“I Wasn’t Alone in How I Am”: Psychological Inquiry Into Players’ Experiences With Queer Representation in Gone Home

Abstract

While there has been an explosion of research around the psychological dynamics of video game play, comparatively little work has been to explore the many divergent approaches video games take to create identification and connection within it’s players, especially around LGBTQ+ represenation. In this qualitative study, we look at data collected from a short-answer survey, as well as from Steam reviews, to see how players discuss and reflect upon their experiences with Gone Home , one of first high-profile narrative video games that centered around a queer narrative. We tie our observations to the history of both gaming and identification research, and demonstrate the need for further inquiry into the ways that video games interact with the diverse identities represented and the diverse audience that engages with them.