Highlights:
* In recent decades, fans have witnessed many solid female protagonists in different video games.
* The likes of Commander Shepard (FemShep), Aloy, and Jill Valentine are among some of the iconic video game protagonists.
For decades, popular culture has suffered from male dominance. With the presence of too many male protagonists, the video game industry was also seeing a similar trend as Hollywood entertainers. However, in the decade, game developers have altered their approach with more inclusiveness towards female characters. Fans have seen the emergence of strong female protagonists who don’t lack depth like the characters from the olden days.
The shift towards bringing women-centric stories has given audiences some of the most memorable video games in recent years. While the gender identity or s*xual orientation of many female protagonists didn’t impact the narrative at large, they did provide a representation and a voice to marginalized sections of the society, who needed to be heard. Many of these strong female protagonists have also inspired the young girls.
Celebrating strong female protagonists in video games, we have compiled a list of five iconic characters.
Five Iconic & Strong Female Protagonists From Video Games
Commander Shepard – Mass Effect
Mass Effect came out in 2007 with Commander Shepard as its protagonist. The game allows players to customize the main character by choosing a desired gender, appearance, skills, and pre-service history. Each decision influences the storyline. While the male Shepard seems like just another hero from a space opera, the FemShep turns out to be a fresh approach for a leading character.
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Jane Shepard (default name) didn’t feel like an overbearing inclusion to the game. Instead, her presence felt natural. Jennifer Hale’s exceptional voice-acting gave audiences an ideal, military-themed female character standing tall next to her male counterparts. Commander Shepard is one of those characters who checks all the boxes regarding female empowerment in mainstream media.
Aloy – Horizon
Aloy is the main character of the Horizon series, which features a narrative set in a post-apocalyptic world. Having been raised as an outcast, Aloy faces a multitude of challenges throughout the series, yet she overcomes them. She has been beautifully portrayed as awkward and vulnerable, which are among the relatable traits for many casual gamers.
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Despite Aloy’sher overpowered abilities and genius mind, Aloy faces a setback now and then. However, her failures don’t impact the optimism she carries. Aloy is inspiring as a character who, despite her tragic past, is keen to be the savior of the world. Her impressive character depth, accompanied by Ashly Burch’s exceptional voice acting, makes her one of the most iconic female protagonists.
Ellie Williams – The Last of Us
In The Last of Us, Ellie Williams is portrayed as a foul-mouthed, brat teenager who hasn’t lost her innocence despite being raised in a world full of darker realities. The first game explores her relationship with Joel and other characters. It serves as a coming-of-age story for Ellie, which many might find intriguing, especially with her daughter-father dynamic with Joel. Ellie is still a teenager, but she is also a survivor.
However, the second game turns the world upside down for Ellie, who is forced to watch her father figure die. After losing Joel, it is spectacular to see how Ellie brings her survival instincts back from the first game and goes on a revenge arc. Her journey and the final act of forgiveness solidify Ellie as a strong female protagonist, which is further uplifted by Ashley Johnson’s impeccable voice acting.
Senua – Hellblade
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is an intense dark fantasy action-adventure exploring Norse mythology and Celtic folklore. The titular female protagonist is depicted as a fierce warrior who travels to Helheim, the Norse afterlife realm, to save her dead lover, Dillion’s soul, from Hela, the goddess of death. On her journey, Senua has to battle against various Norsemen and bosses while also fighting her inner demons—her delusional beliefs and hallucinations.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice and its sequel, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, are outstanding games in multiple ways. They not only present the players with a primary character, who is a ferocious fighter. Both Hellblade games address Senua’s mental health condition, while also showing her vulnerabilities. Senua is shown to be struggling with psychosis, which she considers as a curse. Despite her mental disorder, Senua doesn’t back down, a quality that makes her an obvious addition to this list.
Jill Valentine – Resident Evil
Jill Valentine easily tops the list when naming the most badass female protagonists from video games. Her intelligence, survival instincts, physical prowess, or any other crucial attribute required to persevere in the Resident Evil universe is unmatchable. Jill has all the qualities fans usually look for in an old-school action hero.
Throughout her appearances in Resident Evil games, Jill has been well-established as battle-hardened. With a past military and law enforcement career, she doesn’t play around. In addition to that, she never loses her humanity. Moreover, Jill is a character from an era when strong female protagonists in video games were a rare phenomenon. It is one of the reasons why Jill should be celebrated more.