Video games with nonbinary player character options

2021-11-22T11:38:07Z

2800:AF0:1008:CA:25BB:C444:D736:6984: /* 2020 */Added content

{{content warning|transphobic violence, gender dysphoria}}
In most video games, the player's character either has a preselected binary gender, or can be set as only male or female. This page will list games that meet at least one of the following criteria:
* allow the player to create their character as specifically nonbinary (often by selecting an option for [[singular they]] pronouns/entering custom pronouns) or
* have a player character creation process with no reference to gender at all.

So, the player characters in games on this page are not ''canonically'' nonbinary, but they can be nonbinary based on how one plays.
For characters that ''canonically'' have a gender outside the male-or-female binary, see [[Nonbinary gender in fiction#Video games]].

(Games are listed chronologically by year of first release, or by the year that a nonbinary player character option was introduced, whichever is later.)

===2010===
[[File:Choice_of_the_dragon_screenshot.png|Gender selection screen in ''Choice of the Dragon''.|thumb]]
* ''Choice of the Dragon'', by Choice of Games LLC, is an interactive fiction story in which the player's character is a dragon. When creating this character, you are given the option of being male, female, neither, or an undetermined gender.

===2013===
* The task-management RPG ''Habitica'' (formerly ''HabitRPG'') has a non-gendered character creator. The FAQ states "Characters/avatars do not have a specific gender. You can mix and match all the available avatar customizations to produce any appearance you like."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://habitica.fandom.com/wiki/FAQ#How_do_I_make_my_avatar_female_or_male.3F|title=FAQ > Your Avatar > How do I make my avatar female or male?|website=Habitica Wiki|access-date=6 November 2021}}</ref>

===2014===
[[File:LongStory.png|thumb|Character creation screen in the game ''LongStory''.]]
*In the visual novel/dating sim ''LongStory'', players choose the protagonist's pronouns from they, she, or he.
*In the dating sim ''Great Personality: Guardians'', there is an option for the player character to be genderqueer.<ref name="repr_Grea">{{Cite web |title=Great Personality: Guardians |author= |work=Represent Me |date= |access-date=12 July 2021 |url= https://representme.charity/projects/queer/database/title/great-personality-guardians}}</ref>
* The puzzle game ''Robots Need Love Too'' allows a choice of six pronoun sets for your robots: she, he, they, zie, ey, or xie.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Robots Need Love Too |author= |work=TouchArcade |date= |access-date=7 September 2021 |url= https://toucharcade.com/games/robots-need-love-too |quote=Inclusive design: choose from 6 personal pronouns (she, he, they, zie, ey, and xie) }}</ref>
* The interactive novel game ''Creatures Such as We'' allows the player to identify themself as a cis man, cis woman, trans man, trans woman, 'person', or 'other' (fill in the blank).<ref name="COG-representme">{{Cite web |title=Choice of Games (developer) |author= |work=Represent Me |date= |access-date=8 September 2021 |url= https://representme.charity/projects/queer/database/title/choice-of-games}}</ref>

===2015===
*''VERSUS: The Lost Ones'' by Zachary Sergi (published in 2015 by Choice of Games LLC) is a sci-fi interactive novel where it's possible to play a nonbinary character. The player's character, Thomil, comes from a planet where everyone telepathically shares their thoughts and feelings with one another. A couple chapters into the story, the player is asked about their character's gender. They can choose from six options: a cisgender woman, transgender woman, cis man, trans man, [[intersex]], or "I don't subscribe to any gender categories". Choosing the last option sets Thomil's stats to say "Gender: Not Applicable," and brings up these remarks in the narrative: "You are both genders, but you are also neither gender. You believe gender defies categorization, operating on a kind of sliding scale-- one that can change every day. You've come across [foreign planets'] texts about other cultures where such thinking is considered taboo or even sacrilegious, but in a society where everyone can quite literally share their thoughts and experiences, it's fairly impossible not to accept others once you understand who they truly are. Besides, even the most staunchly 'male' or 'female' cisgenders admit that sometimes they feel more 'masculine' or 'feminine' at different times. You just take that kind of thinking to a whole new level." The narration in ''VERSUS'' makes clear that this is not an undisclosed gender or a fantasy sex, but a nonbinary gender identity. Though Thomil comes from a sci-fi setting where where this and other transgender identities are accepted, this is a realistic depiction of a nonbinary person.
* In the RPG ''7th Dragon III Code: VFD'', you create your character without any reference to gender, and the game will use they/them pronouns for you and your teammate characters regardless of appearance. Players also can change their character's appearance and name anytime.<ref name="lgbt_Gend">{{Cite web |title=Gender in 7th Dragon III Code: VFD |author= |work=LGBTQ Video Game Archive |date=3 May 2019 |access-date=13 July 2021 |url= https://lgbtqgamearchive.com/2019/05/03/gender-in-7th-dragon-iii-code-vfd/#more-11037}}</ref>

===2016===
*In ''Tokyo Afterschool Summoners'', the player can set the protagonist's gender to male, female, or "other", regardless of which appearance they choose.
* In the dating sim ''Hustle Cat'', the protagonist can be either male, female, or nonbinary with "they" pronouns, and the characters in-game will refer to them with the chosen pronouns.
*In the RPG visual novel ''Queen at Arms'', the protagonist is AFAB and for much of the game is [[crossdressing]] as male to hide their identity. However, halfway through the story, the player chooses the protagonist's [[gender identity]], and the options are male, female, or genderqueer.<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/362020/Queen_At_Arms/?curator_clanid=39486419</ref>
*In the science-fiction adventure game ''Event[0]'', players choose their pronouns as he/him, she/her, or they/them.<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/470260/Event0/?curator_clanid=39486419</ref>
* In the mobile game ''Pokémon Go'', players select their avatar from one of two "styles" instead of being asked "Are you a boy or a girl?" as was the case in many other Pokémon games.<ref name="Tan-Pokego">{{Cite web |title=Pokémon Go praised by fans for non-binary, gender fluid avatars |last=Tan |first=Nigel |work=Gay Star News |date=14 July 2016 |access-date=9 July 2021 |url= https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/pokemon-go-non-binary-gender-fluid-avatars/}}</ref>
* The fan-made RPG ''Pokémon Uranium'' allows players to select from three avatars: one masculine, one feminine, and one androgynous. Based on the selected avatar, the game will use he/him, she/her, or they/them pronouns in dialogue when referring to the player.<ref name="repr_Poké">{{Cite web |title=Pokémon Uranium |author= |work=Represent Me |date= |access-date=12 July 2021 |url= https://representme.charity/projects/queer/database/title/pokemon-uranium}}</ref>
* In the indie romance visual novel ''My Cup of Coffee: Earl Grey Forever After'', the protagonist can be male, female, or "[[gender free]]". Choosing gender free results in the game using [[gender neutral language]], [[English_neutral_pronouns#Ne_.28nem.29|ne/nem/nir]] pronouns, and the [[Mx]] title. The player can also choose to "make everyone else gender liberated too", resulting in the protagonist saying things like "Everybody knew about me, the eldest child of the late Gentleperson and Gentleperson Fairfax".
* The interactive novel game ''Empyrean'' lets you be male, female, or nonbinary.<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/557700/Empyrean/</ref>
* The interactive novel game ''Choice of the Pirate'' lets you be male, female, or nonbinary.<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/476490/Choice_of_the_Pirate/</ref>
* The interactive novel game ''The Hero Project: Redemption Season'' lets you be male, female, or nonbinary.<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/459310/The_Hero_Project_Redemption_Season/</ref>

===2017===
[[File:Heart Papers Border character creation.png|thumb|Character options in the game ''Heart. Papers. Border.'' The NB gender marker is selected.]]
* In the strategy game ''Heart. Papers. Border.'' (available in Steam Early Access since August 2017), you can select your character's gender from F, M, or NB when starting a game. This has no apparent effect on gameplay.
*The interactive novel ''Heart of the House'' allows the player to be male, female, or nonbinary.<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/742150/Heart_of_the_House/</ref>
*The action RPG ''Pyre'' allows players to select their pronouns from she/her, he/him, or they/them.<ref name="Powell-Pyre">{{Cite web |title=Player Genderfluidity in Gaming |last=Powell |first=Dougie K |work=Hey Poor Player |date=19 June 2018 |access-date=9 July 2021 |url= https://www.heypoorplayer.com/2018/06/19/genderfluid-gaming/}}</ref> The pronouns can be changed at any time through the settings menu.<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/462770/Pyre/?curator_clanid=39486419</ref>
* In the visual novel ''A Foretold Affair'', players choose their pronouns as he/him, she/her, or they/them.<ref name="repr_AFor">{{Cite web |title=A Foretold Affair |author= |work=Represent Me |date= |access-date=12 July 2021 |url= https://representme.charity/projects/queer/database/title/a-foretold-affair}}</ref>
* In the visual novel ''JoJo's Diner'', players can select they/them pronouns for their character.<ref name="repr_JoJo">{{Cite web |title=JoJo's Diner |author= |work=Represent Me |date= |access-date=12 July 2021 |url= https://representme.charity/projects/queer/database/title/jojo-s-diner}}</ref>
* In the adventure game ''South Park: The Fractured But Whole'', the player character is asked by Mr. Mackey if they identify as male, female, or "other". If you select "other" then Mr. Mackey calls the character's parents and reports "Your child just let me know that he, er, they identify as being [[gender neutral]]. [...] It's fine, it's just everyone was under the impression that they were a boy." After hanging up the phone, Mr. Mackey says, "This is a shocker, New Kid, but there's nothing wrong with not identifying as a binary gender. You can be whatever sex you want, OK, even if it's none. That's fine!" After leaving Mr. Mackey's office, a group of "rednecks" in a pickup truck drive up and say, "Well, well, well, if it ain't one of them gender neutrals? We don't take kindly to your types around here. Let's welcome this thing to our town," and a battle commences. (The same battle, with slightly different dialogue, also happens if you choose to say you're a trans girl.)<ref name="SouthPark">{{Cite web |title=South Park video game 'more difficult' if you pick a transgender character |last=Duffy |first=Nick |work=PinkNews |date=8 September 2017 |access-date=13 July 2021 |url= https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/09/08/south-park-video-game-more-difficult-if-you-pick-a-transgender-character/}}</ref>

===2018===
[[File:Fallen Hero Rebirth.png|thumb|Gender choice near the beginning of the interactive novel ''Fallen Hero: Rebirth''.]]
* Interactive novel ''Fallen Hero: Rebirth'' lets you be male, female, or nonbinary.<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/800620/Fallen_Hero_Rebirth/</ref>
* Interactive novel ''Silverworld'' lets you be male, female, or nonbinary.<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/839940/Silverworld/</ref>
* Interactive novel ''The Superlatives: Aetherfall'' lets you be male, female, or nonbinary.<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/726230/The_Superlatives_Aetherfall/</ref>
* Interactive novel ''Tower Behind the Moon'' lets you be male, female, or nonbinary.<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/1001490/Tower_Behind_the_Moon/</ref>
* In the dating sim ''Monster Prom'', you can choose your character's pronouns from they/them, she/her, or he/him.<ref>{{cite web|work=Represent Me|title=Monster Prom|url=https://representme.charity/projects/queer/database/title/monster-prom|access-date=12 July 2021}}</ref>
* In the adventure/visual novel game ''Headliner: NoviNews'', players choose their pronouns as he/him, she/her, or they/them.<ref name="HeadlinerNN">{{Cite web |title=Headliner: NoviNews Gets Negative Reviews for Non-Binary Pronouns |last=Henry |first=Jasmine |work=J Station X |date=4 April 2019 |access-date=11 July 2021 |url= https://jstationx.com/2019/04/04/headliner-novinews-non-binary-pronouns-negative-reviews/ |quote=At the beginning of the game, players can choose to go by he/him, she/her, or they/them pronouns. In an email, Unbound Creations founder Jakub Kasztalski explains that the game doesn’t address LGBTQ issues beyond this }}</ref>
*In ''Red Embrace: Hollywood'', the player chooses their pronoun from "he", "she", or "they".<ref name="arge_Your">{{Cite web |title=Your Customized MC - Red Embrace: Hollywood |author=Argent Games |work=itch.io |date=10 September 2018 |access-date=28 October 2020 |url= https://argent-games.itch.io/red-embrace-hollywood/devlog/48055/your-customized-mc}}</ref>
* In the visual novel ''//TODO: today'', the protagonist can be [[male]], [[female]], or [[nonbinary]], depending on player's choices.<ref>[https://vndb.org/v21649/chars#chars VNDB {{!}} //TODO: today characters]</ref>
*''Genderwrecked'' is a post-apocalyptic horror/gore visual novel about trying to find the meaning of gender. The player can select their pronouns from she/her, they/them, he/him, xe/xir, ze/zir, it/it, or custom pronouns.<ref name="genderwrecked">{{Cite web |title=GENDERWRECKED |author=ryan rose aceae |work=itch.io |date= |access-date=28 October 2020 |url= https://gendervamp.itch.io/genderwrecked}}</ref>

===2019===
*In the simulation game ''Signed and Sealed With a Kiss'', "you choose your pronouns (he/she/they) and presentation (masculine/feminine/androgynous)."<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/933230/Signed_and_Sealed_With_a_Kiss/?curator_clanid=26898915</ref>
*In the interactive novel ''Drag Star!'' you can play your character as a [[drag queen]] (she/her), a drag king (he/him), "a gender-funky club kid" (they/them), use no pronouns, or enter your own custom pronouns.
*In the interactive novel ''Moonrise'' you can play as a trans woman, a cis woman, or a nonbinary person.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Moonrise |author= |work=choiceofgames.com |date= |access-date=8 September 2021 |url= https://www.choiceofgames.com/user-contributed/moonrise/}}</ref>
*In the free-to-play visual novel/dating sim ''Otter of My Life'', you can make your character Ashley Otterson male, female, or nonbinary, and can also select your pronouns as he, she, or they.

===2020===
[[File:Later-Daters-honorific-choice.jpg|thumb|A screenshot of the character creation process in ''Later Daters''.]]
*In the visual novel/dating sim ''Later Daters'', the player can choose their [[Honorifics|honorific]] as Mx, Ms, or Mr.<ref name="Ford-LaterDaters">{{Cite web |title=Later Daters PC Review |last=Ford |first=Suzie |work=GameSpace.com |date=5 March 2021 |access-date=9 July 2021 |url= https://www.gamespace.com/featured/later-daters-pc-review/}}</ref>
* In the simulation game ''Calico'', the character creation process is non-gendered.<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/1112890/Calico/?curator_clanid=39486419</ref>
*In the simulation game ''BitLife'', since the June 2020 Pride Update, the player can select (after the character reaches age 5) whether their character is [[cisgender]], genderqueer, nonbinary, transgender female, and transgender male. Being non-cis may cause the character to experience [[gender dysphoria]] in-game, lowering their Happiness level.<ref name="leve_BitL">{{Cite web |title=BitLife Pride Update Guide: Everything You Need to Know About BitLife Version 1.38, aka the Pride Update |author=Tim |work=Level Winner |date=3 July 2020 |access-date=4 October 2020 |url= https://www.levelwinner.com/bitlife-pride-update-guide-everything-you-need-to-know-about-bitlife-version-1-38-aka-the-pride-update/}}</ref>
* In the simulation game ''Animal Crossing: New Horizons'', the character creation process is non-gendered, having players select a "style" instead of a gender for their avatar.<ref name="repr_Anim">{{Cite web |title=Animal Crossing series |author= |work=Represent Me |date= |access-date=12 July 2021 |url= https://representme.charity/projects/queer/database/title/animal-crossing-series}}</ref>
* Interactive novel game ''Kidnapped! A Royal Birthday'' lets you be male, female, or nonbinary.<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/1356440/Kidnapped_A_Royal_Birthday/</ref>
*In the dating simulator ''Max Gentlemen Sexy Business!'' while customising your "gentlesona" you can chose what kind of body type (and genitals) you have (there's a variety of male-ish body types with vulvas or penises and the same goes to female-ish body types), which doesn't influence your dating options tho and can be overall ignored if you wish to. Also you choose what kind of business tycoon title you prefer "Sir", "Madame", or "Boss" mirroring traditional variety of pronouns.<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/817840/Max_Gentlemen_Sexy_Business/</ref>
* The Free-To-Play visual novel ''Our Life'' lets you choose your pronouns from she/her, he/him and they/them. As you grow up in the game you can also decide to change your pronouns.

===2021===
* In the farming RPG ''Pumpkin Days'', previously known as ''Pumpkin Online'', the player character creator has no gender selection nor any gender-locked clothes. The official website says that "specifying a gender does not play a role in Pumpkin Days. Simply use our body sliders in character customization to add feminine and/or as masculine features as you want. Any clothes you buy will fit the body you choose."<ref>{{cite web|title=Pumpkin Days Unique Features|url=https://www.pumpkin-days.com/about-game|access-date=29 June 2021}}</ref>
* The interactive novel game ''Pugmire: Treasure of the Sea Dogs'' lets you be male, female, or nonbinary. <ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/1644330/Pugmire_Treasure_of_the_Sea_Dogs/</ref>
* The RPG ''Wildermyth'' allows heroes to have they/them pronouns.<ref>{{cite web|title=Non-binary heroes| date=28 December 2020| url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/763890/discussions/0/3001052356430888363/}}</ref>
*In the racing game ''Forza Horizon 5'', the character creator gives an option for they/them pronouns. Pronouns are not tied to the body you choose for your character.

===Unreleased (currently in development)===
* In the dating sim ''Repurpose'', the player will be able to choose their pronoun set as "he", "she", or "they".<ref name="Repurpose">{{Cite web |title=Repurpose (Demo) by Eros |author= |work=itch.io |date=11 June 2020 |access-date=28 October 2020 |url= https://residentrabbit.itch.io/repurpose-demo}}</ref><ref name="kick_Repu">{{Cite web |title=Repurpose |author=Resident Rabbit |work=Kickstarter |access-date=28 October 2020 |url= https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/residentrabbit/repurpose/description}}</ref>
* Similar to the ''Animal Crossing: New Horizons'' example above, ''Splatoon 3'' (set to be released on 2022) will have the players select their avatars' "style" (encompasses both gender and species). The haircuts and pants (which previously were gender-restricted) will also be unisex.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Splatoon 3 - Announcement Trailer - Nintendo Switch |author=Nintendo |work=YouTube |access-date=22 October 2021 |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUYDXVDLmns}}</ref><ref>https://splatoonwiki.org/wiki/Player_customization</ref>
*The sci-fi visual novel ''Infinite Stars'' will allow your character to use he/him, she/her, or they/them pronouns.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1716360/Infinite_Stars__The_Visual_Novel/ |title=Infinite Stars - The Visual Novel on Steam |quote=Shape your avatar and his {{!}} her {{!}} their history, personality, and relationships through countless decisions and interactions. |access-date=15 November 2021}}</ref>

{{Clear}}

==Further resources==
*[https://vndb.org/g2988 The Visual Novel Database - Games tagged with "Non-binary Protagonist Option"]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Visibility]]

Nonbinary Wiki - User contributions [en]

Video games with nonbinary player character options