Category: Playable Black Characters

  • Frank Bruno’s Boxing

    Developer: Elite SystemsPublisher: Elite Systems, EncoreRelease Year: 1985Platform: Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Commodore 16, Commodore Plus/4, ZX Spectrum Genre: Action, SportsTaxonomy: Playable Black characters, fandom/community/reception Former boxing World Champion Frank Bruno, famed for his catchphrase “you know what I mean, Harry?” is the main character in this boxing game which replicates Super Punch-Out!! As Frank,…

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  • Fashion Police Squad

    Developer: Mopeful GamesPublisher: No More RobotsRelease Year: 2022Platform: WinGenre: FPSTaxonomy: Development, Playable Black characters, Black cultural traditions, Black NPCs; mechanics As a part of the Fashion Police Squad you will fight against fashion crimes. Using attire enhancing weaponry you get to fix the fashion faux pas around the city. interviews and other media scholarship Return…

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  • FarRock Dodgeball

    Developer: SideB GamingPublisher: SideB GamingRelease Year: 2021Platform: Android/Mac/WinGenre: Indie, RPG, SportsTaxonomy: Development; Playable Black characters; Narrative themes/ politics/ideology/history; Black cultural traditions; Based in NYC, including a story, arcade, and versus mode, it takes you through an NYC experience through dodgeball. In story mode, you play as KJ, who wants to seek revenge after seeing his…

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  • EarthNight

    Developer: CleaversoftPublisher: CleaversoftRelease Year: 2019Platform: Mac/PS4/PS5/Switch/WinGenre: PlatformerTaxonomy: Playable Black characters; Black NPCs; Voice Acting/motion capture; Black Cultural Traditions; mechanics; Narrative themes As dragons have taken over Earth, humanity has fled to space. With that, you must help Stanley and Sydney skydive back to Earth while careening across snake-life dragons above the planet. interviews and other…

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  • Dot’s Home

    Developers: Weathered Sweater, Aerial_Knight, Titan ARX InteractivePublisher: Rise-Home StoriesRelease Year: 2021Platform: Android/iOS/Mac/WinGenre: Point and Click AdventureTaxonomy: Development, Black cultural traditions, politics/ideology/history, narrative themes, Playable Black characters, Black NPCs, intersectionality; mechanics Follow a young Black woman in Detroit living in her grandmother’s beloved home as she travels through time to relive key moments in her family’s…

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  • DON’T GIVE UP: A Cynical Tale

    Developer: Tristan BaronaPublisher: Taco Pizza Cat GamesRelease Year: 2019Platform: Switch/WinGenre: RPGTaxonomy: Development; Narrative themes; Playable Black characters; Intersectionality Trying to find success in life, a mentally ill game developer becomes wrapped up in the manifestations of his own inner demons and has to face the realities of social interaction and personal growth. interviews and other…

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  • Dishonored: Death of the Outsider

    Developer: Arkane StudiosPublisher: Bethesda SoftworksRelease Year: 2017Platform: PS4/Win/Xbox OneGenre: Action AdventureTaxonomy: Playable Black Characters, Voice acting/motion capture This standalone DLC which takes place in the coastal city of Karnaca after the events of Dishonored 2. You play as the former assassin Billie Lurk who reunites with her mentor to kill the mysterious entity known as…

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  • Def Jam: Vendetta

    Developer: AKI Corporation, EA CanadaPublisher: Sports BIG, EA GamesRelease Year: 2003Platform: Gamecube, PS2Genre: FightingTaxonomy: Playable Black characters, voice acting/motion capture, Black NPCs, fandom/community/reception You play as one of 4 characters who fight through 46 opponents (many of whom are Def Jam artists). Story elements unfold as you win more wrestling matches. interviews and other media…

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  • Def Jam: Icon

    Developer: EA ChichagoPublisher: EARelease Year: 2007Platform: PS3, Xbox 360Genre: Action, FightingTaxonomy: Playable Black characters, Black NPCs, fandom/community/ reception, voice acting/motion capture Battles are fought using 30 characters based on Def Jam artists such as Redman, Ghostface Killah, Ludacris, Sean Paul and more, each with a different style. interviews and other media scholarship Return to List

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  • Def Jam: Fight For NY

    Developer: EA Canada, AKI CorporationPublisher: EARelease Year: 2004Platform: PlayStation 2Genre: FightingTaxonomy: Playable Black characters. voice acting/motion capture, Black NPCs, fandom/community/reception A one-on-one fighting game that allows you to choose from five different fighting styles and features 64 other characters based on Def Jam artists. interviews and other media scholarship Return to List

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