The Last of Us Part 2
Initial release date: June 19, 2020
Developer: Naughty Dog
Ellie is one of the main characters and she is in a relationship with a woman named Dina. At the start of the game, it was revealed that Dina formerly dated Jesse.
Lev is a transgender boy and is hunted by the Seraphites, who misgender and deadname him frequently.
Baldur's Gate III
Initial release date: August 3, 2023
Developer: Larian Studios
The player character in Baldur's Gate 3 can be male, female, non-binary, or other, with their sexual characteristics being defined separately to their gender. They can enter relationships with other characters regardless of gender, allowing the character's sexuality and gender identity to be entirely up to the player.
Cyberpunk 2077
Initial release date: December 10, 2020
Developers: CD Projekt RED, CD Projekt, CDP.pl
The character creator allows V to be transgender or non-binary. Male V can romance Kerry or Panam, while female V can romance Judy or River.
The Sims 4
Initial release date: September 2, 2014
Developer: Maxis
In The Sims 4, same-sex relationships are possible, as in the previous games, and same-sex couples can marry and adopt on equal terms with opposite-sex couples. Same-sex couples are also allowed to have a biological child together through CAS (including the 'manage households' option).
You will have the option to select from 'they/them', 'she/her', 'he/him', or 'Custom Pronouns'. If you select 'Custom Pronouns' you will be able to define five different grammatical forms for your custom pronouns.
Starfield
Initial release date: September 6, 2023
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Starfield's inclusivity extends to LGBT+ players, with the option to choose he/him, she/her, or they/them pronouns, as well as the ability to pursue romance regardless of the character's gender.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Initial release date: November 11, 2011
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, there are a number of characters the player can propose to and marry. None of the prospective loves take gender or even species into account. However, while there's a perk that allows you to get better prices from a merchant of the other gender, there's no way to seduce merchants of the same gender as your character, even if you have a same-gender partner.
Rune Factory 5
Initial release date: May 20, 2021
Developer: Hakama Inc.
In the original release of the game, players could only date/marry characters of the opposite gender. When the game released in English, German, and French in 2022, the localizers modified the game to make every romanceable character available for either gender protagonist. The Japanese version was later patched to allow this too.
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Initial release date: September 2, 2021
Developer: Owlcat Games
The game has a number of options for same-gender romance, with Wenduag, Arueshalae, and Queen Galfrey for women, and Daeran and Sosiel for men. Additionally, player characters of any gender who are on the Demon Mythic Path can become the consort of the Demon Lord Nocticula.
Stardew Valley
Initial release date: February 26, 2016
Developers: The Secret Police Limited, ConcernedApe LLC, ConcernedApe
While romance options are present in nearly every RPG or simulation game, few do it as comfortably as Stardew Valley. It lets you date, marry, and bear children with one of 12 townspeople. If you marry someone of the same sex, you can adopt a child instead. But what makes Stardew Valley truly special in this regard is the genuine emotion put into each character. You're guaranteed a heartwarming relationship no matter who you set your sights on.
I Was A Teenage Exocolonist
Initial release date: August 25, 2022
Developer: Northway Games
The player character can be customized to be more feminine, masculine, or androgynous, and the player can choose their pronouns and preferred gendered terms.
All romanceable characters can be dated regardless of their gender or the player's gender.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Initial release date: October 2, 2018
Developers: Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Quebec
The player can play as either Alexios or his sister Kassandra. Throughout the game, the player can interact with many men and women romantically. This will not change or have limits based on the character picked, meaning either sibling can have romantic and sexual relationships with a person of the same and/or opposite gender throughout the game.
Mass Effect: Andromeda
Initial release date: March 21, 2017
Developers: BioWare, BioWare Montreal
Mass Effect: Andromeda allows a male Ryder to romance Jaal, Gil or Reyes, or a female Ryder to romance Peebee, Vetra or Suvi. Jaal was originally an exclusively heterosexual option but criticisms about the game's lackluster Gay Options for male Ryder prompted BioWare to update his romance in a patch.
Divinity: Original Sin II
Initial release date: September 14, 2017
Developers: Larian Studios, Elverils
No matter your character's gender, or the gender of the character you want to hook up with, you can romance any of your companions if you so desire. One sidequest also has an Optional Sexual Encounter with a High-Class Call Girl (or boy), whose gender is determined by the PC's stated preference.
Haven
Initial release date: December 3, 2020
Developer: The Game Bakers
The game's story is about a couple who flee their home because their society doesn't allow them to be together. As of the March 2022 "Couples Update", the protagonists, Yu and Kay, can be chosen to be in a heterosexual, lesbian or gay relationship.
Cassette Beasts
Initial release date: April 26, 2023
Developer: Bytten Studio
In Cassette Beasts, all five human partners — Kayleigh, Eugene, Meredith, Felix and Viola — can be romanced regardless of the player character's gender.
My Time at Portia
Initial release date: January 23, 2018
Developer: Pathea
My Time at Portia allows the player character to date and marry any of the eligible bachelors or bachelorettes.
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life
Initial release date: June 27, 2023
Developer: Marvelous
The player character can use he/him, she/her, or they/them pronouns, and there are no gender restrictions on the player character's appearance or clothing.
The player can romance any romanceable character with no gender-based restrictions.
Saints Row IV
Initial release date: August 20, 2013
Developers: Deep Silver Volition, High Voltage Software
Saints Row IV allows you to screw any member of your crew at the push of a single button — the men, the women, and the floating spherical robot — regardless of the Boss's gender. Except for Keith David, he just wants to keep things professional. And Ben King, which pulls a Bait-and-Switch where the Boss seemingly builds up to a Love Confession, but really just wants to ask King to sign their copy of his book.
Dragon Age: Inquisition
Initial release date: November 18, 2014
Developer: BioWare
Dragon Age: Inquisition has Dorian and Iron Bull for male inquisitiors, and Josephine and Sera for females. Scout Harding can also be flirted with regardless of gender.
Expeditions: Rome
Initial release date: January 20, 2022
Developer: Logic Artists
Expeditions: Rome has two straight (Julia Calida, Cleopatra, Cato and Bestia) and one bisexual (Deianera and Caeso) romance options of each gender.
Star Wars: The Old Republic – Shadow of Revan
Initial release date: December 13, 2011
Developers: Electronic Arts, BioWare, Broadsword, Broadsword Online Games, Inc, Bioware Austin LLC
Shadow of Revan introduces the first full same-gender romance options in SIS agent Theron Shan and sith lord Lana Beniko, both of whom can be romanced regardless of gender or faction.
Both Theron and Lana's romances can be continued — or started, if they weren't romanced in the previous expansion — in Knights of the Fallen Empire and Knights of the Eternal Throne, with the addition of rebel pilot Koth Vortena as another potential love interest regardless of gender or faction. Optionally redeemed Big Bad Arcann was also made romanceable by anyone once KotET was completed.
The Technomancer
Initial release date: June 28, 2016
Developer: Spiders
The Technomancer allows the main character, Zachariah, to pursue a relationship with Amelia, Niesha, or Lucky. Interestingly, the achievements for romancing Amelia and Niesha are both named after puns that refer to their respective backstories, whereas the achievement for romancing Lucky is simply titled "Soulmate".
Ikenfell
Initial release date: August 31, 2020
Developer: Happy Ray Games
Isometric turn-based RPG Ikenfell draws upon elements of JRPGs, puzzle games, and adventure games to create an absorbing experience. There's a lot to love about it, including its accommodation for LGBTQ people in the game. There's no subtlety here; every character is part of the LGBTQ community in some way. What Ikenfell does well is portraying each character as a complex and unique person in a way that shows just how simple it is to include people regardless of their sexuality or gender.
Tell Me Why
Initial release date: August 27, 2020
Developer: Don't Nod
Tyler and his twin sister Alyson travel to their childhood home in Alaska and must come to terms with their childhood. The game will also deal with how Tyler, who has transitioned since leaving home, is being affected. Dontnod worked with GLAAD to help create the character. Tyler can potentially start a relationship with Alyson's best friend Michael.
The Missing: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories
Initial release date: October 11, 2018
Developer: White Owls
The Missing: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories is a puzzle platformer with a clear message. The protagonist, J.J., is struck by lightning, which gives her immortality. Unable to die, she performs multiple instances of self-harm to solve the game's puzzles. While this game might be hard to stomach for some, the uncompromising portrayal of self-harm and LGBTQ+ issues creates an unsettling, beautiful story.
The Walking Dead: The Final Season
Initial release date: August 14, 2018
Developer: Telltale Games, Skybound Games
Clementine can begin a romance with either Louis (a guy) or Violet (a girl), or neither (if the player so chooses). Unlike many games (including the previous season of The Walking Dead itself!) where the same-sex romance option is hidden or downplayed compared to different-sex romance option(s), Louis and Violet's romance routes are quite deliberately given equal weight, and their subsequent relationships with Clementine receive comparable treatment and screen-time.
Temtem
Initial release date: January 21, 2020
Developer: Crema
The game's character creator includes he/him, she/her, and they/them pronoun options in the English version, and includes other gender-neutral options in other languages.
Eternights
Initial release date: September 12, 2023
Developer: Studio Sai
The player character's love interests consist of several girls and one boy, Yohan.
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