To commemorate Pride Month, we wanted to take a look at the history of video games and point out a few of the pillars of gaming’s LGBTQ+ characters. From early beginnings to modern juggernauts, here are the seven most iconic LGBT video game characters.
Tracer – Overwatch
It can hardly be argued that Tracer isn’t the face of the ever-popular hero shooter, Overwatch. She is one of the leaders of the group and also, more obviously, is the cover star for the physical copies of the game.
But more important than her stardom from being on store shelves comes the fact that she is a powerful force and total badass who just so happens to be fighting to protect her girlfriend back home.
This was revealed in the Overwatch comic book series post-launch, allowing for fans of the title to get a better look at the personal life of the character we first saw during Overwatch’s reveal.
As a role model for fellow LGBT fans of the genre, Tracer stands at the forefront of a genre that is extremely successful and popular, making her place on this list one of adoration.
And a quick shout-out to Overwatch’s other LGBT character, Soldier 76, as well!
Sam Greenbriar – Gone Home
For many people, Gone Home was the introduction to a more serious, heartfelt love story from the perspective of a member of the LGBT community, Sam Greenbriar.
Sam is having a rough time with her parents, school, and just about everything else teenagers go through, until she meets a girl named Lonnie who changes things for her. As you make your way through the family home discovering the parts of this tale, you will more than likely be left in tears.
During a period when the “walking simulator” format of storytelling was being turned into a genre of its own, Gone Home symbolized one of the ways we could tell truly important stories through gaming’s medium.
For that, Sam deservedly gets a place on this list for being an LGBT gaming icon. She lead the charge towards sensitivity to the struggles that many in the LGBT community endure.
Chloe Price – Life Is Strange
With a similar story of teenage struggle, Chloe Price from the Life Is Strange series adds in substance abuse, death, and potentially mental health into the mix to encapsulate this tumultuous journey.
Between losing her father, best friend, and more, Chloe fights through several demons of her past, and unfortunately, isn’t necessarily winning that fight.
Due to her long list of issues, the fact she is a lesbian isn’t a tool of the story to make her more interesting—it’s just who she is.
Because of this, Chloe makes the list for offering up one of the more vulnerable LGBT tales in gaming, while giving a seriously in-depth look into inner turmoil and struggle.
Athena – Tales from the Borderlands
Athena’s lore in the Borderlands universe is thick with tragedy as well as general badassery.
From her NPC roots in the original Borderlands, where being raised as an assassin, fighting for and against General Knoxx, and finally becoming a Vault Hunter herself are only entry-level portions of her tale.
It wasn’t until Tales from the Borderlands that we learned of her love interests, as she is in a relationship with junk dealer Janey Springs—with plans to get married.
Borderlands is well-known for its large numbers of LGBT characters, but Athena being a major part of the story-based Telltale release gives her a more interesting look than most from this universe.
Commander Shepard – Mass Effect
Even though Commander Shepard isn’t explicitly gay, bisexual, or lesbian, the simple fact that the player can choose to have their version of Commander Shepard enter into relations with whoever they choose is incredible.
Allowing the player to not only decide if the Commander is a man or a woman, but to allow them to distinguish who they choose to love as well takes inclusion in gaming to the next level.
Several titles have taken this route, but the fact that more and more are choosing to do so following the mainstream viability of the model—thanks to Mass Effect—is a big win for the LGBT community.
Because of this, Commander Shepard gains a spot on this list for letting the player’s preferences be allowed in this monstrous space epic.
Kassandra & Alexios – Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Following suit with Commander Shepard comes another title’s freedom of expression in the form of Alexios and Kassandra from Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.
In similar ways, allowing these two protagonists to get romantic with both men and women is vitally important, but they also divulge a bit—not allowing total character customization and offering a fully-fledged story based on which of the two you choose.
While most of what they do is interchangeable, the fact you can enter into this title making all of the decisions of a Mass Effect with the addition of having a deep story based around this duo makes things arguably more interesting.
An obvious progression from Mass Effect’s initial use of this formula, Assassin’s Creed has built upon it in their newest AC title, and here’s to hoping it continues into the next entry, Valhalla.
Ellie – The Last of Us
As people begin to play through The Last of Us Part II, Ellie’s story will be heavily discussed throughout mainstream gaming as one of the most highly-anticipated titles of 2020, and perhaps of the PS4 library.
Players finished the original The Last of Us without any confirmation of Ellie’s sexuality, with the big reveal occurring during the Left Behind DLC.
Following Ellie from her teenage roots, through the hardships and pain she has endured, to this epic sequel, means her story is able to touch and stick with the hearts of gamers around the world.
She represents all of the strides that LGBT characters in gaming have made, and thus finishes this list as one of the most influential LGBTQ+ characters in video game history.
About the author
