The heart of theLife is Strangefranchise has always seemed to be diversity and inclusion, especially when it comes to the LGBTQIA+ community. From the very firstLife is Strangegame, players could have a protagonist involved in a same-sex relationship without it being fetishized or out-of-place. This trend only continued throughout later releases, asLife is Strange: Before the StormandLife is Strange 2both have a variety of LGBTQ+ characters. Though it’s still a month away from release,Life is Strange: True Colorshas also confirmed that it will have LGBTQ+ characters, including a same-sex romance option for protagonist Alex Chen.
There are technically 11 LGBTQ+ characters found in the entireLife is Strangefranchise, with the eleventhLGBTQ+ character being Alex Chen, who will have both a same- and opposite-sex romance option inLife is Strange: True Colors. However, because the game isn’t available yet, it wouldn’t be fair to include her without having a full scope of her personality, motivations, and romantic interactions yet. All 10 remaining LGBTQ+ characters can be found inLife is Strange,Life is Strange: Before the Storm, andLife is Strange 2.
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Max Caulfield
The playable character ofLife is Strange, Max can have romantic feelings for two different characters. She could pursue something romantic with Warren Graham, her close friend who has a crush on her, orher childhood friend Chloe Price. The statistics show that the majority of players agreed to go to the movies with Warren, but the majority of them also didn’t help him with his experiment in episode 2, “Out of Time.” However, when episode 3, “Chaos Theory,” rolled around, 78 percent of players took the opportunity to kiss Chloe. The hardest decision inLife is Strangeis choosing between Arcadia Bay and Chloe, and the decision is harder when players have a romantic relationship with her.
Chloe Price
A fan-favorite character, Chloe Price captivated the hearts of many players inLife is Strangeas one ofits first known LGBTQ+ characters. She’s also the playable character in the prequel,Life is Strange: Before the Storm, which explores her relationship with Rachel Amber. Chloe admits to Max inLife is Strangethat she had a crush on, and even loved, Rachel Amber before her disappearance. Players can make these romantic feelings real inBefore the Storm, as Rachel Amber can be pursued in a romantic way throughout the game.
Rachel Amber
Players never hear a line of dialogue spoken by Rachel Amber in the firstLife is Strange, but it’s clear she meant a lot to Chloe before her disappearance.Life is Strange: Before the Stormgives playersa chance to get to know the real Rachel Amber better, and to see her relationship with Chloe first-hand. Rachel attracted the attention of many, which is why Chloe was so hurt when she found out Rachel had a sexual relationship with Frank. Despite her absence from the original game, players always knew how Chloe felt about Rachel.
Sean Diaz
Sean is the player character ofLife is Strange 2and, much like otherLife is Strangeprotagonists, has two different romance options. He can become romantically involved with Cassidy or Finn McNamara, both of whom he meets inepisode 3 ofLife is Strange 2. UnlikeLife is Strange, Sean’s goodbye to his romantic interest comes much sooner than Max’s, but that’s becauseLife is Strange 2focuses on his relationship with his brother above any other.
Finn McNamara
Players meet Finn in episode 3 ofLife is Strange 2when he and Cassidy are trying to make it to the jobs they lined up on a marijuana farm. Through their interactions, players can tell that Finn is attracted to Sean. Finn is one of the few characters to explicitly discuss sexuality labels, though he doesn’t use one for himself. Players have noted thatFinn fits the “pansexual” labelunder the LGBTQ+ umbrella.
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Jacob Hackerman
Jacob is not a potential romantic interest for Sean, but the two meet because Jacob works on the same farm as Finn and Cassidy. He grew up in a small town, and it’s later discovered that his community made him undergo conversion therapy after finding out he was gay. Jacob had a hard time accepting himself and his sexuality, and this was made even worse by his small community. His story is one of the sadder LBGTQ+ stories inLife is Strange.
Arthur and Stanley Petersen
As they are along-established couple inLife is Strange 2, it’s only fair to list Arthur and Stanley together. Arthur had the harder time of the two concerning his coming out, as he came out after being with his wife for 20 years and having three daughters. Only one daughter, Becky, still talks to him. Stanley and Arthur care deeply for each other, which Daniel witnesses and tells Sean that he hopes somebody will care about him that same way when he gets old. Though they live on the outskirts of society, they’re happy with each other.
Penny
Penny meets Sean andthe others inLife is Strange 2. He is a bit more paranoid than other characters, working alongside Finn and Cassidy at the marijuana farm. Penny has a tragic love story with Arthur “Jinx” Lee, a boy he fell in love with. Jinx got high and wandered into the woods, never to be seen again. Penny still waits for him, but at the time of the events ofLife is Strange 2,it has been some time since Jinx was seen or heard from.
Steph Gingrich
Players first meet Steph Gingrich inLife is Strange: Before the Storm;a classmate and friend of Chloe Price. However,Steph will be returning inLife is Strange: True Colorsas a potential romantic interest for Alex. InBefore the Storm, Steph has a crush on Rachel Amber and asks Chloe if she knows whether Rachel is seeing anyone. Steph’s confirmed LGBTQ+ identity is lesbian, especially evidenced by Chloe’s journal that states Steph is “into girls” and doesn’t care what others think about it.
Players who want to revisit any of these LGBTQ+ identifying characters can load up their favoriteLife is Strangegame at any time. Those who are waiting to learn more about Alex and her potential relationship with Steph only have to wait about amonth forLife is Strange: True Colors. Either way, it seems theLife is Strangefranchise has always sought to include LGBTQ+ characters in a way that isn’t tokenized or fetishized, which is appreciated by a great many fans.
Life is Strange: True Colorsreleases September 10 for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
