From the complicated romances of Dragon Age to the dating simulator of Dream Daddy, romance gay games are exploring a variety of LGBTQ+ characters. This is no small feat, especially given the blowback gay romence game writers often face when they attempt to present homosexuality to their audience explicitly. Life is Strange and Gone Home both explore the agony and life-affirming force of young queer love. They do so by artfully avoiding the cliches of gay romance. Stardew Valley defies a lot of the trends of modern gaming. It is a romance gay game that asks players to build community and relationships, that emphasizes the power of a simple hello, said every day.
It is the first farming gay game to feature same-gender romance and that has been a big deal for many fans. Before this, players who wanted to explore LGBT relationships in the Harvest Moon or Story of Seasons series had to either play as the opposite gender or make sacrifices in their romence gay gameplay experience.
Now players can date any villager they like, regardless of their gender. They can romance jock Alex or goth Sebastian just as easily as they can woo shy Penny or tinkerer Maru. The latest 1.6 update has also announced two new festivals to the gay romance game, something long-time players have been waiting for with anticipation.
Undertale is a unique gay game with romance gays that has become popular enough to attract a rabid fanbase that can get downright toxic on the internet. The indie title by Toby Fox borrows heavily from the Mother series but has its own distinctive character and style that makes it stand out. It features the ability to forgo killing monsters, instead opting to befriend them and show them mercy.
One of the biggest highlights is the relationship between Undyne and Alphys. Their love for each other is a major driving force behind the romantic gay game's plot. It is one of the most positive gay relationships in romence gaygames that is not forced into a tragic, catastrophic context. The gay romance simulation game also features several other smaller love stories between recurring characters, including straight and pansexual ones.
The internet's unquenchable thirst for dad jokes gets literal in Dream Daddy, a dating sim set in a cul-de-sac full of daddy figures. But unlike most romance gay simulation games that present a picture of romance as a genre of sex and dominance, Dream Daddy puts its characters first and foremost. The dads in this gay romantic game are all individuals, they have inside jokes and favourite TV shows that make them feel like family.
But they're also all going through some shit, and the romance gay game is capable of setting the comedy aside to give these moments some room. A heartbreaking scene with goth dad Damien and his rebellious son Lucien is a perfect example. In a world where homophobia is so pervasive, it's important to see these kinds of moments in the media.
While the Legendary Edition of Mass Effect is a chance for fans to enjoy the trilogy with better graphics and performance, it's not changing any of the gay romance game's original content. This includes the romance options, which allow you to have sex with Liara T'Soni (a mono-gendered Asari) and earn the Paramour achievement.
The original romanctic gay games trilogy was set to include Jack as a pansexual option and Samara as a female Shepard romance, but these were cut due to pressure from conservative media outlets that were outraged by the inclusion of digital nudity. Despite this, modders for the original trilogy are hard at work restoring these features and creating new ones.
You can also have a same-sex romance with the ship's human yeoman, Kelly Chambers. She's a good choice if you're looking for a fling that won't lock you out of other Romances, but she isn't nearly as well written as the other options.
If you love the lore of Final Fantasy, this is an excellent romance gay game to explore. The relaunch of FFXIV, also known as A Realm Reborn, is set in a world that literally rebuilds itself from a past terror - a neat touch to show that communities can overcome even the most calamitous of events. This is one of the more mature gay romance games in this list, but it still has a lot to offer LGBTQ+ players. Leah J. Williams is a writer and journalist who has spent years exploring the weirdness of gay romantic simulation games.