a fantastic game, and that should be plainly obvious to anyone. With a mix of fun combat, an interesting take on a meta narrative, and outstanding humor, it’s a game that almost everyone can fall in love with. As a little cherry on top, it has some great representation, just like its predecessor,Undertale.
Deltarune gives front and center rep with one of our main trio, Susie, having a huge crush and romance with Noelle in Chapter 2. This plotline is utterly adorable to explore, and fans can’t wait to see how it develops in later chapters. Susie and Noelle’s interactions are both heartwarming and hilarious, fitting in perfectly with the rest of the game and offering some great character moments.
7Dream Daddy
Dream Daddyis an important piece of LGBTQIA+ representation. This strange take on a dating sim sees you moving to a new place as a single dad, wishing to make a special connection with one of the other dads in the area as you get to know each of their strange personalities and grow closer.
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The reason why Dream Daddy works so well is that despite everything having a humorous element to it, the jokes never come at the expense of the LGBTQIA+ nature of the character, coming instead from the ridiculousness of the characters and concepts. It’s an important stepping stone in representation from LGBTQIA+ being laughed at to being laughed with, and the fact that it manages to be further inclusive with implied trans characters and POC is extra wonderful!
History is a lot gayer than people like to give it credit for, and Ancient Greece is a prime example, so it should be no wonder thatHadesis as LGBTQIA+ as it is. Hades is a roguelike with a heavy focus on a story set in the world of Greek mythology, which immediately brings representation through icons like Artemis, Athena, and Achilles.
One of those stories that develops between runs is Zagreus’ own romance options between his ex Megara and his friend Thanatos. While having an openly bi character is already great, the game actually takes a surprising approach if you pursue both the routes for Thanatos and Megara, solving the love triangle by letting it be an open polyamorous relationship – depending on interpretation – something that rarely receives positive representation in media.
5Psychonauts 2
LGBTQIA+ rep in mainstream AAA titles usually comes off as a bit watered down, either being shoved into the background, mishandled, or going through the same motions of the stereotypical plot. But, every once in a while, a fantastic bit of representation gets center stage, andPsychonauts 2is one such case.
Psychonauts 2 does its representation in a perfect manner, using two central characters’ love for each other – Bob and Helmut – to tell a fantastic plot of love, loss, and healing that is absolutely beautiful. The game takes a more casual form of representation of just letting them be a couple and tell that story without any judgment from the other characters. From how many players love their story, it seems to have worked excellently.
4Monster Prom
Dating sims have always been a mixed bag for LGBTQIA+ representation. On one hand, it’s a natural place for people to express those feelings of love and really explore that topic, but on the other hand, due to the genre’s less savory tropes, LGBTQIA+ characters can end up Flanderized or objectified.Monster Prom, a game all about dating classic monsters with out-there personalities, manages to show that dating sims can be open to everyone.
Monster Prom takes the Stardew Valley approach of letting the player use any pronouns, any gender, and date whomever they want among the roster, letting anyone be themselves – along with other bits of representation sprinkled about – plus providing a fully bi cast. Monster Prom achieves its goals wonderfully. It doesn’t treat any of the characters differently, presenting the same attitude no matter which way characters lean, and avoiding the pitfalls of its genre with ease.
3Night in the Woods
Part of what makes games so important in terms of representation is the ability to let people see from the view point of groups they may not be a part of and understand their experience, and no game captures and shows the experience of LGBTQIA+ people likeNight in the Woods. Night in the Woods is about a college dropout coming back home to reconnect with old friends and get to the bottom of a mystery.
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The game features a lot of LGBTQIA+ rep with trans, non-binary, and lesbian side characters, plus a pansexual main character and a gay couple as part of the main cast. But, while all of this is great, Night in the Woods truly shines with its consistent tone. It’s a story that captures the feeling of not fitting in and trying to figure things out as an LGBTQIA+ youth, showing all the fear and excitement that comes from that. It’s a story that shows people what it’s like to struggle with not fitting in. Whether the game speaks to your own lived experiences, or it opens you up to the experiences of others, the game delivers.
As a surprise to almost everyone,Bugsnaxhas some of the best LGBTQIA+ representation in ages. The strange creature-catching game features a non-binary main character alongside gay and lesbian couples who have large roles in the plot and get plenty of development.
Part of what makes Bugsnax so special for representation is just how casual it is. The fact that these characters are LGBTQIA+ is never explicitly brought up – they’re just people and couples. This means that rather than going through the same LGBTQIA+ story tropes, you get to focus on how fun of a character Floofty is, and enjoy Snorpy’s character development in finally confessing his love for Chandlo.
In terms of LGBTQIA+ games, none are as iconic as the 2D platformerCeleste, a game that even helped some discover their identity. The game’s main character is a trans girl named Madeline who tries to climb the titular Celeste Mountain while dealing with her own mental anguish, which manifests as the antagonist, Badeline.
While the game does drop small hints as to Madeline’s identity, the LGBTQIA+ elements can be felt in many aspects of the game. Celeste’s central message is all about how to overcome what may seem like impossible obstacles in order to come to terms with one’s self. While the game definitely emphasizes mental health struggles in general, it also tackles them through the lens of LGBTQIA+ self-acceptance. To have a game that says you can come to terms with parts of you that ‘refuse to fit’ and find happiness in being your whole self… that’s something many LGBTQIA+ people need to hear.
