2022 is a wrap and as usual, indie games continue to set the standard for LGBTQ+-centered video games. With the delightful variety of up-and-coming indie games that tell queer stories and are developed by queer-owned game studios, it is evident that small studios and creators are raising the bar for queer representation in an industry that is notoriously dominated by cisgender heterosexual men. If you’re at all interested in supporting queer game developers or are looking for new indie games to add to your Steam wishlist, keep these ones on your radar for 2023.
This Bed We Made
This Bed We Made by Lowbirth Games is set to release on Steam in 2023 and could not be more intriguing. Follow the story of a 1950s hotel maid who begins uncovering the dark secrets of the hotel guests while forming intimate bonds with other characters. Lowbirth games is a Montreal-based indie games studio with LGBTQ+ animation, narrative, and creative leads.
BOSSGAME: The Final Boss is My Heart
BOSSGAME: The Final Boss is My Heart by Lily Valeen is a lesbian romance rhythm game about girlfriends who fight devils so they can pay their rent! Fight colorful bosses, flirt with your girlfriend, uncover the mysteries of Mammon City and prove that evil doesn’t stand a chance against the power of girlfriends (and stunning move combos). Featuring two sapphic protagonists Sophie and Anna as well as a cast of queer miscreants, the game is already available on mobile and set for release on Steam in Spring 2023.
In Stars and Time
In Stars and Time by Adrienne Bazir is a turn-based RPG adventure about finding hope in a place of despair, and saving the world from an endless time loop. The game poses the question: “What would you do if you were forced to relive your failures over and over again?” With each loop, the main character gains a new perspective on the world around them, opening up new solutions to puzzles and conversation choices. The game explores themes like chosen family amongst marginalized communities and mental health while adopting a whimsical, fantasy tone and aesthetic.
A Long Journey to an Uncertain End
A Long Journey to an Uncertain End by Crispy Creative is a strategy and time management game where the player manages and operates a spaceship while exploring unknown alien worlds. The creative team behind the game is composed of members of the queer community, and there are many diverse types of characters that you get to interact with. Some are disabled, some use neo-pronouns, some are queer and all of them adhere to the game’s beautifully stylized art and animation style.
DELIRIA
DELIRIA by Aipo Digital is a game about a bar located at the edge of time and space being developed by a studio based in Brazil focused on telling LGBTQ+ narratives. You play through the four stories of the main characters whose forename initials spell out L-G-B-T. DELIRIA is more than a place – it’s a community where you’re free to express yourself whether that be by exploring your sexuality or performing colorful musical numbers.
Love Shore
Love Shore by Perfect Garbage is a dystopian visual novel game that takes well-loved concepts from sci-fi, action and horror and blends them together to create something wild. It features a diverse cast of LGBTQ+ characters, a seemingly endless futuristic metropolis, and a story of coming into yourself and doing what you think is right with a heavy dose of drama and violence mixed in for good measure. You can download the free demo and support the development of Love Shore via their Kickstarter.
Skate & Date
Skate & Date by Gensuta is a wholesome roller derby rhythm ga(y)me where you play as the sapphic skate team leader trying to impress one of her opponents on the rival team. The story changes depending on your choices and scores and is accompanied by a funky soundtrack and cozy art style with lots of pinks, purples and oranges.
The Good People (Na Daoine Maithe)
The Good People (Na Daoine Maithe) by Moirai Myths Inc. is a lore-rich romantic visual novel inspired by Irish mythology. Play as an Irish tenant farmer from the mid-19th century who gets entangled in a mythic war between fairy factions. Choose your pronouns and interact with 6 different romantic prospects regardless of your gender. The game notably features two non-binary characters who use they/them and any/all pronouns, as well as an asexual love interest.
Allegra Hu (they/them) is a visual artist, freelance writer, and creator with a background in the game design industry. They enjoy playing third-person RPGs, or anything with great storytelling and compelling world-building.
