Vampires are Gay - A Collective Case Study and Close Play Analysis of Queer Representation through Vampires in Western Video Games

Aug 29, 2026

Uploaded by Himbo

The dissertation investigates how queerness is represented through Western vampires across video games. It links vampire origins in early nineteenth-century Gothic literature to later mainstream media continuities, noting a research gap in game studies. Ten Western-developed games are grouped as explicitly queer or not explicitly queer, then analyzed using close play and comparative methods. Findings show explicit titles portray queerness within heterosexual beauty norms, while non-explicit games frame it as deviance, yet both use vampirism for self-acceptance and wish fulfilment.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages87

Reading Time3 h 39 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Literature Review

A Short History of the Origins of Vampires

The Queerness of Gothic Vampires

The Queerness of Modern Vampires

Vampires in Games

Queer Video Games

Methodology

Case Study

Close Play

Video Game Selection

Video Game Analysis

Summary

Author Positionality

Case Studies

Explicitly Queer Games

Non-Explicitly Queer Games

Conclusion

References

Vampires are Gay: A Collective Case Study and Close Play Analysis of Queer Representation through Vampires in Western Video Games Georgie Shepherd-Bell 2023 A dissertation submitted to Auckland University of Technology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of English and New Media Studies (MENMS) School of Language and Culture Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................... iii List of Figures .................................................................................................................iv Attestation of Authorship ...............................................................................................v 1.0 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Literature Review .................................................................................................3 2.1 A Short History of the Origins of Vampires .........................................................3 2.2 The Queerness of Gothic Vampires......................................................................5 2.3 The Queerness of Modern Vampires....................................................................8 2.4 Vampires in Games............................................................................................ 14 2.5 Queer Video Games........................................................................................... 16 3.0 Methodology ....................................................................................................... 19 3.1 Case Study ........................................................................................................ 19 3.2 Close Play.......................................................................................................... 19 3.3 Video Game Selection........................................................................................20 3.4 Video Game Analysis.........................................................................................20 3.5 Summary...........................................................................................................21 3.6 Author Positionality ..........................................................................................22 4.0 Case Studies ........................................................................................................23 4.1 Explicitly Queer Games.....................................................................................23 4.1.1 First Bite ......................................................................................................23 4.1.3 Monster Prom..............................................................................................33 4.1.4 Conclusion ...................................................................................................37 4.2 Non-Explicitly Queer Games.............................................................................41 4.2.1 Vampyr ........................................................................................................41 4.2.2 Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Series.........................................................45 4.2.3 Conclusion ................................................................................................... 51 5.0 Conclusion...........................................................................................................54 References ......................................................................................................................58 Abstract The queerness of Western vampires was cemented during their gothic origins in the early 1800s with Coleridge’s 1816 poem Christabel and Polidori’s 1819 prose The Vampyre. Their undoubtedly queer origins have

FAQs

What research gap does the study address?

The dissertation identifies limited research on how vampire queerness is represented in video games compared with existing work on television and film.

How are the ten video games organized for analysis?

The games are separated into two groups: those with explicitly queer narratives and those that are not explicitly queer.

What does the study find about explicit vs non-explicit queer games?

Explicitly queer games present queerness positively but within mainstream heterosexual beauty standards, while non-explicitly queer games depict queerness as dangerous sexual deviancy aligned with Byronic representations.

Aug 29, 2026

Uploaded by Himbo