Gaming is a hobby that is largely enjoyed worldwide by many different people regardless of gender, sexuality, or ethnicity, and as such, developers are now making a conscientious effort to make their games more inclusive with regard to characters and main protagonists, with some even allowing players to create their own characters.
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With there beinga rise in gamer girls, there are many more games cropping up that include female protagonists who can serve as strong role models to younger girls or allow older women to enjoy a game with a badass woman taking the lead. That said, games are a genderless creation, and any game can be enjoyed by any player regardless.
8Silent Hill 3
Silent Hill 3brought the horror series back to the storyline explored in the very firstSilent Hillgame, only this time players control Harry’s daughter Cheryl, or Heather as she is known for most of the game. After awakening froma nightmare sequencein a diner, Heather sets about to return home, only to enter the nightmare world of rusted metal and twisted monsters and find herself embroiled in a cult’s plot to birth ‘God’ back into the world
Heather, or Cheryl, is about as badass as they come. Despite being only 17 years old, she doesn’t quiver away from the monsters, waiting for a savior, and instead takes up a weapon to defend herself from the creatures. During the introduction, Cheryl also sasses a self-proclaimed PI, who claims to have information surrounding her birth, solidifying herself as a fan-favorite character from theSilent Hillseries.
7The Last of Us Part 2
Following on from the firstLast of Us, the sequel brings players the story of Ellie, now older, stronger, and slightly more jaded. Like the first game, players will have to contend withthe terrifying clickersthat inhabit much of the world and can choose to sneak and distract or shoot their way through enemies. The story switches intermittently between Ellie and Abby, the latter viewed as the central antagonist due to her actions at the beginning of the game.
Ellie has always proven to be a badass who is more than capable of looking after herself even in the first game when she was just 14 years old, but in the second game, she is even more independent and capable.
6Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 2brought players the choice of two protagonists: rookie cop Leon Kennedy, who is on his way to his first day on the job, or motorcycle enthusiast Claire Redfield, who came to Raccoon City looking for her older brother, Chris. Both characters find themselves in the midst of a zombie outbreak, and there is little sanctuary to be found in the Police Station when Mr. X arrives on the scene to eliminate them.
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Though young and by no means a trained professional, Claire shows true grit and courage when faced with zombies and other horrifying monsters and acts as a staunch protector to Sherry. Claire is undoubtedly a fantastic role model and a well-rounded character who immediately became a favorite among fans.Resident Evil 2also served as the introduction for Ada Wong, another strong-willed female character.
5Horizon: Zero Dawn
Horizon: Zero Dawnis a fantastic RPG that immediately gained a huge following of fans and is fronted by the fantastic character Aloy. Set in a unique world home to hunting tribes and robot dinosaurs, this game was praised for itsexpansive open world,combat, visuals, and interesting story that will keep players returning for more.
Aloy proves herself as a strong and special woman from a young age, raised as an outcast but earning herself a place in the Nora tribe by winning the Proving. She also earns herself the title of Seeker after a cultist attack sees some of Nora’s tribes killed, allowing her to roam the lands and hunt cultists. She is capable with weaponry and courageous enough to face cultists and dangerous machines, makingHorizon: Zero Dawna must-play for fans of strong female protagonists.
4Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
Bringing together all three originalMass Effectgames and their DLC, theLegendary Editionwas a must-play for existingMass Effectfans and sci-fi RPG players looking for a new obsession. Tasked with saving the galaxy from the threat of the Reapers, massive alien lifeforms that seek to repeat the cycle of eradicating all intelligent life apart from one species, Shepard must band together the galaxy to face the threat as a united army.
As with a lot of RPGs, players havethe freedom to customize their character, including their gender, appearance, and background. But female Shepard isn’t the only badass woman in the game, with NPCs such as Tali, Liara, and Ashley acting as companions to Shepard, all with fantastically written personalities and the means to aid Shepard in her quest to save the galaxy.
3Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
In thisVictorian England entryinto theAssassin’s Creedseries, Frye twins Evie and Jacob act as the central protagonists, with the player intermittently changing between the two as they play through their conquests over London. They arrive in the city to find the Templars have a strong hold over it, and it’s up to them to return it to the assassins.
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Already established in her own right, Evie is a fantastically written stealth-centric character. Her very orderly demeanor clashes well with Jacob’s more humorous nature, but the two play off each other very well and would be relatable to many people. Plus, Evie has many other facets to her character than the clinical and serious manner people mostly see, with her even admitting she believes in ghosts.
2Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Age: Inquisitionbrought world-ending stakes to Thedas, as Corypheus, one of the Magisters who infiltrated the golden city, begins his plans to bring down the veil that separates the world from the Fade. Players will control the Herald of Andraste, the only person capable of stopping him.
As is custom for BioWare games, the Inquisitor is completely customizable by the player, who can alter their race, gender, and appearance. Whether they are male or female, the Inquisitor stands as a strong and capable character and is alsosupported by strong womenin their Keep, such as Cassandra, Leliana, Sera, and Vivienne.
1Dishonored 2
While the firstDishonoredhad Corvo Attano as the main protagonist, focused on a goal to avenge the murder of Jessamine, clear his name, and save Emily,Dishonored 2shows an all-grown-up Emily who has taken over as Empress, but her reign is cut short by the arrival of Delilah Copperspoon, who sees the throne as her property. The player can then choose to reprise their role as Corvo or take on the role of Emily. Whoever the player does not choose to play as will become a living statue, and it will be up to them to save them.
Like her father, Emily is a more than capable fighter, thief, and even has the option to accept the mark of the Outsider and gainthe helpful abilitiesthat come with it. From a once bright-eyed and cheerful child, she has grown into a woman with a strong sense of morality, lofty ambitions, and great judgment, which she uses to analyze situations and possible outcomes. As such, she is a role model any woman could look up to.
