Mainstream video games need their Heartstopper moment
It’s about time an AAA title made a positive, LGBTQ+ relationship integral to the gameplay experience.
Although LGBTQ+ representation in fictional media is still massively lacking, there have been a few positive examples during the last few years. Films and shows such as Moonlight, It’s a Sin, and Call Me by Your Name have told incredible stories that reflect the queer experience. Understandably, they show the very real hardships and prejudices the LGBTQ+ community endure, but as vital as it is to show wider audiences these stories it has led to a lack of uplifting queer films and shows.
Until Heartstopper came along.
Netflix’s adaptation of the queer graphic novel series is an unapologetically optimistic show that centres on the beautiful romance between two schoolboys. It instantly became a hit thanks to the chemistry between the young leads and the emphasis on showing young queer audiences that they too can have a happy, loving relationship. Heartstopper currently has a 100% critic score and 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and reached Netflix’s Top 10 list in 54 countries.
Fans were ecstatic to find out that a second and third season has since been greenlit by Netflix. The show’s success will surely change LGBTQ+ representation on screen but it leads to the question: when will the same phenomenon happen for gamers?
Romantic relationships and queer characters have been featured in numerous games, but they haven’t quite made the same impact on audiences as Heartstopper has. This is probably down to the fact that queer relationships aren’t at the heart of the gameplay experience. The most prolific games that incorporate LGBTQ+ relationships tend to be role-playing games. Titles like Cyberpunk 2077 (2020), Dragon Age:
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