Summary
- Video games can address real-life topics like autism sensitively to educate and build connections with players.
- Many video game characters, like Wattson in Apex Legends, are confirmed to be on the autism spectrum.
- Characters from games like To The Moon and Borderlands exhibit traits of Asperger's or autism, adding depth and representation.
Though they are works of fiction, video games have the power to tackle real-life topics with sensitivity and accuracy to build awareness. It's important for developers to provide representation to build a better rapport with their fans and educate those who may be unfamiliar with certain topics like mental health, anxiety, and grief.
One topic that is gaining a platform in games is autism. Developers have the opportunity to incorporate more autistic characters and build a connection with gamers diagnosed with autism. If players look closely enough, there are already plenty of great characters with autism in video games, offering a great start for the industry to build upon.
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10 Amy (Amy)
Struggles With Social Interaction
Amy
- Released
- January 11, 2012
- Developer(s)
- VectorCell
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Stealth
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Amy follows the titular character being escorted by her guardian, Lana, through a city of infected citizens. In addition, Amy has psychic powers and has become the target of a military unit, which the infected Lana must also protect the girl from.
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In an interview with AOL, Amy director Paul Cuisset confirmed that Amy has autism. Her autism isn't nonverbal, but due to some traumatic experiences in a scientific facility, Amy hardly speaks. However, she opens up more to Lana as the two bond over the course of their journey.
9 Wattson (Apex Legends)
Hyperfixates On Her Father's Work
Apex Legends
- Released
- February 4, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Respawn Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Battle Royale, First-Person Shooter
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, iOS, Android, Switch
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Wattson is one of the many characters found in one of the best hero shooter games that all gamers should try, Apex Legends. Her father was the electrical engineer for the Apex Games, which inspired his daughter to study his work and follow in his footsteps. After his death, she was invited to join the Apex Games in the arena that she built.
In a post on X replying to a fan, Apex Legends creator Tom Cosiello confirmed Wattson is on the autistic spectrum. This correlates with Wattson's clapping stim and high sensitivity to loud noises that she shows in the game. Her character bio also mentions her behavior ranging from "completely distracted one moment and hyper-focused the next...", a trait that resonates with both autism and ADHD.
8 Brigid Tenenbaum (BioShock)
Has Trouble Empathizing
BioShock
- Released
- August 21, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Irrational Games
- Genre(s)
- FPS
A key character in a horror game that gets better with age, Brigid is a geneticist who created the Little Sisters in Rapture. She is a German Jew who survived the Holocaust — largely due to her assisting the German doctors in their experiments on the prisoners.
BioShock creator Ken Levine confirmed that Brigid is "a highly functioning autistic" in an interview with Game Informer. In the same interview, Levine clarified that it isn't just her medical condition that defined who Brigid is, but a combination of her condition, her motivations, and her background, making her a compelling, realistic character with many layers.
7 Symmetra (Overwatch)
Prefers To Work In A Structured Environment
Overwatch
- Released
- May 24, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Blizzard
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC, PS4
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
In this hero shooter with enthralling lore and lovable characters, Symmetra is a true standout. Symmetra dreams of and has the opportunity to build a perfect society. With her Photon Projector that emits hard light, she can create impressive structures and all kinds of traps and weapons to defeat her enemies.
As reported by The Best War Games, Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan confirmed that Symmetra is on the autism spectrum in a letter to a fan. This correlates with Symmetra's traits, including her preference to work in an organized and unified environment and process. She also has difficulty with social interactions and with sensory overload.
6 River Wyles (To The Moon)
Has Trouble Expressing Emotions
To the Moon
- Released
- November 1, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
River Wyles is the love interest of Johnny, the protagonist of an adventure game gamers should try just once, To The Moon. The game takes players through Johnny's life, highlighting the love story between Johnny and River from childhood to adulthood.
During the game's events, River is diagnosed with what the doctor describes as "pervasive developmental disorder." However, fans believe this is Asperger's syndrome, a part of the Autism Spectrum Disorder. Furthermore, the doctor gives River and John a book by real-life psychologist Tony Attwood, who is regarded for his work on Asperger's syndrome, supporting this theory.
5 Gin Ibushi (Your Turn To Die - Death Game By Majority)
Relies On Comfort Items
- Developer: Nankidai
- Release Date: August 28, 2017
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows
- Genres: Visual Novel, Adventure, Indie, Horror
Gin is an elementary school student who is forced to endure a series of deadly trials compiled by several criminal organizations to find a new leader among the participants.
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In chapter 3, part 1 of the game, Gin confirms in dialogue with another contestant, Sara, that he has autism. He tells Sara he feels great anxiety if he's not wearing the special outfit that he wears throughout the game. His clothing and his beloved dog-head cushion are comfort items for him, which can be helpful for autistic individuals who have anxiety.
4 Cove Holden (Our Life: Beginnings and Always)
Intense Emotions
- Developer: GB Patch Games
- Release Date: November 16, 2020
- Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, Linux
- Genres: Visual Novel, Casual, Indie, Free To Play
After his parents' divorce, Cove and his father move next door to the main character. Cove is one of the romance options for the main character in this dating sim, and the player can watch him grow and evolve both on his own and with the character.
Between the third and fourth arcs of the game, Cove is diagnosed with autism. His personality tends to shift depending on the player's choices, but no matter what paths they take, Cove always shows high emotional sensitivity. This can often be a trait of someone on the autism spectrum.
3 Simone Cole (Clive Barker's Jericho)
Frequent Meltdowns, But High Attention To Detail
Clive Barker's Jericho
- Released
- October 23, 2007
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- MercurySteam
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Survival Horror
Corporal Simone Cole is an intellectual genius, aiding her as a programmer. She serves the United States government as a member of the Jericho Squad, a military unit that deals with paranormal beings that threaten the country and their allies.
Simone was diagnosed with autism at age 4, as stated in the game's extras section. Simone's obsessive-compulsive personality, dedication to numbers and machinery, and meltdowns are attributed to her condition.
2 Patricia Tannis (Borderlands)
Intense Passion For Eridian Artifacts
Borderlands
- Released
- October 20, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Gearbox Software
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, FPS
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Dr. Patricia Tannis is an archaeologist, scientist, and one of the most popular characters in the Borderlands franchise. She eventually becomes a Vault Hunter who is passionate about the Eridian people and their artifacts, but loses a bit of her sanity in the meantime.
The "Hidden Journals" mission in Borderlands 2 mentions that Tannis has Asperger's syndrome. Tannis exhibits some traits that individuals with autism may have, including hyperfixating on certain topics and interests, difficulties with social interaction, and echolalia (repeating others' words).
1 Josh Sauchak (Watch Dogs 2)
Blunt And Struggles To Read Social Cues
Watch Dogs 2
- Released
- November 15, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action, Adventure
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
A main character in one of the best open-world stealth games, Josh grew up harnessing his mechanical engineering skills. As an adult, Josh became a skilled hacker for Dedsec after the group was made aware of his anti-CtOS videos.
In his audio report, Horatio mentions that Josh is "high-functioning autistic." Josh himself declares he has Asperger's syndrome in the game. He is a very blunt individual and does have trouble with social interaction and cues, all of which are common traits of autism.
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