For so many years, gay characters had been absent from the gaming world. It was even considered taboo to have one back in ten or twenty years ago. It’s never an easy job in the first place because we’ve seen so many developers failing to emphasize the characters’ arc more than their sexuality.
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However, these characters are the only exceptions. Thanks to their capable writers, these characters managed to break the boundaries. From the rugged survivor in the Infected-swarmed world to the hell-raising Grand Theft Auto protagonist, here are the top ten PS4 games starring LGBTQ+ characters.
10 Bill (The Last of Us)
A rugged survivor with few moral lines to cross, Bill of 2013 Last of Us is a prime example of how one can develop a gay character without sacrificing its story. After the Cordyceps Brain Infection struck the world, Bill had a partner named Frank, who unfortunately parted ways later. He also loved to collect gay magazines, even though Ellie stole it and read it on her way with Joel.
However, as Part II hit the stores, Bill’s whereabouts and fate are currently unknown. It will be interesting if Naughty Dog decides to release a DLC and give this character a much better send-off.
9 Traci (Detroit: Become Human)
‘Traci’ is a codename for advanced sex androids in Detroit: Become Human, notably the WR400 model for females and HR400 for males. Two female Tracis, the brown-haired and the blue-haired, fell in love, became deviants, and planned to run away from the Detroit Eden Club.
At some point in the game, Connor, one of the three playable characters, would confront the two Tracis from fleeing the Eden Club. However, it’s up to the players whether they want to shoot them or spare them. The best scenario will be sparing them, but go ahead if you want to explore other alternative branches.
8 Max Caulfield (Life Is Strange)
Next is Max Caulfield, the leading protagonist of 2015’s interactive drama, Life Is Strange. She’s an aspiring photographer and a close friend to Chloe Price, whom she develops a romantic relationship with later in the game. The game’s sequel, Before the Storm, takes more on Chloe’s perspective, and they’re both available for PS4, PC, and Xbox One.
Again, it’s up to the players to decide Max’s love interest, whether it’s Chloe or Warren Graham, but here goes the option!
7 Trevor Phillips (Grand Theft Auto V)
Trevor Phillips may not be a good representation because of his chaotic and hell-raising nature, but deep inside, he’s just a man who wants love and compassion. Strangely enough, that’s what makes him an iconic, and one of the best gay characters that Rockstar has ever created (sorry, Gay Tony).
Trevor is a bisexual man with almost no moral line to cross anymore. His shock values and in-your-face portrayal are what make him a standout character from the rest.
6 Tracer (Overwatch)
Overwatch is a game that lets you pick one from a roster of 30 superheroes and work together in a team of six. One of them is Lena ‘Tracer’ Oxton, the game’s cover girl, who identifies herself as a lesbian. She has a girlfriend named Emily, an ordinary human who isn’t a part of the Overwatch roster.
Story-wise, Overwatch centers around the superhero team of the same name, as they try to put an end to the threats that faces humanity.
5 Alexios (Assassin’s Creed Odyssey)
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey lets the players explore the game under two different characters between Alexios, a man, or Kassandra, a woman. Whatever choice you may end up deciding, it’s up to the players to choose the sexuality of their characters, and your preferred gender does not limit your options.
Story-wise, Odyssey takes you on a journey of becoming a legendary Spartan hero. Your choices shape the endgame of your character, so make sure to know what you choose.
4 Clementine (The Walking Dead)
Four-season post-apocalypse interactive drama Walking Dead centers around Clementine, a brave young girl, as she explores puberty in the world swarmed with infected creatures. In the final season, Clementine is a seventeen-year-old leader of the Ericson’s Troubled Youth community.
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Again, it’s up to the players to link up Clementine with Violet, a female member of the community, or Louis. Each choice leads to a different ending, so make sure to pick what you think is best. Although fans were polarized over the final season, it’s still a proper send-off for a fantastic character.
3 Ciri (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt)
Ciri is the center point of the award-winning game The Witcher 3. The main character in this game, Geralt, goes on a quest to find her before The Wild Hunt does.
Although her sexuality somewhat seems vague in the game, Ciri is a confirmed bisexual woman in the book version. She also once said, “I prefer women,” to players in Skellige, proving that she’s at least bisexual if not wholly gay.
2 Ellie Williams (The Last of Us, Part II & Left Behind)
Ellie may be the most recognizable queer character in video game history. In her younger days, little Ellie was involved in a perplexing love story with a friend named Riley Abel.
After Riley, Ellie dated Cat, a fellow survivor from Jackson, before settling down with Dina once and for all. The two reside at a farmhouse near Jackson, where they become the best, wholesome lesbian couple of ranchers.
1 Birdo (Super Mario Franchise)
The last, and undoubtedly one of the earliest gay characters to ever embrace our consoles is Birdo from the Super Mario franchise. According to Super Mario Bros. 2‘s manual, Birdo is a male character who “thinks he is a girl” (p. 27) and would prefer to be called ‘Birdetta.’
Even though the public’s reception towards Birdo’s sexuality was somewhat mixed, it’s still worth noting that Birdo was one of the first LGBTQ+ representations in video games, which makes this character so unique.
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