Pride is a time to celebrate diversity in all its forms, and we are going to highlight the best LGBTQ+ Indie games for you. Being able to see representation in the media of yourself or people you care about is one way we show support for the LQBTQ+ community. The indie game space is packed with diversity and we have selected 5 games to showcase this for Pride 2024.
Stardew Valley – Farming, Romance, and Inclusivity
Few indie titles are as beloved as Stardew Valley. At first, it looks like a farming simulator where you grow crops, fish, and build up your farm. Underneath that, the real heart of the game lies in the relationships you form with the people in town.
One of Stardew Valley’s most important features is how romance works. Your character can pursue any of the bachelors or bachelorettes, regardless of gender. A male-presenting farmer can date male NPCs, while a female-presenting farmer can date female NPCs. The only limit is whether the character you like is already married.
It is a small change that has a big impact. Players who rarely see themselves represented in games suddenly have the freedom to step into a story where their identity feels natural. That is why Stardew Valley continues to be one of the most celebrated LGBTQ+ indie games of all time.
Dream Daddy – A Dating Sim That Puts Dads in the Spotlight
Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator launched as a bold idea. You play as a single father raising your daughter, with the story revolving around meeting and dating other dads in the neighborhood.
The game lets you define your character’s past and then explore romance paths with a cast of dads who each have unique personalities. Whether it is a rugged fisherman or a mysterious recluse, the characters are playful and memorable.
Dream Daddy wears its identity with pride. It was made to give players a dating sim where queer love stories are front and center. For Pride Month, it remains an iconic LGBTQ+ indie game that players still celebrate.
Night in the Woods – Queer Characters in a Spooky Town
Story-driven adventures have their own way of highlighting representation, and Night in the Woods does this beautifully. You play as Mae, a college dropout who returns to her small hometown. Things feel familiar at first, then unsettling, as Mae reconnects with old friends and discovers that something strange is happening.
The game introduces a diverse cast of LGBTQ+ characters. Mae is pansexual. You also meet a lesbian couple, a gay couple, a non-binary individual, and a trans woman. These characters are part of Mae’s circle, woven into her story through conversations, relationships, and quiet moments.
The eerie atmosphere combined with its honest representation makes Night in the Woods one of the most powerful LGBTQ+ indie games to experience during Pride.
Our Life: Now & Forever – A Visual Novel About Growing Together
Our Life: Now & Forever by GB Patch is the second entry in the Our Life series, known for heartfelt storytelling and deeply customizable visual novels. Unlike the first game, which centered on male leads, this sequel includes both female and non-binary leads, expanding the inclusivity of the series.
You follow characters like Tamarack and Qiu from childhood through adulthood, making choices that shape how relationships develop over time. The game allows players to pursue stories that reflect their own identity, with inclusivity built into the design from the beginning.
The creator has shared how personal experiences and a diverse upbringing inspired this direction. Their goal was to make a game that feels nostalgic, authentic, and welcoming to everyone. Our Life: Now & Forever captures that spirit perfectly, showing how LGBTQ+ indie games can tell stories that feel both personal and universal.
I had the privilege of interviewing the creator of Our Life: Now & Forever and asking them some interesting questions about the creation of this game.
- What inspired you to make this particular game?
Our Life: Now & Forever is the second Our Life game. The first OL, Our Life: Beginnings & Always, had
male leads. I wanted to make another entry into the series with a female and non-binary lead so that
all types of players could have someone they preferred to grow up with.
As for why I wanted to make this duo of Our Life games in the first place, I’m a ridiculously
sentimental and nostalgic person. It’s a powerful emotion for me. Stories that make me feel that way
are special. Since I began making VNs (Visual Novels), I have wondered if I could make a story that sincerely felt sentimental and nostalgic for the people who played it. For my first few projects, I didn’t even attempt that. I knew I didn’t have the skills for it. I did other things I enjoyed. However, I eventually reached the point where I wanted to take a shot at it. I was having ideas and feeling more capable. OL was made with the lessons I learned from writing a variety of VNs, and with the core principle of being earnest and heartfelt. - The characters are very diverse and show a lot of thought was put into inclusivity in the game,
where did this stem from for you as a creator?
I was lucky to grow up in a diverse extended family and grew up in a world where different types of
people were always a part of life. I wanted the world I created to reflect that, especially because the
intent of the game is to let people be themselves. That wouldn’t be possible without keeping diversity
in mind the whole way through. - What inspired the time periods used in the game? why not just do adults?
I’m a huge proponent of the childhood friend trope. For me, it’s hard to beat characters who have a
lifetime of memories together. But I understand that it can be quite difficult for people to find that type
of relationship genuine if they’re simply told the characters know each other well. I decided to show
players the vision by letting them actually create a lifetime of unique and personal memories with the
leads of the story themselves! Plus, there’s all that sentimentality and nostalgia stuff I mentioned
before. One of the best ways to make story elements feel nostalgic is by having time pass and things
change within the world of the game. - Who is your personal favourite character?
My favourites are the ones that get the most attention in the story, haha. So, Tamarack and Qiu are the top two. For side characters, I really love Renee and the MC’s parent, Opal. I’m also attached to a little mystery boy who shows up briefly in Step 1 because he is a cameo from our older game, XOXO
Droplets. - Did you draw from any personal experiences or situations when creating the characters’ journeys?
Yeah. There are definitely things in the game that are relatable to me. The Our Life games are a way
for me to explore parts of life that I have personal thoughts on. But there are also a lot of things in there because they’re important to people who aren’t just me. I want players to have things they can latch
onto as well. - What can we expect from GB Patch in the future?
The main things to come are Our Life: Now & Forever and the various DLCs we’re releasing for it! That
will take a few years to fully wrap up. But we might be able to release Our Life: Beginnings & Always
on some new storefronts in the future. And I’ve already got ideas for the game we’ll be making after
OL: N&F is finally complete. I call it “Project W” right now. It’s another highly customizable VN that
has no connection to the Our Life series.
To end the interview I asked GB Patch to give me a quote summing up Indie Games and LGBTQ+ representation in the space and they had this to say:
Indie games are a wonderful place to find, and create your own, LGBTQ+ stories. Making a game has never been more accessible and I’m so glad to see all the diverse experiences that are out there these days. Happy pride month!
GB Patch
A huge thanks to GB Patch for taking the time to answer my questions. If you would like to support this wonderful creator, you can download Our Life: Now & Forever Here and for more updates on the DLCs and the mysterious “Project W” you can follow GB Patch on ‘X’.
Hexed Pet Adventures – Retro Style with Queer Representation
For something short and playful, Hexed Pet Adventures offers a retro, Gameboy-inspired RPG. You play as a new high school student who discovers that classmates and a teacher have mysteriously disappeared. Your grandmother soon reveals that they have been transformed into animals.
The game mixes lighthearted puzzles with a touch of romance. Your protagonist, who is male, can flirt with the male classmates and teacher caught in the curse. It is more of a flirty adventure than a dating sim, but its charm lies in how casually it includes queer themes.
Hexed Pet Adventures only takes about an hour to play and is free to download, making it one of the easiest LGBTQ+ indie games to try out if you are looking for a quick Pride Month pick.
Celebrating LGBTQ+ Indie Games in 2024
Each of these games brings something unique. Stardew Valley and Dream Daddy highlight romance and relationships. Night in the Woods blends queerness into a haunting narrative. Our Life: Now & Forever delivers heartfelt inclusivity through a lifetime of choices. Hexed Pet Adventures shows how even the smallest projects can contribute to representation.
Indie developers continue to lead the way in making games that feel inclusive and authentic. For Pride Month 2024, these titles remind us that LGBTQ+ indie games are not a niche. They are an essential part of the gaming landscape.
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