20 Games That Cast Queer Actors as Straight Leads and It Was Perfect Casting

Queer performers have been anchoring some of gaming’s biggest straight-led franchises for decades—often across multiple entries—bringing consistency and star power to roles that players know by heart. Below are 20 individual games where an openly LGBTQ+ actor voiced or performance-captured a straight lead (or co-lead), along with the studios and publishers behind each title. Where series recur, that’s because the same queer star continued to lead in distinct releases that mattered to fans and platform libraries. Company credits are included in every entry so you can see exactly who built and shipped each game.

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Kevin Conroy (openly gay) leads as Bruce Wayne/Batman in this series debut from Rocksteady Studios, published by Eidos Interactive in conjunction with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game cemented the Arkham template and reunited talent from the animated universe around Conroy’s performance. Rocksteady built it on Unreal Engine 3, with Warner Bros. handling ongoing distribution on later platforms. Conroy’s role as Batman across games is also reflected in DC’s memorial note acknowledging his husband, Vaughn C. Williams.

Batman: Arkham City

Rocksteady Studios returned with Conroy again starring as Batman, this time published solely by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The sequel expanded the open-world design and continued the series’ signature voice casting led by Conroy. It released across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, with additional ports handled by WB-affiliated teams. Warner Bros. managed distribution and marketing worldwide.

Batman: Arkham Knight

Conroy reprised Batman for Rocksteady Studios’ finale, published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The project launched on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, with later platform updates managed by WB. Despite a troubled PC rollout, the title remained a flagship for the Arkham brand. Warner Bros. promoted it as the trilogy’s conclusion.

Batman: Arkham City Lockdown

NetherRealm Studios developed this mobile spin-off with Kevin Conroy voicing Batman, and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment publishing. Built on Unreal Engine 3 for iOS and later Android, it arrived shortly after ‘Batman: Arkham City.’ NetherRealm’s production connected the Arkham brand to mobile storefronts under WB’s label.

Injustice: Gods Among Us

NetherRealm Studios cast Conroy again as Batman for this DC fighter, published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game brought multiple DC heroes and villains under one mechanics set while retaining iconic voices. Console and mobile editions were released under WB’s publishing umbrella. Casting records and credits list Conroy as Batman.

Injustice 2

NetherRealm Studios and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment returned with a sequel featuring Conroy’s Batman among its headline cast. The title iterated on gear and story modes while keeping continuity in voice direction. WB handled global publishing across platforms. Credits databases confirm Conroy’s role.

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions

Neil Patrick Harris (openly gay) voices one of the game’s Spider-Men in this Beenox production, published by Activision. The title features four Spider-Man variants, each led by a different star, with NPH voicing the Amazing Spider-Man. Activision financed and released the project across major consoles. Contemporary interviews and cast listings confirm the multi-actor Spider-lead approach.

Star Trek (2013)

Zachary Quinto (openly gay) reprises Spock as a co-lead in this Digital Extremes third-person adventure, published by Namco Bandai Games under license from Paramount/CBS. The game shipped on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. Cast announcements and credits confirm the film actors’ return. Publisher materials and coverage tied the release to the ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ window.

Grandia II

Cam Clarke (openly gay) stars as Ryudo in this JRPG originally developed by Game Arts and published in North America by Ubi Soft (Ubisoft). Credits and databases list Clarke as the English voice for the straight-romance protagonist. Later ports expanded the title’s reach beyond Dreamcast, with multiple publishers handling re-releases.

Freddy Pharkas: Frontier Pharmacist (CD-ROM)

Cam Clarke voices straight lead Freddy in the CD-ROM edition of this Sierra On-Line adventure, which Sierra developed and published. The voiced re-release added full speech for all characters, with Clarke billed as the title role. Sierra’s internal engine (SCI1.1) powered the talkie version.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja

Maile Flanagan (openly lesbian) voices Naruto Uzumaki in this CyberConnect2 fighter published by Namco in the West. Flanagan’s English lead carries the game’s Story and Versus modes adapted from the anime. CyberConnect2 built the core combat systems used in later entries. Reference listings confirm Flanagan as Naruto.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2

CyberConnect2 and Namco Bandai delivered a sequel with Flanagan continuing as the straight shōnen lead. The release expanded character rosters and story arcs while keeping the same English voice talent for Naruto. Publishing again came via Namco Bandai in Western territories. Cast databases document the returning actor.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm

CyberConnect2 shifted the series to HD arenas under Namco Bandai Games, retaining Flanagan as Naruto’s English voice. The release introduced free-movement battles and cinematic boss set pieces. Namco Bandai handled console publishing globally. Voice-actor listings confirm Flanagan in the role.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2

CyberConnect2 and Namco Bandai Games followed with a multi-platform sequel still starring Flanagan as Naruto. The game added online play and continued the Shippuden storyline. Publishing and distribution remained under Namco Bandai. Franchise credits show consistent casting.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3

CyberConnect2 and Namco Bandai Games expanded set-pieces and character counts, with Flanagan once again voicing the lead. A ‘Full Burst’ edition added content and balance changes under the same publisher. Listings confirm her English performance for Naruto in this entry.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4

CyberConnect2’s finale in the main Storm line arrived under Bandai Namco Entertainment, keeping Flanagan as Naruto and adding ‘Road to Boruto’ content. The title launched on PS4, Xbox One, and PC with Bandai Namco publishing. Official pages and credits identify developer and publisher roles clearly.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution

CyberConnect2 produced this roster-heavy release with Bandai Namco Entertainment publishing, maintaining Flanagan in the English lead. The spin-off focused on tournament systems and original animated sequences. Bandai Namco managed Western distribution across platforms. Cast continuity followed earlier Storm entries.

Naruto: Rise of a Ninja

Ubisoft Montréal developed this Xbox 360 exclusive with Ubisoft publishing, featuring Flanagan as the playable Naruto in English. The game mixed open-world traversal with arena combat tailored for console audiences. Ubisoft marketed it as a Western-built take on the license. Credits document studio and publisher.

Naruto: The Broken Bond

Ubisoft Montréal and Ubisoft followed up with a direct sequel again starring Flanagan as Naruto in English. It expanded exploration and refined combat systems while staying exclusive to Xbox 360. Ubisoft handled development and global publishing. Cast and credit pages confirm roles.

Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker

Soleil Ltd. developed this team-based online action game with Bandai Namco Entertainment publishing, and Flanagan returning as Hokage-era Naruto in English. The service-driven title added modes and seasonal updates under Bandai Namco’s live-ops. Voice-actor listings and company credits confirm participation and roles.

Share more examples you love—or ones we should add—in the comments!