🎮Did you know about these queer video game characters?🎮
Ellie - The Last of Us
On the 14th of June, 2013, The Last of Us released to the world. Players rook on the role of Joel, a smuggler trying to safely transport a 14 year old girl across zombie-infested America - this was the first introduction audiences had to Ellie. Immune to the virus, Ellie could have easily been more plot diverse than rounded character but she quickly won the audiences over with her sarcastic wit as a counter to Joel's cynicism. In the later half of the game, people go their first taste of playing as Ellie, a trend that would continue in both the standard expansion and the sequel.
In the Left Behind expansion, a prequel to the original game, that came out in 2014, Ellie's sexuality was first explored when she kissed her friend Riley. This was a ground-breaking moment for LGBTQ+ representation in the medium, and set the stage for the more inclusive sequel The Last of Us Part 2, in which Ellie continues on her journey with girlfriend Diana at her side.
Kanji Tatsumi - Persona 4
Persona 4 is a murder mystery role playing game set in a rural town on the outskirts of Mount Fuji in Japan. The player takes the role of a new school transfer trying to make friends, get good grades and fight monsters in another world. The game plays like Pokémon, but outside of the dungeons there is a whole social system where you level up relationships with the people you meet. Your team is made up of your friends, and you recruit new members by getting them to confront their hidden truths.
This brings us to Kanji Tatsumi; a first year at the school and notorious delinquent. Throughout the game you slowly get introduced to Kanji, and realise that he though guy look and furious temper comes from the need to seem macho. Under the surface Kanji loves sewing, arts and crafts, and helping his mum run the towns textile shop. He also has a crush on male presenting Naoto Shirogane which causes him to question his sexuality, this is clarified as you confront his true self. "I don't care who.. wont someone, anyone please accept me?" "It ain't about men or women, I'm just scared shitless of being made fun of." There are few examples of video games handling the idea of working out your sexuality in this relatable manner.
Madeline - Celeste
Celeste tells the story of Madeline, a girl that must overcome her anxiety and climb mount Celeste. Among the way many characters doubt her abilities, but she pushes forwards. This isn't to prove them wrong, but to prove to herself that she can do it. Almost 2 years after the games launch, the Farewell DLC, a free addition to the game, was released adding an extra final chapter. This is seen as the true ending, and in the last cutscene Madeline had 2 flags on her desk - one a pride flag, and the other a transgender flag.
The games creators later confirmed that Madeline was a trans women, as well as that they them-self were non-binary. "During Celeste's Development, I did not know that Madeline of myself were trans. During the Farewell DLC's development, I began to form a hunch. Post-development, I know we both are." By 2020 the games creator had chosen to go by Maddy Thorson, and Celeste had joined the Matrix in the niche category of Stories about being transgender by transgender people before they've come out.
LGBTQ+ Representation in Role Playing Games
Bioware have always had good LGBTQ+ representation in their games such as Dragon Age and Mass Effects series. These give the player the choice of being male or female, and have wide casts of straight, gay, bi or trans character for you to have romantic relations with.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey let you pick your characters gender, and Fallout 4 let you make a character from scratch. While both let you choose your characters sexuality as you play the main game, they have downfalls when it comes to the story: in Fallout 4 you start in a heterosexual marriage and have a child, and in an expansion for Odyssey your character chooses to have a child to continue their bloodline.
Farming during Stardew Valley lets players create their own character, and not only date an NPC of the same gender but also marry them.
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