The Most Groundbreaking LGBTQ+ Characters in Video Games

June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month, a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and their accomplishments in a variety of different fields.

A remarkable amount of progress has been made in terms of game accessibility and diversity. There is still a long way to go in order to reach total inclusivity, however.

Fortunately, though, there have been many great video game characters in the LGBTQ+ community. As such, let’s take a close look at what makes these characters so great. Here are the greatest and most groundbreaking LGBTQ+ characters in video games.

Ellie (The Last of Us)

The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II feature one of the most significant gay characters in gaming. Simply named “Ellie,” this teenage protagonist is written superbly and offers an entire well of character depth. This led Ellie a great deal of praise upon her 2013 debut.

However, one of the most significant aspects of her character wasn’t revealed until 2014’s The Last of Us: Left Behind. Ellie is confirmed as a member of the LGBTQ+ community when she kisses her best friend Riley.

Fortunately, the handling of her “coming out” and the depiction of the relationship between her and Riley was perfect. It can never be understated exactly how touching this revelation was to many gamers who may not have expected to find representation in such a meaningful character.

Sir Hammerlock and Wainwright Jakobs (Borderlands 3)

Borderlands 3 is a recent game that does a few things wrong, but does one thing flawlessly. The game’s depiction of LGBTQ+ characters is pretty refreshing, especially when it comes to two of the major characters within the story.

Sir Alistair Hammerlock and Wainwright Jakobs are two hunters who also happen to be gay. They’re both very capable of handling business when there’s a call to action, and neither are afraid to show their concern for their partner. Their relationship is warm, sweet, and honestly just fun to see. Plus, the couple was so significant that an entire DLC campaign was dedicated to their wedding.