History Main / PurelyAestheticGender

* In ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series, for about 99% of each game, gender is completely aesthetic. In the pre-''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'' games with character attributes, the starting attributes are slightly different between genders of the same race, and there is the occasional quest (or set of quests) only available to (or is slightly different for) one gender, but these are only a very small minority. Really, the gaming experience is the same regardless of your character's gender. Taken UpToEleven in ''Skryim'', where (thanks to EveryoneIsBi) every single marriageable character can be married regardless of your character's gender.

* ''Webcomic/{{Erfworld}}'': Taken UpToEleven. Not only does gender have no effect on stats, it has no effect on ''reproduction''. A Ruler simply decides they want a child and orders their capital to begin popping one. It doesn't matter if the Ruler is male, female, single, or a virgin. The idea of having two parents is alien to the world. We have only a single example of a unit that might, arguably, have two parents; Jillian's son Albert looks a lot like the man she was sleeping with at the time, and even shares one of his rare specials.

* Your character's gender in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsX'' is irrelevant to the point that the ''Unchained'' version lets you [[GenderBender change it]] whenever you like.

* The "Soulsborne" franchise of ActionRPG[==]s - ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'', ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'', ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'', and ''VideoGame/EldenRing'' - all feature a customizable PlayerCharacter, and in all of the games, gender has absolutely no effect on stats. Though ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'' features a small number of GenderRestrictedGear (and thus isn't a pure example), the later games allow you to wear any armor as any gender, and (other than a few obscure GenderRestrictedAbilities in ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsII'') even aesthetically this doesn't change much. Most outfits conceal your face and general shape, and even the few that ''look'' gender-specific don't change appearance if you crossdress. You'd be forgiven for forgetting what gender your character even ''is'' were it not for their grunts and death cries and the occasional reference to their gender in dialogue. ''Elden Ring'' even lets you change your appearance as soon as you find the Roundtable Hold, as many times as you want.

* In the older ''VideoGame/MortalKombat'' games, Johnny Cage's signature GroinAttack didn't work on women, under the belief that the attack wouldn't hurt someone lacking family jewels (even though the move worked on ''robots'' since the game still flagged them as male). Most women can personally attest that getting hit in that region still hurts like a mother, and the developers must have gotten the memo at some point, because starting in ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'', Johnny's Low Blow affects female opponents the exact same way as men.

* In the older ''VideoGame/MortalKombat'' games, Johnny Cage's signature GroinAttack didn't work on women, under the belief that the attack wouldn't hurt someone lacking family jewels (even though the move worked on ''robots''). Most women can personally attest that getting hit in that region still hurts like a mother, and the developers must have gotten the memo at some point, because starting in ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'', Johnny's Low Blow affects female opponents the exact same way as men.

* In the older ''VideoGame/MortalKombat'' games, Johnny Cage's signature GroinAttack didn't work on women, under the belief that the move wouldn't hurt someone lacking family jewels. Most women can personally attest that getting hit in that region still hurts like a mother, and starting in ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'', Johnny's Low Blow affects female opponents the exact same way as men.

* Gender in ''VideoGame/GodsEaterBurst'' determines what your clothing looks like. What you wear has no effect on your character's stats or abilities. All of the voiced dialog assumes you are male. A few lines in the non-voiced dialogue do acknowledge the character's gender, but it has no bearing on the plot.

* The "Soulsborne" franchise of ActionRPG[==]s - ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'', ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' and ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'' - all feature a customizable PlayerCharacter, and in all of the games, gender has absolutely no effect on stats. Though ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'' features a variety of GenderRestrictedGear (and thus isn't a pure example), the later games allow you to wear any armor as any gender, and even aesthetically this doesn't change much. Most outfits conceal your face and general shape, and even the few that ''look'' gender-specific don't change appearance if you crossdress. You'd be forgiven for forgetting what gender your character even ''is'' were it not for their grunts and death cries and the occasional reference to their gender in dialogue.

In those {{RPG}}s where one can generate one's own characters, it is often the case that the sex of the character is a purely aesthetic choice, with no difference whatsoever in terms of in-game stats. In a rare few cases, there will be a small difference in beginning stats, but no difference in terms of the maximum ability score that can be gained. Character stats aside, the choice will have minimal impact on the game scenario, perhaps affecting only the manner in which {{NPC}}s address the character. In games with romantic plots, the hero's gender may determine the available love interests, but this generally won't affect the main plot. It is also increasingly common to see games aim to be more inclusive towards transgender and non-binary players, generally by allowing you to mix and match gendered traits to your liking. This near universally results in any distinction between your options becoming even more of a purely aesthetic choice.

* ''VideoGame/{{Runescape}}'' plays this completely straight. Gender has no impact on stats, and while in an older version armor had to be forged for the gender of the wearer, it now molds itself automatically to whoever puts it on. There are two dwarven mining corporations with sexist hiring policies (one for each gender) and one quest requires player characters to be at least situationally female to get through a NoManOfWomanBorn twist, but that's it. This has a lot to do with the fact that you can change your character's gender (and any other customizable characteristics) at any time for a fee of a few in-game coins. It also plays the "only female NPCs are attracted to the player character" part straight with Zanik and Zu Zu.

[[folder:First Person Shooter]]

** In Rescue Team, the only thing it influences is what Pokemon your hero can become, and has absolutely no effect on the gameplay (All Pokemon are considered genderless in this regard) or dialogue (They avoid bringing up the hero's gender entirely).

** In Explorers, it actually has a significant effect, as Pokemon do have genders, which will influence their fighting ability (Males have higher critical rates, females have higher accuracy) possible evolutions, susceptibility to gender-based moves and abilities, and dialogue in dungeons, as well again influencing the available choices for your starter Pokemon. It still has zero influence on the story related dialogue, though.
** Gates To Infinity plays it the straightest of all, with all Pokemon again being considered genderless for gameplay purposes, and the choice of gender for your hero and partner affecting absolutely nothing. They actually removed the option to pick the hero and partner's gender for the releases outside of Japan for this very reason (Though annoyingly, the translation refers to your hero and partner as male on multiple occasions, whereas the original dialogue avoided it).

[[folder:Third Person Shooter]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Runescape}}'' plays this completely straight. Gender has no impact on stats, and while in an older version armor had to be forged for the gender of the wearer, it now molds itself automatically to whoever puts it on. There are two dwarven mining corporations with sexist hiring policies (one for each gender) and one quest requires player characters to be at least situationally female to get through a NoManOfWomanBorn twist, but that's it.
** This has a lot to do with the fact that you can change your character's gender (and any other customizable characteristics) at any time for a fee of a few in-game coins.

But while gender equality is an admirable goal, it can still be implemented sloppily. The game might not take into account the more subtle differences between men and women, such as body language. Players may have to awkwardly watch their heroine slouch in a chair with her legs wide open during {{cutscene}}s because the developers didn't program different animations for a female hero. In the worst-case scenario, it comes across very clearly as the game expecting a male player and not bothering with other options. Most easily seen with romantic content - [[LesYay the same female NPCs, and ONLY female NPCs, will flirt with the main character regardless of how the player designed them]].

** In Anime/DigimonFrontier's and ''Anime/DigimonXrosWars''s universes, however, Digimon '''do''' separate between male and female, and they ''can'' have babies. The latter even has male and female versions of Digimon who traditionally appear as one or the other.

* ''VideoGame/MyChildLebensborn'' lets the player chose whether they want the titular child to be a girl named Karin or a boy named Klaus, but the choice ultimately impacts neither gameplay nor the story.

* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' plays this very straight in multiplayer, to the point that male and female Spartans don't even ''look'' very different (since they both wear figure-concealing armor). Additionally, Noble Six in ''VideoGame/HaloReach'' is the same deadly SuperSoldier whether you play as male or female, with the only differences being the pronouns s/he is addressed by, his/her voice actor, and some noticeable HartmanHips on the female model.

In those {{RPG}}s where one can generate one's own characters, it is often the case that the sex of the character is a purely aesthetic choice, with no difference whatsoever in terms of in-game stats. In a rare few cases, there will be a small difference in beginning stats, but no difference in terms of the maximum ability score that can be gained. Character stats aside, the choice will have minimal impact on the game scenario, perhaps affecting only the manner in which {{NPC}}s address the character. In games with romantic plots, the hero's gender may determine the available love interests, but this generally won't affect the main plot.

** Aeldari Howling Banshees are supposedly an AmazonBrigade, however, they allow male members if they adopt a feminine "War-Mask" (a trait of the Aeldari's BizzareAlienPsychology that allows them to cultivate multiple personalities based on the job they're doing) and wear the [[BreastPlate clearly made-for-women armor]].

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'', the models for some armies, such as the Imperial Guard and all the Eldar factions, allow players to have mixed-gender armies. However, their baseline stats are exactly the same; differences only arise if/when the player chooses to make upgrades. However, only men can be SpaceMarines (since their BioAugmentation only takes in males) and only women can be Adeptus Sororitas (since the Ecclesiarchy is [[LoopholeAbuse forbidden from having "Men at Arms,"]] [[AintNoRule but nothing about battle-nuns.]])

** ''My Baby Girl/My Baby Boy'' allows you to make your baby the opposite gender after completing the game once, and clothes aren’t gender-locked which means that no one (not even the in-game nurse and pediatrician) will bat an eye if you [[WholesomeCrossdresser dress your baby boy in any of the purchasable Princess or Fairy outfits.]]

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'', the models for some armies, such as the Imperial Guard and all the Eldar factions, allow players to have mixed-gender armies. However, their baseline stats are exactly the same; differences only arise if/when the player chooses to make upgrades. However, only men can be SpaceMarines (since their BioAugmentation only takes in males) and only women can be Adeptus Sororitas (since the Ecclesiarchy is [[LoopholeAbuse forbidden from having "Men at Arms."]]

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'', the models for some armies, such as the Imperial Guard and all the Eldar factions, allow players to have mixed-gender armies. However, their baseline stats are exactly the same; differences only arise if/when the player chooses to make upgrades.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' continues this. In the initial release, the only noticeable difference in gender was that [[CatGirl miqo'te]] (''XIV''[='=]s equivalent to ''XI''[='=]s mithra) could only be played as women, while hyur (regular humans) highlanders could only be men - and even this restriction was removed in a patch. While a later expansion added another set of gender-restricted races (male-only Hrothgar and female-only Viera), gender otherwise only restricts what you can wear - which comprises almost nothing except your starting gear, some pieces of [=PvP=] armor (which only get minor differences in appearance between the gendered versions and otherwise grant the exact same stat bonuses), and novelty gear from [[SidetrackedByTheGoldSaucer the Gold Saucer]] (the vast majority of which was also made available to both genders in a patch).

** Even more so, now that ''The Sims 4'' allows {{Transgender}} and [[WholesomeCrossdresser cross-dressing]] Sims.