15 AAA Titles That Let You Play as a Trans Protagonist From the Start

Video game representation has improved a lot in the last ten years, with major game companies now offering more diverse characters. Many new, big-budget games let you create characters where gender isn’t tied to appearance or voice. Some games even have stories where you play as a transgender or non-binary character from the start. This means players can see themselves in games without needing to download extra content or find unofficial fixes. Below is a list of notable games that let you play as a trans character right away.

‘Tell Me Why’ (2020)

Developed by Dontnod Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios, this story-driven adventure game focuses on emotional realism and relatable characters. Players experience the game through the eyes of Tyler Ronan, a transgender man, and his twin sister as they investigate secrets from their past. The developers worked closely with advocacy groups to ensure Tyler’s story was told authentically. This game is notable as a major release from a large publisher that features a transgender protagonist.

‘Cyberpunk 2077’ (2020)

In this open-world RPG, CD Projekt Red created a character creation system that lets players fully customize their character’s appearance and gender expression. You play as V and can choose from a wide range of voices, hairstyles, and body types, without being limited by traditional gender roles. Importantly, you can also select V’s pronouns separately, allowing you to easily create a transgender character from the start. Because the game is played from a first-person perspective, your chosen identity feels personal and is a core part of the entire experience as you explore Night City.

‘Starfield’ (2023)

Bethesda’s new space RPG gives players incredible freedom to create and become the character they want. You can fully customize your character’s appearance and how they move, and importantly, choose their pronouns – he, she, or they. The game respects your choices, with characters always using the correct pronouns when speaking to you. This commitment to inclusivity means any player can truly live out their space adventure as their authentic self, and the developers have made player choice a top priority throughout the game.

‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ (2023)

Larian Studios has raised the bar for role-playing games with incredibly detailed character creation. Players have extensive freedom to design their character’s appearance, voice, and gender identity, choosing from a wide range of options, including non-binary identities. The game acknowledges these choices throughout its complex story, impacting conversations and romantic possibilities. This allows players to create and experience the game as a fully developed trans or non-binary character, interacting with the world authentically. This dedication to player choice permeates the entire game, a unique adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons.

‘Dragon Age: The Veilguard’ (2024)

BioWare is known for making role-playing games that are welcoming to everyone, and their newest game continues that trend with a lot of ways to customize your character. You can create a character that truly represents you, including options like scars from top surgery and a wide range of body types, no matter what gender you choose. The game also lets you pick the pronouns characters will use when talking to you, and these options feel natural and well-integrated into the game’s world. This epic fantasy adventure lets you be yourself while battling ancient gods.

‘The Sims 4’ (2014)

The life simulation game from Maxis and Electronic Arts has been regularly updated to include more diverse identities. Players have detailed control over their Sims’ gender, influencing everything from clothing choices to whether they can become pregnant and their body type. Recent updates specifically added features like scars from top surgery and binders, allowing players to authentically represent transgender Sims. Players can create and play as transgender Sims, experiencing all aspects of their virtual lives. The developers are committed to making the game a safe and inclusive space for players to express themselves.

‘Saints Row’ (2022)

The latest installment in the open-world series lets players create a completely customized crime boss with no limits on gender expression. The robust character creator allows for any combination of voice, appearance, and body type, and players aren’t restricted by traditional gendered clothing or hairstyles. This means you can create and play as a transgender character building a criminal empire. The publisher, Deep Silver, designed the game to give players full control over how their character looks and presents themselves.

‘Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’ (2020)

Call of Duty’s latest game offers a welcome level of inclusivity. When players create their main character, Bell, they can choose a “Non-Binary” gender option. This simple choice affects the game by having characters use they/them pronouns when speaking to Bell throughout the story. It’s a significant move for a military shooter, especially within a historically-based setting, and Activision backed the decision to help more players connect with the game’s story and characters.

‘Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ (2022)

Gearbox Software designed the character creation in their new game to be as open and flexible as a tabletop role-playing session. Players can fully customize their character’s appearance, voice, and pronouns, and the game’s story adapts to these choices seamlessly. Published by 2K Games, this spin-off focuses on lighthearted fun and fantastical adventure rather than strict realism, perfectly matching the game’s playful and unpredictable world.

‘Hogwarts Legacy’ (2023)

Avalanche Software designed a detailed character creation system in this game, letting players customize their character’s voice, body type, and which dormitory they belong to. Players can pick a masculine or feminine voice and adjust its pitch separately from how their character looks. Choosing to live with the witches or wizards also affects how other characters address you. Warner Bros. Games made this game to allow players to create a student that truly represents who they are, and this level of customization even allows for storylines featuring trans students within the magical school.

‘Street Fighter 6’ (2023)

Capcom has transformed their fighting games with a new World Tour mode that lets you create a completely customized fighter. You can design your character with any combination of masculine and feminine features and define their identity as you wish. You’ll then explore Metro City as this character, meeting and interacting with iconic fighters. The single-player story centers on your character’s personal development as a martial artist, and the game’s creation tools are designed to be inclusive, allowing players to create a protagonist who is visibly transgender or gender non-conforming.

‘Forza Horizon 5’ (2021)

The latest update to Playground Games’ racing festival lets players personalize their driver characters in more ways than ever before. Players can now choose their preferred pronouns and select a voice that isn’t tied to their character’s appearance. The game also includes options for prosthetic limbs and a wide selection of gender-neutral clothing. Xbox Game Studios made a deliberate effort to ensure players feel accurately represented, even within a racing game. This focus on inclusivity helps make the festival a more welcoming experience for everyone.

‘Dragon’s Dogma 2’ (2024)

Capcom’s latest game in the action series lets you create a highly customized character. Instead of simple choices, the character creator uses a detailed system to shape your hero’s appearance and body type, allowing for a lot of unique looks. You can also choose how your character moves and sounds, letting you create a protagonist who isn’t limited by typical gender roles. The game focuses on what your character does rather than who they are, treating them as a legend defined by their actions. This powerful system even makes it possible to roleplay as a transgender character in a dark fantasy setting.

‘Wild Hearts’ (2023)

This monster-hunting game, created in partnership between Omega Force and Electronic Arts, lets you create a truly unique hunter. You’re not limited by gender – you can mix and match voices, faces, and body types to build the character you want. You can also choose your preferred pronouns, which the game will then use throughout the story and when characters talk to you. The goal was to make sure everyone feels represented as the hero of Azuma, and the game ultimately focuses on your skills and the story of your custom hunter.

‘Apex Legends’ (2019)

Respawn Entertainment’s battle royale game stands out for its inclusive character roster, featuring characters who are officially recognized as transgender and non-binary. Players can select and play as Catalyst, a trans woman, and Bloodhound, who is non-binary, experiencing their stories through gameplay, unique dialogue, and backstories. Electronic Arts, the game’s publisher, supports Respawn’s commitment to integrating these identities into the game’s overall narrative and supplemental comics. By choosing these characters, players can actively represent these identities in every game they play.

Please share your favorite character from this list in the comments.

2025-12-05 18:48