In the world of video games, nudity has long been a taboo subject, with social stigmas and misconceptions about games as a “child’s toy” preventing it from being depicted in mainstream titles. The exception to this rule is Japan, where Eroge and Visual Novels have long featured nudity and sexual content. However, over time, the depiction of nudity in video games has matured and become more integrated into mainstream titles.
Note that there are images below that are NSFW – proceed with caution.
Nude Video Game Characters
There have been many examples of nudity in video games throughout the years. However, it’s worth noting that many of these depictions are often highly stylized and not necessarily intended to be hyper-realistic.
Here are a few examples:
Naughty Dog Logo – Rings of Power
In the 1980s, Naughty Dog entered the gaming industry, and they haven’t left since. Nowadays, they are a subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment, but their success story started way before that. In fact, they were already making waves in the gaming world, producing successful games for years, long before they created their breakthrough for Sony: the Crash Bandicoot series in the mid-1990s.
Apart from the Crash Bandicoot series, Naughty Dog had also developed a Lord of the Rings-inspired game series called Rings of Power. In this game, you would play as a young sorcerer tasked with collecting ten rings of power. Like most game developers, Naughty Dog had a signature logo that would appear at the beginning of the game. However, what set them apart was their creative use of a cheat code that unlocked a rather peculiar feature. The Naughty Dog model would drop her bikini revealing herself in all her pixelated glory.
Seems pretty sexist these days, my how times have changed.
Hot Coffee – GTA San Andreas
In the mid-2000s, video games had already established themselves as a mainstream entertainment medium. The notion that they were exclusively meant for children was long gone. But amidst this normalization of video games, something truly startling happened in 2004. The “Hot Coffee” scandal shook the gaming industry with the release of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
In the game, your character takes his significant other to her house, and she invites him in for some coffee. But here’s the twist, when the game cuts to the outside of the house, all you can hear is moaning. That scene was initially supposed to be a sexual mini-game. Developers ended up removing the scene, but it was still available through a patch.
Triss Marigold – The Witcher 2: Assasination of Kings
In The Witcher series, one of the game’s main characters is Triss Merigold, a powerful sorceress and love interest of the game’s protagonist, Geralt of Rivia. In one particular scene in the game, Triss is depicted as being completely nude during a romantic encounter with Geralt.
The scene has generated controversy and discussion among fans of the game and the wider gaming community, with some criticizing the depiction of nudity as gratuitous or unnecessary. Others defend it as a natural part of the game’s storytelling and characterization.
Raiden – Metal Gear Solid 2
In the video game Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, there is a scene in which the character Raiden is captured and stripped naked by his captors. The player is then required to guide Raiden through a section of the game while he is completely nude, using stealth to avoid detection by enemy guards. This section of the game has been noted for its controversial nature and has been a topic of discussion among fans of the Metal Gear series.
Some see it as a commentary on the objectification of women in video games. Regardless of one’s opinion, it remains a memorable moment in the history of the Metal Gear franchise.
Kasumi – Dead or Alive 2
Dead or Alive 2, the fighting game that hit the gaming world in the late 1990s, is part of the popular Dead or Alive series. The game’s plot revolves around the bad guys’ plot to clone Kasumi, who served as the main character in the franchise’s first two installments. The plotline ultimately led to the introduction of nudity in the game. In the Japanese version of the game, players would get to see a clone of Kasumi in the buff.
However, the game developers had more up their sleeve. While developing the character of Kasumi, they created a blank version of her as a testing ground. This hidden feature of the game is what makes it all the more interesting. If you are clever and have the right codes, you can access that “blank version” which is essentially a nude Kasumi.
Bayonetta – Bayonetta Series
The protagonist of the Bayonetta series, Bayonetta herself, is often depicted wearing outfits that are revealing and emphasize her sexuality. Her clothing is made of her own hair, which can be manipulated to cover or reveal parts of her body during combat. Her outfits include skin-tight bodysuits, high heels, and a pair of pistols strapped to her legs. While Bayonetta is not typically shown completely nude, there are instances where you can see her bare ass, for example when she is doing her move “Climax.”
Jennifer Willis – Splatterhouse
In a throwback to the original Splatterhouse game, Jennifer finds herself held captive by evil forces under the leadership of the wicked Dr. Henry West. In a valiant effort to save her, Rick puts on the infamous Terror Mask, transforming into a beastly powerhouse, ready to take on anything that comes his way. Jennifer had arrived at the West Mansion to pen a feature story on the reclusive doctor for the Miskatonic University newspaper. Despite West’s request for her to come alone, Rick insists on joining her, claiming that they had a date planned after the interview. But West sees right through the facade and concludes that Rick is only there to safeguard his girlfriend.
As Rick’s world crumbles around him and he faces certain doom, Jennifer is unceremoniously taken by West’s minions and dragged through the twisted halls of the mansion. She struggles to break free, but it’s all in vain as West drags her through time and space into even more bizarre and grotesque locations. Using shreds of her ripped photos as a trail for Rick to follow, some of which are extremely revealing. Jennifer becomes a key player in West’s vile plan. The crazed doctor intends to sacrifice her to bring back his dead wife, Leonora, who looks eerily similar to Jennifer.
Anna – Metro Exodus
In Metro Exodus, the third installment of the Metro video game series, the player takes on the role of Artyom, a survivor of a nuclear war that has devastated the world. Throughout the game, Artyom develops a romantic relationship with Anna, a member of his team and a skilled sniper.
Their relationship is depicted through various cutscenes and interactions, adding a layer of emotional depth to the game’s narrative. As they navigate the dangerous and desolate world together, they support each other in combat and more intimate moments.
Other Nude Game Characters
Bloodrayne – the main character of the Bloodrayne series is depicted as a half-vampire, and her clothing often includes revealing outfits and lingerie.
Morrigan Aensland – a character from the Darkstalkers series who is often depicted wearing a highly revealing outfit that shows off a lot of skin.
Ivy Valentine is a character from the Soul Calibur series known for her revealing outfits and large bust.
History of Nudity in Video Games
In the early days of video gaming, companies like Mystique pushed the boundaries with games featuring nudity and sexual content on the Atari 2600, such as “Swedish Erotica.” These games often suffered from poor graphics, but that didn’t stop Mystique from publishing around six games, some of which were double-sided cartridges that allowed for game variations to be played. One of their most notorious games was Custer’s Revenge, which depicted a crudely drawn scenario in which General Custer would rape a Native American woman tied to a post.
With the advent of the Nintendo Entertainment System, gaming ethics were imposed to ensure games were suitable for a wide audience. Companies needed proper licenses to sell their games on the platform. However, Taiwan-based Panesian produced three unlicensed games featuring pixelated nudity: Bubble Bath Babes, Hot Slot, and Peek-A-Boo Poker. Despite being produced in small quantities, these games have become highly sought-after collectors’ items due to their difficulties, pixelated nudity, and amusing use of Engrish.
As gaming standards relaxed, nudity and sex made their way into contemporary games, such as Hybrid Heaven for the Nintendo 64 featuring a nude male in a shower and Duke Nukem 3D featuring strippers intact on the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn. However, nudity often resulted in higher ratings and was usually censored for consoles like the Xbox, Nintendo Gamecube, and Sony PlayStation 2. Some games, like Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude, brought nudity and sex to the Xbox with no actual cuts in content.
While nudity in video games has matured and become more integrated into mainstream titles, some games still cause controversy. For example, The Guy Game rewarded players with female nudity, including that of a 17-year-old girl who had not had her age verified, leading to an injunction preventing its sales. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion also caused controversy when a file allowing for a topless female skin was found, leading to the game being re-rated as M-for-Mature.
External sources, such as Playboy’s “Girls of Gaming” cover article featuring topless or nude female characters, have given nudity in video games more mainstream acceptance. This exposure has led to other publishers realizing that their audience is interested in more mature depictions of their creations. The women depicted in the articles are better suited to the magazine’s format over time. Despite this progress, the industry still has a long way to go in putting a face of legitimacy on nudity in video games.
