Video games are a creative and bold medium that often showcases colorful worlds and characters in long, gripping adventures that stick with people. The active, participatory nature of games allows us to play through experiences created by and show off many different perspectives.
Marginalized characters in video games can be used to help teach about the often overlooked aspects of others’ lives in an engaging way while patching misconceptions through relatable actions and stories. This list covers games with interesting and unique characters that showcase trans perspectives in a positive light.
9 Borderlands 3
The anarchic looter-shooter series has always had a diverse cast of colorful characters, but Borderlands 3 pushed the envelope by introducing a playable non-binary robot seeking self-discovery and an NPC that struggles with their gender identity.
Both of these characters were expertly handled in-game. FL4K was conceived by a non-binary developer and, outside the dialogue, has non-binary representation in their design, showing a badge with computer binary crossed out. Lor initially appears in the third game to reveal their closeted dysphoria. But in an unprecedented move for the medium, the sequel, Tales of The Borderlands, shows the payoff of developing a queer character through multiple titles by introducing a new trans guy to the series.
8 Celeste
This personal journey about the insecurities of acceptance and achievements touched the hearts of platformer fans in 2018. This seminal title won multiple awards and helped the game’s director, Maddy Thorson, come to terms with her own gender identity.
The trans confirmation comes in the form of the Farewell DLC, where a bottle of pills, an early photo of protagonist Madeline and a trans flag can be seen in the game’s final moments. There was lots of speculation when this content was initially released, as there aren’t any definitive lines of dialogue confirming the character’s identity. But the profound effect that Celeste’s ludonarrative journey has had on players would only be possible with the inclusion of Madeline.
7 Tell Me Why
Created by Don’t Nod, the developers behind the Life is Strange Series, Tell Me Why was the first big-budget video game to feature a playable, openly trans protagonist. There’s a lot that went into this title, with consultants from the LGBTQ+ charity GLAAD and trans voice actors on board with this landmark title.
Tell Me Why focuses on the small details of living life as a trans man. It’s pretty educational watching how Tyler uses a binder and takes testosterone as part of his daily routine. It’s interesting to see a realistically portrayed trans character that isn’t facing a constant uphill battle to achieve self-worth.
6 Guilty Gear: Strife
Fighting games host a surprising amount of trans characters in their rosters; Street Fighter has Poison, Tekken has Leo, and King of Fighters has a lot of feminine acting guys. But Guilty Gear’s Bridget has become a trans icon in the world of gaming.
Initially introduced back in 2002, Bridget was a stereotypical cross-dresser whose identity was often mistaken due to her cushy and overprotective childhood. She insisted on correcting other characters as she wanted to be seen as a strong, manly protector for her village. Bridget hasn’t appeared in the series for 20 years, but for the grand return of this fan-favorite character in 2022, Arc System Works decided to explore the character’s self-identity issues with the help of a master and close friends in a surprisingly sweet and wholesome story for a fighting game.
5 The Monster Prom Series
Over the course of three role-playing party games, Monster Prom has introduced three playable trans characters, which all do a great job showcasing gender exploration and relationships at an important turning point in life.
Both Oz from the Prom (1) and Sawyer from Camp (2) and Road Trip (3) identify as non-binary. Oz is masc-leaning and uses multiple pronouns. They have a calming personality that helps others explore their insecurities. Whereas Sawyer is a bit more isolated but also self-motivated and caring of others, their demeanor is that of someone confident in their own decisions.Zoe, from Prom and Camp, goes through an arc of self-discovery, coming out the other end as a trans protagonist that overcomes insecurities that are aptly personified by a basement-dwelling kappa.
4 Apex Legends
For a game that publisher EA initially had little faith in, Apex Legends managed to overcome all odds and blossom into one of the most popular battle royale games on the market.
When this unassuming title was launched in 2020, players were introduced to the non-binary hunter, Bloodhound, whose tragic backstory revolves around a hard-to-impress father determined to raise his child with traditional values. In one final heartfelt moment, after Bloodhound used outside-the-box thinking to save the lives of others, they finally felt validated and were able to forge their own path in life.
In season 15, trans character Catalyst joined the roster. She was designed from the ground up with a prideful identity in mind. Her backstory doesn’t linger on the events leading to transitioning, which can often be layered, personal, and hard to explain. It instead shows how a headstrong, rebellious character can rise up as their true selves from the ashes of war.
3 2064: Read Only Memories
While the importance of nuanced trans characters cannot go understated, the inclusion of an entire community of trans characters shows the societal impact that the acceptance of self-exploration can have on the world.
Read Only Memories has its cake and eats it too, with multiple developed non-binary and trans characters, including a charming robot that became the mascot for a queer games conference. But the entire premise of this point-and-click adventure revolves around the issue of trans-humanism and how it’s managed to make the residents of Neo-San Francisco feel safe and comfortable. Somehow, on top of all this, there’s an option to input custom pronouns when characters refer to the non-verbal player insert.
2 Undertale
One of Undertale’s most interesting traits is its commitment to defying convention. From the fourth-wall-breaking jokes that deconstruct the game’s mechanics to the delightfully strange dialogue, it feels in character for Undertale to adopt a wide range of personalities with different identities.
The most obvious of which is the mute player-character Frisk (or Chara), who acts as a non-binary blank slate that allows anyone to experience the adventure from a fresh perspective. Other non-binary characters include Napstablook, a chill ghost that takes the player on a psychedelic musical adventure, and Monster Kid, a clumsy but kind-hearted super-fan of the warrior Undyne. Mad Mew Mew is a Switch-exclusive trans character that shape-shifter Mad Dummy transforms into after finding their perfect body.
1 Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
Eastern-developed games have been noticeably lacking from this list, as many attempts at transgender representation from across the pond end up feeling uncanny. But it’s important to note when they hit the mark too, and ghost girl Vivian is a very interesting case study.
The unique thing about this example is that regional differences dictate the amount of trans content shown in Vivian’s backstory, where she rises against transphobia from her siblings. This ranges from the Italian language version, which uses pride to dispel the argument, to the American release, where any references to transitioning are cut. However, the majority of copies, sold in Japanese and English-speaking European regions, present this scene as a sad backstory where she once felt unaccepted by her peers but feels happier and comfier during the course of the adventure.