The video game industry has long been at the center of cultural conversations about representation, inclusivity, and the potential of digital storytelling. As games evolve from pixelated shoot-’em-ups to immersive narrative experiences, so too does the demand for character diversity. One area where that demand has been especially pressing—and often mishandled—is the representation of bisexuality. Neither fully embraced nor completely ignored, bisexual characters often find themselves, much like bisexual individuals in broader society, stuck in the middle.
The conversation around bisexuality in video games intersects with broader issues of feminism, equality, and support for women and LGBTQ+ players. Through an expository lens, this article examines how bisexuality is portrayed in gaming, why these portrayals matter, and how the industry can push toward more inclusive, accurate, and empowering representation.
The Visibility Gap: Bisexuality in Gaming
For years, video games either excluded queer characters altogether or relegated them to side characters with limited development. When bisexuality did appear, it was often in the form of vague or tokenized characters—playable avatars who could pursue any romance option, but whose identities were never explicitly explored.
Games like Mass Effect and Dragon Age by BioWare were among the first mainstream titles to include romance mechanics that allowed players to pursue same-sex relationships, including bisexual ones. Yet, these options often felt more like a nod to inclusivity than a genuine attempt at bisexual representation. The player character’s sexuality was mutable based on player choice, but the narrative lacked depth or consequences related to that identity.
This lack of explicit bisexual identity in gaming reflects a broader cultural issue: bisexual erasure. In media, bisexuality is often invisible, dismissed as a phase, or portrayed as promiscuity. Video games, despite their unique storytelling power, have historically replicated these tropes rather than challenged them.
Women, Bisexuality, and Stereotypes
When bisexual characters are women, they are often hypersexualized. This is particularly true in games targeted at male audiences, where female bisexuality is framed through the lens of male fantasy. Characters like Quiet from Metal Gear Solid V or Bayonetta from the eponymous series embody the male gaze, even when queerness is implied or fan-interpreted.
This kind of representation does little to advance feminist ideals. Instead of empowering female characters with agency and complexity, these portrayals flatten them into aesthetic objects. Bisexuality becomes a performative trait rather than a lived experience.
Moreover, these portrayals rarely engage with the social and emotional realities of being a bisexual woman. There are few narratives that explore bisexuality as an identity with unique challenges—such as biphobia from both heterosexual and LGBTQ+ communities, invisibility, and the emotional toll of constantly being asked to “pick a side.”
Feminist Game Design: A Call for Authenticity
Feminist theory in media critiques the power dynamics that shape how stories are told and who gets to be seen. In gaming, feminist game design advocates for inclusive storytelling, diverse character development, and narratives that challenge patriarchal norms.
To truly support bisexual visibility, game developers must go beyond surface-level inclusion. That means:
- Creating bisexual characters with clearly defined identities: Bisexuality should not be implied or left to fan speculation. Characters should name their identities and engage with them meaningfully.
- Avoiding oversexualization: Especially for women, bisexuality should not be portrayed as inherently provocative or promiscuous. Characters must be complex and grounded, not reduced to tropes.
- Including narrative consequences: A bisexual character’s experiences should affect their worldview, relationships, and challenges in ways that reflect real-world dynamics—such as facing erasure or prejudice.
When bisexuality is treated with nuance, it not only enriches the game’s world—it creates space for bisexual players to see themselves reflected with dignity and care.
Active Change Through Player Agency and Developer Responsibility
Video games have a unique ability to place players in someone else’s shoes, fostering empathy and understanding through interactivity. For bisexual players—especially women and nonbinary individuals—this potential is powerful but often unmet.
However, change is slowly emerging from both indie and mainstream sectors. Indie games like Gone Home, Night in the Woods, and If Found… present queer identities with depth and introspection. These narratives are often led by women or queer developers who understand the importance of authentic representation.
Mainstream developers are beginning to take note, but progress is uneven. For every thoughtful portrayal like Ellie in The Last of Us Part II, there are still countless titles where bisexuality is left out or misrepresented.
This is where active change becomes critical. Players and critics alike must hold developers accountable—not through cancel culture, but through constructive dialogue and economic feedback. Supporting games that do it right, while providing honest critique to those that miss the mark, is part of the cultural shift toward equality.
Equality, Support, and the Future of Queer Representation
Representation is not a side quest—it’s central to the gaming experience. When bisexual characters, particularly women, are depicted with honesty and care, it not only validates real-world identities but challenges players to confront their own assumptions.
Supporting bisexual visibility in gaming aligns with broader feminist goals of equality, autonomy, and inclusion. It means fighting for narratives where women and LGBTQ+ individuals are not just options but protagonists—where their identities are not obstacles, but dimensions of strength.
Game studios must continue diversifying their teams, especially in narrative design. Inclusion behind the scenes directly influences what we see on screen. Equally, critics and fans must broaden the discourse to include intersectional perspectives—considering race, gender identity, class, and disability in addition to sexuality.
Conclusion: From Token to Transformative
Bisexuality in video games is at a turning point. No longer confined to vague subtext or tokenism, it is beginning to emerge as a fully realized identity in digital narratives. Still, there is much work to be done.
To move from passive inclusion to transformative representation, developers must embrace the challenge of telling stories that reflect the complexities of real people. This includes not only bisexuality, but the broader spectrum of human identity—and doing so in ways that align with feminist values of respect, agency, and equality.
Because when games truly reflect the world we live in, everyone gets to play—and everyone gets to win.
