Summary
Gay characters in video games have been around since the 1980s, a few decades after the industry began, although several were far from what we’d consider supportive of theLGBTQcommunity. There were still some good examples of representation in game history that paved the way for the modern titles that we cherish.
From sweet to rude and survivalists to creatives, get to know gay men in games that help show the depth and range of queer characters. Mainstream series and indie treasures alike have boosted representation over the years. Discover more men-loving men (mlm) from these video games that could become your new favorites.
While ‘gay’ is an umbrella term, we’ll be focusing on gay male characters here. You can also check out thebest lesbian charactersor our wider article on thebest LGBTQ+ charactersin games!
Character story spoilers below (including mentions of suicide and alcoholism).
12Drak - Orcen Axe
The nostalgia of thisMetroidvaniaplatformer comes in layers, including the plot and gameplay itself. Being revived into a world you don’t recognize and trying to find your lost love is a classic family-friendly narrative. It’s even better when you’re playing as the gay orc, Drak, piecing together what’s happened in the world and searching for your missing partner, Marvin.
There’s cheesy and fun humor that feels natural from the moment Drak decides he won’t obey the necromancer that resurrected him. It goes over well enough, since the sassy Necroniac ultimately chooses to help Drak on his journey anyway.
11Ren - Canvas Menagerie
This hard-working actor is also the gay love interest in this slice of life game, featuring plenty of other characters with several orientations and gender identities for more LGBTQ inclusion. Niko, the main character, bringstrans representationto this visual novel as a bisexual trans man.
Ren’s ambitious and self-assured with a thriving movie career to match his personality, and they’re both breaking into TV acting together. It’s also very heartwarming to realize how much of a devoted person Ren is over the course of this gorgeous game. Plus, who doesn’t adore a slow burn romance with mid-20s theater kids?
10Bill - The Last of Us
Frankly, he’s a disaster and it’s fantastic to see it. Bill fromThe Last of Uscan barely get his personal life together as he survives this apocalyptic world. Choosing to be alone after his ex-boyfriend Frank left him, he is gruffly civil with Joel and outright rude to Ellie when they turn to him for help.
But he is a capable survivalist. Just to get to him, you have to navigate his traps and obstacles that keep zombies at bay. It’s not like he’s unfeeling either. He is affected when he finds Frank dead, even when he says otherwise.
9Jun Kurosu - Persona 2
From a 1999 game in thePersonaseries, Jun can get into a romantic relationship with Tatsuya if you choose him when you’re prompted to say who you have feelings for. He does fall into the old stereotype of gay men blurring gender lines. It’s said in canon that he rocks makeup better than Lisa, another love interest.
Even if he doesn’t end up dating Tatsuya, he’s very committed to his childhood friend. His nature is leveraged against him during the game. Nyarlathotep is a demon that gives him false memories, warping Jun’s protective streak in an intriguing story arc.
8Danny McCormack - The Orion Conspiracy
A 1995 game set in 2160, this dark space opera is another example of gay history in video games. You play Devlin McCormack, who was estranged from his gay son, Danny. Devlin’s absence as a father while struggling with depression, chronic injuries, and survivor’s guilt led Danny to feel unwanted and move away.
You’re investigating his murder when the story begins. Crucially, neither Danny nor his boyfriend, Steve Kaufmann, died because they were gay—narrowly dodging the Bury Your Gays stereotype. They built their relationship through love letters and left to explore space together as an engineer and scientist respectively.
7Asher Kendrell - Transistor
A talented reporter and endlessly eager to learn, Asher fromTransistorshares a last name with his boss and the main antagonist. This heavy implication that they’re married is the first hint at their relationship. While they’re not a particularly affectionate couple, Asher loves his husband enough to take his life beside him in-game.
As much as Asher did horrible things with The Camerata because he believed it was for the city of Cloudbank, he was also truly heartbroken as he watched Grant suffer without the Transistor. He isn’t heartless, despite it all, and shows a backwards sort of loyalty.
6Steve Cortez - Mass Effect 3
Helping Steve move on from losing his husband inMass Effect 3is a gradual task, split up across several discussions and a personal quest. Robert was caught by Collectors and called ahead to warn Steve with enough time for him to escape — and him alone. Keeping the call recording, Steve never quite let go as his late husband asked him to.
He did form friendships, play-arguing with Joker about their piloting preferences and bantering with James Vega while they work on the ship. You can date him as male Shepard and bring romance into supporting his recovery from grief.
5Hugo - Dream Daddy
Dream Daddyis a gay dad dating sim, and Hugo offers a charming relationship with an overworked English teacher. He’s exactly who you would expect in some ways. A literary scholar, he’s also a romantic because he’s delighted by the idea of kissing in art galleries. Some of his date-night lines haven’t aged well, but his overall appeal remains intact.
He’s got his surprises lying in wait too. His troubled and sulky son stays with Hugo’s ex-husband on weekends, and their relationship is rocky. This book-loving teacher is also a big fan of wrestling, having a persona titled J.D. Slamminger.
4Kim Kitsuragi - Disco Elysium
Orderly and surprisingly playful, Lieutenant Kitsuragi fromDisco Elysiumis authentically himself in nearly every way. If you ask him directly if he’s gay, he confirms it with a witty remark even though it’s not information he volunteers.
Both of his parents were killed in a revolution when he was a toddler, and Kim was also bullied growing up. These experiences made him fiercely protective of defenseless people. His relationship with Harry depends on how you play the game, but fans aren’t the only ones shipping him with the struggling detective based on theseValentine’s Day posts from the team.
3Harold Ludicael - Hoping This Finds You Well
Inspired in part by the homoerotic vibes of Edwardian andVictorian Englishliterature, this visual novel features the trans man and professor, Harold, in a developing relationship with a traveling scientist, Hawley Faraday. This professor of demonology and alchemy can get lost in his work and forget to write back. Most intellectuals can relate, while also understanding Hawley’s anxiety.
As they get closer, Harold offers his nickname of Harry and teases him about how Hawley doesn’t seem like it can be shortened. Seeing their romance in the prequel makes for a tender story before the darker murder mystery that follows.
