12 games that let you play as a lesbian
What better way to celebrate video games than by uplifting games that put our lesbian sisters into the limelight? That’s why we’ve picked out 12 games that you can play as a lesbian.
As a queer woman myself, video games have been a solace since the very start of my life. I’ve always found myself drawn to them, but it was only when I was just reaching the cusp of becoming a teenager did I have my first encounter with same-sex relationships in video games. That game was Dragon Age: Origins, and it made me question just who I really was. Did I really like men, or was that something I just said so people wouldn’t think any differently?
Fast forward a few years and here I am, writing content about queer media for you! Video games did help me in understanding what I wanted as a queer woman, but I know there are still people out there who perhaps aren’t too sure.
But don’t fret, that’s where video games come in…
12. The Dragon Age series
After mentioning Dragon Age: Origins, it’d be completely unfair for me not to include the Dragon Age series. It’s something of an easy pick, at least in my friendship groups, as it’s well-known to have incredible queer characters like Dorian Pavus and Isabela.
But not only is the series full of queer characters, you’re able to create a character that can be played as a lesbian. No matter whether you play as The Warden (Origins), Hawke (2), or the Inquisitor (Inquisition) you’ll be able to shape your character to be a lesbian and yes, kiss a lot of gals.
11. The Mass Effect series
Like I said, let’s get some of the easier stuff out of the way.
The Mass Effect Trilogy may not be known as being all that great when it comes to queer representation, especially if you’re a gay man, but we can’t deny that you’re able to play as a queer woman in these games.
Commander Shepard, the player’s character, can romance Liara, Samantha Traynor, and Kelly as a woman. However, it’s only Liara who can be romanced from the very beginning.
Things are much better for queer women who play Mass Effect: Andromeda, as they have 3 options of women to romance – Suvi, Vetra, and Peebee.
10. Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
If there’s one thing that I appreciate about Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, it’s the fact that they let me play a big, buff woman who apparently is drowning in the attention of the different women she meets during her adventures. If you too would like that attention, then Valhalla is the game for you.
The Assassin Creed series has been very hit and miss with representation for the majority of its existence, and it definitely earned it’s infamy with how it handled Alexios and Kassandra’s sexuality back in Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey. It still isn’t the greatest, but it’s a far cry from the beginning of having no choice to play as a queer woman at all.
9. Fallout 4
Lesbianism. Lesbianism never changes.
The Fallout series hasn’t always been great in its inclusion of same-sex relationships, but it has included them all the same. Fast forward a few years however and Fallout 4 is already miles ahead. It not only lets you romance whoever you want, which is a whole other issue in regards to playersexuality, but the companions you pick up aren’t just stats with a face on them. They have their own quests, they make comments about what you do, and have a moral alignment that is much more advanced than I first expected.
The only downside it has is that it forces you into a heterosexual relationship at the very start of the game. But, for reasons we won’t spoil, that ends very fast and has no real impact on your romance options throughout the game.
8. Wylde Flowers
Wylde Flowers is a big favorite of ours for a lot of reasons, but primarily because you can play as a lesbian witch!
A farming life simulator game with a witchy twist, players stake on the role of Tara Wylde – a young woman who leaves her life in the city to move to the town of Fairhaven.
Our review of Wylde Flowers included plenty of different head nods towards the queer representation involved in the game, which goes beyond the romance options present within the farming life sim. Indeed, if you want queerness in your video games, go no further than the newest game from Studio Drydock.
The main character, Tara Wylde, has numerous romance options available to her of all genders. Check out our romance guide for more info!
7. Life is Strange / Life is Strange: Before the Storm
Life is Strange wedged its way into every queer woman’s heart the moment it released. It’s an interactive, narrative-heavy game that tells the story of Max Caulfield who returns to her old hometown Arcadia Bay, and ends up gaining powers that lets her rewind time. Her old best friend, Chloe Price soon joins up with her to let her know that something is very wrong with Arcadia Bay, and oh, her ex-girlfriend slash best friend Rachel Amber has gone missing. Can you say ‘DRAMA?’
There’s a lot going on already, but through all of that Max has to deal with her developing feelings for Chloe. Alternatively, you can play her relationship to Chloe as ‘just friends’ but her feelings for women are still implied throughout the game.
The prequel, Life is Strange: Before the Storm has you play as Chloe and her relationship with Rachel Amber.
6. Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Nintendo really said you want to play as a queer woman in this video games series? Well, alright. But only if you’re down with becoming a teacher and leading your potential love interests into almost certain death.
That’s right, Fire Emblem: Three Houses does let you play as a lesbian and as a matter of fact, one of the most popular relationships within the community is indeed between Female Byleth (the player character) and the Black Eagles leader, Edelgard von Hresvelg.
But it isn’t just Edelgard that queer women can romance. You can also romance Archbishop Rhea, Mercedes, Sothis, as well as Dorothea.
5. The Last of Us series
Would it really be an article about lesbians in gaming if we didn’t include the first lesbian protagonist in a triple A game?
Ellie, the main protagonist from Part II and the DLC from the previous game, has become a major icon for queer women in video games. She’s not perfect, far from it, and has a story that consists of pain and trauma yes, but the joy of falling in love and being brought in by a found family that loves her dearly.
Her relationship with Dina and how that progresses over time is one of the most rewarding things from The Last of Us Part II, so if you haven’t played it yet and aren’t too squeamish, I can’t recommend another game more worthy of your time than this one.
4. Sword of the Necromancer
Sword of the Necromancer has quickly shot up to becoming one of my favourite games of all time. If you’ve read my review, you’ll already know that this game follows Tama, a thief turned bodyguard, who ventures into a Necromancer’s dungeon in order to bring Koko back from the dead.
As you progress throughout the game, you realize that Tama’s reason for risking her life for Koko goes beyond friendship and that she’ll do anything to get the love of her life back into her arms.
It’s an incredible game, and it really gives a big old ‘F U’ to the bury your gays trope, too.
3. Later Daters
Later Daters, which was nominated for an Award from us here at Gayming Magazine, is an excellent visual novel game that not only let’s you play as a lesbian, but an elderly lesbian! The distinction may not seem that much of a big deal, but it’s something that does matter.
In hindsight, there are so few games where you can play as a queer woman, but even fewer games that let you play as elderly and queer. In Later Daters, your age is never truly an obstacle, and you’re still considered both sexually active and attractive by the people around you.
Most importantly, it’s vital that we show that queer people aren’t just young people who are young and naive, but old, experienced and still very much queer, even in their twilight years.
2. Stardew Valley
A farming simulator game with love and adventure thrown into the mix, Stardew Valley lets you befriend and even marry some of your new neighbours once you get to know them. This is the perfect game for those who just want to sit back, relax and get lost in their own world of farming life.
Most villagers are able to be romanced, regardless of gender, and their backstory and dialogue can change depending on whether you play as a woman or man.
The game has a beautiful soundtrack, and there’s still so much to do even when you’re not making kissy faces at your chosen spouse, or farming.
1. Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 from Larian Studios is set in the vast and wonderful world of the Forgotten Realms from Dungeons and Dragons.
Baldur’s Gate 3 comes with character customization, and players are encouraged to create their own characters and background. Not only are you able to change your pronouns and voice, allowing you to play as a non-binary character if you so choose to, but you can customize your body shape and genitals too.
Throughout your time in the world of Faerûn, players encounter companions that they can travel with, as well as NPCs, that they will be able to form romantic and/or sexual relationships. All of your companions that you can form romantic relationships with are pansexual, meaning that no matter whether you’re a non-binary dwarf or a femme fatale Dragonborn, the people you meet will fall in love with you.
What’s more, there is even a vital storyline in Act 2 that has the potential to have two star-crossed lovers reunite – both of whom are women. These are major and significant NPCs for several quests.
This article was originally published in March 2021 and has been updated in April 2024.
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