Friday, 12 December 2025
Videogame avatars can offer safer alternatives for exploring and expressing gender identities for transgender and gender diverse people, according to a new research review.
Experts from the University of Nottingham’s School of Psychology examined research from the past decade, analysing 14 studies and found that avatar customisation is a unique mechanism for exploring, expressing, and affirming gender identity for transgender players and has a positive impact on wellbeing. The findings have been published the International Journal of Transgender Health.
Video games offer players diverse, meaningful experiences through emotionally resonant narratives and complex characters with some games allowing players to customise virtual extensions of themselves, known as avatars, through which they explore environments, narratives, and social interactions.
Participants in the studies that were reviewed reported reduced gender dysphoria and increased gender euphoria when avatars aligned with their gender identity and desired expression. This effect was particularly strong when other players affirmed the players’ gender identity based on their in-game avatar.
These effects were most pronounced in role-playing and narrative-driven games and in games with high levels of avatar customization. An example of this is the game Baldur's Gate 3 which was highlighted by participants as having both a rich, emotionally impactful narrative as well as inclusive and meaningful avatar customisation options.
Studies also highlighted the online environment as a safer alternative for gender identity exploration and expression than offline environments.
This review was led by Dr Cecilie Lolansen from the School of Psychology at the University of Nottingham, she said: “In times of increasing infringements on transgender and gender diverse people's rights and access to care, it's becoming incredibly important to explore new ways of supporting these individuals, particularly when gender affirming care may be limited."
Our findings are not only important for cyberpsychology, but for clinicians and healthcare providers seeking to support transgender and gender diverse individuals using a low-cost intervention to enhance their wellbeing.
This research shows that video games can be more than just entertainment, they can be affirming spaces that support identity development. Game designers and mental health professionals have an opportunity to leverage these findings for inclusive design and psychological interventions.
Story credits
More information is available from Dr Cecilie Lolansen or Dr Nikki Dean Marshall on cecilie.lolansen@nottingham.ac.uk or nikki.deanmarshall@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 97 in the world and 17th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the third most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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