Is Minecraft Story Mode‘s Jesse Male or Female? The Player Decides
In the hit adventure game Minecraft Story Mode from developer Telltale Games, the main playable protagonist Jesse has a gender that is chosen by the player. You decide whether Jesse will be male or female from the start, with both options fully voiced.
Meet Jesse – Customizable Star of Minecraft Story Mode
As the hero of this interactive tale spun within the wildly popular Minecraft universe, Jesse‘s look, gender, and actions are shaped by the player. This representational freedom and diversity are part of what makes Minecraft Story Mode so engaging for a broad audience.
Over the course of 8 action-packed episodes, Jesse will assemble a motley crew of adventurers, battle fearsome foes, and make choices that determine the fate of the world. But before getting to any of that, one of the very first decisions is:
Will You Play as Male Jesse or Female Jesse?
Jesse‘s appearance changes dramatically based on whether you choose the male or female version.
Male Jesse Voiced By Patton Oswalt
If playing as male Jesse with short dark hair and mining overalls, his wisecracks and battle cries will be brought to life by acclaimed comedian and actor Patton Oswalt.
Oswalt‘s extensive voice acting credits include Remy the Rat in Pixar‘s Ratatouille, characters on Kim Possible, Ben 10, WordGirl, and many more. His memorable stand-up comedy specials, roles in live-action movies and shows, multiple award nominations, and bestselling book Silver Screen Fiend also showcase his versatile talent.
Female Jesse Voiced By Catherine Taber
Opt to play as female Jesse with long hair pulled back and subtle freckles, and her lines will be delivered by prolific voice actress Catherine Taber.
Taber is well-known as the voice of Princess Leia Organa in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels animated series. She also voiced female characters in games like Knights of the Old Republic and Dragon Age: Origins.
With hundreds of video game, TV, and movie credits to her name over a 20+ year career, Taber brings wit, emotion, and power to the role of female Jesse.
Meet the Full Cast of Diverse Characters
Beyond letting you customize Jesse‘s look and gender, Minecraft Story Mode also introduces companions from all walks of life – both male and female.
Olivia
As a master engineer who‘s an expert with redstone and building gadgets, Olivia (voiced by Martha Plimpton in S1 and Natasha Loring in S2) is a vital member of Jesse‘s adventuring crew. Without her technical know-how, the group would‘ve perished many times over. Though not a fearless fighter like some of her comrades, Olivia‘s clever mind and optimistic spirit make her an indispensable ally.
Petra
With fiery red hair to match her bold spirit, Petra is a rough-and-tumble explorer motivated by the lure of treasures and glory. She‘s incredibly brave in the face of danger and often runs headlong into perilous situations much to her friends‘ dismay. Petra struggles to balance personal goals versus obligations to others, but always has Jesse‘s back when it truly counts.
Lukas
As a friendly rival to Jesse‘s crew, Lukas has a casual confidence and natural leadership abilities that make him stand apart from the rest. With blonde hair kept neat beneath his signature black fedora hat, Lukas takes great pride in writing tales of his adventures and keeping his reputation spotless. But is he too hung up appearances, and how far will he go for fame and his friends‘ approval?
Axel
Axel plays the role of Jesse‘s lifelong friend – a big, loud guy whose bark is often worse than his bite. Despite his imposing size, brash attitude, and sloppy self-presentation – Axel is quite sensitive about how others perceive him and just wants to feel respected. Deep down, he has a heart of gold and will do anything for his friends.
Beyond this "Order of the Stone" crew, Minecraft Story Mode introduces allies, rivals, villains, monsters, and more across its episodic adventure. With male, female, young, old, brave, arrogant, friendly, alien characters and creatures – the diversity keeps things exciting!
PorkChop – Breaking Boundaries as First Non-Binary Character
Another aspect of diversity comes in Minecraft Story Mode‘s first canonically non-binary character, PorkChop, who uses they/them pronouns. As a tough and enigmatic bounty hunter living on the frontier, their connection to Jesse‘s crew develops across Season 2.
PorkChop‘s identity exists outside the binary male/female designation, and their prominent inclusion represents an LGBT breakthrough for this AAA game series. Having non-conforming characters fosters more welcoming and inclusive gaming communities where all fans can see themselves represented.
Fan "Shipping" Adds Romance to The Mix
Though the Minecraft Story Mode saga does not center around romantic relationships, fan communities have embraced imaginative "shipping" possibilities between certain characters.
Popular non-canon ships include:
- Jetra = Male Jesse x Petra
- Jesstra = Female Jesse x Petra
- Lukesse = Lukas x Jesse
| Ship Name | Characters | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Jetra | Male Jesse + Petra | Explores romantic chemistry between Petra and a male version player character Jesse. |
| Jesstra | Female Jesse + Petra | Explores romantic chemistry between Petra and a female version player character Jesse. |
| Lukesse | Lukas + Jesse | Explores potential romantic feelings either male or female player character Jesse and rival/ally Lukas could develop. |
Fan art, fan fiction stories, tweets using ship hashtags (#Jetra #Jesstra #Lukesse), and heated debates among fans fill out the universe and let imaginations run wild! Fictionally pairing off characters is a time-honored tradition across so many games, shows, movies, books and more.
These ships mostly live in the realm of fun what-if scenarios rather than confirmed canonical relationships…so far! But fans can always dream for something "official" down the road.
Rated E10+ for All Ages of Adventurers
With its cartoony voxel graphics, pick-up-and-play action gameplay, mild potty humor elements, and family-friendly storyline, Minecraft Story Mode has very broad age appeal. The ESRB rating is E10+ for Everyone 10 and up.
Younger fans can enjoy the characters, stories, and worlds while parents can feel good about a safe, value-driven game. Meanwhile more mature gamers can appreciate the humor, relationships, and adventure too.
Reviewers praise Minecraft Story Mode‘s approachability for all:
"It‘s a fun adventure game for families and kids." – Common Sense Media
"With its child-friendly storyline and easy mechanics, Story Mode would be an excellent first game for grade-schoolers." – PluggedIn
Based on Steam Spy data estimates, over 950,000 owners suggest the game has connected with a sizeable audience. While kids are a key target, the charming story transports gamers of any age to this blocky universe!
Lasting Legacy Despite Studio Closure
Sadly, Minecraft Story Mode‘s original developer Telltale Games shut down in 2018 due to company‘s financial issues unrelated to this hit series. Rights returning to Mojang / Microsoft eventually led to the game being removed from various online stores for a time.
However, there are still ways for new players to enjoy Minecraft Story Mode such as:
- Disc copies work on modern consoles
- Codes can be found via third-party sellers
- The Netflix interactive special "Minecraft Story Mode: Season Two" adapts key moments in a streaming format
While the story concluded abruptly, Jesse and the gang‘s quests live on thanks to community love cementing this game‘s reputation. For those who did play, it left an endearing impression for gamers of all types.
So would you choose playing as Male Jesse or Female Jesse at the start of this legendary adventure? Let the debate commence!
