Female protagonists have come a long way since Ms. Pacman, but who are the coolest of them all? We’ve got a list of 10 of the best for you.
There once was a time when the only female characters in video games were princesses or other damsels in distress. The only exceptions in the early days of video games were Ms. Pacman and Samus Aran, though gamers weren’t even aware that Samus was a woman until the end of the first Metroid game.
In 1996, gamers finally saw a step into the right direction: Lara Croft entered the scene. While she was highly sexualised in the first few games of the series, she wasn’t a helpless damsel in distress nor a sidekick that was less powerful and dumber than the male lead character.
Since then, many more female video game heroes have been created. Some of them are remarkable characters in fantastic games. This list introduces you to 10 of the coolest female protagonists in video games.
The 10 Coolest Female Protagonists in Video Games
10. Mirror’s Edge: Faith Connors
Faith ran away from her home when she was just 16 years old. She earns her living as a “Runner”, transporting secret communiques from revolutionary groups who want to avoid being discovered. Of course, this isn’t exactly a job without risk.
Playing as Faith is a lot of fun, and she’s an outstanding female video game protagonist because she’s designed to appeal to men as well as women without being sexualised. She wears sensible clothing, has a strong character, and comes across as someone you’d definitely want to have on your side.
9. Silent Hill 3: Heather Mason
Silent Hill 3 is one of the best scary games you can possibly play. Heather Mason is one of the reasons why Silent Hill 3 was such a success. She isn’t your typical video game hero: She’s neither particularly strong nor is she totally useless like so many other females you find in the horror genre.
She’s drawn into everything against her will but is trying to make the best out of it while uncovering the secrets of her own past. Her behaviour is surprisingly realistic for a horror game and she’s one pretty cool teenager.
8. Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West: Aloy
Aloy’s story is similar to that of many heroes in one way: She’s out to save the world from a powerful evil force, in this case, an artificial intelligence. She’s a hunter and has little respect for the machines that prowl all over her world.
She’s a very straightforward character and can be pretty blunt at times. The developer mentioned that Ygritte from Game of Thrones was an inspiration for her, and you can tell! Aloy is a very strong female character but also has her weaknesses which turn her into a well-rounded, admirable heroine.
7. Street Fighter: Chun-Li
Chun-Li has been a staple of Street Fighter games since she was introduced in the second game of the fun fighting game series. While there are many other cool female characters in each Street Fighter game, Chun-Li stands out of the crowd because of her tragic backstory and her cool moves. She’s one of the most popular fighters in the series and once players get a taste of victory while controlling her, it’s hard to choose anyone else!
Also Read: All Street Fighter 6 Female Characters
6. The Last of Us: Ellie
You’re most likely familiar with the story of The Last of Us Part 1 (Or season 1 of the TV series). During that story, you get to know Ellie very well. She’s a clever and fun character who doesn’t have a problem with saying what she truly thinks.
In The Last of Us Part 2, she is the most important playable character and her story takes another dark turn. In both games, Ellie shows gamers what a very well written female character can look like.
Also Read: How Old Is Ellie in The Last of Us?
5. Honkai Star Rail: Female MC
She’s not particularly famous (Yet), but the female main character of Honkai Star Rail is just too cool. You can choose a name for her, or stick with the generic one.
Stelle, her generic name, has an unusual interest: Examining every single trash can she comes across. Players who oblige and help her with her trash can obsession are rewarded with some fun dialogue and extra rewards.
Plus, Stelle has some pretty cool dialogue options and you can turn her into one of the laziest characters you ever played. She’s also useful in combat and can take on different roles as you unlock more paths for her.
Also Read: Honkai: Star Rail – How to Unlock Daily Missions and Rewards
4. Final Fantasy VII: Tifa Lockheart
Some prefer Aerith, some prefer Tifa. There’s no question about who’s cooler, though, is there? In Final Fantasy VII as well as in the fantastic remake, Tifa is a character you just fall in love with, no matter your own gender. She’s beautiful, she’s strong, and she is loyal. She isn’t a protagonist as such, but what would Final Fantasy VII be without her?
Tifa also comes in handy during fights, especially when you’re chasing certain achievements in the remake.
3. Final Fantasy X-2: Yuna, Rikku, and Paine
Yes, that’s three different characters, but all three are important. Most lists mention Yuna only, because she’s the actual lead, but Rikku and Paine are just as important. And definitely cooler than Yuna, who has a nice background story and is absolutely lovable, but not particularly cool.
Paine’s coolness and Rikku’s upbeat personality are one of the reasons why Final Fantasy X-2 is such a fun game. Yuna goes nowhere without them, so it’s just fair to give them all a spot on this list.
2. Resident Evil: Jill Valentine
Jill Valentine is another female hero from a horror video game. There’s no denying that the Resident Evil series is one of the best horror game series out there. Most recently, the Resident Evil 4 Remake has been in the gaming headlines a lot.
Jill can be seen in various Resident Evil games and movies, but fans can also read about her in novels.
Players love her because she’s just as competent as her male counterpart and usually doesn’t have to be rescued by any man.
Also Read: Resident Evil 4 Remake’s Collector’s Edition Is Being Scalped For $500
1. And the Coolest of Them All: Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft
Lara Croft may not have been the first female lead in a video game, but she deserves the top spot in this list. She changed the gaming landscape for female gamers who finally had someone they could identify with. Lara has gone through an interesting development cycle looks- and character-wise. Today’s Lara Croft is a relatable character with an interesting backstory.
By now, there are 19 Tomb Raider games on the market. While some of the side-games aren’t exactly great, the main games of the series are fantastic, entertaining and have a high replay value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Female Gamers Prefer Playing as a Female Character?
When girl gamers have the chance, they love playing female characters. It’s especially great when there’s a good character creation process involved or the heroine has a well-written story behind her.
Do Female Gamers Exist?
The one strange thing you come across online is that male gamers often don’t believe female gamers when they say they’re female. The truth: There are almost as many female gamers as there are male gamers.
They often just prefer not to say anything because many female gamers have either been exposed to harassment or have been told they’re just males who pretend to be girls!
How Are Women Portrayed in Video Games?
While there still aren’t that many true female leads in video games, their portrayal has become a tad more realistic and relatable. A good example is Lara Croft, who turned from a sex bomb with huge boobs to a more realistic looking woman.
It’s still noticeable that male protagonists talk a lot more than their female counterparts.
Author Profile
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Name: Kim Anisi
Intro: Gaming has been my passion since childhood. The journey started when I received hand-me-down games on Atari and Amiga systems from my brother and I now mainly play games on PC. Among the vast genres in the gaming world that I have tried, my personal favourites are RPGs, MMORPGs, (Action) adventures, horror games, and settlement/city builders. Overcoming the challenges and helping others in games provide a great satisfaction to me.