At the 2025 Gayming Awards, queer excellence took centre stage as drag royalty, bold narratives, and boundary-breaking creators reshaped what gaming can be. From Dragon Age: The Veilguard to The Last of Us Part II Remastered, this year’s winners prove that LGBTQ+ stories are no longer mere Easter Eggs. They’re the future of the industry.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard was selected as the LGBTQ+ Game of the Year.Subscribe to our newsletter here.
At the Gayming Awards 2025, the spotlight shone bright on the queer talent reshaping the gaming landscape. With drag queens DEERE and Milady Confetti hosting, this year’s ceremony was a celebration of LGBTQ+ excellence, from pixelated heroes to powerful queer narratives. This wasn’t just another awards show – it was a recognition of the cultural shift happening in the world of gaming, where LGBTQ+ stories are no longer side quests but the heart of the journey.
From legendary wins to standout nominations, here’s a look at the categories making waves and the pioneering games and figures earning their place in history.
This year’s Game of the Year was claimed by Dragon Age: The Veilguard, a role-playing game that’s turning heads for its inclusive character design and queer narratives. The game features Rook, a customisable protagonist whose queer romances have already become iconic, making a strong case for LGBTQ+ representation at the forefront of mainstream gaming. The game’s win underscores the changing landscape in gaming, where queer characters are no longer an afterthought – they’re the main quest.
One of the most significant honours of the night was the Gayming Magazine Readers’ Award, voted on by fans. This award reflects true community impact, as it showcases which games the LGBTQ+ gaming community has connected with most. The fan-powered win went to The Last of Us Part II Remastered by Naughty Dog: a game that continues to hold a special place in the hearts of queer gamers. Ellie’s journey, filled with love, loss, and queer identity, still resonates strongly, proving that queer narratives in gaming can stand the test of time.
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You can simply scroll past — but please don’t overlook the importance of an independent queer press.
You can simply scroll past—but please don't overlook the importance of an independent queer press.
Time is now or never.
Queer voices disappear without independent journalism to amplify them.
We document what others won't touch.
We hold power to account when it threatens our communities.
This work exists only because you choose to fund it directly.
Donate over €25/month and receive our limited-edition tote bag — a badge of resistance, a statement that you stand for fearless journalism.
We are grateful!
Can't donate? Sharing our work helps more than you think
The Gayming Awards are shaping the future of gaming. These awards shine a light on the LGBTQ+ creators, characters, and games that are pushing for inclusivity in an industry that’s often been slow to evolve and against an increasingly hostile global climate. From representation in storylines to advocacy for diversity behind the scenes, the Gayming Awards celebrate the people who are working tirelessly to make gaming a more welcoming and inclusive space.
As Robin Gray, founder of Gayming Magazine and the Gayming Award shared, this year’s ceremony showcased the progress being made, but also highlighted how much work is left to do. The rise of queer characters like Rook from The Veilguard, along with the achievements of iconic figures like Rebecca Heineman, underscore that queer visibility is finally being recognised and celebrated – not just in niche games, but in the mainstream.
“Each year, I am honoured to celebrate the incredible creators, game makers, and industry workers who are shaping our world,” continued Gray. “This year’s winners represent a wonderfully diverse group of people, all of whom are making the gaming industry more inclusive, accessible, and welcoming in their own way.
“Whether it’s creating games with stories and characters that truly represent us, building communities that provide space for LGBTQ+ people to be themselves, or challenging the industry’s norms to pave the way for more inclusion – this year’s awards showcase that progress is happening on every front.
“Now, more than ever, it’s crucial that we support, champion, and defend one another. Our partnership with World of Wonder has allowed us to take this celebration to new heights, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished together.”
The 2025 Gayming Award Winners
- Game of the Year Award: Dragon Age: The Veilguard (BioWare, EA)
- Best LGBTQ+ Indie Game Award: Kitsune Tails (Kitsune Games, MidBoss)
- Industry Diversity Award: Code Coven
- Community Impact Award: Stream for a Cause
- Gayming Magazine Readers’ Award: The Last of Us Part II: Remastered (Naughty Dog/PlayStation)
- Best LGBTQ+ Character Award: Rook (Dragon Age: The Veilguard)
- Best LGBTQ+ Voice Actor of the Year Award: Erika Ishii
- LGBTQ+ Content Creator of the Year Award: PearlTeese
- LGBTQ+ Contribution to Esports Award: Bailey McCann
- LGBTQ+ Geek Entertainment of the Year Award: Arcane: Season 2 (Netflix)
- Gayming Icon Award: Rebecca Heineman
- LGBTQ+ Streaming Rising Star Class of 2025: BoyeFran, Bvssykatdoll, Mynxie666, and WillJinkies
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