Plus Caitlin Metz, gay science, C.A. Tanaka and more

New Zelda game “Tears of the Kingdom” puts hero Link in a miniskirt and nail polish, but some queer and trans fans long for a game that truly reimagines gender

6 queer and trans stories for your Friday

Originating in Japan, these games let you flirt, date, solve mysteries and more with a simple point and click

The young trans puzzle writer and editor has carved out an unusual—and rare—career

Gaming

This light of the truth (themeless)

Stay spicy (themeless)

Everyone is talking ’bout the new Xword, ‘Remarkable Finds’ (themed)

Counting the Kinsey Scale (themed)

‘Dungeons and Drag Queens’ and country music without the gun-toting hate top the QCC playlist this week

Sharing the love (themeless)

Rights & liberation (themeless)

Players celebrate the queerness in ‘The Legend of Zelda.’ When will Nintendo?

Jeopardy! Master Mattea Roach, Montana drag ban, Manitoba city saves queer books, Ontario councillor resigns over flag ban, RIP Tina Turner and all things ‘Barbie’ movie

Queer with a capital Q (themeless)

Get raunchy with our latest Xword: ‘I’m Good Either Way’ (themed)

Abandon the binary with our latest Xword: ‘What Do You Say?’ (themeless)

Solve to your heart’s content: the new Xword is ‘Love and Longing’ (themeless)

Looking for queer video games? Visual novels should be your first stop

Start the new year with some poly puzzle play: the newest Xword is ‘Try Anything’ (themeless)

The queer wordplay worth living by: ‘Lead with your Heart’ (themed)

Our queer puzzle fun debuts: go nuts, it’s ‘Welcome to Xword’ (themeless)

Meet Xtra’s new crossword constructor Ada Nicolle