Today we invite you to read a guest article by Aimee Hart from the Gayming Magazine, the world’s only LGBTQ video game magazine and the home of queer geek culture. Hello everyone and Happy Pride!Pride has a long and important history, one that is celebrated all over the world and even in gaming spaces - something which I had no idea was a thing until I’d become more and more involved within the games industry.Gaming is for everyone, and for queer and marginalized gamers who are looking for ways to see themselves, it’s a medium that has never been better to delve into. Not only are more LGBTQ+ developers making their way into the games industry, but the same can be said for queer narratives and characters.
With that in mind, this is the perfect time to celebrate Pride by talking about a handful of incredible LGBTQ+ inclusive games that you can find on GOG, and why they have such a massive impact on queer gamers.
In Dragon Age: Origins, players take on the role of a noble Grey Warden as they take up arms to fight against The Blight - a terrible period of time where hellish darkspawn corrupt dragons and burst from underground to the surface, killing everyone in their way. With a setting like that, it’s no surprise that Dragon Age: Origins may look like the edgy, gritty, ‘realistic’ fantasy RPG that you would expect back in 2008 when it was released, but it’s also one of the earliest games to include queer sexuality in a way that wasn’t either demonized or sexualized.
Players get the option to romance four main companions: Alistair for women, Morrigan for men, Leliana and Zevran for both men and women. While sexuality and gender were further explored in future Dragon Age games, Origins holds a special place in my heart due to its uncompromising perspective on love - regardless of gender.
Outside of LGBTQ+ romance between the protagonist and their companions, Dragon Age: Origins also features love stories between same-sex NPCs, as well as quests and codex entries that speak of queerness.
While certainly a product of its time, Dragon Age: Origins holds a special place in my heart by being the very first video game that allowed me to be true to my desires.
If there’s ever been a game that feels like a warm hug on a cold day, then that game is Stardew Valley. In this game, you play as a young up-and-coming farmer who previously abandoned their office job to live out the rest of their life on their Grandpa’s farm. You start with only the essentials and a lot of work ahead of you, but after that short introduction? That’s where the real fun begins.
Stardew Valley is a farming sim inspired by games like Harvest Moon, and was developed solely by Eric Barone aka ConcernedApe. While there is a ton of farming to do - you are a farmer, after all - the relationships that you can form between the characters you meet in Pelican Town play a huge part in what makes game special. You can romance anyone of the bachelors or bachelorettes with no issue, and whoever you romance will acknowledge your gender and the fact they are in a same-sex relationship. It’s a nice touch.
Stardew Valley is also one of the first farming sims to include same-sex marriage, something which has only just come to similar games like it, such as Rune Factory and Story of Seasons. Whether Barone’s inclusion inspired future games is not known, but considering the rocky portrayal of gay marriage within video games still, it’s undeniable that Stardew Valley’s impact by allowing us to marry the ones we love is significant.
If you think the ‘bury your gays’ trope is dumb and it needs to be removed from existence, you’ll probably love Sword of the Necromancer from Grimorio of Games.
In Sword of the Necromancer, you take on the role of Tama - a mercenary and the bodyguard of the High Priestess of Nodam, Koko. Only there is one little problem: Koko was killed during their adventures. However, this isn’t good enough for Tama, and the goal for the player is to delve deep into the dungeons of the Necromancer in order to get the sword that will bring Koko back to life.
As the LGBTQ+ community is rocked by legislation and individuals that look to tear us down, Sword of the Necromancer is an inspiring tale of love, friendship, and how far you’ll go to be with the one you love. It’s a roguelike that, if it doesn’t pull you in with its gameplay, will definitely have its hooks on you thanks to its characters.
If you’re looking for a game that’s got 1) magic 2) turn-based combat that requires strategy, skill and rhythm and 3) is full of characters who are LGBTQ+... There’s no other game that’s as perfect as Ikenfell, which also excels with its accessibility options, too.
Ikenfell takes place in a magical school where you play as the protagonist, Maritte, who is looking for her sister. Throughout her journey, she meets up with a cast of colourful characters, some of whom are asexual, aromantic, gay, lesbian, and more. In fact, I’m certain there isn’t a single straight character in there - talk about being a game made for us!
Ikenfell draws on a lot from a certain magical series that you may have read about, but isn’t afraid to actually include diversity and inclusion – already making it a much more interesting place for players to spend their time in. Because let’s be honest: who doesn’t love a queer love story?
