Summary
Games have long been a fantastic medium for telling stories that you can enjoy, be struck by, and even relate to on some level. Though there’s still a long road ahead, we’ve hit a point where there is now a good number of both indie and big studio titles that feature or even center on LGBTQ+ characters in a legitimate way.
It’s hard to pin it down to just a few because of the many solid LGBTQ+ characters that have graced the gaming world. That said, it’s still a marvel to see queerness represented in a way that isn’t simply meant to fetishize or mock.
Updated by Sachi Go on June 12, 2025:As Pride Month wraps, it’s worth revisiting the many LGBTQ+ characters who have made their mark in video games. And while there are plenty of wonderfully depicted characters who can present as part of the queer spectrum based on player choice, we’ve opted to make this list focused on canonically and unchangeably LGBTQ+ identifying individuals.
This is by no means a way of devaluing the representation of “playersexual” characters but is instead meant to highlight and celebrate those who provide unapologetic representation, regardless of player input.
In a musical game full of dramatic gods from arguably the most drama-filled pantheon in mythology and religion, Freddie stands out as a mortal who isn’t just your regular side character. She’s a true ride-or-die, regardless of how the nature of her relationship with Grace works out. Conflict is ever-present in her dynamic, but this just highlights her innate humanity and makes her choices carry more weight.
Everybody needs a lesbian drummer in their life, especially someone who happily nerds out to their niche interests and is down to face off greater powers with only a makeshift aerosol flamethrower in hand. Freddie refuses to be tied down by regrets, ego, and dishonesty in a world that eggs those very traits on.
Bask in the resplendence of a confident, powerful queer immortal who has absolutely no problem taking compliments and beating up baddies. Dame Aylin is a force to be reckoned with, not only from her power as an undying aasimar and the daughter of Selune but also from her fierce loyalty, unyielding commitment, and ability to simply do what has to be done.
Despite dealing with years of loss and torment, she remains steadfast in her creed to help those who seek out the light of the moonmaiden. She’s also ever-so-proud of her lifelong darling Isobel, and it’s great to see a character who can enthusiastically boost their significant other without resorting to self-deprecation. Sure, she struggles with some moral choices, too, but this just adds layers to the otherwise unflappable blessed nepo baby we all know and love.
What makes Kim Kitsuragi such a paragon of the culture is how he perfectly represents theunderrated segment of the mundane queer narrative. He’s too busy being amazing at his job and appreciating the finer things in life to dive into his sexuality, but he never shies away from it either. He’s perfectly comfortable as a gay man, and he doesn’t harbor any internal conflict about it.
As a queer person of color in Revachol, he deals with the constant microaggressions toward these facets of himself with that sort of knowing air you only get from time and experience. These experiences may deter him from being loud and proud, but he never feels repressed or less than simply because of this.
Thirsty Suitors is packed with great characters across the LGBTQ+ spectrum, but Chandra Jayaratne is the perfect encapsulation of the elder queer who has come into their own after fighting years of oppressive sensibilities (especially when growing up as a minority.) She runs a body shop, lifts weights, and aims to steer the local kids into better paths forward.
Auntie C is the town’s favorite for a reason - she doesn’t hold back, but everything is said with love. Who else would call out Jala for being toxic while knowing exactly what it’s like dealing with the intricacies of the WLW journey? As queer people so often must flock to those before them as found family, it’s great to see this shown in a woman who embraces every ounce of masculinity and femininity within her with no judgement.
16Alex Chen
Life Is Strange: True Colors
Alex Chen has been through the wringer, and yet manages to remain an empathetic person who is sensitive to other people’s troubles more than her own. She may be reserved due to her life experiences, but she is also full of wit and care towards those she does open up to in the end. Her power makes it hard to traverse a world full of emotions, but she manages to do so without losing herself.
What’s so great about Alex is how she finds a balance despite the push and pull of the world around her and the complications of her abilities. She doesn’t feel the need to be too friendly and outgoing but she also doesn’t let herself become completely crippled by her worries. Instead, she continues forward in the hopes of finding where she truly belongs.
Many people rag on Isobel for being too “killable” when you’re trying to keep the Last Light Inn in one piece, but it takes a ridiculous amount of skill and concentration to maintain a ward against the shadow curse for a huge plot of land. It’s also a testament to her character that she even chooses to do this despite having been unsanctimoniously awoken from eternal slumber.
Even before she realizes that her lost love is not lost after all, she makes it her mission to drive the shadows away from the land and protect those who cannot protect themselves. And while seemingly everyone else becomes tempted by power and the chance to attain godhood, Isobel is content to be a great cleric, a warm friend, and remind her girlfriend not to take year-long walks.
Steph is by no means the only queer character to appear in the Life Is Strange series, but her perspective seems starkly different if only because she is older and carrying burdens that aren’t supernatural powers. She is self-assured (mostly) and nerdy but never falls into the usual “nerdy lesbian” trope that is supposed to feel anxiety any time their sexuality is pinged.
She was already engaging in the mainline series, but in the Wavelengths DLC, you get to see the layers and depth underneath it all without the coolness being revealed as a facade. It’s great to see a lesbian character portrayed as fun, skilled, and having some baggage that doesn’t automatically mean they need to be “fixed.”
Considering how praised Celeste has been by both critics and gamers, it’s truly satisfying to see a game led by a trans protagonist immediately join the cabal of those that will always be considered a shining beacon of indie excellence. As you take on the difficulties of this challenging platformer, you get to peer into the mental landscape of Madeline as she deals with her own well-being.
Her transness is rather casually revealed by way of some pictures and some pride flags, but her whole narrative speaks to the hardships that queer individuals must face simply trying to navigate a heteronormative world. Despite that, she is just meant to be human, dealing with all the same tribulations that cis-gendered people go through. Madeline doesn’t have to be perfect to overcome the mountain, and her existence speaks to how well-made queer characters can be written when we actually let queer people create their stories.
Sir Hammerlock could have easily become a token character in Borderlands, but he manages to escape this trap with charm, humor, and tons of fun missions. He is part of a long and loving relationship that culminates in a marriage with the unwilling heir to the Jakobs corporation, Wainwright.
Sir Hammerlock isn’t just a provider of great side quests, though. He is also a brilliant hunter-slash-researcher with ever-so-dapper outfits at any given moment. At no point is his sexuality hidden, but neither is it meant to be some sort of plot twist. Even as he tasks you with saving the love of his life, it’s simply because, duh, who wouldn’t ask a Vault Hunter to save the love of their life? From being a meaningful NPC in the main games to having his own DLC, Sir Hammerlock is a great showcase for how you can write a gay man whose role in life isn’t just Sophie’s choice between insufferable and perpetual best friend.
There is still ongoing debate on whether or not Kris is canonically non-binary, but what really suggests the truthfulness of this representation is how Kris has always been their own character without the “intervention” of the player. When you start Deltarune, you get to create your own character. From there, whoever you created is overtaken by Kris, who is immediately established as having a life long before you landed on the start menu.
Whether you project masculinity or femininity onto Kris, it will always work because they aren’t meant to conform to any one side of the binary. Throughout the game, they are always referred to in a gender-neutral manner, which is a nice reprieve from a world that is overly critical of anyone that simply has pronouns in their bio.
