Video games have grown so much over the years. Over the past several decades, women in video games have evolved from passive narrative devices into dynamic protagonists with a huge significance to the plot agency, and complexity. It’s empowering to see that some of the best female video game characters are no longer damsels in distress, but powerful women that shape the storyline.
This representation is incredibly important as video games have become more accessible to larger audiences. While there is still more progress that needs to be seen, this is a step in the right direction. If you want to learn more about the best female video game characters that have changed the way women are seen in gaming, then check out these seven characters.
7. Ciri (The Witcher)
The Witcher series by CD Project is one of the most popular RPGs right now. Although the first game was released in 2007 for PC, the game started to get a lot more traction once The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt was released for more consoles. Since then, a TV series even started. Now, Witcher fans are elated to see that a fourth is coming soon. And with it comes the story of Ciri as she takes over Geralt’s job as a Witcher.
The third game brought several moments when you played as Ciri who battles against the Wild Hunt, escaping their grasp at all costs. With the fourth game, gamers will be able to play as Ciri who dominates the monsters with anger, power, and brutality. Ciri is a natural Witcher, and since the beginning, she’s been pushing the story along with her immense power and skill.
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6. Ellie (The Last of Us)
Speaking of brutality, can you really have a list of the best female video game characters without bringing up the heart-shattering series The Last of Us? While many might be familiar with this series as it’s also a TV series, the video games didn’t release until 2013. The action-adventure horror game by Naughty Dog sees players controlling Joel, a smuggler tasked with escorting teenager Ellie through the post-apocalyptic United States.
Since the first game, Ellie has made a formidable companion, aiding Joel as they weave dangerously through zombies, cannibals, and more. In the second game, released in 2020, gamers play as Ellie who is set out in a revenge mission. Players who grew up with the sweet, funny Ellie are quickly stunned by this young adult who seems to do anything she can to intact her plan against Abby, a soldier on her own path of vengeance.
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5. Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy)
The Final Fantasy series is huge. The main series has 15 games, however, if you consider the games under the Final Fantasy umbrella, there are over 120 games in total. That being said, there are a lot of incredible characters. One of the best female video game characters is in Final Fantasy VII, the 1997 RPG game by Square for PlayStation. The story follows Cloud Strife, a mercenary who joins an eco-terrorist organization to stop a world-controlling megacorporation from using the planet’s life essence as an energy source.
Tifa is Cloud’s childhood friend and is considered strong and independent, often compared to Lara Croft for her skills, strength, and passion. She’s a highly trained martial artist with a caring soul. This is one of many characters who are remarkable that add to the storyline but is drawn and created as eye candy, blatantly overshadowing her strong and caring nature.
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4. Chun-Li (Street Fighter)
In a game that focuses on fighting one another, Chun-Li is considered one of the best female video game characters in it. Street Fighter II: The World Warrior is a 1991 fighting game by Capcom for arcades. Chun-Li first appeared in the second game and is the first female playable character to appear in a fighting game to gain mainstream recognition. She is a martial artist and Interpol officer who seeks revenge for the death of her father by the series’ antagonist M. Bison.
She has a ruthless and aggressive fighting style, punctuated by her signature spinning kick, making her a fan favorite and icon for women in video games. Her role in the fighting game not only influences more fighting game developers, but general gaming developers overall to include strong, independent women in the gaming industry.
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3. Princess Zelda (The Legend of Zelda)
When you think about the most iconic women in gaming, Princess Zelda is definitely up there. The Legend of Zelda series is one of the top series by Nintendo, and while her name is on the title, the story actually revolves around Link, a courageous young man who must save the land of Hyrule from Ganon. Zelda is often seen as a damsel in distress, and she is most of the time. But she’s also a powerful and brave woman in gaming.
Not only does she commonly go up against Ganon alone, using her power to prevent him from doing immense damage to her kingdom. In other games, we have Zelda acting as a fighter just as much as Link and being helpful in battles. Skyward Sword especially saw both Link and Zelda forming a strong relationship and having Zelda fight in different forms as either herself or her alter ego.
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2. Samus Aran (Metroid)
Metroid is an action-adventure game by Nintendo released in 1986 where players control the bounty hunter Samus Aran, who protects the galaxy from Space Pirates and other malevolent forces and their attempts to harness the power of the parasitic Metroid creatures. It also has one of the best endings in video game history, as the “true” ending reveals that the powerful and strong main character is actually a woman.
Most games back in the day focused on male main characters, so the reveal was shocking, as most thought they were playing as a man. And while many were upset, the twist was crucial for video games. The formidable intergalactic bounty hunter in a power suit that faces off against alien creatures is by far one of the best female video game characters, and will forever go down in history as having an unforgettable storyline and being one of the most powerful.
1. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
Number one on the list of the best female video game characters is Lara Croft from the Tomb Raider series which was first released in 1996. Another video game that turned into a movie franchise, Tomb Raider is an action-adventure game series that has Lara Croft as the protagonist. Lara is presented as a highly intelligent and athletic archaeologist who ventures into ancient tombs and hazardous ruins around the world.
She embodies a sense of empowerment and independence that was rarely seen back then. She faces danger head-on with fear, emphasizing resilience, intelligence, and tenacity. She’s known for being the first lady in gaming, and will forever be the woman who started a positive path for women in the gaming industry.
