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 are now a solid number of indie and big studio titles that feature or even center on LGBTQ+ characters in a legitimate manner.
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.
In the essence of rooting out the best characters that represent the LGBTQ+ spectrum, we’ve opted not to include NPCs that are “playersexual.”
Updated by Sachi Go on June 14, 2023: The gaming world still has a long way to go in terms of queer representation, but there are plenty of amazing LGBTQ+ characters that have made significant appearances in great video games. Whether it’s from AAA titles that studios have marketed to no end or niche indie games that small developers have poured years into, some characters just stand out in the best way. As progress in the real world seemingly takes a stumble, it’s nice to see some digital worlds injected with some joyful pride.
15 Life Is Strange - Stephanie Gingrich
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.”
14 Celeste - Madeline
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.
13 Borderlands Series - Sir Hammerlock
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.
12 Deltarune - Kris
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.
11 Night In The Woods - Mae
Night In The Woods also doesn’t shy away from queer representation, with protagonist Mae being pansexual and other characters being gay, trans, and non-binary. What makes Mae so compelling is how she deals with her depression and dissociation and the existential pressures that come with life.
While she experiences these mental conditions, they don't diminish her capacity to be a compassionate and loving person. She can be rude yet reflective, angsty yet caring, and is essentially allowed to be complicated and full without being pigeonholed.
10 Monster Prom - Damien
Damien’s appearance is immediately confronting in how it reclaims the association of queerness with sin, and every interaction with him expounds on the celebration of changing up the status quo. At the end of the day, he’s just a lot of fun and that’s what makes him the best. It’s especially interesting to note how he grows over the Monster Prom series, with later games even introducing his drag persona.
He is bold, crafty, and rebellious in the best ways even when he does play into the “jerk but secretly romantic” trope here and there. He is bisexual and has two dads, but these aspects are never brought up in a dramatic way and you simply get to enjoy Damien for being Damien.
9 Cyberpunk 2077 - Judy Alvarez
Judy Alavarez has some of the best missions in Cyberpunk 2077 and is just an overall great character. The beats in her story are so fleshed out that it’s not hard to see why a big chunk of players deems her one of the top characters in the entire game. She’s an expert brain dance technician who actively works to protect sex workers and minorities from abuse and, over the course of the game, reveals herself to be a true companion to those she deems close.
More sides to her are revealed if you romance her as a female V, which is worth exploring, considering how much more it lets you delve into the complexities of Judy’s life and personality. She is ultimately a compelling character that has ups and downs all thanks to how she leads with her heart.
8 Borderlands Series - Ellie
One of the great things about Borderlands is that, amidst the chaos of its world, there’s just an explosion of shameless bisexuality in every corner. And it’s not made out to be something strange or frowned upon. Everyone is too busy dealing with mega-corporations to worry about sexuality.
What makes Ellie such a great character is that she is not boxed into her sexuality, yet she is allowed to flirt and mingle as she pleases as a plus-sized woman. Considering how being plus-sized and being bisexual are some of the most often caricatured and shamed in tons of media, it’s awesome to see Ellie portrayed as a lovable delight that throws away stereotypes and isn’t relegated to being a sexless machine that only talks about food. Her wackier traits just fit right in with the rest of the gang, and she’s not ashamed to send a wink or two over to Amara or Zane.
7 Undertale - Alphys
You’ll often see love being thrown Undyne’s way when talking about Undertale’s LGBTQ+ rep, which is totally deserved because of how delightful she is in the pacifist route. For now, though we shine the light on Alphys, who is truly the mood for the shy bi girls of the world. She’s an anxious fan fiction lover and has a tendency to hound her friends a lot.
Many people write her off because of how dark and questionable some of her choices are, but it only makes her character development even more impactful. There’s no way to romanticize the flaws in Alphys, but it’s gratifying to see how her sexuality doesn’t automatically make her villainized. She gets to be complicated without being invalidated, and those less-than-stellar traits inform her growth and serve to make her and others around her become better.
6 Dragon Age: Inquisition - Dorian Pavus
The Dragon Age series has always been quite mindful of how it handles character sexuality, with romanceable characters having clear sexual preferences that cannot be bent to player will. Dorian Pavus is a stellar Inquisition character who is witty, skilled, and actively seeks to unlearn the harmful ideals that were passed on by his own upbringing. Despite seeking reform and rejecting the rigid system of Tevinter, he still manages to hold the love he has for his homeland.
Dorian isn't depicted as being shackled and having to be rescued from homophobia, but instead actively seeks to change the systemic ideals that make such prejudice so virulent in the first place. On top of that, while Dorian is a great romance for male inquisitors, he’s also just one of the best platonic companions in general, whether you play male or female.
5 The Outer Worlds - Parvati Holcomb
Parvati is arguably one of the best companions you can have in The Outer Worlds. She is intelligent, loyal, and manages to be a pure and sweet soul that relishes in the world you both explore. Despite the horrible things you can do and witness in the Halcyon System, Parvati remains a positive force that never dims despite being racked with shyness.
It’s rare to see a character who is explicitly asexual but is never portrayed as uncaring or averse to all forms of connection. In fact, she will even ask you (if you build up companion trust) to help her set up the perfect date for Groundbeaker leader Junlei.
4 Dragon Age: Inquisition - Cremisius Aclassi
Krem, as he is fondly called by friends, is one of those simple yet meaningful instances of inclusion where a transman simply gets to be a part of the world without being “othered”. He’s a valued member of the Bull’s Chargers and is never reduced to being a sight to see. You can delve into his transition and past, but it’s not put in the forefront and he never questions his identity and character.
There’s also no added drama of his fellow Chargers misgendering him or treating him as less than others. Krem is firmly well-respected and resourceful as the second-in-command, with his transness simply being another part of who he is as a whole.
3 Tell Me Why - Tyler Ronan
Tyler is the first trans leading character in a major AAA video game, and he is absolutely great. Tyler has gone through a lot of heartbreak and heaviness in his life, but there is no problematic association of some massive trauma being connected to him coming into his true gender identity.
Despite Tell Me Why dealing with issues surrounding his identity, he gets to be multifaceted and is never subjected to deadnaming. Seeing his journey and how he deals with the general factors of transition feels very grounded in reality, and it never erases how poignant each beat in his story is.
2 Cyberpunk 2077 - Claire Russell
Cyberpunk 2077 stumbles with its trans representation quite a bit, which only makes Claire stand out as a well-rounded character even more. Claire loves racing, is the proprietor of her own auto shop, and bartends like a boss at the Afterlife. She is very candid about her transition, and it’s never the crux of her trauma or why she does what she loves.
Despite it ending in loss, Claire’s marriage also stands out as a loving and healthy relationship that is ultimately what drives her to enlist V in a specific goal during The Beast In Me questline. With plenty of misses out there, it’s fascinating to see a portrayal of a trans woman that that is both open and fulfilled in her identity without being reduced to it.
1 The Last Of Us - Ellie Williams
Ellie may not be the first lesbian character to ever grace any video game but she does stand out as one of the first major characters in a AAA title who, despite going through a lot of tragedy in her life, is not characterized as a tragic person solely due to her sexuality. Through both The Last Of Us’ DLC and The Last Of Us Part 2, she develops even more as she takes on the role of the playable protagonist.
She makes debatable choices and stumbles but ultimately comes out as a real, caring, badass individual that has made the most of the agency she has in a cruel and violent world. She is a complex person that actually gets to express both moments of joy and grief, which is refreshing to see in this day and age.