To say video games have a mixed reputation in how players are treated is a slight understatement. Fortunately, each year brings with it a greater representation of LGBTQ+ people, reflected in both games and their community player bases. If you’re looking to get involved in this space, we’ve tracked down some of the most welcoming titles available to play today, whether alone or with friends.
Single-Player Online Experiences
To start with the simplest titles, not all online games are inherently multiplayer, there are also online games which rely on server connections that can be played solo if preferred. Online casino games are great examples of this, with games like blackjack, slots, and roulette. These casinos open their doors to newcomers by offering casino welcome bonus features like deposit matches and free spins. Plus, if players do want to go online they can still play competitive games like poker, which is increasingly seeing LGBTQ+ involvement from stars like Shundan Xiao and Alexandre Vuilleumier. These titles are designed to be universally welcoming, and this applies as much to LGBTQ+ players as anyone.
Single Player Representation
LGBTQ+ characters finding places as main characters in video games have been gaining massive steam recently, in both big-budget titles and excellent indie hits. Ellie in The Last of Us and its sequel are perhaps the most visible example, with the second entry placing significant emphasis on her strained relationship with her girlfriend, as mentioned at Gamer. We’re guessing it’s not easy to stay connected when on a murder-fueled revenge mission, but this isn’t coming from direct experience.
Celeste is another fantastic example in the indie space, with PC gamer and its creator confirming that the lead character Madeline is trans. This was a cool revelation when it was announced to the public, though the ambiguity of the decision perhaps might have been better handled. It should be noted that while the game is welcoming to LGBTQ+ people, the difficulty of this side-scrolling platform is often anything but.
The Online Communities
Online communities run the gambit of wretched hives of scum and villainy to fantastic communities of celebration and joy. We call this the Modern Warfare to Mortal Kombat scale, where each end finds a certain position of fame or infamy.
In general terms, the best communities are found not directly within a game, but through the all-important Discord groups. These chat rooms can allow the sidestepping of the ever-dreadful general chat, instead focusing on the inclusion of more mature individuals.
For games, some of the best are found in the fighting genre, such as Skullgirls, Street Fighter 6, and the previously mentioned Mortal Kombat 1. These titles often feature significant minority involvement and have spent decades fostering communities that continue to improve.
Some hero-based shooters like Overwatch 2 and Apex Legends have taken a different direction, directly involving LGBTQ+ characters in the roster. Overwatch 2 alone features six LGBTQ+ heroes, including Soldier: 76, Lifeweaver, Pharah, Baptiste, Venture, and the poster child Tracer. A welcoming start has helped draw the interest of LGBTQ+ players, as everyone shares frustration with pad game patching decisions.
It’s been a long road, but gaming is finally becoming a better place for LGBTQ+ players to enjoy. Whether you’re the type who wants to go it alone or fight in a group of friends or strangers, there’s a lot to love and choose from, no matter your platform of choice. It’s not perfect, but there’s a bright horizon ahead if gaming continues on its current path.