As a young girl growing up there weren’t that many female characters in games that I could relate to, and I still think that’s a bit of a problem today.
That said though the characters that did stand out to me helped to shape me into the person I am today and I am so excited to see the same happen for little girls around the world as the industry changes for the better.
This list is not in order of characters I deem superior over others. They are simply the leading ladies that I looked up to in the games I played, who helped shape me into who I am today!
1. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
My first time seeing Lara on the PS1 blew my mind as a young child. She was the badass, puzzle-solving, dual pistol-wielding beauty I always wanted to be. She was someone girls back in the ’90s idolized!
However, with the renewing of the franchise back in 2013, we see Lara as we have never seen her before. Now with so much more depth and character she represents independence, resilience, is strong-willed, and is still a fast-thinking problem solver to boot! Along with being more beautiful than ever, we get to see a more human Lara. Now women of all ages are inspired by her taste for adventure and her will to survive.
2. Claire Redfield (Resident Evil)
Introduced as the younger sister living in her brother’s shadow, we first meet Claire entering Racoon city looking for her brother. We quickly get to see what Claire is made of as she is pushed beyond the human limits.
Her curiosity might get the better of her from time to time but it has helped her a thousand times back. Claire is a strong, stubborn individual that knows how to take care of herself and others. In the face of danger, she is not one to shy away. Claire inspires bravery, a strong will to survive and has an incredibly funny sense of humor (probably coming out at the wrong times!)
Claire shows us the importance of family as she drops out of college after not hearing anything from Chris in a while. After the death of their parents, Chris and Claire grew very close and we get to see why she would risk everything to go and find him.
3. Garnet Til Alexandros (Final Fantasy 9)
Growing up as the sheltered princess Garnet is first seen as helpless and weak. Easily influenced by others we watch her grow and eventually see her take a stand for herself and what she believes is right.
Whether it’s standing up against her mother, facing foes or going on adventures against other’s approval, we see the young princess soon blossom into the future queen that can stand and defend her kingdom. We see her transform from the damsel in distress to her own self-made hero. She has shown me to believe in myself, be strong and to always protect the things you hold dear and the ones you love. Through her loss, she learned that she cannot change the past but can instead use it to help her shape her future.
4. Commander Shephard (Mass Effect series)
Sometimes our own decisions are the ones that influence the most, that’s why for me Shepard is on this list. The game developers allow us to be our own hero, by making our own decisions we are able to create our ideal hero. We get the option of being the selfless hero (Paragon) or a badass (Renegade), still the hero but a very cold-hearted dangerous one. I personally prefer to be the good hero and that’s exactly what I get to create. A strong leading lady that can show compassion for all, while still standing on the front lines trying to save the world from extinction.
Shepard has shown me to believe in myself and always try and do the right thing. Thanks to the influence of other strong female leads on this list, I think I was able to shape Shepard to what I believe to be a great hero. Strong, never giving up and the will to always give her best for others.
5. Aya Brea (Parasite Eve)
Throughout the first game, we see Aya as the young, inexperienced, NYPD rookie. Finding herself taking on a microscopic parasite that forces the host to burst into flames in mere seconds. Discovering that she herself has unusual abilities, we see Aya deal with not only this brand new enemy but also learning more about herself and her past. Through the next installment, we see Aya embracing her abilities as she joins the FBI as a MIST operative. Where we see her grow as an individual and accepting that her abilities are part of who she is.
Aya has a cold sarcastic side, combined with a dark sense of humor. However, we also see throughout the course of her story, Aya proves herself strong, courageous and brave. Caring towards children and compassionate towards her friends. She does not shy away from tough battles, as she has proven to be a force of nature fighting monsters that can only come from nightmares.
As the gaming world constantly changes to the demands and expectations of a growing audience of girl gamers we get to see more female leads step up to become inspirational heroes for the next generation. Influencing, shaping and empowering the minds of young girls across the world is something I would love to see game developers take a more active approach in. As an eight-year-old being able to look at the screen and see that women could be just as cool as the guys and to be able to place me in their shoes was just the best feeling ever. I really can’t wait to keep playing games with well-written female leads that teach us to be strong, brave and make us feel proud.
Was your favorite female character on this list? Did I miss out on someone you think is ultra-cool? Let me know in the comments below!
Lots of love
I understand the basis of your argument, but I believe that this is wrong. We come from a time where guys were strong and the heroes and girls were the princesses who needed saving. We have made a heavy shift over time into women taking a more prominent role in games today. There is nothing wrong with a strong female lead any more than their is for a man to be that same lead. Do women have equal representation in games? Well that’s tough to answer. Most developers are are inclined to make characters and settings per a reflection of themselves or their own imagination. As a guy, it would be instinctive to me to think of creating a lead character as a man. This isn’t bias it’s just free thinking. It doesn’t mean women shouldn’t lead.
I believe that if we want to see more women protagonist, we need more women developers who want to express that view. We can’t say that there haven’t been amazingly awesome female characters throughout the growing culture of video games. From Ms. Pac Man to Lara Croft (Tomb Raider), to Aya Brea (Parasite Eve) and recently Jesse Fayden (Control) even through the point of creation, there is hardly any sign of a game that you can’t create a woman in preference (I do it mainly in all my games). We have to be mindful that change takes time.
Hi James,
I completely agree with what you are saying. In most games today it is really great to see that we as gamers have the freedom to choose to play as a guy or a girl. I definitely think we need to see more female developers in the industry who aren’t afraid to create the next Lara Croft or Commander Sheppard (I haven’t played Control yet so I don’t know much about Jesse Fayden). My worry is that while teenagers and young adults can play many kinds of games, younger girls are missing out on the experience of seeing themselves represented by a strong female lead.
Its definitely something that will take time to change but I am still excited to see how the industry will develop from here :)
I totally understand but sometimes it’s not about representation. We have to stop looking at gaming like it’s a vocalization on society (sometimes it is). Gaming is about having fun. I don’t know one girl/female who ever played as Mario and Luigi and wondered why there aren’t Mario Sisters. Could Nintendo one day make a Princess Peach/Daisy spin-off? Absolutely! I’d play that! But if people keep looking for representation in games, they won’t be fun anymore, just another form of social commentary.