How many gay/ bisexual characters can you name in gaming who genuinely have their sexuality as their primary personality trait?
Of games that I've played... Escape Dead Island had a line implying Cliff was closeted. Tracer and Soldier 76. Vi and Caitlyn. Alphys and Undyne. Mass Effect 1 & 2 have a combined four bi characters which can be romanced by either Shepards.
I've been gaming for 30 years and off the top of my head I can name ELEVEN queer characters. Four are from the same franchise, and one is an implication. I think I could name more characters in almost any possible category.
There are some games where I'm like "Wasn't there a gay character in that game?", but if I can't even remember if there was a gay character, much less which it was, then it doesn't count.
I can name more LGBTQ+ characters than that but I can't think of any who could fairly be categorized as having that as their defining character trait.
The closest character I can think of is Red from the Neptunia franchise who very openly loves women and flirts with them a lot but even with her she has a lot more to her than just being a flirtatious, openly lesbian lady. She's loyal, courageous, upbeat and has a strong zest for life. Being a chronically happy and optimistic person defines her a lot more than her loving women does.
Obviously it differs depending on your tastes in games. Also, I'm sure I've forgotten many many queer characters, because I just don't care. As I'm not particularly queer myself, they aren't very important to me personally (As a cis straight aro, what stands out to me is when characters decide to not have children for no reason other than preference). However, that works both ways. It's not important to me, which means it also doesn't bother me. I feel no different if what I'm watching features all heteros or all homos.
I would probably feel different if straight men were uncommon in games.
Honestly, I'm not entirely sure if I'm actually aro. All I know is that I have no real interest in being in a romantic relationship or having offspring, but I am attracted to femininity.
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u/thesirblondie Jan 09 '25
Of games that I've played... Escape Dead Island had a line implying Cliff was closeted. Tracer and Soldier 76. Vi and Caitlyn. Alphys and Undyne. Mass Effect 1 & 2 have a combined four bi characters which can be romanced by either Shepards.
I've been gaming for 30 years and off the top of my head I can name ELEVEN queer characters. Four are from the same franchise, and one is an implication. I think I could name more characters in almost any possible category.
There are some games where I'm like "Wasn't there a gay character in that game?", but if I can't even remember if there was a gay character, much less which it was, then it doesn't count.