Summary
Video games have had queer characters since video games were created. What’s even better is that now, there’s such a wealth of LGBTQIA+ characters that you’re bound to find one in a game you love, or even a hint of one. These charactersmay be part of the LGBTQIA+ community or not,butit just makes them complex characters like human beings are. Everyone loves a well-rounded character arc.
Whether the game companies originally intended for these characters' identities to fall under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella or not, they’re here, they’re queer, and they’re extremely beloved by many. Let’s celebrate them in Pride Month and every month!
8Tiny Tina
Borderlands
Young queer joy is so important, and you can find it in Tiny Tina. She might be a little insane, but that just means she always has a smile to share with you. She’s someone comfortable in her identity, and althoughwe don’t have direct confirmation that she is attracted to women, she definitely doesn’t seem to mind appreciating the female figure. Confidence is key, even beyond your orientation.
Borderlands has plenty of other LGBTQIA+ representation, butTiny Tina’s orientation being dynamic is an important portrayal of the queer experience: nothing is necessarily linear. Besides, she’s more attracted to explosions, anyway.
7Monika
Doki Doki Literature Club
Monika, besides being the all-knowing game presence that she is, has a huge crush on the player. While this isn’t exactly a surprise, given the nature of the game, near the end of itwe find out that it doesn’t matter what gender you are; Monika loves you all the same. Whetherthis makes her bisexual or pansexual, we love to see even the most crafty character identities become flexible.
This is also a fun twist on the typically straight-oriented dating simulator game, making it much more up for interpretation. Justmake sure you choose her, or you might be in for more than you may handle.
6Isaac
The Binding Of Isaac
Isaac is such a deep, emotionally complex character, so it can be hard to spot the gender themes if you’re not familiar with the game.Isaac experiments a lot with how he presents his gender, especially when it comes to how he dresses. He’s seen in a dress and wig, and is seen to be happy about his experimentation before the bullying sets in, something LGBTQIA+ people can most likely relate to.
With Isaac’s manydream experiences that show him expressing his gender in many different ways, even the label ‘genderfluid’ seems restrictive. He’s still learning, still experimenting, and, of course, we support him.
5Krobus
Stardew Valley
The best companion, hands down. How can you not love this little guy? Krobus is the only villager who can move in with you without needing to marry him, and while he’s apopular option for aroace players to have someone with them on their farm without feeling pressured into a relationship, the game also doesn’t pressure him into any relationship with you or the other villagers.
Which leaves you wondering;is the world’s friendliest shadow monster also aromantic or asexual?There’s no sign of confirmation from ConcernedApe, the game’s developer, but it’d fit his inclusion in the game so well.
4Mettaton
Undertale
Mettaton was made for the stage, so it’s no surprise that he makes his appearances in the game as fabulous as possible. Iflooking like a rich and famous (emo) drag queenin his robotic forms Mettaton EX and Mettaton NEO wasn’t enough,he is also feminine in his ghost form. He’s one of, if not the sassiest characters in the game, and he’s a performer by nature, so he could choose any form he wanted.
Not to mention thatthe canonically queer Dr. Alphyshelped him build his current body, so she was probably just about as affirming as you can get. Mettaton is a poster child (robot?) for queer expression through performance.
3Phoenix Wright
Ace Attorney
Phoenix is definitely at least a little gay, there’s no way around it. It’s no secret thatmost of the fandom ships him with prosecutor Miles Edgeworth, and it’s definitely no secret that there’s plenty of evidence for this ship in the game itself. Phoenix actually says thatthe whole reason he became a defense attorney was so Edgeworth would have to see himone way or another.
The whole third case in the game is like one long love confessionin and of itself. If that’s not the most romantic lawyer-ly thing you could do, Phoenix could no doubt think of something better. Especially when it involves being around Edgeworth.
2Aphrodite
Hades
The goddess of love? Entirely straight? No way.She’s the actual embodiment of free love, especially beingan ancient Greek Olympian, where the rules of sexuality were vastly different than they are in the modern era. Aphrodite in Hades isat least pansexual, if you’re going by the textbook definition, but she’s more likely not either not like labels or just not go by them at all.
One of the worst phenomena in modern representations of Aphrodite is acting like she’d only be attracted to men. Sure, we have evidence of her attraction to men, butin what world would the goddess of love not support all love?
1Birdo
Super Mario
Birdo’s queerness is definitely not up for debate, no matter how much Nintendo wishes it was. Birdo is a character who dresses hyper-feminine, yet it’s implied that this wasn’t always the case. She’soriginally referred to with both she and it pronouns, andstated as a “man who thinks he’s a girl” in the Super Mario Bros. 2 instruction manual, a negative connotation that eventually turned into a solid female gender for her.
She is thetransgender icon that the Nintendo series needs,whether they admit it or not, and even her originally chosen name was “Birdetta”. It’s important for the pushback against her true identity to be seen for the sake of history, butBirdo doesn’t let the hate from her past stop her from slaying!
