In 2025 Is the adult game industry for LGBTQ or not ?

If you have played hundreds of free adult games, have you noticed that there are very few LGBT games?

For the first time in history, transgender and non-binary individuals are seeing representation in an industry that was once overwhelmingly male-dominated.

Less than a decade ago, video games were plagued by repetitive stereotypes and narrow representations. Male characters were often depicted as hyper-masculine and brutish, armored to the teeth, while female characters were frequently portrayed as scantily clad objects designed for the male gaze. The lack of diverse or accurate representation came to a head with the “GamerGate” controversy, where a movement rooted in misogynist ideologies pushed back against efforts to expand the gaming industry and challenge harmful stereotypes about women. Many women and girls, whether involved in game development or simply identifying as gamers, faced significant online abuse from men who believed that social progressives or “liberal feminists” were encroaching on their space.

Birdo – Super Mario Bros. 2
Although the controversy has largely subsided over time, LGBTQ+ people were still largely invisible within the virtual worlds they played in. Some might argue that trans characters had existed in games since 1988, with the introduction of “Birdo” in Super Mario Bros. 2—a round-snouted dinosaur adorned with a red bow who was described in the game manual as “He thinks he’s a girl. He’d rather be called Birdette.” However, this was mostly a comedic side-note, not a genuine representation of transgender identity.

Gay, bisexual, and lesbian characters fared slightly better. In 1996, the game Phantasmagoria 2 featured the first openly bisexual character in a mainstream video game, though it was a brutal, sexually explicit horror title that was censored in many countries and didn’t reach a broad audience. It wasn’t until Fallout 2 in 1998 that the gaming world witnessed a same-sex wedding, a milestone in a time when such unions were not yet legal. While the inclusion wasn’t groundbreaking enough to create widespread visibility for non-straight characters, it did set a precedent, opening the door for other developers to follow suit.

From the year 2000 onwards, openly gay, bisexual, and lesbian characters began appearing in large, well-known franchises such as Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, Fable, Star Wars, Life is Strange, and The Sims. These characters began to coexist in virtual worlds, reflecting the diversity of the real world.

However, for transgender and non-binary individuals, representation remained largely absent, both in character creation and in the context of non-playable characters (NPCs). Many transgender people found solace in the increasing visibility of LGB characters, especially since a large proportion of the transgender community identifies as non-straight. Yet, while there was some acknowledgment of diverse sexual orientations, gender expression was largely ignored.

CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077
The first major game to offer meaningful representation for transgender and non-binary individuals was Cyberpunk 2077, a high-budget futuristic game that allowed players to customize their gender expression, including their genitals, without requiring them to play a “make-believe” version of themselves. While the implementation wasn’t perfect, it represented a significant step forward. The inclusion was met with resistance from some in the gaming community, who accused the developers of pushing a political agenda. Despite the backlash, the developers remained steadfast in their commitment to normalize transgender and non-binary identities, integrating them seamlessly into the game without using them for shock value, comedy, or tragic subplots.

This marked the beginning of a broader trend, where mainstream games began to move away from rigid gender norms and, in some cases, even celebrated them in unexpected ways.

DC Universe Online
DC Universe Online, a popular multiplayer game featuring iconic superheroes and villains, introduced a groundbreaking moment with its “Long Live the Legion” episode. The game featured an in-game investigation where one of the characters, Tenzil, was referred to using their correct pronouns: “he/him/Lad.” This marked the first time a mainstream multiplayer game addressed pronouns directly. The update also featured Lightning Lad, a character with two mothers, and an investigation revealing that his sister was nervous about bringing her girlfriend home to meet their family. In a further show of solidarity, DC Universe Online introduced Pride Month-themed costumes and items, including transgender pride flags, allowing players to celebrate LGBTQ+ identities within the game.

Despite pushback from some community members who complained about the inclusion of the Pride flag, the game’s community manager, Mepps, released a powerful statement reaffirming the studio’s commitment to inclusivity. Mepps emphasized that supporting one community did not mean discriminating against others and that the decision to support Pride was personal for many of the developers.

The Sims
For two decades, The Sims franchise has been a pioneer in simulating life, relationships, and daily routines. In The Sims 4, released in 2014, players could create same-sex relationships, marriages, and families with same-sex parents. However, it wasn’t until recently that the game began to embrace transgender and non-binary representation. In 2024, an advertisement for The Sims 4 featured a trans child with their affirming mother, proudly displaying a Trans Pride flag. This moment of visibility was significant for both players and for society as a whole, as The Sims is one of the most popular games among young people, fostering awareness of diversity and inclusion in gender and sexual identity. It showed that being transgender or non-binary was simply a natural part of society, encouraging younger audiences to accept and celebrate diversity in all its forms.

The Importance of Representation
This growing trend in video games—showing diversity in gender, sexual orientation, race, and ability—is crucial. Video games are not just a form of entertainment but also a powerful cultural tool. They shape how we view the world and ourselves. By showcasing the diverse, complex nature of human identity, these games are teaching young players that differences are not wrong; they are just part of the rich tapestry of life.

In activities like gaming, once thought to be inconsequential, we now see the importance of reflecting the world as it truly is. Games like The Sims and Cyberpunk 2077 offer a glimpse into a future where transgender and non-binary identities are normalized. This is essential for young people who might not see themselves reflected in the media otherwise, helping them feel seen, included, and confident in who they are.