Seven LGBTQ+ Video Game Characters Introduced in 2023
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LGBTQ+ representation in video games has been a long and complicated process, but gamers saw some improvements in 2023. Queer inclusion in video games comes in a sensational variety of forms, from indie favorites focusing on our stories, to surprising representation in big-name titles. However, it can still feel like a quest to find authentic and fully fleshed out queer characters.
Searching through the hundreds of video games that dropped in 2023, we’ve compiled seven moments when players were introduced to LGBTQ+ characters, who made the gaming world just a bit queerer.
Final Fantasy XVI introduced queer characters with a love story
Fans praised the inclusion of imperial prince Dion Lesage and his relationship with Sir Terence, his devoted right-hand man, for leveling up LGBTQ+ representation in the long-running and influential series. In the game, Dion is the leader of the Holy Order of the Knights Dragoon and the Dominant (individuals who can control the power of god-like creatures called eikons) of Bahamut. He juggled struggling with his strained relationship with his father and fighting off enemies in the empire’s wars.
Against this backdrop, players got a glimpse of Dion’s feelings for Sir Terence as their relationship played out across a few lengthy cinematic sequences. The love story felt both natural and somewhat disappointing because they just don’t get a lot of air time. But players are with them long enough to see them share a passionate kiss and some tears.
Honestly, too many to name in Baldur’s Gate 3
Award-winning Baldur’s Gate 3 takes the cake as the queerest video game of 2023 (maybe of all time) with its host of LGBTQ+ characters. Romance options in the game were varied, emotionally fulfilling, and thirsty, and offered a new direction on the concept of “player-sexual” – or the idea that characters are attracted to the player character regardless of gender. One game-player found time to moan that there seemed to be no straight characters in Baldur’s Gate 3. Gamers and moderators shut down an “incredibly pathetic and fragile” mod of Baldur’s Gate 3 that removed all in-game queer references.
Outside the romance options, there were other LGBTQ+ characters in the video game, including Beldron and Lunkbug, gnomish husbands held in captivity in Grymforge, as well as Sharess’ Caress cook Chorizo, who shut down a perceived admirer by reminding them he had a husband.
A video game about frogs but make them queer
Frogsong probably had the queerest concept of all time: a charming and heartfelt action role-playing game based in a fantasy world of frogs. Got it. Love it. Among the wacky and amazing characters, there was the protagonist Chorus, a tiny tree frog with a big dream of protecting their loved ones and the world. During Pride month three years before the game dropped, the studio announced Chorus was non-binary.
Happy Pride Month, everyone! Frogsong includes tons of LGBT characters, including our little non-binary hero, Chorus! pic.twitter.com/vPa0rtYojU — Frogsong Nintendo Switch on January 12th! (@FrogteamGames) June 15, 2020
Overwatch 2’s pantheon of LGBTQ+ characters included a non-binary hero
In November, Overwatch 2 developers broke the news that players would soon have the option to fight as damage per second character Venture – the game’s first non-binary hero. Venture is a Canadian archaeologist who used a drill-like gun to shoot projectiles at foes as well as dig underneath the battlefield to be invulnerable for a time before dishing out damage. Players can’t play as Venture just yet because the non-binary hero is only projected to join the game properly in 2024, but the news that the series became a bit queerer was warmly welcomed by fans.
Alan Wake II included a blink-and-you’d-miss-it reference to a character’s queer identity
The 2023 survival horror game didn’t disappoint fans who had patiently waited for the second Alan Wake installment, delving deeper into the titular character’s struggle while being trapped in an alternate dimension known as the Dark Place. A lot of the game revolved around the lives of Wake and FBI special agent Saga Anderson, the horror story character Wake wrote about to escape the Dark Place. But that doesn’t mean there wasn’t a little LGBTQ+ inclusion thrown into the Remedy Connected Universe.
In the game, Anderson met Kiran Estevez, from the Federal Bureau of Control, an agent in charge at Bright Falls, and enlisted her help to find Wake. During one piece of dialogue, Estevez mentioned how “having family isn’t easy in this line of work”, and it had a detrimental effect on her relationship with her now ex-wife.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 confirmed a long-standing character is in fact part
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