A Decade of Avatars: A Systematic Review of Recreational Gaming as a Mechanism for Gender Identity Exploration and Affirmation

Background Video games offer players diverse, meaningful experiences through emotionally resonant narratives and complex characters with some games allowing players to customize virtual extensions of themselves, known as avatars, through which they explore environments, narratives, and social interactions. Such customization can be especially meaningful for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals by offering an opportunity to explore and express their gender identity in an online environment.Objective This review aims to synthesize research from the past decade on video game avatar customization as a mechanism for supporting gender identity development and expression.Methods This review explores findings from 14 empirical studies from 2013-2025, Grounded in the PRISMA approach, studies were identified through database searches and screened for relevance to avatar customization for TGD experiences.Results Findings highlight avatar customization as a unique mechanism for exploring, expressing, and affirming gender identity for TGD players with positive impact on wellbeing. Participants reported reduced gender dysphoria and increased gender euphoria when avatars aligned with their gender identity and desired expression. This effect was particularly strong when other players affirmed the players’ gender identity based on their in-game avatar. These effects were most pronounced in role-playing and narrative-driven games, and in games with high levels of avatar customization. Studies also highlighted the online environment as a safer alternative for gender identity exploration and expression than offline environments. However, limitations relating to binary gender frameworks and inconsistent support for TGD players within gaming communities were also noted.Conclusion This review highlights the robust, positive impact of avatar customization for TGD players and represents a promising avenue for future psychological interventions and game design practises.