Tomorrow is International Women’s Day, an event that aims to celebrate the achievements of women all over the globe. While there’s no shortage of notable women in the real world, did you know this extends to the video game realm as well?
Over the years, a wide variety of female characters have helped define the video games they appear in. Not only do the games themselves stick in our mind, so too do the female characters thanks to their strength, characterization, and unique skill sets.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, we wanted to take a closer look at 7 female video game characters who’ve helped pave the way for other badass women in gaming.
Elena Fisher – Uncharted
Elena could have easily fallen into the role of Nathan Drake’s love interest and nothing more. Surprisingly, Naughty Dog had more up their sleeve for Elena than that.
The relationship between Elena and Nathan throughout the entire Uncharted series is by far one of the most authentic video game relationships we’ve ever encountered. The two are a perfect match which is due, in large part, to Elena’s own adventurous spirit and fierce determination.
She’s able to keep up with Nathan no matter the location or circumstance. A trait likely acquired during her stint as an investigative journalist and foreign correspondent. It’s hard keeping pace with a diehard adventurer like Nathan Drake… unless you’re Elena Fisher, of course.
Princess Zelda – The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
There are many notable iterations of Princess Zelda throughout The Legend of Zelda series, however we wanted to shine a direct spotlight on her character in the latest entry for Nintendo Switch.
In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, players are offered a refreshing new look at Princess Zelda and the role she plays in Hyrule. Throughout the player’s journey, Zelda’s voice serves as a soothing presence. One that helps both guide you and motivate you.
Meanwhile in the story flashbacks, you get a better feel for the dynamic between her and Link, as well as her struggle with the high expectations placed on her not only by her father, but by herself. She’s portrayed as a perfectionist and an empath with natural frustrations and flaws.
The end result? A beautifully well-rounded character you can’t help but bond with. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is currently viewed as one of the greatest Zelda games of all-time. While there are a multitude of reasons for this, we like to think one of those reasons is Zelda herself thanks to how truly memorable she is.
Chun-Li – Street Fighter
Chun-Li was one of the first female fighting game characters. This alone makes her pretty impressive. Of course, if you’ve ever played through the Street Fighter games, you’ll know she’s also one of the most deadly characters in the series.
Meanwhile, Chun-Li’s backstory sports a fair bit of depth, with Chun-Li occupying the role of undercover Interpol officer seeking revenge for her father’s death. Rather than blindly pursuing this revenge, Chun-Li dedicates herself to becoming a disciplined fighter.
Additionally, Chun-Li makes friends easily and has a strong sense of valor. Overall, there’s no shortage of things to love about Chun-Li, even when you’re on the opposite end of her incredibly painful beatdowns.
Aloy – Horizon Zero Dawn
Aloy’s life has always been challenging. From being shunned as an outcast in infancy, to embarking upon a journey through a dangerous land as an adult, Aloy’s greatest ally herself alone.
This can be seen as early as the opening segments of the game where a young Aloy finds herself lost in a cave (full of dead bodies no less) and forced to find her own way out.
Then, when she becomes sufficiently fed up with being treated like an outcast, she dedicates herself to years of training in order to prove herself worthy and to find answers to questions including who her mother is and why she was outcast.
Aloy is a refreshing video game character full of strength and determination. It’s hard not to admire and connect with her, and we certainly hope Sony and the team at Guerrilla Games has more in store for her in the future (a sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn would be amazing).
Sarah Kerrigan – StarCraft
No other female character on this list has a story quite as jaw-dropping as Sarah Kerrigan, aka the “Queen of Blades.” Kerrigan got her start in the Confederate’s “Ghost Program” as a child before going on to become the second-in-command to the Sons of Korhal.
While Mengsk’s betrayal could have easily resulted in her death, Kerrigan is far too great an asset, as the Zerg quickly realized. After the Zerg Swarm captured her, she goes through a startling transformation into their official queen. Or, as she dubs herself, the Queen of Blades.
Kerrigan is a formidable force and one of the most memorable StarCraft characters. She’s someone you never want to underestimate, and even after going through absolute hell, is still able to retain a semblance of control and sense of self.
Samus Aran – Metroid
Samus is one of the oldest female characters on this list in terms of the initial release of Metroid back in 1986. Ever since, Samus has firmly solidified her place as one of the greatest female video game characters.
When it comes to her backstory, Samus was raised as a warrior by the Chozo. As an adult, Samus served under Commanding Officer Adam Malkovich in the Federation Police prior to becoming an intergalactic bounty hunter.
Samus, complete with her iconic suit, then becomes famous for completing missions many find impossible. In fact, because of the suit she wears, Samus is often mistaken for a male. After being confirmed as a woman, players didn’t seem to care.
Samus is incredible due to her skill, which often feels superhuman at times. Not only is Samus one of the best female characters, she’s one of the best video game characters in general. The Metroid games are gaming staples, and they’d honestly be incomplete without Samus.
Lara Croft – Tomb Raider
This one’s sort of a no-brainer. When it comes to all-time female video game characters, no list is complete without the inclusion of Lara Croft from the Tomb Raider series.
In the years following the game’s 1996 release, Lara Croft has served as the perfect example of a female character who balances beauty with an impressive set of skills. In each iteration of Tomb Raider, it’s always a blast to play as Lara, and for good reason.
She’s an adventurer, an explorer, and strong both physically and mentally. What’s more, the Tomb Raider movie franchise is getting a new reboot with actress Alicia Vikander taking on the role of Lara Croft.
While we have a soft spot for the Angelina Jolie films, Vikander certainly embodies the updated Lara seen in games like 2015’s Rise of the Tomb Raider. When it comes to leading the pack, Lara Croft truly exemplifies everything a female video game character should be… and then some.