Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Switch Remake Earns GLAAD Nomination for LGBTQ+ Representation

Nintendo’s critically acclaimed Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Switch remake has received a prestigious nomination at the upcoming 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards.

Recognized for its thoughtful trans representation, this award nod highlights Nintendo and developer Intelligent Systems’ commitment to inclusivity within the gaming industry. Originally released for the GameCube in 2004, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door quickly garnered praise for its engaging storytelling and unique role-playing mechanics.

The Nintendo Switch remake, launched globally on May 23, 2024, revitalized this classic for a new generation, winning over both longtime fans and newcomers alike. Central to the recognition from GLAAD is the decision to restore key dialogue regarding Vivian, Mario's ghostly companion.

In contrast to the Western localization of the original release, which had altered aspects of Vivian's character, the Switch version brings back the narrative acknowledging her trans identity.

This restoration has been met with positive reception from both players and advocacy groups, and aligns with broader industry movements to improve LGBTQ+ representation in games. GLAAD has nominated Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for the Outstanding Video Game category, placing it alongside nine other notable titles.

This year’s nominees include Caravan SandWitch (Studio Plane Toast / Dear Villagers), Dragon Age: The Veilguard (BioWare / Electronic Arts), Dread Delusion (Lovely Hellplace / DreadXP), Dustborn (Red Thread Games / Quantic Dream), Fear the Spotlight (Cozy Game Pals / Blumhouse Games), Life is Strange: Double Exposure (Deck Nine / Square Enix), Minds Beneath Us (BearBone Studio), Sorry We’re Closed (à la mode games / Akupara Games), and Until Then (Polychroma Games / Maximum Entertainment). The shortlist is a testament to the increasing diversity and depth of storytelling in the video game industry.

Fear the Spotlight, another standout nominee from Blumhouse Games, is celebrated for exploring an emotional relationship between protagonists Amy and Vivian, further underlining a year of progressive achievements in gaming narratives. With Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Nintendo and Intelligent Systems have demonstrated not only technical expertise in bringing a beloved classic to the Nintendo Switch but also a meaningful approach to narrative authenticity and inclusivity.

The 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards will honor these advancements when the winners are announced later this year.

Last year’s award for Outstanding Video Game was claimed by Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate III, signaling high expectations for this year’s selection. For more on the GLAAD Media Awards and the evolving landscape of representation in video games, continue to follow updates via official channels, including glaad.org and reputable industry sites such as Eurogamer.

Nintendo Mario Switch GLAAD Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Paper Mario Nintendo Switch