Baldur's Gate 3's sex is a celebration of kinks

The launch of Baldur’s Gate 3 has unearthed some secrets about the video gaming community, the main takeaway being that we’re a horny bunch. When it was discovered that characters could have sex with a bear, the game went from being a mere success to a viral sensation. Sex is such a trending topic when it comes to BG3, that an official speedrun to lay your way through the game has begun.

But what is it about interspecies sex that has us so hot under the collar? Arguably, it’s the freedom it offers. In a society that’s still largely governed by conventions that are decades, even centuries old, being able to cast off those shackles and indulge in something beyond enforced vanilla is welcomed. Scratch that, it’s a relief. Granted, there are pockets of true sex positivity on the internet, but it’s not mainstream by any stretch of the imagination; normalising tentacle dildos and other walks of Hentai is long overdue. This isn’t to say that there shouldn’t be boundaries, but rather that we should be allowed to set our own boundaries instead of having them imposed.

Your kinky love story can begin with the Baldur's Gate 3 trailer

Take the Mind Flayers as romantic interests – it’s, generally, regarded as a weird romance option, and maybe it is compared to romancing the same species in-game. However, for anyone who’s starting to discover they enjoy tentacles in a special sort of way, being able to explore that unashamedly will undoubtedly be a breath of fresh air.

Yes, bedding a bear has a sensational edge to it, but it also speaks of emotional intimacy, because the character in question, Halsin, obviously trusts their partner enough to be in their true form. Arguably, for LGBTQIA+ gamers who’ve yet to come out, being able to explore their otherness in this unique way is part of the appeal. Humanoid creatures resonate because their aesthetic otherness speaks to our internal otherness we’ve yet to share; they’re a part of us we haven’t let out, and the game is the world we hope we can one day be a part of.

That’s the power of sexual freedom in games. Still, there’s also the fact that it’s fun. Being able to romance unusual creatures for the hell of it is a great laugh, and something we can talk about with friends as we exchange our in-game experiences. At the end of the day, video games should be fun, even the ones that scare you so badly you look over your shoulder whenever you move around the house – if it isn’t entertaining, it’s failing. Sometimes we look for depth when there isn’t any, or, should I say, there doesn’t have to be any; some see meaning where others don’t, that’s what creative mediums offer. It’s all open to interpretation.

Without video games, exploration of ourselves, whether it’s only skin deep or into the recesses of our minds, would stagnate. We’d be unable to actively participate in our fantasies because no medium would offer it to us – books, films, they’re all passive activities, without any tangible connections. So I say let’s embrace our kinks one playthrough at a time!