My Top 5 Female Characters in Gaming

Female representation in gaming has been a long standing topic of discussion in the gaming world, and it is becoming more of a highlighted topic in recent times.

It is well known that media has the ability to indoctrinate ideas to subsequently mold people’s views on the world and influence their behaviour, and gaming is no exception. While females characters are present in a lot of video games, their representation hasn’t always been that positive, with hyper-sexualised characters and many often falling into the role of the damsel in distress. However, we are seeing a shift, with many female characters being celebrated for their depiction as strong, confident and capable beings, not only sparking inspiration for many women around the world, but also making great role models for children.

Today, on International Women’s Day 2024, I thought I would share 5 of my favourite female characters in gaming.

Princess Zelda

Originally depicted as a damsel in distress in the first 2 The Legend of Zelda games, Princess Zelda has become a true heroine. Princess Zelda is a kind ruler who displays a deep love of the people she watches over. She is a deeply caring, gracious and self-sacrificing individual who would do anything to support and protect those she cares for (so basically the entirety of Hyrule). She displays wisdom well beyond her years and is an aspiring scholar with a deep curiosity for the world around her. She is very strong and capable (I mean, she held off Calamity Ganon for 100 years while Link had a nap), however she knows when to ask for help when she needs it (and even being so gracious as to allow Link to overcome his sudden amnesia and relearn all his skills). She has dreams and aspirations and doesn’t let anyone stop her from following her path. Zelda is one badass strong female and I love her.

Princess Peach

Princess Peach (originally Princess Toadstool) is indisputably one of the most recognised characters in gaming worldwide, and she is probably just as loved. She is the OG damsel in distress, being captured by Bowser and waiting for Mario to rescue her. Despite this, Princess Peach has proven herself to be a strong, capable and independent individual. She has had such a massive impact on the gaming industry and gamers around the world, showing that she can be just as capable and just as much the hero as her male counterparts, and becoming a wonderful role model, inspiring women and young girls to be strong, confident and resilient.

Lara Croft

When you think of females in gaming, Lara Croft is often the first character to come to mind, and rightfully so as she has definitely secured her place as one of the greatest and strongest female characters in video game history. The Tomb Raider game series has done an excellent job at showcasing her evolution from an intelligent and athletic archaeologist to a resilient survivor as she faced a myriad of obstacles in her quests to uncover long-lost artifacts. She is intelligent, curious, resourceful, strong, and fearless, inspiring many around the world.

Kena

When you think of females in gaming, the first character to come to mind most likely isn’t Kena; in fact, she probably wouldn’t be one of the top names to come to mind. Personally, I think she is a bit of an underrated character. Kena is a young spirit guide, helping to lost spirits to find their peace and move on into the afterlife; not an easy feat for anyone, let alone a child, and especially if they are particularly difficult spirits causing decay and monsters to appears. In addition to her quest to help the spirits move on, she must also battle enemies and solve puzzles as she endeavours to save the forest and get to the Mountain Shrine. Kena is strong, resourceful, smart, compassionate, empathetic, and an incredibly capable human; all great qualities for being an excellent role model character.

Kitana

This one is probably a bit of a surprising entry to the list, but I absolutely adore Kitana. Previously a cold and ruthless assassin, Kitana transformed to becoming a more kinder and selfless individual. She is a protector, and will do whatever it takes to protect the ones she loves. To me, this demonstrates personal growth and strength. This woman knows herself, she knows what’s important, and she is just a straight up badass of a woman.

They’re my top 5 females characters in gaming. Were they who you were expecting? I’d love to know your favourite female characters.

Until next time,