Video games have always been a significant part of my life. Born in 1995, I grew up when gaming had already become a staple childhood activity. However, as a young teen, I distanced myself from gaming, particularly from single-player games, because indulging in AAA console games wasn’t deemed "girly" in my middle school years around 2007. Back then, there was a prevailing notion that boys were inherently better gamers—something they often reminded me of.
Despite this, my father had introduced me to first-person shooters and RPGs from a very young age. I was familiar with a variety of games thanks to my childhood experiences with Sega and Nintendo consoles. Yet, the idea that I could excel at gaming or claim it as my hobby never crossed my mind until I received an Xbox 360 for Christmas in 2008, loaded with top-tier games selected by a GameStop employee for my parents. That marked a turning point for me, especially once I started playing Assassin’s Creed 2.
Playing Assassin’s Creed 2 with my dad, I often found myself guiding him on using game mechanics or navigating maps, rather than the other way around. This led me to start playing independently, and my relationship with gaming evolved to what it is now. After school, I would immerse myself in the game until dusk, just like many other kids regardless of gender. I was captivated by the parkour and explorative aspects of the game, along with its numerous side quests. Stealth assassinations were my favorite part of the game and remain a highlight of the franchise for me.
While many boys my age were engrossed in titles like Call of Duty and Fallout, Assassin’s Creed 2 stood apart—an experience I could discuss freely without having to endure patronizing lectures or feel objectified for enjoying games. I gained confidence in my gaming skills, realizing I could excel in other games too.
I eventually expanded my gaming repertoire with other popular Xbox 360 titles like the Bioshock series, Saints Row, Grand Theft Auto IV, and Forza Motorsport 3. A friend, another girl, introduced me to Dead Space, and together, we would take turns progressing in the game. It took some time before I discovered indie games and returned to enjoying classic "girl games" from my childhood like The Sims and Cooking Mama.
In reality, I never needed to master AAA third-person games to consider myself a gamer or to participate in gaming discussions. Yet, the mid-2000s gaming scene was challenging for anyone who wasn’t a cisgender boy. Playing Assassin’s Creed 2 empowered me to engage in conversations from which I previously felt excluded, or even initiate my own discussions on gaming with others. It was liberating to enjoy the game on my terms and for my own pleasure.
With the Assassin’s Creed franchise as a foundation, gaming became a personal hobby, on my terms, and I never approached discussions about games in the exclusionary way I had experienced from some boys my age. Now, I have a career writing about games, including the latest Assassin’s Creed installment, Assassin’s Creed Shadows. If you’ve ever felt alienated by the video game community, what was your gateway game? Share your experiences with me.
