By Sagar V. Mankar The 2024 Gayming Awards have once again shone a spotlight on the incredible strides being made in LGBTQ+ representation within the gaming industry.
Established in 2021, the Gayming Awards aim to honor games, content creators, and industry professionals who have made significant contributions to promoting diversity and inclusion within the gaming community.
Organized by Gayming Magazine, an online publication dedicated to LGBTQ+ gamers, the awards feature categories such as Best LGBTQ+ Character, Best LGBTQ+ Indie Game, and the Gayming Magazine Readers’ Award.
This year’s ceremony, held virtually, saw Larian Studios’ critically acclaimed RPG Baldur’s Gate 3 emerge as the biggest winner
The studio received six nominations across five categories and secured an award for nearly everyone, including the prestigious Game of the Year award.
While Baldur’s Gate 3 stole the show, several other games and studios received well-deserved recognition:
- Thirsty Suitors by Outer Loop Games won two awards, including the Authentic Representation Award.
- Latinx In Gaming won the Industry Diversity Award.
- HBO’s The Last of Us series won LGBTQ+ Geek Entertainment Moment of the Year for its third episode.
The Gayming Awards not only recognize established games and studios but also shine a spotlight on up-and-coming talent. This year, five new streamers were inducted into the Streamer Rising Star class:
- DEVOGLAER
- PearlTeese
- SimplyAretha
- Sinarynn
- Sukar Baba
Full List of Gayming Awards Winners and Nominees:
Game of the Year Award
Winner: Baldur’s Gate 3 – Larian Studios
Nominees:
- Final Fantasy XVI – Square Enix
- Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo
- Thirsty Suitors – Outer Loop Games / Annapurna Interactive
- Spider-Man 2 – Insomniac Studios / Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical – Humble Games / Summerfall Studios
Gayming Magazine Readers’ Award
Winner: Baldur’s Gate 3 – Larian Studios
Nominees:
- Final Fantasy XVI – Square Enix
- Goodbye Volcano High – KO_OP
- Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo
- Tchia – Awaceb / Kepler Interactive
- This Bed We Made – Lowbirth Games
Gayming Icon Award
Winner: Jeremy Crawford – Wizards of the Coast
Jeremy Crawford, renowned for his work with Wizards of the Coast, has been honored with the prestigious Gayming Icon Award at the Gayming Awards 2024.
As the lead rules designer for Dungeons & Dragons, Crawford has significantly contributed to the gaming industry, particularly in the realm of LGBTQ+ representation.
His recent achievements include designing the 2024 Player’s Handbook and co-authoring several other D&D books, which have been celebrated for their inclusivity and diversity.
Crawford’s dedication to creating welcoming and engaging gaming experiences for all has rightfully earned him this accolade.
Industry Diversity Award
Winner: Latinx In Gaming
Nominees:
- Humble Games
- Larian Studios
- Qweerty Gamers
- Roll7
Authentic Representation Award
Winner: Thirsty Suitors – Outer Loop Games / Annapurna Interactive
Nominees:
- Baldur’s Gate 3 – Larian Studios
- Coral Island – Stairway Games / Humble Games
- The Sims 4 – Maxis / EA Games
- The Expanse: A Telltale Games – Telltale Games / Deck 9
- This Bed We Made – Lowbirth Games
Best LGBTQ+ Character Award
Winner: Shadowheart – Baldur’s Gate 3 – Larian Studios
Nominees:
- Aloy – Horizon: Forbidden West – Guerilla / PlayStation Studios
- Dame Aylin – Baldur’s Gate 3 – Larian Studios
- Dion Lesage – Final Fantasy XVI – Square Enix
- Jala – Thirsty Suitors – Outer Loop Games / Annapurna Interactive
- Tchia – Tchia – Awaceb / Kepler Interactive
Best LGBTQ+ Indie Game Award
Winner: Thirsty Suitors – Outer Loop Games / Annapurna Interactive
Nominees:
- Coral Island – Stairway Games / Humble Games
- In Stars and Time – insertdisc5
- Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical – Humble Games / Summerfall Studios
- Tchia – Awaceb / Kepler Interactive
- This Bed We Made – Lowbirth Games
LGBTQ+ Streamer of the Year Award
Winner: SpringSims
Nominees:
- Apothicdecay
- Eevoh
- Elix
- EspeSymone
- Halfmoonjoe
- Maisy
- Sheilur
Best LGBTQ+ Contribution to Esports Award
Winner: Emma “Emzii” Rose
Nominees:
- Bailey McCann
- Bethany “Indyburgh” Pyles
- Cora Kennedy
- Slaypex / Kylie Gabor
LGBTQ+ Geek Entertainment Moment of the Year
Winner: The Last of Us: Long Long Time – HBO
Nominees:
- Doctor Who: The Star Beast – Bad Wolf & BBC Studios
- Harley Quinn – DC Studios & Warner Bros Animation
- Nimona – Netflix & Annapurna Pictures
- Scott Pilgrim Takes Off – Netflix
- The Legend of Vox Machina – Season 2 – Amazon Studios, Critical Role & Titmouse
For more information about the Gayming Awards, visit the official Gayming Magazine website.