International Women’s Day (on March 8) is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women and to consider where we’re at in the fight for gender equality.
Unfortunately, the gaming industry still has a long way to go in terms of female representation. Although nearly half of all gamers are women, under a third of video game characters are female. Even more depressingly, researchers have found that, on average, games include twice as much male dialogue as female dialogue.
That said, things are changing. From the sword-wielding Kassandra of Assassin’s Creed to the deeply flawed Ellie from The Last Of Us, women are no longer the hyper-sexualised figures of past decades. Today, they are front and centre in big AAA titles like they never have been before.
It’s time to celebrate that. This International Women’s Day, here’s our list of the Standard’s gaming team’s favourite female video game characters. Enjoy.
Peach (Mario)
Princess Peach is perhaps best known for playing the damsel in distress in the Super Mario franchise. However, she has appeared as a protagonist in games like Princess Toadstool's Castle Run, Super Princess Peach, and will do so again in the upcoming game, Princess Peach: Showtime! (released on March 22).
The upcoming game will see Peach transformed from a Princess to a swordfighter, detective, patissier, kung-fu fighter and more. No longer will she play the victim; this time it’s up to Peach to save the day.
Zelda (The Legend of Zelda)
Zelda is the kind, caring, and wise Princess of Hyrule. Similarly to Peach, Zelda first appeared as a damsel in distress but has since developed into a strong female character. Although she’s not often the protagonist, Zelda is frequently the driving force behind several games in the series. She’s one of the most recognisable female video game characters of all time, which makes her pretty iconic.
Misty (Pokémon)
Misty, also known as Tomboyish Mermaid, is the first female Gym Leader to appear in the Pokémon anime series.
In terms of video games, Misty first appears in Pokemon Red and Blue, and later features in games like Gold, Silver, and Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!. The Gym Leader of the Cerulean City Gym, who specializes in Water-type Pokémon, is known for being tomboyish and competitive. And we love her for it.
Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy VII)
The ever-capable Tifa is arguably Final Fantasy VII’s beating heart. The protagonist Cloud’s childhood friend, she’s a voice of reason, can more than hold her own in a fight and also serves an excellent cocktail. Final Fantasy is beloved for its relatable characters and Tifa certainly is that, but she’s also surprisingly complex, a strongly moral character who also happens to be seeking revenge.
Ellie (The Last Of Us)
Introduced in 2013’s The Last Of Us as a young girl who happens to be immune to the zombie-creating cordyceps fungus which is ravaging the planet, Ellie matures into a formidable warrior who makes some truly questionable moral choices over the course of games one and two. Riddled with guilt and bent on revenge, her story arc is dark but compelling – while her second-game romance with Dina made her one of the first openly queer video game protagonists in history.
Kassandra (Assassin’s Creed Odyssey)
Do they get more kick-ass than Kassandra? One of the heroes of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – you can also play as her brother, Alexios, but let’s be honest, he’s a bit of a drip – Kassandra knows her way around a blade, which is handy, because she uses it a lot over the course of the game in her quest to defeat the evil Cult of Kosmos. She takes no prisoners, is brutal when the need arises, but is still very likeable. All credit for that goes to Melissanthi Mahut, who also imbues the character’s voice and otherwise-staid lines with a wry sense of humour.
Max (Life Is Strange)
Max Caulfield is the smart, brave protagonist from Life is Strange. She’s also clumsy and anxious, making her a more down-to-earth protagonist rather than an aspirational hero. Beginning her journey as a self-conscious high schooler, Max’s confidence grows as she learns to use her time-altering powers. The complexity and relatability of Max’s character is worth celebrating, for sure.
Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
One of the OGs of the gaming industry, there’s a lot to like about Lara (despite the ultra-sexualised way she’s been depicted in her earlier games). First introduced to audiences all the way back in 1996 in Tomb Raider, later iterations of the character have leant away from the ultra-short shorts approach and sought to explore her traumatic backstory and the events that forged her into both a fierce survivor and a questionable looter of valuable cultural items. Plus, she’s a dab hand with those guns.
Jill Valentine (Resident Evil)
Jill is the first playable female character and protagonist in the entire Resident Evil franchise, to which we say: what took them so long? She’s present from the very first game, and indeed all the best games in the franchise – Resident Evil 3, Revelations and even Resident Evil 5 – which gives her a certain nostalgia value. And even better, she’s the ultimate horror companion: brave, independent and smarter than most of her male compatriots.
Aloy (Horizon Zero Dawn)
Dystopian worlds can be dangerous places – just as well Aloy has her bow and arrows to hand. Introduced in Horizon Zero Dawn and then again in Horizon Forbidden West, she’s an outcast, shunned by her tribe, who sets off on a quest through a futuristic America ruled by robot dinosaurs (yes, you read that right). Complex and nuanced (as well as excellently voiced by Ashly Burch), she’s a fascinating person to spend time with over the course of her hero’s journey. All hundred-plus hours of games one and two, in fact.
