Erotic themes have been present in video games for decades but have never received much attention from academia or mainstream media. While some developers have explored eroticism through explicit graphics and sound effects, others have used more subtle means to evoke sensuality and suggestive actions that push boundaries beyond simple nudity. This paper examines how erotic narrative elements are conveyed in video game stories, focusing on visual representation and character interactions rather than simply adding more skin. It also discusses how these trends evolve over time and what impact they may have on gaming culture.
In general, eroticism in video games is often associated with the gratuitous inclusion of pornographic images and scenes, but this approach misses out on the broader potential of storytelling using eroticism. Games such as Shadow of Mordor utilize sexual tension between characters without ever showing any genitalia or other explicitly sexual acts. Other games, like The Witcher series, feature more sexually suggestive characters and dialogue without being vulgar or offensive. These examples demonstrate how eroticism can be used to tell compelling stories while remaining true to the spirit of the medium.
The use of eroticism in video games dates back to Atari's ET, which featured a scene where an alien floats above a female protagonist's body while she sleeps. More recent titles, such as Lara Croft Tomb Raider, have employed more graphic depictions of sex, including rape scenarios and implied violence against women. Despite its controversy, Lara Croft popularized the idea of erotically charged adventure games featuring strong female characters and their relationships with male antagonists. The Mass Effect series later expanded on this concept by incorporating romantic subplots involving same-sex partnerships that were groundbreaking for mainstream gaming at the time.
Since then, many other games have explored erotic themes, from visual novels like Dating Simulator to role-playing games like Persona 5. While some are more overtly explicit than others, all aim to evoke feelings of attraction through character interactions, dialogue choices, and physical appearances. In Persona 5, players control the protagonist as they develop relationships with various party members while navigating dungeons and battling enemies. As the story progresses, the player must make decisions about who to pursue romantically and how far to take these interactions, leading to a unique dynamic between player agency and authorial intent.
Visual representation is also critical in conveying erotic narratives within game mechanics. Many modern RPGs utilize sexualized costumes or suggestive poses during battle sequences to invoke sensuality without being explicit. Similarly, many first-person shooters allow players to customize avatars based on gender or race to create an individualized experience focused on attractiveness rather than violence alone. This trend continues today with AAA titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 and GTA V, which both feature customizable avatars and clothing options explicitly designed for erotic appeal.
The use of erotica in video games has evolved since its earliest days but remains relatively understudied by academia. It is only recently that scholars have begun to explore this topic seriously, examining how it relates to cultural norms around sex positivity and gender roles. However, much work remains to be done before we can fully understand how gaming impacts our perceptions of desire, intimacy, power dynamics, and other related topics. Nonetheless, exploring eroticism through narrative instead of mere titillation allows developers to push boundaries beyond conventional expectations while still providing engaging experiences for players worldwide.