The Baldur's Gate 3 character creator offers extensive options for gender expression with few limits
The anticipation for Baldur’s Gate 3 is building, with new information and gameplay videos coming regularly. One of the most important aspects of any RPG is the character creator, and developer Overworks has detailed its options in the upcoming sequel. From gender to race, the options are extensive, and they go beyond what we’ve seen in Cyberpunk 2077, a game that was nonetheless praised for its representation of transgender bodies.
One of the most exciting things about RPG games is the joy of creating avatars that can grow and change with you. Baldur’s Gate 3 understands this, and its character creator allows for a fluid interpretation of gender in its fantasy setting.
“Baldur’s Gate 3 has an extensive character creator, with options for gender expression that players can use to create avatars that best reflect themselves,” developer Overworks says. “Players can choose from 11 different races and customize their appearance, including facial features, body types, and genital options. There are no limits when it comes to gender or race.”
This is significant for queer players who want to create characters that reflect their own identities, but it also handles transgender players who may want to avoid dysphoric disconnect during explicit sexual relationships.
Overworks also notes that this representation is important because Dungeons & Dragons – and, by extension, Baldur’s Gate – are often considered a safe space for queer communities.
“Baldur’s Gate 3 embraces the idea of D&D as a safe space for queer communities,” the developer says. “The game’s development team wanted to ensure that players could explore gender in a supportive environment, just as they may have done in real-world D&D sessions.”
While the character creator may not be as limitless as a tool like the Sims 4 or Body Shop, offering a wide range of customization options with few limits, it does allow transgender players to have a character that aligns with their own gender identity and avoids dysphoric disconnect.
For players who are still exploring their own identities, it could also provide a space to simply experiment without judgement. Beyond being inclusive, the character creator also represents progress in the representation of transgender characters and stories in video games, which was recently brought to light in our article highlighting the best transgender games.
