this post was submitted on 19 May 2026
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Everyone knows how to sexualize female characters in video games.
But how to sexualize male characters and do "fan service" for the female audience?

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[–] Klear@piefed.world 100 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)
[–] AzuranAurora@piefed.ca 20 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

So lots and lots of cocaine. Got it!

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[–] CaliforniaSober@lemmy.ca 7 points 4 weeks ago

“Gee I don’t know boss, that’s a lot of hair…”

[gunshot]

“The gun shoots death…”

[–] cattywampas@lemmy.world 84 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

Same way. Hot bods, tight clothes, show plenty of skin.

[–] velma@lemmy.blahaj.zone 43 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Women enjoying the same things as men? Why, I never!

[–] warmaster@lemmy.world 18 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Says Velma with an oversized sweater, just look at Daphne's outfit... Like, zoinks, Scoob!

[–] velma@lemmy.blahaj.zone 23 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Velma's short skirt and knee highs though...

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 24 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

Velma’s short skirt and knee highs though…

On all fours.. looking fo dem glasses..

[–] velma@lemmy.blahaj.zone 16 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

She was my bisexual awakening before I ever even realized it lol

[–] Pat_Riot@lemmy.today 8 points 4 weeks ago

Wait, I'm pretty sure I've seen that one.

[–] ashenone@lemmy.ml 20 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (2 children)

Testicle cleavage and beer belly shirts. What's the sluttiest hair style a man can have?

[–] meco03211@lemmy.world 11 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Not cleavage. Give 'em the moose knuckle.

[–] ashenone@lemmy.ml 8 points 4 weeks ago

They should be so lucky

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[–] hildegarde@lemmy.blahaj.zone 46 points 4 weeks ago (11 children)

To sexualize men for women, you have to understand women.

To men, attraction is largely visual. So to sexualize a woman for a male audience means making her look attractive, and dressed in a revealing outfit. Swapping the genders doesn't work. A visually attractive man in a revealing outfit is far more likely to appeal to either gay men sexually, or men generally as a power fantasy. To appeal to women you need a fundimentially different strategy altogether.

Consider erotic literature. Its a genre that is disproportionately popular with women. Its basically anti-porn, no visuals all story. Male characters in these stories are almost always sexualized by women for women. The attraction mostly from their choices and actions than appearance. You need a completely different approach.

Go read some smut. Talk to straight women about who and what they find attractive. You have to learn a lot about women to appeal to them. What they are looking for, and how they are looking for it is entirely different from men.

[–] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 12 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Consider erotic literature. Its a genre that is disproportionately popular with women. Its basically anti-porn, no visuals all story. Male characters in these stories are almost always sexualized by women for women. The attraction mostly from their choices and actions than appearance. You need a completely different approach.

Yes, its no visuals. Thats why there isnt 500,000,000 books with fabio ripped and glistening on the covers.

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[–] bampop@lemmy.world 12 points 3 weeks ago

I guess that's one of the less-acknowledged reasons why you see more sexualization of women in games. It costs next to nothing in terms of game design. Take any game, slap a scantily clad woman on it and bam, you've significantly increased your appeal to male audiences. To do the same for female audiences you have to build the entire game around that requirement.

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[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 45 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

According to my wife...

Dress shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbow.

Kilts.

[–] GrantUsEyes@lemmy.zip 10 points 4 weeks ago
[–] velma@lemmy.blahaj.zone 44 points 4 weeks ago (3 children)

It depends on the genre of the game.

Fighting games like Mortal Kombat? Put the men in skimpy outfits that show their muscles like the women.

Survival game? I don't need to see the characters sexualized while they're trying to survive a zombie apocalypse. Give me character depth and growth, empathy, and strong story-telling visuals. I'll fall in love with man or woman that way.

[–] warmaster@lemmy.world 26 points 4 weeks ago

Nothing like a miniature sized trikini to survive the zombie outbreak.

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[–] silverlightBeing@lemmy.ml 34 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
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[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 33 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Rolled up sleeves. Just trust me.

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[–] GrantUsEyes@lemmy.zip 23 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (7 children)

I'll cite some examples:

Hades and hades 2 (all the characters) supergiant did it right in both fronts.

Khazan. (protagonist)

Elden Ring. Godfrey/ Hoarah Loux & Radagon. (Crumbling or whatever, I don't care)

Or give me a guy in full plate with a sexy gait, see: Demon's Souls Penetrator.

Or without sexy gait. See: DS1 Artorias

I'm sorry I don't make the rules.

ETA: Halsin! (BG3) how could I forget?

[–] velma@lemmy.blahaj.zone 10 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Geralt from the Witcher fits nicely on this list.

[–] GrantUsEyes@lemmy.zip 8 points 4 weeks ago

Of.course, plus Geralt knows how to treat a lady. You know what, let's trow in Eskel as well, for the "rolled up sleeves" people... I see y'all.

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[–] cinoreus@lemmy.world 20 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (3 children)

Watch jojo. You are gonna get your answer best way possible

[–] Holytimes@sh.itjust.works 11 points 4 weeks ago

That's sexualizing men for everybody. He's asking how to do it specifically for women! It may seem like the same thing but it is different.

[–] GrantUsEyes@lemmy.zip 8 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (2 children)

I've tried to get into Jojo so many times for the beautiful men, but I kinda get bored.

Regardless ,thanks Araki. I still love the art.

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[–] HerbalGamer@sh.itjust.works 7 points 4 weeks ago

Jojo Rabbit? Not sure if Hitler is that sexy..

[–] Aganim@lemmy.world 20 points 4 weeks ago

But how to sexualize male characters and do "fan service" for the female audience?

Easy, just add Caius Cosades to your game:

[–] CitizenKong@lemmy.world 19 points 4 weeks ago

I think Hades is an excellent example of a game which just sexualizes everyone.

[–] LurkingLuddite@piefed.social 15 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Just have to add on to all the preferences already described... don't make them vapid idiots on top of the physical preferences, and you'll be fine.

As long as they're a cohesive, fleshed out character, they could be an evil pile of shit and quite a few ladies will be thinking, "can I fix him?".

Same could be said for women characters, but it's WAY easier to sell to a horny dipshit than a horny lady, since most said dipshits don't think past hipthrust.

[–] Jolteon@lemmy.zip 9 points 4 weeks ago (4 children)

Just look at the sheer number of women who like Severus Snape of all people.

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[–] mp3@lemmy.ca 15 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

Borat's mankini. You're welcome.

[–] Katana314@lemmy.world 15 points 4 weeks ago (3 children)

If it’s uncomfortable and disempowering for men, you’re probably doing it right. It’s often a power dynamic.

But to draw back from a sour take: This will also turn off some people. Both ways. For instance: I love sexualized designs, but some games genuinely went too far. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and Nier Automata had genuine, serious stories to tell, but fell flat on some people for sexualizing their main (female) characters in such an objectifying way.

I also think for women, the pure visual isn’t quite as important as their movements and actions. That part gets tricky since tastes vary.

There’s a few gacha games out there designed for women that can give an idea of an extreme end to take it to. Again, keep in mind, there’s not one universal appeal for a whole gender (same for guys) so it will often turn out that the most universally appealing designs are the relatively safe ones you already see.

[–] GrantUsEyes@lemmy.zip 7 points 4 weeks ago

I also think for women, the pure visual isn’t quite as important as their movements and actions. That part gets tricky since tastes vary.

I find Wolf (sekiro) very hot in part because of how his movement is animated. BUT the man looks like he hasn't bathed in weeks so... He's more of a "hear me out'.

And also not thinking about visuals... Yeah, a sexy voice can do a lot of heavy lifting for a character.

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[–] jellyfishhunter@lemmy.world 12 points 4 weeks ago

I think you need to check out the genre of Otome games. There's hundreds of weird dating sim style games catered to women which feature a male cast.

It's debatable of how sexualized these characters are. But whatever they do appeals to their female audience.

[–] HerbalGamer@sh.itjust.works 11 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)
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[–] orenj@leminal.space 9 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (2 children)
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[–] atrielienz@lemmy.world 8 points 4 weeks ago

Was it Captain America Winter Soldier where Cap pulled that helicopter back to the roof, and did all that flexing?

[–] ElectricAirship@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)
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[–] LwL@lemmy.world 7 points 4 weeks ago

Seconding the otome comment, and a link to a relevant tag on vndb - you can probably find anything from not very sexualized to pure smut on that list, and there's often screenshots. https://vndb.org/g542

[–] agent_nycto@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago

Last year the two sexiest guys were a dwarf who can cook and a mean zombie cowboy.

So I guess write a guy good personality, and throw in giving a shit about people around him.

[–] DrPop@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I saw screenshots of the new Resident Evil. Leon Scott Kennedy is definitely showing of for those that are into it. Capcom has at least figured it out.

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