Gaming has always been more than just a hobby for me. It’s a space to escape, to build, to connect. Stepping into the gaming world as a Black girl?

It’s a journey full of joy, side-eyes, and powerful self-discovery. Whether I’m making my dream life in The Sims 4, deep-diving into story games like The Walking Dead Telltale, being a visibly Black young woman gamer comes with its own very real highs and lows. And I want to talk about the fun, the weird, and the beautifully empowering.

The Fun: Creativity Unleashed

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Let’s start with the good stuff. Gaming as a Black girl is fun, period. We bring our own flavor to it.

Our storytelling, our humor, our references, and our style. Whether I’m creating entire families in The Sims that reflect the communities I'm growing up in or adding voice and heart to the choices in story-based games, I get to be fully myself. I get to bring characters to life with cultural flair. I get to design homes with Black art on the walls and girly things. I get to crack jokes and play music that feels like home.

There’s also this amazing feeling when other girls recognize the vibes and leave comments saying things like, “I’ve never seen anyone play like you before,” or “This channel feels like a safe space.”

Take the Quiz: What Creative Hobby Should You Try?

Looking for a way to express your creativity but not sure where to start? Then this is the quiz for you!

The Weird: Microaggressions & Misunderstandings

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Not every part of this world is all sunshine and chill vibes. Sometimes it can get weird.

People may assume things. They question your knowledge about these video games. They get shocked when you’re good at something, or berate you when you're bad. They drop subtle (and not so subtle) comments about how you “don’t look like a gamer.” And don’t even get me started on the awkward backhanded compliments like, “You’re really pretty for a gamer.”

There are also the comparisons of others, like uploading a video you worked so hard on, only for it to get ignored, while similar videos by others blow up. You start to question yourself, your content, and your voice. But deep down, you know it’s not about your worth; it’s about visibility and access.

The Empowering: Taking Up Space Anyway

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And yet, in the face of all that, I’m still here.

Every time I hit “upload,” I’m claiming space. I’m showing up for the younger version of me who didn’t see herself in the gamer girl world and didn't have other girls to share the experience with. I’m showing up for the girls who love anime, who build digital, who wanna slay zombies, and decorate pink gaming setups. We exist, we’re valid, and we deserve to be heard.

There’s power in being unapologetically you in a world that keeps trying to box you in. Whether I’m loud and silly, soft-spoken and chill, or a little chaotic, depending on the day, I’m allowed to be all those things. And no one can take that away from me.

Final Thoughts: Let Us In

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We’re not a temporary trend. We’ve always been here creating, innovating, and entertaining. It’s just that now, we’re done being overlooked.

So, to every other girl out there thinking about starting a YouTube channel or sharing your gameplay: do it. You don’t need permission. You don’t need to fit in.

You just need to be you. And trust me, that’s more than enough.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some drama to stir up in my Sim household. You can check me out on YouTube!