A lot of times gaming is about escapism. From Animal Crossing to Stardew Valley, people want to engage in kinder, more colorful worlds. But where do queer narratives fit into this “cozy gaming” bubble that’s been gaining steam recently? Well, games are becoming more inclusive when it comes to romance options. For example, I grew up playing Harvest Moon games where you could only romance characters of the opposite gender. But re-releases of Harvest Moon games (under their new title Story of Seasons) let you romance characters of any gender.
It’s definitely nice to be included in this way but what if you want more? Maybe you’re hoping for a game that does more than allow you to play a romance route designed to be heterosexual as the opposite gender, something that goes the extra mile to portray queer characters and experiences. Well, in that case, I want to talk about a game that does inclusivity right all while offering the video game equivalent of being wrapped in a soft fluffy towel on the drive home from the beach: Our Life.
