Opinion
Porn for trans folks is rare. That’s true in gaming, too, where most trans men, women, and nonbinary people are forced to play adult games that have, at best, loosely trans-coded characters. When it comes to trans porn games for trans people, the responsibility sadly falls on our own shoulders.
In June 2019, I launched my erotica visual novel Blood Pact. Featuring art by my collaborator Callie G, Blood Pact depicts trans lesbian sex as we really have it. Our cocks are described as feminine, our bodies are longed after because of their transness, and, yes, there’s plenty of lust over trans womanhood (figuratively and literally). It proved popular with both trans girls and kink aficionados. My colleague Kate Gray at Kotaku praised Blood Pact as a bondage, dominance, sadism, and masochism (BDSM) fantasy “where you are wanted” and “your flawed, beautiful body” is loved. It’s flattering, to say the least.
But I wouldn’t have made Blood Pact without the other trans game developers already out here creating adult content. And my hope is that new trans creators with insightful, trailblazing things to say will one day take my place, creating their own depictions of trans love, sex, and bodies through porn. So, where should you start if you want to play or make trans porn games? From realistic depictions of trans desire to adult games for nonbinary folks, read on for the best adult games for trans people in the indie gaming world.
The best adult games for trans people
1) Best trans erotica game: can you say my name again
When it comes to art about gay trans girls, Nadia Nova has a way with words that few other game developers can match. Case in point, her free erotica Twine can you say my name again is a heart-wrenching love story about two horny trans lesbians navigating their desire for each other while working through different parts of their transitioning.
Not unlike her immensely popular trans smut game housewarming gift, can you say my name again explores trans longing in a realistic, everyday life setting. The game follows Laina and her online friend Pisti, who suddenly finds herself homeless after her parents kick her out for being trans. After Laina takes in Pisti, the two quickly find themselves attracted to each other. But Laina has intense anxiety that threatens to come between her and Pisti. Clocking in at 14,000 words, can you say my name is a touching exploration of trans lesbianism, queer trauma, and how sexual desire can be healing for trans women.
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2) Best adult game for nonbinary players: Knife Sisters
Porn for nonbinary folks is extremely rare, but Transcenders Media’s Knife Sisters challenges the norm by putting a nonbinary protagonist right in the player’s role. Created by queer young adult developer Bobbi A Sand, Knife Sisters stars a 19-year-old trans nonbinary person named Leo. The game follows Leo as they uncover the secretive “Knife Sisters” society, dragging the player along for kinky sex scenes with plenty of topping and bottoming along the way.
Featuring three different romanceable queer characters, Knife Sisters is both sexy and affirming for trans folks and queer cis people alike. The game even features a trans woman as once of its main romantic interests, which is still rare in the indie gaming world. Check out Kotaku’s write-up on the game for more information.
3) Best trans lesbian porn game: Hardcoded
Ask a room full of gay, horny trans women what their favorite smut game is, and chances are they’ll say Hardcoded. Developed by Ghosthug Games, Hardcoded casts players as HC, a runaway trans droid who escapes into the human world and joins a queer cyberpunk dystopia’s local queer community. As it turns out, an epidemic is making everyone around HC ridiculously horny, and so begins one hell of a slutty trans girl adventure in the late capitalist future of tomorrow.
Hardcoded is one of the most ambitious and immersive adult games for trans women, and it’s practically custom-tailored for trans lesbians. Players can hang out with other trans women, hook up with them through all sorts of sex scenes, and even receive explicit nudes over email once they return back home. Cis women feature, too, and if you’re looking for a quick fix, there are plenty of opportunities for no-strings-attached sex in both the main plot and the open-world exploration system (of particular note is a special bondage minigame where HC becomes a receptacle for strangers’ desires). Realistic and ridiculously hot, check out Hardcoded by subscribing to Ghosthug Games’ Patreon, or download the visual novel’s free demo on itch.io.
4) Best overall adult game for trans folks: Aster Asks
Trans Twitter and Tumblr users have long admired Drool Cutie’s adult artwork. Better known as trans comic creator Valerie Halla, Drool Cutie is Halla’s NSFW pen name, and she’s spent the last four years creating art, stories, and comics all about horny trans folks. In March 2019, Drool Cutie made the jump to game development with her Twine comic game Aster Asks. It’s easily one of the best adult games available for trans people, particularly trans women into monster girls.
Aster Asks follows the titular character Aster, a journalist living in a magical city that slowly turns people into adorable monsters. In the game’s first episode, “Softness,” Aster meets a cowgirl named Drippy and becomes smitten with her gigantic breasts. The two spend the day together on the beach and quickly become much more than just beach friends.
Like the rest of Drool Cutie’s work, Aster Asks features a well-written story, gorgeous illustrations, and plenty of trans-affirming metaphors. Players can choose whether Aster has a penis or a vagina, and the game centers the trans sapphic gaze in everything from Aster’s longing for her new friend’s body to Drippy’s pride in her monster girl form. Whether you’re a long-time fan of Drool Cutie’s work or a newcomer to her art, Aster Asks is a must-play. Pick up its first episode on itch.io for $5.
5) Honorable mention for trans-themed adult content: Monster Lover
Monster Lover isn’t quite as explicitly trans as some of the other trans porn games on our list. But scratch underneath the surface, and it’s there, hiding behind its occult window dressing. Created by NYU Game Center MFA students Salter Liu, Snippy Nguyen, Jingyu Sui, and Michelle Ehrhardt, the game was incredibly popular at the university when it launched in May 2018, and the game was later showcased at IndieCade 2018.
Monster Lover follows Dalia, a poly witch who summons her lover Leonard, aka Leo, Lord of the Dunes, dracologist, and shrine attendant of the Great Dragon Tombs of Exosia. Short but sweet, Monster Lover is more of an 18+ dating sim than an adult game. Successfully navigate small talk, dinner, and foreplay, and you’ll be rewarded with a sexy minigame between Dalia and her monstrous lover.
Not unlike Aster Asks, Monster Lover explores transness through metaphors. Given that Dalia is human and Leonard is, well, definitely not, the player has to carefully navigate Leo’s needs and comfort level to keep the date afloat. Fixate too heavily on his otherworldly body without meeting his needs, and you’ll soon find yourself chastised for treating him like a strange novelty. Cute, sexy, and incredibly affirming for trans masculine folks, Monster Lover is a fantastic allegory for both trans men and the femme lovers they date.
