10 Most Powerful LGBT+ Moments In Gaming History
6. Life Is Strange - Just One Kiss
Life is Strange came out of nowhere and did so at the perfect time. The game’s tone and style as well as its story of teenage rebellion and discovery spoke to many gamers of all ages, especially young Tumblr kids who found the perfect pair to ship.
Max, after discovering her ability to rewind time, reunites with her childhood friend Chloe and their interactions are at the heart of Life is Strange.
Max joins Chloe to investigate the whereabouts of her missing friend Rachel as the title explores mental health, suicide, friendship and sexuality over it’s episodic run. With all the text and subtext, it becomes increasingly clear over the playtime that there is more to Max and Chloe’s relationship than simply being friends.
Life is Strange has multiple endings, all of which will have you sobbing, where the player has to pay penance for their time-manipulating powers and choose between sacrificing the town or sacrificing Chloe. Whilst player agency decides how deep it goes, one possible ending sees the two finally embrace in the face of certain doom. Knowing that they can never be together, Max and Chloe share a kiss.
Developers Dontnod Entertainment never really intended for their game to become a LGBT milestone but fully embraced it, exploring Chloe and Rachel’s journey of queer self-discovery in the prequel Life is Strange 2: Before the Storm.