(And Why You’ll Love Them, Too)
(And Why You’ll Love Them, Too)
Header image courtesy of GameRant.
Representation of women has come a long way in media. Though there are some portrayals that, even now, can cause you to cringe, there are a lot of female characters with amazingly strong writing. We’re here to celebrate six of our favorite female characters, from games spanning:
With that, let’s get started! First up on our list of the best female video game characters, we have…
With the surge in popularity for The Last of Us, many players are looking for zombie-related media, and Telltale’s The Walking Dead is one of the most well-known choices out there. Originally introduced as Lee’s companion in Season One, Clem becomes the protagonist in Season Two, letting players see her from different angles. Already mature for her age, Clementine is a young girl forced to grow up fast as she adapts to the apocalyptic world around her. Though plenty of her character is determined by players as they progress through the game, she begins as a kind, smart young girl who wants to believe the best in everyone. A realistic and thoughtfully written character, Clementine is agreed on by many players to be one of their favorite female characters across different media.
🎮 Buy The Walking Dead on Steam
Often, female characters aren’t allowed to show anger – but in Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar Games themselves describe Sadie Adler as “a widow who is hell-bent on taking revenge upon those who killed her husband. Relentless and afraid of nothing and no one. The wrong woman to cross, but very loyal to those she loves.” Though angry and impulsive, Sadie isn’t a one-note character, and her more positive traits can shine through at times. Despite not being a playable character, Sadie is central to RDR2’s narrative, and is a fascinating character often praised for her depth.
🎮 Buy Red Dead Redemption 2 on Steam
Horizon Zero Dawn is a fantastic game for a lot of reasons. With fascinating worldbuilding, beautiful graphics, and fun mechanics, it’s no wonder it’s captured the hearts of gamers since its release, but one of its best features is its lovable and unique cast of characters. Aloy is no exception to this – a charming lead, you’re introduced to Aloy as a child growing up in a strange world, and see her finding her place in it as an adult. Rejected by the society she was raised in, Aloy nonetheless retains a headstrong streak and a determined nature, matched only by her sense of curiosity. A wonderfully fleshed-out character, players have an incredible journey laid out in front of them, and will revel in seeing how Aloy grows and changes.
🎮 Buy Horizon Zero Dawn on Steam
Cirilla, often known as “Ciri” for short, is another well-known fan favorite – featured primarily in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Ciri is a princess and the adoptive daughter of Geralt of Rivia, the game’s protagonist. Though players primarily play as Geralt, the main objective of the game is to track down Ciri, the child of prophecy. Because of this, Ciri is an integral part of the game, and at key moments, players gain control of her, getting more insights into both her character and their surroundings as they unravel the story before them. Ciri’s an incredibly complex character, resilient, determined, and intelligent… but also opportunistic and impulsive, traits that tend to land her in trouble, making her a fascinating and entertaining character.
🎮 Buy The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on Steam
YoRHa Type A No.2, often shortened to just “A2,” is one of the protagonists of NieR:Automata. A character on a self-imposed mission of vengeance against machines, A2 is much more than meets the eye, and players gradually grow to understand her inner struggles and turmoils, and how her trauma led to her becoming the individual she is within the game. A2 is one of many beautifully written characters within NieR:Automata, a fantastic hack-and-slash RPG with a high amount of replayability that will leave players coming back for more.
If you’re a fan of RPGs, chances are, you’ve heard of the Mass Effect series – with the first released game in 2007, Mass Effect is one of most well-known RPGs and sci-fi games out there. Commander Shepard, the protagonist of the Mass Effect games, is customizable, and players are able to choose to play as a male or a female version of Shepard. Though many choose to play as the male Shepard, other players state that FemShep is the superior choice, given the voice acting talent of Jennifer Hale. Shepard is an outstanding character, and a glimpse into a world where her being a woman in a position of leadership is completely normalized, something that even nowadays can be hard to find.
🎮 Buy Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition on Steam
That’s it for our take on the best female video game characters. Now get ready to pick up a controller, and find your new favorite today!
