Best LGBTQ+ Inclusive Games in 2023

Romance is pretty much a must-have in today’s role-playing games. For some reason, it is always a catalyst for a compelling, engaging narrative. But unlike older games, today’s games make more of an effort to launch LGBTQ+ inclusive games. At least, enough so we can compile a list of the best LGBTQ-inclusive games in 2023. So, whether it’s a queer character representation, an unprecedented plot twist, or an unapologetic embrace of the LGBTQ+ community, these games are the five best LGBTQ+ inclusive games in 2023 we could find. 

5. Life is Strange

Life is Strange, don’t you think? It’s not a case of events that add up, or something with structure. Perhaps that’s why games are such a safe haven for most people. Anyway, Life is Strange is that reliable story-driven series you can escape into. Particularly, the lives of the characters, some of whom are queer. 

In the first game, you may hardly notice the in-depth exploration of the LGBTQ+ spectrum. However, Life is Strange 2, Life is Strange: Before the Storm, and Life is Strange: True Colors, (yes, there are that many follow-ups, enough to clear your pastime schedule for the next week, or so), do a better job of exploring the lives and relationships of queer characters. 

At its core, Life is Strange is a time-bending adventure featuring protagonists whose love stories, whom they choose, and how they court one another fall entirely in your hands. Mesh these enticing queer love stories with the ability to travel through time, and you have yourself an endearing way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, or more special days to come.

4. Stardew Valley

Among present life simulator games, Stardew Valley takes the crown home for instigating the most natural love stories. Literally like everyday life, Stardew Valley makes it so you can date, marry, and even sire children with either of the 12 people in your village. It’s pretty fun, especially when the characters act and behave in ways normal people would do.

That natural response and the freedom to choose your preferred sexual orientation has catapulted Stardew Valley to one of the least shy LGBTQ+ inclusive games of all time. Of course, nurturing a relationship doesn’t come easy, just like in real life. There are bills to pay when you want to gift your other half a bouquet, a cool outfit, or upgrade an item some just-got-married level higher.

3. Hades

It sounds grim and dark, like the Underworld, but Hades is actually packed with more adventure than you might expect. Curated as a roguelike hack-and-slash dungeon crawler game, Hades tells the story of Zagreus, son of Hades, the god, who wants to escape his father’s grasp and the Underworld, in general. He starts to fight anyone standing in his way, most of whom are characters adapted from Greek mythology.

But, you’re not here for the story, are you? You’re here for the queer intertwines and plot twists, which Hades packs to the brim. See Zagreus is bi-sexual, and quite a charming one whose performance has stolen many hearts, even now. He can court any of the three characters in the game. We won’t dish out any spoilers, but know they’re quite interesting matches you likely won’t find on normal Earth.

2. Celeste 

The best games are ones that grab your attention, hold it steady till the end, and even pop in your thoughts on your ride home from work or vice versa. They just stick for some reason. Then there are games that start online discussions, with each player having their own thoughts about a certain thing. 

Take Celeste, for example. During the playthrough and while gaming in the shoes of Madeline, the protagonist, you likely couldn’t tell that she’s trans, could you? Now that we’ve let the cat out of the bag on that one, (hey, there’s very little damage done, either way), you might see a different perspective on the game. One that shines light on the struggle she faces as a trans person. It’s also a way to understand why Madeline does what she does.

To seal the package all together, Celeste gives you a hard time. And it’s highly welcome, too as you platform and attempt to face mental health struggles, too. Fun fact: The game’s director and designer, Maddy Thorson, identifies as non-binary, and as it turns out, it was during the making of Celeste that they were able to come to terms with their identity.

1. Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator

Dream Daddy is fun. It’s trendy. It’s light-hearted. It’s brilliant. Like the name suggests, players attempt to create their “dream daddies.” From designing the character they like, choosing their hair, eyes, mouth, glasses, piercings, clothing, and more, to going out and finding love amongst seven other dads. 

Just like in real life, each dad you meet has a unique personality. Plus, Dream Daddy takes it a step further to rid itself of any stereotypical impersonations you might feel you’ve seen somewhere before. So, essentially, Dream Daddy is a unique, authentic experience that nearly perfectly simulates what dating would feel like for dads.

Dread Daddy easily jumps off this list. It fully embraces the LGBTQ+ community and does a great job of it. With its superb writing, and fun, quirky characters, Dream Daddy guarantees a great time regardless of age. It also takes it a step further, beyond dads dating dads in a utopian suburb, to include varying themes affecting gay dads today. 

Some of the themes are parenting a teenage girl and what it means to be a gay dad. There are different representations of a gay dad, like a black gay dad, a plus-size gay dad, a still in the closet gay dad, or a trans dad. All of these iterations create such depth that it’s no debate whether Dream Daddy achieves all it sets out to do, and more.

So, what’s your take? Do you agree with out five best LGBTQ+ inclusive games in 2023? Are there more games we should know about? Do let us know down in the comments or over on our socials here.