Miles Morales, the main character of Marvel's Spider Man: Miles Morales. Developer: Insomniac Games.
It's no secret that the gaming industry has struggled with fostering an inclusive environment since its inception. Representation efforts have been increasing over the past decade as there are more games featuring main characters who are Black, indigenous, and people of color. One of the most diverse games out there is the first-person shooter game, Apex Legends which features Black, mixed-race, Asian, openly gay, and trans characters, with new characters getting added all the time.
Players have also taken matters into their own hands through creating custom content for games that are lacking authentic representation. One example is the large group of Black creators for The Sims who have developed mods for the game that provide accurate representations of Black heritage and features. Ebonix has been a big voice in this community and strives to bring more accurate representation to the game. She recently worked with The Sims team for their update to skin tones in the game.
Game developers are also making an effort to correct problematic representations through updates or sequel developments. For example, Watch Dogs received criticism for its portrayal of people of color. In response, developers made sure to do better for Watch Dogs 2. Not only did they make the protagonist a Black man, but they also had them confront racism throughout the game. The game also features a diverse cast of characters, much different from the first Watch Dogs. Although games have come a long way in terms of representation, it still has a long way to go, especially when it comes to making the gaming community more inclusive.
Lara Fountaine, 2023
Developer: Bandai
Borrow Tekken 7 (PS4)
From How Tekken Represents Diversity Through Martial Arts, CBR:
"Tekken has tried something different that puts more focus on the character's fighting styles. Not only does each character come from a different location from around the world and has their own personal agenda, but they also fight in a style exclusive only to them.
As Tekken developed into the fighter that it is today, it started by adapting well-known martial arts into multiple characters. For example, Kazuya Mishima uses an exclusive style called Mishima Style Karate. But a character like Hwoarang, who comes from South Korea, practices Tae Kwon Do. As more characters were introduced, more styles were included from around the world. Not only did this help a player find their favorite character or the best fighter to combat certain opponents, but it also opened the door to understanding each of them on a deeper level.
For example, Josie Rizal, who appeared in Tekken 7, was raised in the Philippines and learned kickboxing. Her backstory is tied heavily to her home country. For fans interested in the character and her heritage, they could delve further into her kickboxing style and the Philippine culture as a whole.
Characters like Michelle Chang have also shown how other fighters stem from mixed backgrounds. Michelle is Native American mixed with Chinese, and the game portrayed this through her mixture of Bajiquan, a Chinese style, and wrestling throws, which is based in America. Through martial arts, many of the characters can show off their heritage and how different they are from other countries."
Developer: Respawn Entertainment
From Diversity in video games: the best (and worst) examples of representation, The Evening Standard:
"Apex Legends is an online, first-person shooter that features a diverse cast of characters. You have mixed-race characters, openly gay, Black, Asian, and only four White characters. Apex makes it a point to represent everyone in its audience and continues to add new characters. Some notable characters include Bangalore and Lifeline, two nuanced Black female characters who kick butt just as well as the men. The game also includes lore and backstories for these characters that really expand and showcase their identities. They include cosmetic elements to the game such as badges showing LGBTQ+ pride flag, Black Lives Matter fist, and Stop Asian Hate to emphasize their focus on diversity."
Developer: Drinkbox Studios
Available on Steam
From 10 Times Games Got Diversity Right (And 10 They REALLY Didn't), The Gamer:
"Guacamelee! was released in 2013 and you might have missed it, despite its 10/10 rating on Steam and 9.1 from IGN. It is a pure celebration of Mexican and Southwestern culture, drawing not only on the aesthetics of luchadores and Dia de los Muertos, but on the deep mythology that underlies these cultures. Many of the jokes seem tongue-in-cheek, Spanish language puns abound, but many jokes and references in the game only make sense if you understand Spanish, and some of them even require an understanding of the culture.
While the development team of Guacamelee was primarily Canadian, they put a lot of care into actively representing and celebrating a culture that does not often see itself celebrated in video games. The game stands with a number of other successful indie titles as a good example of how to respect source material when engaging with other countries' cultures."
Developer: Midboss
Available on Steam
From 10 Times Games Got Diversity Right (And 10 They REALLY Didn't), The Gamer:
"If you have heard of 2064: Read Only Memories, you probably have an opinion already. This game was attacked by some for its heavy-handed social commentary and explicit pro-LGBTQ content, but the inclusiveness of this game provided many young people comfort and validation by creating a world that is less violent towards queer people.
Players are asked to provide their personal pronouns from a list of he/her/they/xe/ze and also allow a custom pronoun. Many characters in the game are some manner of gender nonconforming or otherwise queer. The game, which was funded on Kickstarter, is very pointedly queer-friendly. The plot, however, is a cyberpunk neo-noir that explores the tangled relationship between humanity and technology in a world of biohacks and cybernetic implants. This takes the fore, allowing the LGBTQ community to feel actively represented without excluding gamers who are looking to the game for a solid story."
Developer: EA Sports
Platform: PC
From Inside the online communities making beautiful black Sims, Dazed:
"The Sims 4 is the ultimate life simulation where you can create unique characters, build dream houses, and more! The Sims have been a cultural mirror for many years now, with it being on its fourth iteration. Developers continue to make updates to the game which allow for more customization and accurate representation. For example, the most recent update allows for more skin tones, eye colors, and customization for infants in the game. Players can create characters of any ethnicity, body type, sexuality, and gender.
The Sims 4 also allows for user-created custom content and modifications which brings even more inclusivity into the game. There is a vast community of Black creators who have been developing in-game content that represents Black culture."
Developer: Lienzo
Platform: Nintendo Switch
From 5 Nintendo Indie Showcase games that show diversity and medium’s global influence, The Mercury News:
"Aztech Forgotten Gods is the cyber-stone action-adventure following Achtli, a young woman who battles the colossal Forgotten Gods. To uncover the truth behind her far-future Mesoamerican metropolis, she'll have to turn the Gods' power against them, as she soars through the city with power and grace."
Developer: Insomniac Games
Platform: PS5
From In Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Diversity Is More Than Skin-Deep, The Escapist:
"The latest adventure in Marvel’s Spider-Man universe features teenager Miles Morales, who since being bitten by a genetically enhanced spider, has gained powers similar to Peter Parker. Miles is a 13-year-old bi-racial kid whose dad is African American and whose mom is Puerto Rican. Spider-Man: Miles Morales has been praised for its portrayal of underrepresented communities. It also offers a unique portrayal of the Deaf community through one of its supporting characters, who uses American Sign Language to communicate with Miles."
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
From Why we need diverse games like 'Watch Dogs 2' more than ever, Engadget:
"Marcus Holloway, a self-taught hacker, is falsely accused of a crime against the HDC. The player's mission is to reveal the corruption of the cTOS 2.0 system by the Blume Corporation. The game is best known for its exploration of race and law enforcement while also fitting in situations addressing class and disability. Josh is also a hacker and it is eventually revealed that he has autism. Josh is a core part of the team, and his friends respect and understand his idiosyncrasies. Ultimately, he is seen as just another person suffocating under the weight of Blume Corporation."
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