this post was submitted on 25 Sep 2026
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Eh, depends on the game. I look at both and pick whichever one looks or sounds fun. Last few games I was a whole team of women in turn based games. Current game I'm a lone wolf male. Sometimes I find it funny making the cutest girl and whomping on enemies, othertimes I make an ugly old lady or man. Sometimes I make them look like me, or my wife, or one of my kids. Litterally depends all on my mood and whimsy at the time.
Fellow dad here that does the exact same thing. I wish I could add anything useful to this but you've already so eloquently explained it. Thank you for that.
My wife still teases me for how I play stardew valley. I was in a grumpy old man "get off my lawn" mood when I made my character. Played through it and hated how completing quests bumped up your reputation. So, I made extra effort to give people trash gifts so they liked me less.
My character fishes, farms, explores caves, and is drunk whenever he's in town, and liberally gives out trash to everyone that he crosses. Everyone hates him and that's exactly how he wants it.
He since retired to the island as he finds the lack of people peaceful.
For me it's like if I want the character to be an analogue for myself, I choose a male and try to make them look like me. If I want the character to be cool, I aim as close to warrior princess as I can get.
I generally make my character male if it's a first-person game, and female in a third-person game if the characters are interesting looking. If I'm going to stare at an outfit and ass for 100 hours, I may as well enjoy it.