Character Portrayals in Digital Games: A Systematic Review of More than Three Decades of Existing Research

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article presents a synthesis and interpretation of research on character portrayals in digital game content using a systematic review of existing studies (N = 30) based on a larger database search (N = 1,127). Character sex and gender has been the most frequently studied dimension, followed by character sexualization and character race and ethnicity. Other characteristics studied include characters from the LGBTQ community, body size, age, and mental well-being, along with character behaviors such as violence, profanity, and gambling. Overall, studies consistently observe that portrayals under-represent female and nonwhite characters and include problematic depictions. Methodological recommendations are provided.