One of the things we at Game Sandwich value most about the video game medium is its limitless potential to put you into the shoes of someone — or something — else. However, despite that vast pool of possibilities, games often fall back on featuring “bald white dude” for a protagonist. We’ve certainly come a long way in the video games sphere, making space for more people of color, women, and differently-abled characters to claim starring or supporting roles over the years. Unfortunately, many groups remain underrepresented. That’s why we felt it important to highlight not only the people, cultures, and identities not often seen, but do so without resorting to harmful stereotypes. It isn’t just about checking off boxes. This is about giving a voice and a sense of validation to people who don’t often find it in media. Everyone should have the opportunity to see themselves as the hero.
We know it’s a lofty statement, but in our hearts, we truly believe that the unique way we interact with games can be a powerful tool for empathy and understanding of diverse perspectives. For those reasons and a multitude more, we wanted to give a special award to the game of 2023 that provided the best positive representation.
And the nominees are…
A Fling with a Tiefling
A Space for The Unbound
Assassin’s Creed: Mirage
Goodbye Volcano High
Stray Gods
Venba
And the award goes to…
The winner is… All of them. Sincerely. Some may call it a cop-out answer, but adding representation to the gaming world is what matters. That’s the win. So, while we have fun with our awards, it’s unjust to say any representation is more “worthy” than others. All of these stories are unique, dynamic ways to integrate minority experiences with the beauty of video games.
A Fling with a Tiefling offers players a sweet romance and the rare option to experience that romance asexually.
A Space for The Unbound beautifully delves into the complicated nuances of depression and grief, all while elevating the vibrant culture of Indonesia.
Assassin’s Creed: Mirage took a decades-long fan dream—for more non-Eurocentric assassin protagonists and immersive worlds than just Origins—and made it a reality.
Goodbye Volcano High digs deep into that youthful feeling that the end of high school is the end of the world, and alongside themes of queerness and loss and the perils of impending adulthood, reminds gamers what it’s like to be a misunderstood teen again.
Stray Gods explored queerness, grief, and identity with its diverse cast, who all ultimately came together to affirm that societies need to change to best fit the needs of its people—all its people, no matter what skin color, disability, sexuality, gender, or background they may have.
Venba is a true artwork celebrating Indian culture and cuisine and the loving history of an immigrant family, all packaged in a seemingly simple cooking game.
And there are many more than didn’t even make it onto this list — be it time constraints or the mere fact we haven’t found all of them yet — that also deserve to be here for their beautiful additions to the video game world. Representation matters. It’s deserved. It’s what our world actually looks like, beyond the shiniest veneer of a bald white man’s head. These games reflect the people who’ve always been there but have never been allowed a voice. While it may have taken too long, it’s a gift we get to hear them now. There’s no telling how much beautiful representation awaits us in 2024.
