Top LGBTQ Gaming Romances to Celebrate for Pride Month

Video games can serve as a space for people to come together and bond over the games we love, as well as a space for people in the community to connect. And while it's still not perfect in terms of inclusivity, it is a lot better, with many game developers taking note and introducing queer romantic relationships into their games. Here is a list of my favorite LGBTQ romances in gaming.

Tchia

Tchia is a recent indie gem that showcases the beauty of a small island off the coast of Australia called New Caledonia. In it, you play a young protagonist named Tchia, who explores the island and meets the locals in a wonderfully colorful adventure. Developed by Awaceb and published by Kepler Interactive, Tchia is a wonderful coming-of-age story where the main character unlocks fantastical superpowers while also learning more about herself.

Part of Tchia's story of growth involves a developing romance with a girl she meets along the way named Louise. The wonderful thing about the relationship in the game is that it happens so naturally and organically that you can't help but root for it.

Wylde Flowers

Wylde Flowers is a farming and life sim where you play as Tara Wylde, a witch that returns to her hometown of Fairhaven to take care of her sick grandmother. In the game, there are a variety of romance options, and players can choose any NPC that they fancy, regardless of the gender they identify with.

Wylde Flowers is developed by Studio Drydock, winners of the 2022 Apple Design Award for Inclusivity, and is comprised of a diverse team led by women. According to an interview I did with Studio Drydock's founder, Amanda Schofield, they are "super intentioned about growing diversity in games."

Life Is Strange Franchise

Image: Square Enix

The Life is Strange franchise has a long history of representing the LGBTQ+ community in its games. In the original title, the main protagonist, Max, can develop a romantic relationship with her best friend, Chloe, which is a central theme in the story. Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a prequel to the game, focusing on Chloe's relationship with Rachel Amber.

Originally released in 2015 and published by Square Enix, the most recent entry to the franchise, Life is Strange: True Colors, focuses on Alexandra Chen, a bisexual woman that can pursue romantic relationships with both men and women.

Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp

Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp is a comedic multiplayer dating sim developed and published by Beautiful Glitch. In the game, players choose a main love interest of their choice, regardless of gender identity, and complete missions and dialogues to win them over.

Players assume the role of a monster going to summer camp and must complete minigames to gain stats to win over their love interest. With a variety of LGBTQ+ romance options to choose from, the game approaches relationships in a humorous and lighthearted way.

Growing Up

Image: Vile Monarch

Growing Up is a coming-of-age life simulator where players journey from a toddler to an adult and select all their life choices. Featuring various romantic interests, including a multitude of sexualities to choose from, you'll navigate through the 90s on a journey of self-discovery.

Developed and published by Vile Monarch, Growing Up's LGBTQ romance is dictated by the player -- so no one playthrough or experience is the same.

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Image: EA/BioWare

In Dragon Age: Inquisition, players can choose from a variety of love interests, including gay and lesbian characters in Dorian and Sera, respectively. While there are also hetero relationships, the game gives players plenty of freedom to flirt and develop feelings for a vast array of characters in the game.

Developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts, the next game in the series, Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, was originally announced in 2020, with the team recently completing the game's alpha build.

The Last of Us Part II

Image: Naughty Dog

At this point, everyone is probably aware of The Last of Us franchise, thanks to the recent HBO series and the re-release of the game. And if you watched the series (warning, spoilers), you already know the lead protagonist Ellie, and her ill-fated romance with Cat. What you might not know, however, is that the second game delves deeper into Ellie's relationships – and her relationship with another character, Dina, serves as one of the main plot points in the game.

If you have yet to pick up the second entry to the series, you should probably check it out if you were a fan of the first game or HBO series. While it's not the happiest relationship on this list, we'd be remiss to leave it out since the game is so good. Be warned, though; it's just as depressing as the first entry in the series.

And there you have it, those are some of the top LGBTQ romances in video games. If you think we missed anything on this list, let us know in the comments. Happy Pride Month!