There is an ever-growing amount of representation in gaming, from AAA titles to indie gems. In this post, we’re looking at some of our favourite games working to increase representation within the industry.
Seeing yourself and others like you represented in video games goes beyond immersion, it normalises our existence to other gamers. From the Sims franchise, which has allowed gamers to play as themselves for decades, to increasing variation in character design in AAA FPS titles. We’re now evolving from the days of every game having a straight white male protagonist.
Representation – What do we mean?
Historically video games have broadly catered to and represented straight white males. Over the last decade, we’ve seen an explosive increase in indie games and AAA franchises beginning to represent LGBTQ+ gamers, women, people of colour, disabled, and other marginalised communities within their narratives.
“The notion of diversity not selling games is dead.” – Robin Gray Founder of Gayming Magazine
Representation not only allows for more immersive and relatable gaming experiences, but promotes empathy and understanding among players, whilst expanding the appeal of video games to a wider audience.
Minecraft
Probably not a game that immediately jumps out as an example of representation within video games. However, during the 2022 Minecraft Live show, a focus on creativity and self-expression was announced for the upcoming 1.20 update.
A significant change for this patch is new default skins coming to the game. The inclusion of these new skins will take the total to nine, and introduce a broader range of heritages for players to represent themselves.
Minecraft has always had a strong sense of community, with building, farming, and surviving with friends being the main purpose of the game. This increase of default skins is just yet another way for players to be who they truly are. Plus, these nine skins are not the limit, with Minecraft players’ personalities being fully customisable via custom skins. You’re able to recreate yourself as you are, or even create a whole new identity for yourself.
Horizon Zero Dawn & Forbidden West
Powerful female characters spotlighted within gaming is nothing new. However, the industry has previously been notorious for over sexualising them. Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West are pushing past this stigma with powerful protagonist Aloy.
Introduced in 2017, HZD is the first entry to franchise, where we see Alloy was raised in a post-apocalyptic tribal world as an outcast. Ostracised from her community, Aloy trains to become a warrior in order to complete a ritual competition and discover her mother’s identity. Aloy isn’t alone in the game’s world, however, with side characters such as Petra returning from the first game with new inventions to be tested.
Horizon Forbidden West also champions LGBTQ+ characters in addition to the Mark of Pride face paint introduced in patch 1.18. This allows us to have Aloy wear a few pride flags with face paint that seamlessly fits into her character design.
Whilst this inclusion of pride face paint may seem like a small feature, it can have a significant impact. As British artist Scottee said in reference to LGBTQ+ representation within cinema, “if you don’t see your reflection how do you know that you’re real?” By including this option in Horizon Forbidden West, the developers are not only sending a message of acceptance but also helping to normalise the visibility of LGBTQ+ people. Providing a sense of belonging and community for LGBTQ+ players, who are often not represented or understood in gaming.
World Of Warcraft
Originally released all the way back in 2004, World of Warcraft has seen countless updates and expansions. Dragonflight is the latest content update, and brings along with it a whole host of representation. One questline sees us help both sides of a male centaur couple propose to each other. Collimating in the quest After My Ohn Heart, where both Narman and Dawa attempt to propose simultaneously.
Notably, Dragonflight introduces a major character who is deaf. We are introduced to multiple centaur clans including the Shikaar clan of hunters, led by Sansok Khan. When we first meet Sansok, she greets players with a series of hand motions similar to sign language whilst Okir, the Khan’s interpreter, translates.
Disability is seldom explored in video games narratives, with deaf characters being especially rare. Dragonflight seemingly shows a new direction for World of Warcraft. The developers have added several characters and quests exploring underrepresented groups, with Sansok Khan’s inclusion helping to promote a greater understanding and awareness of the deaf community among hearing individuals.
Take Flight and Escape to Dragon Isles in World of Warcraft: Dragonflight
Hades
Of course, I’m going to talk about Hades. So far, my favourite game of the decade, Hades sees us take control of sarcastic queer icon Zagreus, in this rogue-like hack and slash from Supergiant Games.
Championed by LGBTQ+ gamers, our protagonist Zagreus Prince of the underworld, is a bisexual, polyamorous icon. You’re able to romance both Thanatos, literally Death Incarnate, and Megaera First of The Furies at once. Hades has won a whole host of awards, including the 2021 Gayming Magazine Readers’ Award, and multiple BAFTAs.
If you have somehow how missed out on playing Hades so far, I wholeheartedly recommend you pick it up. Oh yeah, and you can pet the goodest three-headed boy Cerberus!
Five LGBTQ+ Inclusive Games We Love
Cyberpunk 2077
Okay, so the game itself might have had a few launch “issues”, but the vibrant, futuristic Night City is home to a whole host of characters from all backgrounds, and there are plenty of romantic subplots for us to get our teeth stuck into.
Towards the start of the game, we meet bartender Claire at the Afterlife bar. When not slinging drinks, she races one of the coolest vehicles in Cyberpunk, “The Beast”. Later on, in the game, you’ll be invited to join her in these deadly car races throughout a variety of Night City locations. The Beast is unique in that it features the Trans pride flag. As you complete more races and spend time with Claire, you’ll learn why she wanted to race and about the passing of her partner, Dean. Right before being asked to help get justice, Claire tells us about Dean and herself, “Sweetest man I ever knew. We were friends before my gender transition.”
Claire isn’t the only noteworthy LGBTQ character in the game, with others such as Judy Alverez who is canonically lesbian and bisexual character Kerry Eurodyne both having great storylines. Of course, V the player character can also romance several other notable characters alongside the many sex workers of Night City.
It’s been almost two years since Cyberpunk 2077 came out, and with the Edgerunners 1.6 content update out, is the game good yet?
Representation In Streaming
It’s fair to say streaming is bigger than ever, with multiple platforms such as Twitch and YouTube championing streamers from diverse backgrounds. Earlier this year, Overclockers UK and noblechairs supported the LGBTQ Streamer Rising Star Class of ’22 at the Gayming Awards.
The Class of 22 was made up of nominees chosen by a panel of established LGBTQ streamers. AwkwardishPanda, ItsMeHolly, CoderGirlChan, LuciaEverblack, Cruuuunchy, and Luke_Boogie were selected as the Class of 22, winning a Streamplify bundle and noblechairs gaming chair.
Streamer Luke Boogie offered some advice for people from diverse backgrounds wanting to get into streaming,
“I feel pretty spectacular, to be honest… The only advice I’d give to anyone looking to get into streaming is to try it. Have some fun with it. Be yourself, the worst thing you can do is to change who you are, or you’ll not have fun. If you just go in, calmed down and do what feels natural to you, you’ll enjoy it, and it’ll be a good time for you and your audience.”
What’s more, whilst streaming was once dominated by male voices, Twitch has seen a growth of new streamers, with 35% of the platforms streamer base identifying as women.
Final Thoughts
I’ve avoided throughout this post mentioning stereotypical characters, and poor attempts at inclusion for the sake of staying positive. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty to be excited about. With every new set of launches, we see more and more diversity and representation within gaming. However, there is still a lot to be done, obstacles to overcome, and barriers to break to combat harmful stereotypes and bias.
When players are able to experience different perspectives and stories through their gameplay, they are better able to understand and relate to people who may be different from them in real life. Furthermore, when LGBTQ+, BIPOC, women, and disabled individuals are underrepresented or stereotyped in video games, it can reinforce harmful biases and marginalise these groups even further. As the gaming industry continues to grow, it is crucial for developers to prioritise diverse representation in order to create a more inclusive and equitable gaming community.
- 8 min read
Robert Mullane
Author
When not working, you'll find me in VR or losing in bottom-tier Valorant matches. I write about all topic's tech and gaming with a particular focus on representation in gaming, virtual reality, and LGBTQ+ themes. If you're still not fed up with me, you can also catch me over on the Overclockers UK TikTok and YouTube accounts.
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