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article__ntent-hear"><div data-ttid="ContentHearContaer" class="ContentHearContaer-cGKRbE kTiRhe"><div class="ContentHearHedAccredatnWrapper-GFiQf cDNVlV"><div data-ttid="ContentHearTleBlockWrapper" class="ContentHearTleBlockWrapper-cjmSKp beyFWC"><div data-ttid="ContentHearRubric" class="ContentHearRubricBlock-LmpbT btuQxh"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl byl--led-wh-bg ContentHearByl-cZqgyJ bHLeKI"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH hAfVoD byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cVPPwi byle__name"><a class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BaseLk-eNWuiM ByleLk-gEnFiw iUEiRd kZoQA-D ecbzIP BDKtv byle__name-lk button" href="/thor/mark-hill">Mark Hill</a></span></span></p></div><div data-ttid="ContentHearRubricDateBlock" class="ContentHearRubricDateBlock-kAQcZP fTFWxD"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gmxdsS bric ContentHearRubricContaer-eTudtt edKnIL"><a class="RubricLk-gRWSOU fTtYjx bric__lk" href="/tegory/culture"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Culture</span></a></div><time data-ttid="ContentHearPublishDate" dateTime="2021-03-04T08:00:00-05:00" class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ ContentHearTleBlockPublishDate-hYmSqb iUEiRd kwGwWM cXawal">Mar 4, 2021 8:00 AM</time></div></div><h1 data-ttid="ContentHearHed" class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ ContentHearHed-NCyCC iUEiRd ezNyYX kctZMs">The Rise of Unapologetilly Erotic LGBTQ+ Gam</h1></div><div class="ContentHearAccredatn-lfctVB etVsnJ ntent-hear__accredatn" data-ttid="ContentHearAccredatn"><div class="ContentHearDek-bIqFFZ dHmGIY">Vio gam have long stggled to handle sexualy, but a growg number of die velopers are changg that.</div></div></div><div class="ContentHearLeadAsset-hGbumP fEknXh lead-asset ContentHearLeadAssetWrapper-hfXHEc Grck lead-asset--width-fullbleed" data-ttid="ContentHearLeadAsset"><figure class="ContentHearLeadAssetContent-kOfYSG dRGWbI"><div class="ContentHearLeadAssetContentMedia-bLEIpi cvtYPD lead-asset__ntent__photo"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW jvZaPI rponsive-asset ContentHearRponsiveAsset-bREgIb hONbnm"><div data-tt="aspect-rat-ntaer" class="AspectRatContaer-bJHpJz gKnDpj"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa ContentHearRponsiveAsset-bREgIb hONbnm rponsive-image"><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w, 960w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w, 960w, 1280w, 1600w, 1920w, 2240w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="A room wh rtoon characters playg vio gam." class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></picture></div></div></span><div class="CaptnWrapper-jSZdqE kJoQGV ptn ContentHearLeadAssetCaptn-hPWmSN kxFwqE"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ CaptnCred-ejegDm iUEiRd iggRJP fNaHcW ptn__cred">Illtratn: Christopher Gale</span></div></div></figure></div></div></hear></div><div data-attribute-verso-pattern="article-body" class="ArticlePageContentBackGround-cNiFNN gVjmSM article-body__ntent"><div class="ActnBarWrapperContent-lasBkU cAHp"><div class="ActnBarWrapperComponent-cjwxLS bEeSLb"><div data-attr-viewport-monor="" class="ActnBarWrapper-dhxmQh bnoUoi viewport-monor-anchor"><button id="bookmark" aria-label="Save" class="ActnBarButton-dyFOZU hqsiKz bookmark large-screen"><span class="ActnBarSendaryButtonPrimaryIn-isbvyN cAwccV bookmark-button-in"><svg class="in in-bookmark" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" xmlns="><tle>Save this story</tle><path class="in-bookmark-stroke" d="M11.7661 16.3228L4.5 20.1695V3.5H19.5V20.1695L12.2339 16.3228L12 16.199L11.7661 16.3228Z" stroke-lep="square"/></svg></span><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ ActnBarButtonText-bYXYuh iUEiRd kYEynM gkccfO">Save</span></button></div><div data-attr-viewport-monor="" 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body body__ntaer article__body" data-journey-hook="client-ntent" data-ttid="BodyWrapper"><div class="body__ner-ntaer"><p><span class="lead--text-llout">Vio game characters</span> do not have great sex liv. The sex <em>Cyberpunk 2077,</em> one of the biggt releas of the , was lambasted by <em>PC Gamer</em> as <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">“horrifyg” and “tly awful”</a> for s weak wrg and general clunks; character mols signed to n and shoot jt look <em>strange</em> when ma to ntort moments of timacy. But while <em>Cyberpunk</em> was cricized for s bad sex—and for <a href=">flubbg LGBTQ+ reprentatn</a>—the erotic die tle <em>Hardd</em> was gatherg praise for s explic, queer-iendly sexualy set agast a dystopian cyberpunk backdrop.</p><p class="paywall">Sex has been part of gamg om the begng—Atari 2600 owners uld buy <em>Cter’s Revenge,</em> a heavily cricized <a href=">rape fantasy</a> that sold 80,000 pi—but for most of the medium’s history, any sexualy was aimed at straight whe men wh all the subtlety of a horny sledgehammer. It was seen as a mark of matury for the <em>God of War</em> anchise when s 2018 stallment <a href=">abandoned the subject entirely</a> rather than return to the crgeworthy “Here are some ts, you be” <a href=">migam of prev entri</a>. Indie gam, and LGBTQ+ velopers particular, are fillg that vacuum.</p><p class="paywall"><em>Dream Daddy</em>, which was released 2017 and starred a sgle father lookg to romance other solo dads, featured <a href=">a Markiplier vio</a> wh 6.8 ln views, a sign that LGBTQ+ iendly romance gam were startg to ph to the mastream. Meanwhile, <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">th lists</a> of gamg’s “<a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">most sizzlg</a>” sex scen untentnally reveal the sad state of big budget tl by ntually repeatg agg gam like <em>Mass Effect</em> and <em>The Wcher</em>. Not every game needs sex, but for a subject that’s fundamental to the human experience, mastream gamg lags well behd other mediums portrayg serly and credibly.</p><div class="Contaer-bkChBi byNLHx"></div><p class="paywall"><a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>Hardd</em></a>, which was released 2018 but is still receivg regular updat, is an open-world visual novel starrg a st of trans women. It’s not exactly subtle—a myster epimic has ma everyone credibly horny, and some of s many sex scen veer to over-the-top sci-fi terrory. But works bee ’s scere, both flhg out s characters and, as trans wrers have poted out, <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">s eroticism.</a> </p><p class="paywall">“I try to keep thgs lighthearted for the most part,” <em>Hardd</em> veloper Kenzie Wtermelon said via email. “A lot of porn gam tend to take a pretty stere approach to sex. Personally, I jt like beg vted the characters, lettg my ma character fuck wh people who she r about and gets along wh. Maybe that rapport is what's missg om other gam.”</p><div class="GenericCalloutWrapper-tojWn ftdwXT llout--has-top-borr" data-ttid="GenericCallout"><asi class="Sibar-pgAgH kJWjjR" data-ttid="SibarEmbed"><div role="headg" aria-level="3" class="paywall headg-h3">More From Gam</div><div data-ttid="SibarArticleRelatedListItem" class="RelatedListItem-gClwMZ jnSmXl"><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff dRDJZx summary-em summary-em--has-borr summary-em--article summary-em--no-in summary-em--text-align-left summary-em--layout-placement-si-by-si summary-em--layout-posn-image-left summary-em--layout-proportns-33-66 summary-em--si-by-si-align-center summary-em--si-by-si-image-right-mobile-false summary-em--standard RelatedListSummaryItem-dgcIcF ejKdQz" role="button" tabx="0"><div class="SummaryItemAssetContaer-gwhFFH VOyg summary-em__asset-ntaer"><a class="SummaryItemImageLk-dshqxb cPpCwE summary-em__image-lk summary-em-trackg__image-lk" href="/story/starw-valley-genr-phoria-gam/" aria-hidn="te" 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cPpCwE summary-em__image-lk summary-em-trackg__image-lk" href="/story/the-legend-of-zelda-dky-and-a-bridge-to-my-dghter/" aria-hidn="te" tabx="-1" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" target="_self"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><img alt="The Legend of Zelda, 'Dky,' and a Bridge to My Dghter" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src=" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/></noscript></picture></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl clSLtF summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gmxdsS bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Bt Bokobls</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM kFnjUG summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href="/story/the-legend-of-zelda-dky-and-a-bridge-to-my-dghter/" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ cJGBzK summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed"><em>The Legend of Zelda</em>, 'Dky,' and a Bridge to My Dghter</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi hYsZi summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY iQEKph summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH cExbzu byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name">Keema Waterfield</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></asi></div><p class="paywall">Steam has no shortage of erotic die gam aimed at straight men lookg for quick stimulatn, but ’s ultimately strong wrg that engag the imagatn. Those aforementned lists of sizzlg sex scen tend to feature beloved characters, such as <em>The Wcher’s</em> Geralt and Yennefer—sex tends to be more engagg when you re about the people dog —but Wtermelon not that even anchis wh memorable hero n be prone to a certa blandns.</p><div data-attr-viewport-monor="le-recirc" class="le-recirc-wrapper le-recirc-observer-target-1 viewport-monor-anchor"></div><p class="paywall">“Maybe weak sex gam is a product of the thought that beg explicly horny or explicly graphic cheapens your work, so velopers dance around the subject and end up disnnectg om . Mastream gam tend to have their edg filed down.”</p><div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--article-mid-ntent" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--article-mid-ntent nsumer-marketg-un__slot---ntent"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div></div><p class="paywall">It’s hard to balance such a personal subject wh the need of mastream blockbters to attract a broad range of players, and so the most ld erotic gam tend to be story-driven and foced on a clear target dience. Take <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>Yearng,</em></a> by queer veloper <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Bob Conway</a>—a visual novel about a gay man gettg ed to llege life while preparg to e out. He was spired by <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>Comg Out on Top</em></a><em>,</em> a groundbreakg 2014 datg sim that he enjoyed but saw room for improvement .</p></div></div></div><div class="GridItem-buujkM fVLMby grid--em grid-layout__asi"><div class="StickyBoxWrapper-jfYB kNleGZ sticky-box"><div class="StickyBoxPrimary-dzWDWL cdhYoN sticky-box__primary"><div class="Contaer-bkChBi byNLHx"></div><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--rail"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--rail" data-no-id="fmpi9a"></div></div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--display-rail" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--display-rail"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div><div data-attr-viewport-monor="" class="RecircMostPopularWrapper-bRuGTi jkTTgR recirc-most-popular-wrapper 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Has a New Twist" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl clSLtF summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gmxdsS bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Science</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM kFnjUG summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-3" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href=" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ cJGBzK summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">Florida’s War Wh Invasive Pythons Has a New Twist</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi hYsZi summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY iQEKph summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH cExbzu byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name">Max G. Levy</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></li><li><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff dRDJZx summary-em summary-em--has-borr summary-em--ARTICLE summary-em--no-in summary-em--text-align-left summary-em--layout-placement-si-by-si summary-em--layout-posn-image-left summary-em--layout-proportns-33-66 summary-em--si-by-si-align-center summary-em--si-by-si-image-right-mobile-false summary-em--standard RecircMostPopularSummaryItem-jQxxiw QfcSA" role="button" tabx="0"><div class="SummaryItemAssetContaer-gwhFFH VOyg summary-em__asset-ntaer"><a class="SummaryItemImageLk-dshqxb cPpCwE summary-em__image-lk summary-em-trackg__image-lk" href=" aria-hidn="te" tabx="-1" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-image-4" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" target="_self"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image"><div data-tt="aspect-rat-ntaer" class="AspectRatContaer-bJHpJz gKnDpj"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="The Battle Agast the Fungal Apolypse Is Jt Begng" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl clSLtF summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gmxdsS bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Science</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM kFnjUG summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-4" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href=" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ cJGBzK summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">The Battle Agast the Fungal Apolypse Is Jt Begng</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi hYsZi summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY iQEKph summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH cExbzu byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name">Maryn McKenna</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></li><li><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ RecircMostPopularSummaryItem-jQxxiw kOYCLW ad ad--asi"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--asi" data-no-id="i4gbd"></div></div></li></ul><div class="RecircMostPopularFooter-enPjgs gvTU"></div></div></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></div></div><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan full-bleed-ad row-mid-ntent-ad"><div class="StickyMidContentAdWrapper-fSBzwl drzyIa ad-stickymidntent"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--mid-ntent should-hold-space"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--mid-ntent" data-no-id="e8thzj"></div></div></div></div><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ArticlePageChunksGrid-hfxa bjczjj grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="BodyWrapper-kufPGa jcsZmt body body__ntaer article__body" data-journey-hook="client-ntent" data-ttid="BodyWrapper"><div class="body__ner-ntaer"><p class="paywall">“It beme a project about portrayg a realistic g out experience, and tryg to munite a lot of the stggl I went through when I was g to terms wh my sexualy,” says Conway. A particular highlight is when a datable character reassur the player that there's “no wrong way to e out” and “no wrong way to be gay,” advice Conway wish he uld have received when he was “young and sred and closeted.”</p><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad---ntent"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot---ntent" data-no-id="mzjg7"></div></div><p class="paywall">In Conway’s view, the die scene is better equipped to handle such subject matter. “I feel like major stud wrers n't do jtice to stori about margalized characters when the wrers are not a part of those groups. And generally, major stud wrers are not.”</p><p class="paywall"><em>Dream Daddy,</em> while not om a major stud, was fund by YouTube behemoths Game Gmps. It was <a href=">praised for s engagg tone</a>, and for givg a queer narrative mastream attentn, but was <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">also cricized</a> for not engagg wh gay culture or g queer language. That’s not to say wasn’t enjoyable, but crics uld tell that a game about the gay datg scene wasn’t ma by gay men. Good reprentatn needs thenticy, and Conway noted that die gam are eed om the market mands and sign mte that n promise accuracy.</p><p class="paywall">“Reprentatn of queer characters mastream vio gam isn't great, although 's gettg better,” Conway said. “So queer people fd they want ways to tell their own stori and reprent their inti, and often end up creatg gam to do so.”</p><p class="paywall">Charissa So and Tida Kietsungn, whose visual novel <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>A Summer’s End</em></a> portrays a romance between two women amid the rapidly changg world of 1980s Hong Kong, echoed the sentiment that eedom om market mands allows for a more hont portrayal of sexualy. “When sexual ntent is ed as a sellg pot, the modifitn of produc ntent that may be disgenuo and lackg emotnal pth,” they wrote. “Distillg sexual ntent to what’s most marketable to a general dience eras the diversy human sexualy. As LGBT+ creators, we wanted to pict lbian sexualy a way that was thentic and hont.”</p><p class="paywall">Authenticy n sometim lim appeal. One of Conway’s gam, all of which feature queer characters, “received a ment om a player dissatisfied wh the fact that the game ntaed gay sex”—spe a warng on the download page, a send warng wh the game, and an optn to skip the scene entirely. For Conway, that “was a good remr that I should jt make the gam I want to make.” But while gam about g out or the <a href=">unique social obstacl faced 1980s Asia</a> may not attract huge dienc, that don’t take away om the importance they have to those who do play them.</p><div data-attr-viewport-monor="le-recirc" class="le-recirc-wrapper le-recirc-observer-target-2 viewport-monor-anchor"></div><p class="paywall">Wh thenticy, creators n tackle difficult subject matter a way that feels productive rather than exploative. Bobbi Sands’ <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>Knife Sisters,</em></a> about a nonbary 19-year-old livg a diverse mune, se s characters al wh anxiety, peer prsure, and other self-scribed “dark” subjects. But the game’s timate moments, which explore BDSM and power dynamics, are always nsensual and sex-posive, <a href=">promptg one reviewer to note</a>: “There are some sex gam you play to get off, and there are some sex gam you play to explore, to feel, to learn.”</p></div></div></div><div class="GridItem-buujkM fVLMby grid--em grid-layout__asi"><div class="StickyBoxWrapper-jfYB jxBcTH sticky-box"><div class="StickyBoxPrimary-dzWDWL cdhYoN sticky-box__primary"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--rail"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--rail" data-no-id="yw8f6b"></div></div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--display-rail" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--display-rail"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div><div data-attr-viewport-monor="" class="RecircMostPopularWrapper-bRuGTi jkTTgR recirc-most-popular-wrapper viewport-monor-anchor"><div 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data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">The Anticlimactic Death of the Streamg Wars</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi hYsZi summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY iQEKph summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH cExbzu byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name">Angela Watercutter</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></li><li><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff dRDJZx summary-em summary-em--has-borr summary-em--ARTICLE summary-em--no-in summary-em--text-align-left summary-em--layout-placement-si-by-si summary-em--layout-posn-image-left summary-em--layout-proportns-33-66 summary-em--si-by-si-align-center summary-em--si-by-si-image-right-mobile-false summary-em--standard 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class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH cExbzu byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name">Max G. Levy</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></li><li><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff dRDJZx summary-em summary-em--has-borr summary-em--ARTICLE summary-em--no-in summary-em--text-align-left summary-em--layout-placement-si-by-si summary-em--layout-posn-image-left summary-em--layout-proportns-33-66 summary-em--si-by-si-align-center summary-em--si-by-si-image-right-mobile-false summary-em--standard RecircMostPopularSummaryItem-jQxxiw QfcSA" role="button" tabx="0"><div class="SummaryItemAssetContaer-gwhFFH VOyg summary-em__asset-ntaer"><a class="SummaryItemImageLk-dshqxb cPpCwE summary-em__image-lk summary-em-trackg__image-lk" href=" aria-hidn="te" tabx="-1" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-image-4" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" target="_self"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image"><div data-tt="aspect-rat-ntaer" class="AspectRatContaer-bJHpJz gKnDpj"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="The Battle Agast the Fungal Apolypse Is Jt Begng" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl clSLtF summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gmxdsS bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Science</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM kFnjUG summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-4" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href=" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ cJGBzK summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">The Battle Agast the Fungal Apolypse Is Jt Begng</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi hYsZi summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY iQEKph summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH cExbzu byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name">Maryn McKenna</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></li><li><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ RecircMostPopularSummaryItem-jQxxiw kOYCLW ad ad--asi"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--asi" data-no-id="7bn6"></div></div></li></ul><div class="RecircMostPopularFooter-enPjgs gvTU"></div></div></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></div></div><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan full-bleed-ad row-mid-ntent-ad"><div class="StickyMidContentAdWrapper-fSBzwl drzyIa ad-stickymidntent"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--mid-ntent should-hold-space"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--mid-ntent" data-no-id="qd0n5r"></div></div></div></div><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ArticlePageChunksGrid-hfxa bjczjj grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="BodyWrapper-kufPGa jcsZmt body body__ntaer article__body" data-journey-hook="client-ntent" data-ttid="BodyWrapper"><div class="body__ner-ntaer"><p class="paywall">Sands’ goal was to make her characters face hardships whout basg those challeng on their inti. The trick, her words, was “to balance real-world discrimatn wh the notn of a ‘queer utopia’—I wanted to create a world where was pletely fe to be a LGBTQ+ person, but I also wanted to brg up some issu for discsn.”</p><p class="paywall">In a story-driven die game, sex n also serve varyg thematic purpos rather than exist for the sake of existg. <em>Hardd</em> was ld as <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">an unabashed celebratn of the trans gaze,</a> whereas sex <em>A Summer’s End</em> was, acrdg to So and Kietsungn, “tend to be exprsns of timacy, where the two leadg characters reach an emotnal peak their relatnship.” Sands elaborated on how eroticism n serve story.</p><p class="paywall">“In mastream gam, sex is often a sendary matter. In die gam, ’s easier to foc on certa them, and sce you already know your game will be a niche product you don’t have to appeal to everyone.”</p><p class="paywall"><em>Knife Sisters</em> is another visual novel, a genre largely untouched by major wtern studs. But they have a long—and often sexual—history Japan, and for die velopers they’re relatively easy to make and n serve as a showse for good art and storytellg. The <a href=">visuals and soundtrack</a> of <em>A Summer’s End,</em> for example, immediately transport the player to the game’s distct settg. Romance and eroticism require mood, and even story-heavy seri like <em>Mass Effect</em> and <em>The Wcher</em> dite most of that mood to slghterg enemi, which n make the ocsnal jump to sex more jarrg than engrossg.</p><p class="paywall">Visual novels, both sexual and chaste, have long been a space for LGBTQ+ velopers and players, but they’ve grown creasgly popular, to the pot where KFC released <a href=">an advertisement game</a> mockg the genre’s trop. That wasn’t always the se; 2016’s queer <em>Ladykiller a Bd,</em> a BDSM-heavy rom starrg a cross-drsg woman that engenred some ntroversy for s <a href=">exploratn of nsent</a>, was ally <a href=">banned om Steam</a> for s sexual ntent spe the platform's hostg a handful of both sexual visual novels and gam mostly created as th exc to liver porn for straight men. In June 2018, after years of unclear standards, Steam clared that would <a href=">“allow everythg”</a> that wasn’t illegal or a blatant troll job to rema on the platform. Followg the announcement, Steam’s “Sexual Content” sectn jumped om <a href=">65 entri</a> to the over 2,800 gam has today. Clearly, attus are changg.</p><p class="paywall">Indie velopers are, however, often bt served by die-foced storeonts. Conway creds the platform wh helpg velopers on many onts, notg that lacks Steam’s $100 upload charge and <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">payment thrholds</a>. also has a reputatn for <a href=">clear, veloper-iendly polici</a>, only tak a 10 percent cut stead of <a href=">Steam’s 30 percent</a>, and giv buyers the optn of chippg more than a game’s mimum price. Free or cheap gam n entice players who then retroactively pay for a product they enjoyed; Conway’s <em>Yearngs</em> is ee, but payment tiers offer bon like a soundtrack and wallpapers. Conway believ that whout , many die gam “would likely never be disvered, much ls able to be moized to allow their velopers to ntue makg gam.”</p><p class="paywall">However the gam are ma available, easy accs will rema important as long as they not only ntue to enterta players, but also give them a safe way to figure out who they are. A few of <em>Hardd’s</em> players have said: “Your game ma me realize I was trans,” and “your game ma me more fortable wh my body,” Wtermelon wrote.</p><div data-attr-viewport-monor="le-recirc" class="le-recirc-wrapper le-recirc-observer-target-3 viewport-monor-anchor"></div><p class="paywall">“It mak me feel like I'm dog somethg important. I thk the one that mak my heart she brightt is when people say that <em>Hardd</em> ma them cry.”</p></div></div></div><div class="GridItem-buujkM fVLMby grid--em grid-layout__asi"><div class="StickyBoxWrapper-jfYB jxBcTH sticky-box"><div class="StickyBoxPrimary-dzWDWL cdhYoN sticky-box__primary"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--rail"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--rail" data-no-id="rwfsbw"></div></div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--display-rail" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--display-rail"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 PaywallInleBarrierWhWrapperGrid-fyrGfS kLQIUk grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="body body__le-barrier article__body"><div class="ntaer ntaer--body"><div class="ntaer--body-ner"><asi class="PaywallInleBarrierWrapper-iBnuqk lfXXa-D" data-ttid="PaywallInleBarrierWrapper"><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--paywall-le-barrier" role="prentatn" aria-live="pole" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--paywall-le-barrier"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div></asi></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ContentWrapperGrid-fvkmBv brYtrA grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="body body__ntaer"><div class="ntaer ntaer--body"><div class="ntaer--body-ner"></div></div></div></div></div></div></article><div class="ContentFooterWrapper-jVNdRG dTJkpP ArticlePageContentFooterGrid-ccsXYy eMZRHU article-body__footer"><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan"><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"></div></div></div><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan"><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="ContributorsWrapper-eNpWFu erLKRC ntributors" data-ttid="Contributors"><div class="ContributorBWrapper-bnVHbt gMon"><div class="ContributorBContent-ubQdr jZTSSi"><div class="ContributorBHear-ledood XOIEx"></div><div class="ContributorBB-fBolsO kzXQIh"><a href="/thor/mark-hill">Mark Hill</a> is an edor at <em>Inverse</em>, a former edor of <em>Cracked</em>, and the thor of the novel <a href="><em>Dead Star Park</em></a>.</div><div class="ContributorBFooter-brqDlv ezUmSv"><div class="SocialInsWrapper-hKMEXV ffgPVr social-ins social-ins--standard"><ul data-ttid="socialInslist" class="SocialInsList-cHVTIA ivmblD social-ins__list"><li class="SocialInsListItem-mbhR fxaFQj social-ins__list-em social-ins__list-em--twter social-ins__list-em--standard"><a aria-label="Follow Mark Hill on Twter" class="external-lk SocialInExternalLk-huuzOU cLGRzS social-ins__lk social-ins__lk--twter" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><div class="SocialInContaer-huXzUC pMzVC social-ins__in-ntaer"><svg class="SocialInNetworkInComponent-cZaKGz dlOAhZ in in-twter" focable="false" viewBox="0 0 32 32" width="32" height="32" fill="none" xmlns="><tle>Twter
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