Why Are Lesbians So Underrepresented in Video Games?

Introduction: A Glaring Absence in the Gaming World

LGBTQIA+ representation in video games has seen progress in recent years, thanks to better-written queer characters and more inclusive storylines. However, one group remains notably underrepresented: lesbians. Despite an increasingly diverse gaming audience and the voices of female creators gaining traction, lesbian characters remain rare, marginalized, or poorly portrayed within the gaming landscape.

This article explores the deep-rooted reasons behind this absence, the cultural and industry-wide implications, and the games that are beginning to shift the narrative.

1. An Industry Historically Dominated by Heterosexual Men

A Legacy of Male-Centric Design

The history of gaming has been shaped by male creators—primarily cisgender and heterosexual. Since the 1980s, most video games were designed by and for men, often casting women as damsels in distress (like Princess Peach) or hyper-sexualized characters (such as early versions of Lara Croft).

This heteronormative perspective heavily influenced game narratives, leaving little room for meaningful lesbian storylines or nuanced sapphic romances.

A Lack of Diversity in Major Studios

Even today, major studios like Ubisoft, EA, and Activision remain overwhelmingly led by cisgender white men. Lesbian and queer women occupy few executive or creative leadership roles, meaning their perspectives and stories are often omitted or overlooked in mainstream games.

2. The Sexualization of Lesbians in Gaming

The “Sexy Lesbian” Fantasy

Too often, lesbian characters are portrayed through a male fantasy lens, created for the titillation of straight male gamers. These portrayals lean heavily on pornographic stereotypes, reducing lesbian women to aesthetic accessories or sexualized props.

Some games include women kissing solely for shock or visual appeal, with no narrative weight or authentic emotional connection behind the moment.

Lack of Realistic Sapphic Narratives

While modern RPGs have increasingly included complex gay and bisexual characters, lesbian characters often suffer from poorly written arcs that fail to reflect real lived experiences. Their stories lack emotional depth and authenticity, frequently serving as token additions or marketing gimmicks rather than genuine representations.

3. Marketing Fears and the Controversy Factor

LGBTQ+ Characters Still Considered “Risky”

In various parts of the world, lesbian representation remains a taboo. Game studios frequently fear that explicit portrayal of queer female relationships could result in censorship, international bans, or public backlash.

This often leads to self-censorship, where queer content is erased or made deliberately ambiguous—especially in regions like Russia, China, or the Middle East.

Pinkwashing and Superficial Inclusivity

Some companies engage in pinkwashing: showcasing a minor lesbian character or hidden scene simply to gain positive attention, without investing in a meaningful storyline or inclusive narrative framework.

This strategy creates an illusion of progress while upholding real systemic exclusion.

4. The Burden of Lesbophobic Stereotypes

The Butch or the Bombshell

When lesbians do appear in games, they’re often boiled down to one of two clichés:

• The masculine “butch” lesbian, portrayed as aggressive or exaggeratedly tough.
• The ultra-feminine lesbian, hyper-sexualized and designed to appeal to straight male players.

These reductive tropes ignore the rich diversity of lesbian identities, erasing those who are non-binary, androgynous, older, or from marginalized racial backgrounds.

Lack of Lesbian Protagonists

Openly lesbian protagonists are extremely rare in big-budget (AAA) titles. Players often have to turn to indie games to find authentic sapphic representation, such as in Gone Home, If Found…, or Tell Me Why (which, while focused on a trans man, includes broader LGBTQIA+ representation).

5. A Lesbian Gaming Audience Often Ignored

A Present Yet Overlooked Demographic

Many lesbian women are avid gamers across platforms—console, PC, and mobile alike. Despite forming a significant share of the queer gaming demographic, they’re seldom addressed in targeted marketing efforts or considered in game design decisions.

The Power of Lesbian Creator Communities

Lesbian streamers and content creators on Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok—such as Ashly Burch, Erika Ishii, and queer-focused gaming channels—are working to make lesbian experiences visible. These voices call out recurring stereotypes and offer queer-centered interpretations of mainstream games. Despite their growing following, many studios still hesitate to engage with or prioritize these perspectives.

6. Indie Games: Champions of Lesbian Representation

Freedom to Tell Real Stories

Indie developers, often self-funded or operating in small teams, are leading the way in meaningful codified queer storytelling. Without corporate pressure, they’re able to explore honest, nuanced lesbian narratives with emotional depth and integrity.

Iconic examples include:

• Gone Home: A teenager uncovers her sister’s secret romance with another girl.
• If Found…: A poetic narrative merging transgender and lesbian identities.
• We Know the Devil: A symbolic, queer coming-of-age story set in a surreal supernatural landscape.

Engaged and Loyal Audiences

While these titles may not top sales charts, they draw critical acclaim, develop a dedicated following, and receive recognition at major festivals like IndieCade and the BAFTA Games Awards.

7. Signs of Change (Though Still Slow)

Progress in AAA Titles?

Some major games have begun to feature central lesbian characters with depth and authenticity. Noteworthy examples include:

• The Last of Us Part II: Ellie, an openly lesbian protagonist, drives an emotionally profound narrative alongside her partner Dina.
• Life is Strange: True Colors: Players can pursue a heartfelt romance between Alex and a female character, portrayed with nuance and care.
• Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: Kassandra can engage in same-sex relationships, though they remain optional side content rather than a core part of her arc.

Studios Beginning to Listen

Studios such as Naughty Dog, Dontnod, and Deck Nine are increasingly attentive to LGBTQIA+ voices. However, these positive steps remain limited to a few franchises or progressive development teams, far from being industry-wide norms.

8. Intersectional Lesbian Representation: Still Missing

Where Are the Marginalized Lesbians?

Even when lesbian characters appear, intersectionality is glaringly missing. It’s still extremely uncommon to see:

• Lesbian protagonists who are Black, Asian, Arab, or Indigenous.
• Lesbians who are disabled, neurodivergent, or elderly.
• Depictions of lesbian families, long-term relationships, or everyday life.

This lack of multidimensionality limits a truly representative and inclusive portrayal of queer women’s experiences in gaming.

Conclusion: A Necessary Fight for LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in Gaming

So why are lesbians so underrepresented in video games? The answers are multifaceted: systemic industry bias, oversexualization, censorship fears, timid marketing, persistent stereotypes, and a lack of lesbian creatives in leadership roles.

Yet, change is happening—however gradual—driven by community pressure, independent queer creators, and a handful of forward-thinking studios.

Lesbian representation in gaming isn’t a trend or add-on—it’s a cultural necessity. It’s not about ticking boxes, but about <