Video Game Men That Give Me the Most Gender Envy

By Sammi Bradley

Gender is a performance, and I am doing standup comedy. From the realm of being both transgender and a gamer™ -as the kids say- there are a number of prominent men in video games that have stirred gender-related feelings in me. As a child, I played many video games, with some characters giving me the specific thought of “I hope this doesn’t awaken anything in me.” But in fact, they did awaken something in me: Gender envy.

Gender envy is a unique transgender phenomenon. With such little representation in media and such a complex relationship with gender, many of us in the trans community have felt the abstract concept of gender envy. A gradient of experiences, gender envy ranges from “This person is transgender because I look like them” to “I am transgender and I want what this person has.” For the characters listed in this article, I see them both as “I want to be you” and “You are so transgender it hurts.”

Link, from The Legend of Zelda series (Link’s Awakening, if you will)

Pictured above: Link’s iconic look from the acclaimed 2006 action-adventure Legend of Zelda installment: Twilight Princess

Right off the bat, I can smell the gender coming off of Link. Like taking the first sip of a fine wine7-year-old me experienced his first taste of being transgender when playing Twilight Princess. Unaware that tunics were a thing, I’d think “Wow, Link sure is cool, I want to be like that. I’m in a skirt, he’s in a skirt, we have so much in common.” And since then, I’ve never looked back. 

Link’s gender is off the charts. All over the internet, you see crowds of people exploring gender through Link: “Link is a trans man, Link is a trans woman, Link is nonbinary,” “Link is anything you want him to be.” Originally unnamed, and eventually canonized as “Link,” a nod to the player’s literal “link” to the character, the famous Link from Legend of Zelda will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Varric Tethras, from the Dragon Age franchise

Varric meeting the protagonist and changing the direction of my gender forever

The transmasculinity radiating off of Varric Tethras is overwhelming. From his hairy chest to the ring necklace, this man is transgender; and he’s recommending me to an endocrinologist for my first T-shot. 

The dramatic line in the face of overwhelming odds, “I’ve got your back,” he’s exactly what any young trans person needs. A character that’s always there for the protagonist, with both witty remarks and sound advice, Varric makes you want to be a better person. Also, there is something so transgender about having your shirt that unbuttoned, chest out. Sir, you are 5 years post-op and your results look fantastic, who’s your surgeon?

Wilson, from Don’t Starve

Wilson performing an experiment, clean shaven

A gifted scientist trapped in a strange world with nothing but his bare hands to survive, Wilson from the critically acclaimed sandbox game “Don’t Starve” is a man with an abundance of gender. After all, a vast community with a slew of dedicated “modders” take hours out of their day to vigorously update Wilson’s appearance and abilities for not just their own gain, but to share with the greater Don’t Starve community. He, like the many other Don’t Starve characters, can be specially customized by any player with the tools and dedication to build-a-man. 

Why do I get gender envy from Wilson in particular? Well you see, he can grow a magnificent beard in a mere 4 days: It took me 3 years.

Zane Flynt, from Borderlands 3

Zane Flynt and himself, Borderlands’ most trans-coded character

Zane Flynt, the master secret agent from Borderlands 3, is a pro at the competitive sport that is gender. As soon as I laid eyes on Zane in the first Borderlands 3 trailer, I thought “Oh yeah, I gotta steal this man’s gender.” 

This man reveals no information about his past that would lead you to form any conclusions regarding his life outside of the game’s events. What we do know, however, is that he has two brothers: Baron Flynt and Captain Flynt (Yes, their first names are actually Captain and Baron.) Considering Zane’s name is the only one not following the military-title convention, it’s likely he chose it himself. Borderlands also officially released an alternate color palette of Zane titled “Conventional Reppin’,” which just so happens to be in the colors of the transgender pride flag. 

The gender envy I feel for Zane arguably comes from his lax attitude delicately balanced with his masc persona. Zane is independent, funny, and cool. He gets along with anybody anywhere and looks amazing wherever he goes. Even more, he’s beloved by fans as one of Borderlands’ funniest protagonists. Transition goals.

Also, take this how you will, but Gearbox themselves approved my transgender Zane art to be sold on Redbubble, and liked the art on my Twitter which has to mean something, right?.

Crewmate, from Among Us

Amongus

Simple, sleek, instantly recognizable through human pattern recognition. There’s nothing left to say.