# Gender-Swapped Fantasy Characters Desktop Dungeons Looks to Eliminate Gender Stereotypes By Michael Baxter | Published 2014-03-09 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/desktop-dungeons References: [boingboing.net](http://boingboing.net/2014/03/07/on-the-female-dungeoneer.html) & [qcfdesign](http://www.qcfdesign.com/?p=845) Desktop Dungeons fits into the mold of the classic dungeon crawler but there's a bigger narrative at play. Desktop Dungeons is looking to remove the toxic gender-based stereotypes that have plagued the genre since its inception. In modern fantasy role-playing games, the concepts of masculinity and femininity are multiplied tenfold. Women are often put into marginalized roles or oversexualized when given more masculine roles. In Desktop Dungeons, the designers look to get rid of the gender barrier by essentially making everyone similar. The team does this by cutting out the shortcuts that were found creeping into the work -- things like coding for softer skin or makeup to name a few. While this won't completely eliminate the problem faced in modern games, it is certainly a start. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.5/10 - Popularity: 63% | Activity: 65% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Gender-inclusive Gaming:** Opportunity for game developers to create inclusive experiences by eliminating gender-based stereotypes in fantasy role-playing games. - **Gender Equality in Design:** Potential for designers to challenge gender norms and promote equality by removing gender barriers in game development. - **Diversity and Inclusion in Gaming:** Growing demand for diverse and inclusive gaming experiences that cater to a wider range of players. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Gaming:** Opportunity for the gaming industry to embrace diversity and inclusive game design practices. - **Technology:** Innovation in gender-inclusive technology solutions to foster equality and eliminate gender stereotypes in gaming. - **Entertainment:** Enhanced gaming experiences that promote inclusivity can drive growth in the entertainment industry. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Classic Board Game Remakes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dungeons-dragons.md) - [Gamer-Centric Beauty Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/real-virtual-beauty.md) - [Fantasy Roleplay AI Portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dd-character-portraits.md) - [Drag Culture Video Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drag-her-video-game.md) - [Cartoonized Role-Playing Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mythforce.md) - [Character Creation Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tavern-of-tales.md) - [Multi-Genre Multiplayer Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shape-of-dreams.md) - [Retro-Style Dungeon-Crawling Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mon-yu.md) - [Gender-Neutral Stroller Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/herotron.md)