Slave Zero X Features One of the Best Gay Love Stories in Gaming, And Never Marketed It

Earlier this year, I played through an action game from developer Poppy Works called Slave Zero X. Press releases showcasing development updates leading up to the release pointed out the game was set in the same universe as Slave Zero, a 1999 mech third-person shooter. I initially found the graphics to be captivating. It reminded me of the old Sega Saturn beat em’ ups that utilized hand-drawn animations and input-perfect combos, similar to Guardian Heroes, so I was on board to give this game all the needed coverage.

When I received a review code, something immediately caught me off guard: the male lead, Shou, is gay. In fact, the entire story is mainly comprised of flashbacks between him and his partner, Isamu. However, none of the press releases or the game’s Steam page information alludes to this. So long have I been spoon-fed every detail about a video game’s main protagonist that I was surprised for the first time in years. I found this to be brilliant, but I also believe that it limited the attention it could have received, as some media may have written the game off as an indie action release in a sea of early 2024 large-budget games. So, I want to write a bit about the romantic side of Slave Zero X. Yes, underneath all that action and gore is a story of love and loss.

If you plan on playing Slave Zero X, I suggest you do so before reading on, as I’ll discuss story spoilers. If you want to know more about the gameplay, you can check out our review.

Slave Zero X’s opening highlights the main character, Shou, defying orders when joining up with an organic substance known as X. This is the red suit worn by Shou. Still, it also has the effect of living off of his energy. Through flashbacks, we meet Shou’s partner, Isamu, another Guardian who is trying to be picked for an important mission. Through these flashbacks, we see Shou and Isamu motivate each other to be stronger and faster. The story highlights moments of tenderness as they listen to music and discuss their dreams but also shows their more stubborn sides, as their competitiveness often leads to them butting heads.

It is, essentially, a relationship. The writing for these characters isn’t exaggerated or out of place; it comes off as grounded and natural. The voiced audio for the scenes makes the more lengthy moments easier to follow, but the narrative never explicitly points out the characters’ sexual preferences. There are moments in the story where they mention sleeping next to each other, but it’s in the context of reflecting on a nightmare. And without ever knowing this game had a romantic angle, I became more invested in the conclusion…as heartbreaking as it is.

Sadly, the story of Slave Zero X is a tragedy. Shou finds himself at odds with Isamu’s recent promotion, misrepresenting envy as caring for someone, which leads to Isamu’s apparent death. It’s here that Shou promises to finish what Iasmu started and fight for the future. This doesn’t come without many roadblocks, but each one that he overcomes leads him to understand himself, his new power, and the tyrannical leadership of this world. However, it’s one scene that Isamu leaves us with that I took as the narrative’s way of not glossing over the many struggles that the gay community has overcome but also the struggles they face today, when he says, “The fight is never finished. The only thing that ends is the role we play in it. Humanity must share control of its own destiny. I hope one day they will find the collective strength to do so.”

The relationship between Isamu and Shou was unexpected, but after playing the game again recently, I felt the need to highlight its romantic narrative. Sure, it sits behind some genuinely intense skill-based action, but these are the experiences that I don’t want to be overshadowed. I will never forget the love story shared between Shou and Isamu, and I hope others will take the chance to discover it.

Slave Zero X is available now on Steam.