Paper Mario remake earns GLAAD nomination for inclusive storytelling

Nintendo’s classic RPG receives recognition for its thoughtful representation in character development.

By   — 
Paper Mario remake earns GLAAD nomination for inclusive storytelling

Nintendo‘s Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door has earned a nomination for Outstanding Video Game at the 36th annual GLAAD Media Awards. The recognition highlights the game’s portrayal of Vivian, a trans-female ghost character who accompanies Mario throughout his adventure.

The 2024 remake builds upon the original 2004 release by maintaining Vivian’s character arc across all regions. While the initial release had variations in how Vivian’s identity was portrayed depending on the region, the remake now presents a consistent narrative in all versions, including the English release. This change has been particularly well-received by the transgender gaming community.

The nomination was announced by GLAAD on January 22, positioning the Nintendo RPG among ten contenders for the prestigious award. The winner will be revealed during the awards ceremony on March 27.

GLAAD Awards showcase diverse gaming experiences

The competition features a mix of independent and major studio releases. Notable entries include Dragon Age: The Veilguard from BioWare, which features Taash, a nonbinary Qunari warrior whose identity journey forms a significant part of the narrative. Another prominent nominee is Life is Strange: Double Exposure, which continues the story of bisexual protagonist Max Caufield.

The complete list of nominees includes:

  • Caravan SandWitch (Studio Plane Toast / Dear Villagers)
  • Dragon Age: The Veilguard (BioWare / Electronic Arts)
  • Dread Delusion (Lovely Hellplace / DreadXP)
  • Dustborn (Red Thread Games / Spotlight by Quantic Dream)
  • Fear the Spotlight (Cozy Game Pals / Blumhouse Games)
  • Life is Strange: Double Exposure (Deck Nine / Square Enix)
  • Minds Beneath Us (BearBone Studio)
  • Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Intelligent Systems / Nintendo)
  • Sorry We’re Closed (à la mode games / Akupara Games)
  • Until Then (Polychroma Games / Maximum Entertainment)

The GLAAD Outstanding Video Game award has a history of recognizing both major releases and independent titles. Last year’s winner was Baldur’s Gate 3, which triumphed over competitors including Horizon Forbidden West and Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical. The previous year saw Apex Legends claim the honor.