Let's be honest here, for far too long the gaming industry treated female characters as little more than damsels to be rescued or eye candy to be ogled. Princess Peach spent more time in Bowser's castle than she did doing anything remotely interesting, and don't even get me started on the "armour" designs in some early MMOs. Chainmail bikinis? In a snowstorm? Really?
But times have changed, and thank the gaming gods for that.
Over the years, we've been blessed with some absolutely cracking female protagonists who don't just stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their male counterparts – they often outshine them entirely. These are characters with depth, flaws, strength, and personality. Characters who feel real, even when they're traversing post-apocalyptic wastelands or hunting mechanical dinosaurs.
So grab yourself a cuppa, settle in, and let me waffle on about some of gaming's finest leading ladies.
Where do I even begin with Aloy? Guerrilla Games created something truly special here – an outcast who becomes humanity's greatest hope, armed with nothing but a bow, her wits, and an overwhelming sense of curiosity that I genuinely relate to.
"I've never met anyone like her. She's curious about everything, questions everything, and won't take 'because that's how it's always been' as an answer."
What makes Aloy exceptional isn't just that she's a capable warrior (though watching her take down a Thunderjaw never gets old). It's her compassion, her stubbornness, and her refusal to let the world's prejudices define her. She was raised as an outcast, told she was nothing, and responded by essentially saving the entire bloody world. Twice.
Ashly Burch's voice performance brings such warmth and determination to the character that you genuinely root for her every step of the way. When she's hurt, you feel it. When she triumphs, you're punching the air alongside her.
Now, I know some people have… opinions… about The Last of Us Part II, but regardless of where you stand on the story decisions, there's no denying that Ellie is one of the most complex and brilliantly realised characters in gaming history.
We watched her grow from a foul-mouthed fourteen-year-old with terrible jokes (that I definitely didn't laugh at) into a young woman grappling with trauma, love, loss, and the weight of decisions that would break most people.
The genius of Ellie is that she's not a hero in the traditional sense. She makes mistakes. Big ones. She's driven by emotions that sometimes lead her down dark paths. She's human, and in a medium often filled with morally spotless protagonists, that's refreshing.
The moment Ellie picks up that guitar and plays, you understand that beneath all that hardened exterior is someone desperately trying to hold onto something beautiful in an ugly world.
I mentioned in my Odyssey review that I started the game as Alexios before quickly switching to Kassandra, and I stand by that decision entirely. While Alexios felt like he was constantly shouting at everyone, Kassandra brought a nuance and charisma that made the entire 100+ hour journey an absolute joy.
Melissanthi Mahut's performance is nothing short of phenomenal. Whether Kassandra is threatening to shove a spear somewhere anatomically uncomfortable or sharing a tender moment with her family, there's an authenticity that makes you believe in her completely.
What I particularly love is that Kassandra can be whoever you want her to be. Honourable mercenary? Done. Ruthless killer? Also done. Sarcastic legend who flirts with literally everyone on the Greek islands? Absolutely done, and that's the Kassandra I chose.
The OG. The original. The woman who surprised an entire generation of gamers when she removed her helmet at the end of the original Metroid back in 1986.
In an era when gaming was dominated by male protagonists, Samus was out there in her power suit, blasting space pirates and wiping out Metroids without anyone even knowing she was a woman. It wasn't a selling point – it was just who she was.
What makes Samus remarkable is how she influenced an entire genre. The "Metroidvania" style wouldn't exist without her, and games like Hollow Knight owe their very DNA to what Nintendo created all those years ago.
Sure, we don't talk about Other M (seriously, we don't), but Metroid Prime and Metroid Dread showed us that Samus is still as relevant and badass as she ever was. A bounty hunter of few words but devastating actions.
I can already hear some of you groaning. "Really? Lara Croft? The character designed primarily to appeal to teenage boys?"
And yes, early Lara was… let's say problematic in certain aspects. Those polygon proportions were, frankly, ridiculous.
But here's the thing – the 2013 reboot and its sequels transformed Lara into something far more interesting. We got to see her origin story, watch her evolve from a frightened young woman into a hardened survivor, and experience her growth in a way that felt earned.
Crystal Dynamics took a character known primarily for her appearance and gave her a soul. That's no small feat.
The new Lara gets scared. She gets hurt. She doubts herself. But she keeps going, driven by determination and the need to uncover the truth. She's become a proper archaeologist-adventurer rather than just a gymnast with guns, and gaming is better for it.
This one hits different.
Ninja Theory created something profoundly important with Senua – a character whose primary battle isn't against external enemies but against her own mind. Suffering from psychosis, Senua hears voices, sees things that aren't there, and struggles to distinguish reality from delusion.
What makes this remarkable is how respectfully it's handled. Ninja Theory worked closely with neuroscientists and people who experience psychosis to ensure an accurate portrayal, and the result is one of the most powerful representations of mental health in any medium, let alone gaming.
Playing Hellblade with headphones on (as recommended) is an intensely uncomfortable but important experience. You're not just watching Senua struggle – you're experiencing a fraction of what she goes through. It's empathy through gameplay at its finest.
Another character we watched grow up before our eyes. Telltale's The Walking Dead introduced us to Clementine as a scared child hiding in a treehouse, and by the end of the series, she'd become a leader, a survivor, and someone who carried the lessons of everyone she'd lost.
The beautiful thing about Clementine is that she's shaped by the player's choices. The Lee you create in Season One directly influences who Clementine becomes. It's a unique relationship between player and character that few games have achieved.
Watching her go from being protected to becoming the protector is genuinely moving. She's proof that you don't need to be physically imposing to be strong – sometimes strength is simply refusing to give up.
Yes, I know you can play as male Shepard. Yes, I know some people prefer that. But Jennifer Hale's performance as FemShep is so universally praised that BioWare eventually started using her in marketing material.
There's something particularly special about a female Shepard saving the galaxy. She commands respect from krogan warriors, negotiates with ancient synthetic beings, and punches reporters in the face – all while dealing with bureaucratic nonsense from the Citadel Council.
"I should go." Four words that have never sounded more iconic.
What Mass Effect allows is for the player to define who Shepard is while still maintaining a core identity. Paragon or Renegade, romantic or professional, the character remains compelling throughout all three games.
On the surface, 2B might seem like another example of problematic character design (that outfit choice is… certainly a choice), but Yoko Taro and PlatinumGames created something far more philosophical than appearances suggest.
2B is an android fighting in a war that's essentially meaningless, programmed with emotions she's told she shouldn't have, and burdened with a truth that makes her existence genuinely tragic. The more you play Nier: Automata, the more you understand the weight she carries.
It's a masterclass in subverting expectations. What begins as a seemingly straightforward action game becomes a meditation on consciousness, purpose, and what it means to be alive.
Looking at this list, a pattern emerges. The best female protagonists aren't defined by their gender – they're defined by their humanity (even when they're technically androids).
They bring:
Emotional depth – These characters feel things deeply, and the games are better for showing vulnerability alongside strength.
Complexity – Gone are the days of one-dimensional "strong female character" archetypes. These women have flaws, make mistakes, and grow from their experiences.
Relatability – Whether you're male, female, or anywhere on the spectrum, these characters resonate because their struggles are universal.
Fresh perspectives – Stories told through different lenses offer new ways to experience familiar themes.
Gaming has come a long way from Princess Peach waiting in another castle. Today's female protagonists are leading some of the industry's biggest and most critically acclaimed titles.
And honestly? We need more of them.
Not because of some checkbox-ticking exercise in diversity, but because good characters make good games, and limiting ourselves to one perspective means missing out on incredible stories.
So here's to the leading ladies – past, present, and future. May they continue to inspire, challenge, and entertain us for generations to come.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a sudden urge to replay Horizon Zero Dawn for the fourth time.
What's your favourite female protagonist in gaming? Did I miss someone obvious? Let me know – I'm always up for a good debate about fictional characters.
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