There are non-binary character choices, NPCs, pronoun choices, and more in these games.
In a gaming world where diversity, accessibility, and inclusion are making huge strides, players have been able to enjoy more games than ever before. Even though there is still a lot of work to do, it’s important to celebrate games that make room for everyone. Many players have gender identities that don’t fit into the usual two categories.
Even though non-binary representation is becoming more common, it can still be hard to find games that include everyone. Games with non-binary protagonists, expanded pronoun options, and non-binary-friendly character creation give you the freedom to express your gender identity however you see fit through your in-game persona.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 lets you choose from different races, classes, and origins before you go on a journey through the Forgotten Realms. Along with giving your ability points, one of the most fun parts of starting a new RPG is making your character unique.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, you can choose to be a man, a woman, or not either or. These choices affect how your character’s pronouns are used in-game. For example, if you identify as non-binary, they/them pronouns will be used to talk about your character. Your voice, body type, and how you look can also be changed. These things have nothing to do with who you are, so your gender expression is completely up to you.
I Was A Teenage Exocolonist
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist is a cozy sci-fi role-playing game in which you explore a strange world, fall in love, and get better at your skills as you grow up in the first human space colony beyond the sun. The game has elements of life simulation, card-based combat, and a wide range of characters you can go on dates with.
With sliders, the game’s character creation system allows for a wide range of gender identities. On one end, there are feminine identities, and on the other end, there are masculine identities. You can choose where you fall on the spectrum. It also has an impressively detailed pronoun system that lets you write in custom pronouns and change how each character you meet talks to your main character. You can also change these at any time during the game.
Arcadia Fallen
In the magical visual novel Arcadia Fallen, you play as a young alchemist apprentice who is thrown into a war between humans and magic. The character creator gives you a lot of options, including support for people who don’t fit into two categories.
There are three choices for body type: androgynous, feminine, and masculine. There are also three choices for pronouns: they, she, and he. Body type, pronouns, hairstyles, and voice type can all be chosen separately, so you can make your alchemist just the way you want it.
Harvestella
Harvestella is a cute farming simulation game with JRPG-style game play. As you take care of your farm through the seasons, there are many places to explore, crafting systems, an interesting story, and enemies to fight.
There are male, female, and “non-binary” gender options in the character creator. Then you can choose your character’s look, voice, and name, mixing masculine and feminine customizations to show who your character is without strict limits. If you choose “non-binary,” people will refer to your character as “they” or “them” throughout the game.
Wandersong
In Wandersong, you play as a bard who uses music to interact with the world and solve puzzles. It’s a 2D platforming game with music. At the beginning of the game, you set out to learn the Earthsong, a song that is sung to stop the end of the world. You’ll need to get pieces of it from each Overseer who lives in the Spirit World.
It’s a charming, sad story with a lot of different people in it. The independent developer Greg Lobanov confirmed that the bard protagonist, also known as Kiwi, is non-binary and that any pronoun can be used to refer to them.
Verdant Skies
Farming life sims are great for lazy mornings when you just want to fish, grow crops, and make friends with villagers in a rural world where things were easier. You can do just that in Verdant Skies, but in space. Your scientific farming system on Viridis Primus will determine how well your colony does. You’ll also spend time decorating your new home, going on adventures, and falling in love.
When you make your character, you can combine male and female traits in any way you want (which you can change at any time in the game). Verdant Skies also doesn’t ask you to pick a gender, since your player character is non-binary and is always referred to as “they” or “them” Even so, this isn’t the end of the non-binary representation. Zaheen Patel, a local doctor who uses they/them pronouns, is one of the people you can date.
2064: Read Only Memories
In 2064: Read Only Memories, a new but old-school point-and-click adventure game, a cyberpunk setting meets a mysterious story. You play as a reporter who meets a cute blue robot named Turing after someone breaks into your apartment. You are asked to find Turing’s creator, Hayden Webber, a technical genius who has gone missing.
After talking about where Hayden might be, Turing decides to set you up as a user in their system. He asks you for your name, pronouns, and diet preference (for restaurant recommendations, of course). There are a lot of options for pronouns, such as they/them, she/her, he/him, ze/zir, and xe/xir. If none of those work, you can type in your own pronouns.
Undertale
Even if you haven’t played Undertale yet, you’ve probably heard of this memorable RPG with a retro look. It has a very interesting story that starts with a child falling underground into a world full of monsters. Finding your way out can be all violence, all peace, or something in between.
It’s a game with lovable characters, funny jokes, and a story that will touch your heart. You play the part of Frisk, whose personality and gender are left vague on purpose so you can put your own ideas about them on the character. Along with having a gender-neutral appearance, Frisk is also referred to as they or them throughout the game. This helps them keep their gender-neutral identity.
Wildermyth
Wildermyth is a party-based RPG that takes place in a high-fantasy world called the Yondering Lands. It has procedurally generated stories and tactical battles. Inspired by tabletop roleplaying, the paths you and your group of heroes take depend on the decisions you make and how well you fight.
Your heroes are all different, from how they look to how they act. They also get to know each other. You can choose between male, female, and “non-binary” when making a character. You can also choose your character’s voice, body type, and who he or she likes.
Scarlet Hollow
In Scarlet Hollow, you play a character who is going to your aunt’s funeral in the small town of the same name. At first, a week-long visit doesn’t sound like much, but things quickly go downhill as new horrors, nightmares, and mysteries show up.
This atmospheric visual novel is welcoming to LGBTQ+ people, has a good mix of humor and horror, and has beautiful hand-drawn art. One of the characters you can date in 8 Ball Pool is non-binary, and there are also many non-binary developers on the team. Players can also choose to be non-binary in the game.
