Back in the early days of gaming, many people assumed video games were for the boys. As such, most games had male protagonists by default. Over the years, more games have added options to choose your characters’ gender, letting gamers play as they please. But some games work best with a central figure, and in that case, character customization doesn’t always make sense. Narrative games have given us some of our best protagonists, and that includes some of the best leading ladies gaming has ever seen.
Growing up as a gamer girl, it was always exciting to find a game that let me play as a girl after years as Mario and Link. Now, there are so many amazing female main characters in iconic gaming franchises to celebrate. This list of the top female leads in gaming is a mix of truly tough, well-written women and the early pioneers in the genre who proved that games can, and should, feature strong female characters, too.
10. Melinoe in Hades 2
The first Hades game captured an audience of dedicated fans with its Greek mythology-inspired world and compelling roguelike gameplay. But while the male Zagreus, son of Hades, took center stage in the first game, his sister Melinoe takes over in the sequel. And what an amazing job she does.
Melinoe is a complicated figure in Hades 2. She’s determined to save her family and defeat Chronos, with the aid of her mentor in witchcraft, Hecate. Despite her strong, unflinching abilities in combat, Melinoe shows off a softer side when dealing with her familiars. She is a well-rounded figure with a sense of humor, strong combat prowess, and a truly stunning character design, making her one of the best female leads we’ve seen in recent years.
9. Stella in Spiritfarer
Spiritfarer is among the most popular cozy games of recent years. It takes on tough, emotional themes as the protagonist, Stella, is in charge of ferrying the dead on to the next life. In this role, Stella is a compassionate and compelling female lead who has taken on a big, difficult job.
Stella’s past comes to light as you play through the game, showing that she is no straightforward Grim Reaper figure. Players get to see her challenges, her struggles with anxiety, and how her work in life led her to the Spiritfarer role she plays now. Stella is a compelling female lead in one of the most beloved indie games in recent years, earning her a spot on our list.
8. Jill Valentine from the Resident Evil Series
Jill Valentine, along with her partner Chris Redfield, shared the spotlight as playable characters in the first Resident Evil game. Since her debut, Jill has appeared in several subsequent entries in the main series. This gives players more time to uncover her story, making her one of the more well-rounded video game protagonists out there.
Valentine is a member of the Raccoon City Police Department’s Special Tactics and Rescue Unit, giving her a list of skills with weapons, lockpicking, and getting things done. She is independent, but loyal to those who matter to her, including her partner. She has seen some changes over the course of the series, including some controversial changes in more recent games. Even so, Valentine remains an essential leading lady in video game history for being an early example of a well-rounded, compelling female protagonist.
7. Max Caulfield from Life is Strange
Dontnod and Square Enix’s Life is Strange was a breakout episodic narrative game when it arrived back in 2015. The game was praised for its storytelling, earning a few Best Story awards. And much of that strong story relies on the game’s protagonist, Max Caulfield. Max’s powers fuel the game’s unique rewind mechanic, earning her a central space in the story.
Max is one of the only teenage protagonists on our list. Despite her youth, Max has to contend with the challenges of being stuck between time thanks to her abilities. As such, she tends towards nostalgia and a sense of being old beyond her years, despite her anxiety and struggles with her powers. Max is a well-written example of a teenage female protagonist in a game, making her one of the more memorable female leads we’ve had in recent years.
6. Aloy from the Horizon Series
Horizon is another stellar franchise that stars a primary female protagonist. Aloy has been capturing players’ hearts ever since she first appeared in Horizon Zero Dawn in 2017. The game brings players into a vast post-apocalyptic pen world, as they sink into the life of a hunter. This story-driven RPG needed a compelling main character, and Aloy delivers.
Aloy is a hunter at heart, forced to undergo a quest to find her destiny after being outcast from her tribe. She’s a force to be reckoned with in battle, but players find her memorable for her well-rounded personality. Aloy is a bit introverted and awkward thanks to her status as an outcast, but she’s got wit, kindness, and the right blend of sarcastic humor to endear her to players.
5. Senua from Hellblade
Senua made her debut in Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice back in 2017. This atmospheric, Celtic mythology-infused adventure game introduced us to a compelling, tortured Viking warrior. The game itself received heaps of critical praise, in no small part because of Senua herself.
One of the reasons Senua is so compelling is her vulnerability and overall humanness throughout the game. Her journey is full of ups and downs, and the way she’s portrayed really pulls you into the story. Senua is also a massively important video game protagonist due to the realistic and thoughtful way her struggles with mental illness are portrayed. She is a complicated, resilient character who has well earned her spot on this list of the best female leads in gaming.
4. Kassandra in Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey
Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey lets players choose between either Alexios or Kassandra, male and female protagonists. Both characters are mercenaries and the story will be more or less the same no matter who you choose. But canonically, the story of Odyssey belongs to Kassandra, leading many players to choose her for the journey.
Kassandra is a strong female protagonist, thanks to her impressive abilities as a mercenary. She is witty and sarcastic, but still shows genuine kindness that keeps her from being a stereotype of a gruff warrior. Her voice acting and facial animations really bring this character to life, making her a fan-favorite compared to her male counterpart in the game.
3. Bayonetta from the Bayonetta Series
It’s hard to ignore the impact of a female character so iconic, her name is also the name of her video game. Bayonetta is the star of the action games of the same name, which began with 2009’s beloved Bayonetta. She is an umbra witch on a mission to uncover the mysteries of her past, and the journey players go on with her is unforgettable.
Bayonetta is a confident woman who isn’t afraid to lean into flashy fashion. Yet for all her spectacle, she’s also a powerful contender in battle, backing up her confidence and sassy attitude with action. Her characterization across the three games in her series has given fans a chance to really get to know all sides of her, even if not everyone loves her evolution in more recent games. For being unabashedly herself, Bayonetta earns a spot in the female protagonist hall of fame.
2. Lara Croft from the Tomb Raider Series
It’s hard to be a female gamer and not be aware of Lara Croft. Her legacy in gaming looms large, even if it is a bit of a mixed bag. Like our top pick, Lara Croft was an early female protagonist who paved the way for future female-led games with her role as the star of the Tomb Raider franchise. But she’s a bit of a mixed figure for gamers.
In many ways, Lara Croft is a strong female protagonist. She’s fearless, smart, and determined to meet her goals. Her portrayal varies in different games and in the movie adaptations, but she’s usually a strong, independent woman. However, her character design is also undeniably aimed at a male gaze, with her generous assets and scant clothing. For that reason, not everyone sees her as a solid female lead. But there’s no denying that Lara Croft had a massive impact on the gaming industry, making her one of the most impactful female leads in games.
1. Samus from the Metroid Series
Samus Aran from Metroid is often credited as the first female protagonist in gaming. From the start of the series, Samus was its lead. Her gender is a secret for most of the first game, as her nondescript exoskeleton conceals her identity. She also doesn’t have voice lines in her debut game, and rarely speaks even in later games.
Samus is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to character development, in part due to the attempts to hide her identity and keep voice acting out of the picture. But even if many didn’t realize they were picking up a female-led game at the time, Samus remains one of the first female leading ladies in gaming history. In that regard, she paved the way for many of the other female characters we see on this list.
