Hardcoded (video game)
An erotic visual novel about a droid joining a trans community.
Hardcoded is an erotic dating simulator and visual novel from Ghosthug Games, available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It centers on a droid named HC, who flees her owners and becomes part of a local trans community in Pira City. Critics have praised the game for its positive depiction of the transgender community and its polished writing.
In gameplay, players control HC using point-and-click controls to interact with objects and characters. She builds relationships through dating simulator progression, and the game includes explicit sexual encounters. Players earn coupons—used to buy clothing and furniture—by completing tasks.
Seven main characters can be romanced: Beryl, a shy librarian with a maternal side who helps HC escape the police; Magdalena, Beryl’s initially suspicious girlfriend; Cadence, a goth witch close to Decima, a droid mechanic with a robotic arm; Heather, an anime-loving cosplayer who lives next door; Joi, a limited-emotion sex droid; Decima, a droid mechanic with a robotic arm; and Olivia, a hacker. Players can pursue multiple relationships simultaneously, including threesomes, without consequences.
Development began in 2017, led by American designer Kenzie Wintermelon and co-developer Trix. Wintermelon initially aimed to make money from cisgender people with futanari or trans fetishes, hoping to show them transitioning as a real option. The game avoids fetishizing trans people with slurs or transphobia, instead reflecting the community positively. Wintermelon made HC a droid to create emotional distance from real alienation while keeping the tone upbeat. The cyberpunk setting was inspired by Shadowrun, chosen because it “felt right.” Wintermelon draws pixel art by hand, and the game uses the Godot engine. The team splits work evenly, with Trix handling background animations and some character stories, while Wintermelon focuses on lewd scenes, animation, and programming. Development continues, funded by Patreon donations; Wintermelon’s motivations shifted after the Patreon surpassed $6,000 monthly.
Re
- Developer
- Ghosthug Games
- Lead Developer
- Kenzie Wintermelon
- Co-developer
- Trix
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- Genre
- Erotic dating simulator visual novel
- Engine
- Godot
- Release Status
- Ongoing development supported by Patreon donations
Lore & Background
Hardcoded was conceived by American designer Kenzie Wintermelon, who co-developed it with Trix. Wintermelon initially wanted to create the game to target cisgender people with futanari fetishes and to show them that becoming trans was an option. She and Trix began development in 2017. The game uses the Godot engine, and Wintermelon creates the pixel art by hand, converting it into pixel form. The cyberpunk setting was inspired by Shadowrun, chosen because 'it felt right for some reason.'
Reader's Guide
Hardcoded has been generally well received, with reviewers from the trans community especially praising the game's inclusive writing. Rock, Paper, Shotgun's Astrid Johnson found the game 'liberating in its portrayal of trans sexuality.' Wired's Mark Hill noted some scenes veered into 'over-the-top sci-fi territory' but said the game works overall because 'it's sincere.' PC Gamer's Jody Macgregor listed it among the best sex games, citing its terrific writing. Daily Dot's Ana Valens praised it for embracing 'sapphic desire between trans women without shame,' and Kotaku's Kate Gray felt it was a sex-positive experience for the trans community. The game intentionally avoids fetishizing the trans community with slurs, transphobia, or other derogatory language.
Did You Know?
- The main character HC's factory-made male deadname is 'hardcoded' into her and she cannot change it.
- The game includes seven main characters with whom the player may have an intimate relationship: Beryl, Magdalena, Cadence, Decima, Heather, Joi, and Olivia.
- Lead developer Kenzie Wintermelon conceived the game as a way to make money from cisgender people with a futanari or trans fetish, hoping it would make transitioning seem like a 'real possibility.'
- Wintermelon and Trix began development of Hardcoded in 2017.
More in Erotic video games 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record