There’s no doubt that women in video games have been underrepresented at best and wholly exploited at worst in the past. However, things are changing for the better. Developers and publishers now understand that women playing video games are exciting subjects to write about, and high-quality games with female protagonists perform well. There is always a slew of great video game titles released in the marketplace regularly. However, if you’re after some games with female main characters, we have you covered the best. Don’t consider the list definitive—there are plenty of others available, and some are only announced or speculated.
1. Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon Forbidden West took the world by storm after its February 2022 release. It’s a sequel to the 2017 title, Horizon Zero Dawn, and broadens the mystery of the post-apocalyptic world with the timeline moving 6 months later. It features Aloy, a resourceful female protagonist trying to survive the rough wilderness, find loyal acquaintances, gather, hunt, craft, and beat enemy villagers and mechanical bosses. The game has breathtakingly realistic graphics and features global changes such as terraforming and even weather patterns like climate change. It’s a superb example of a single-player action-adventure game and is available exclusively on PlayStation 4 and 5.
2. Half-Life: Alyx
Half-Life: Alyx is an entirely new and exciting take on classic first-person shooter games. It has fantastic graphics, an immersive atmosphere, and deep storylines to keep players entertained for hours on end. The best part is that players can play it with or without the Xbox controller, so gamers of any skill level can jump right in. If you are ready to get your hands dirty, this is the game.
The gameplay in Half-Life: Alyx relies heavily on puzzle-solving (a type of thinking) and fast reflexes (another class). This game means it’s more than just shooting everything that moves — players will need to use their heads if they want to progress. There are also a variety of different weapons to choose from.
3. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
Players can pick between a male and female protagonist in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. There is no difference in gameplay or story as it was simply a cosmetic and voice actor swap. Players may choose to take the role of Kassandra, a girl raised in a loving family. When a religious group attempts to kill her brother by throwing him overboard, she rebels and drives her family to throw the protagonist off a cliff.
After being thought lost, Kassandra survived and ended up on an island where she became a mercenary. Years later, Kassandra returns to her old family to uncover a new conspiracy. If you enjoyed Assassin’s Creed Origins, you’d want the sequel. It has similar gameplay with loot, weapons to choose from, action-packed fights, and plenty of exploration in the open-world environment.
4. Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna)
In Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna), you play a young girl named Nuna and her arctic fox. You two must work together to solve puzzles and save their people from a blizzard that has trapped them in an ancient village. The game is based on traditional Iñupiat stories, passed down through generations of storytellers. To create the most authentic experience possible, the game’s developers traveled to Alaska to meet with elders from the Iñupiat community and learn about their culture and traditions.
5. Resident Evil 3
For the uninitiated, Resident Evil 3 is a survival horror game that thrusts players into a terrifying world of bloodthirsty zombies. They must use their wits, weapons, and luck to collect clues and solve puzzles while fighting those creatures. The game takes place two months after the events of Resident Evil 2 when protagonist Leon Kennedy (of Resident Evil 1 fame) arrives at Raccoon City following reports from his friend Claire Redfield about strange murders taking place there.
Upon arriving, he finds himself in an abandoned town overrun by hordes of undead monsters attacking anything that moves — including him. The game features several new gameplay mechanics, including an over-the-shoulder camera perspective and the ability to dodge enemy attacks, making for a more action-packed and fast-paced experience than its predecessors.
6. Little Misfortune
Little Misfortune is a neat example of Xbox games that feature a female protagonist. It is an adventure game where you play a character named Misfortune, who must find her way through a dark and dangerous world. It’s also a short walking simulator with the player going left or right on the screen to continue the tale, similar to Fran Bow. Furthermore, several decisions genuinely influence the overall narrative, and some mini-games are scattered throughout the game.
7. Bright Memory
Shiela is a protagonist in Memory of Shiela, an FPS and hack-and-slash game set in the Land of Sky. Her goal is to destroy a military organization that plans to resurrect the dead. It takes place in a breathtaking and graphically beautiful environment known as the “Land of Sky,” home to many ancient creatures. Players well received the game upon release. Bright Memory promises to deliver a fantastic experience. The creators have been working hard to make sure that every aspect of the game is perfect, and they have released several trailers to show off the incredible graphics and gameplay.
8. Tales of Vesperia
Tales of Vesperia is one of the best games on Xbox 360. The game has a lot to offer and not only to hardcore gamers. It’s great for families who want to enjoy an RPG together. The storyline is exciting, and the characters are likable. The graphics are excellent, too. The game is set in a world of pirates and princesses, and you play as Yuri Lowell, a young man who’s just trying to do the right thing.
You’ll travel to different places, meet new people, and fight many bad guys. The combat system is enjoyable and easy to get into. There are also a ton of side quests and activities, so you can easily sink dozens of hours into this game without getting bored.
9. Mirror’s Edge Catalyst
It is an action-adventure platform video game developed by EA Digital Illusions CE and published by Electronic Arts. The game works in a near-future dystopia in which a network of “runners” act as couriers to transmit information too sensitive for electronic means. Runners wear gloves equipped with mobile devices that display a three-dimensional representation of the surrounding environment, allowing them to plan their route while moving. The game’s mechanics are focused on using these tools, environmental navigation, and momentum to complete levels.
10. UNSIGHTED
This game is an action-packed, side-scrolling arcade shooter game. It allows players to equip weapons in various ways, from dual-wielding swords to shuriken and shotgun combinations. Alma will need to use perfectly timed reflexes and a variety of tactics to survive the onslaught of vicious enemies that are constantly coming at her. UNSIGHTED’s gameplay is fast-paced enough for hardcore gamers looking for a challenge and accessible enough for people who want something fun. The game features three difficulty levels, two different control schemes, and lots of replay value with collectibles scattered throughout the levels.