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From ancient tombs to post-apocalyptic wastelands, these iconic women have shaped gaming history forever. Join us as we count down our picks for the greatest female protagonists in video games! We're excluding characters who can be played as either gender, so only dedicated heroines make the cut. Which powerful lady will claim the top spot?
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00:04Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the
00:07absolute best female protagonists in video games. We will be excluding games
00:11where the same character can be male or female, so characters like the female
00:15version of Commander Shepard won't be included.
00:33Possessing the rather unique ability to rewind time, the introverted Max's power awakens when
00:38she prevents the death of her childhood friend Chloe. Over the course of the first game in
00:42the series, her ability allows her to explore effects of trauma and the consequences of
00:46choice. Intentionally written to be relatable to a young audience, Max quickly grows up as
00:51she is forced to make difficult decisions in her effort to reshape destiny. Adventurous
00:55and introspective, Max's passions, such as photography and her loyalty to her friends,
00:59instantly endeared her to gamers.
01:01These are supposed to be the best years of my life. This is what it's like to be alone
01:07and feel lonely at once.
01:09Number 19, Amanda Ripley, Alien Isolation.
01:12You're doing good, Tim.
01:17Just keep moving!
01:18Ellen Ripley, one of the film's great female protagonists, had a daughter that was an icon
01:22in her own right, this time in the medium of video games. Often following the events of the first
01:27Alien film, Amanda would set off in an attempt to uncover what happened when her mother and the
01:32ship she was on disappeared. That quest would lead her to the derelict space station at the
01:36Sevastopol and have her face off against the terrifying alien Xenomorph. When faced with this
01:41unspeakable horror, Amanda showed incredible resolve, mirroring her mother in more ways than one,
01:46surviving the horrors that confronted her in her quest.
01:48Number 18, Clementine, The Walking Dead series.
01:51Sometimes they come back.
01:53Based on the comic series of the same name, the Telltale Walking Dead video games don't
01:57directly adapt the source material, rather telling a new story with an entirely original character.
02:02That character, Clementine, begins the story-focused games as a young innocent,
02:06navigating through the horrors of a zombie apocalypse alongside her protector, Lee.
02:10Released in episodic chunks over four seasons, gamers saw Clementine grow, with the outbreak
02:14beginning when she was only eight, and her story continuing into her teen years. While she became
02:19hardened and savvy to the brutal realities of the world, she ultimately retained her core humanity
02:23and the vital survival lessons taught to her by Lee.
02:26Number 17, Alex Vance, Half-Life series.
02:30Dr. Freeman, I presume.
02:32Attention.
02:34I'd better hurry.
02:36Originally appearing as an ally of the player character Gordon Freeman in the second Half-Life,
02:40Alex quickly endeared herself to gamers, becoming one of the most popular companions of the decade.
02:45She'd reappear in both Half-Life 2, Episode 1 and 2, but finally got her chance to shine with her
02:50own
02:50game, Half- Alyx, in 2020. That VR game, set five years before her role in Half-Life 2,
02:56chronicled the early days of her time as a fighter in the Resistance, highlighting her intelligence and
03:01skill with a variety of weapons. Perhaps even more importantly, the game showed off the bravery and
03:06drive that defined her as a character. Number 16, Aloy, Horizon series.
03:16Despite living in a post-apocalyptic world full of killer dinosaur robots, Aloy remains a largely
03:21believable and relatable character. Possessing the independence and resolve that came from being
03:26an outcast surviving in such a violent world, Aloy relies on her brains just as much as her brawn.
03:31The redhead possesses a curiosity that drives much of the game's narrative focus,
03:34seeking answers to what happened to the world as well as about her own origins. In her quest,
03:39Aloy has dealt with questions of identity and legacy in a nuanced and interesting way,
03:44all while figuring out who she really is. Aloy has also drawn praise from advocacy groups for being
03:49one of only a handful of queer main characters in video games. Number 15, Chloe Frazier, Uncharted series.
03:55Yes, I do. I'm going to circle around this way, break up their little party.
04:00A long-time supporting character and love interest to Nathan Drake,
04:03Chloe would finally be given a well-deserved promotion to main protagonist with Uncharted,
04:07The Lost Legacy. Attractive and flirtatious while still being fiercely independent,
04:12Chloe was a survivor, seemingly more jaded than the other major characters in the franchise.
04:16The Lost Legacy would explore her backstory, explaining that her survivor's instinct came
04:20largely as a result of the death of her father. Nevertheless, that game also made it clear how much
04:25she had developed as a character since her introduction in Uncharted 2. Finally putting aside her own
04:29financial gain, Chloe acted bravely and selflessly.
04:32How the hell did you guys get out of that? You know, I'm just still figuring that out myself.
04:38Number 14, Madeline, Celeste.
04:47Celeste chronicles the quest of player character Madeline to summit the titular mountain,
04:51serving as both a fun platformer and an allegory about overcoming mental health struggles. Over the course of
04:57her journey, Madeline interacts with several unique characters, including an eccentric old woman and
05:02a ghostly denial-ridden innkeeper. However, the most prominent figure she must overcome is the physical
05:07embodiment of her own anxiety and self-doubt, colloquially known as Badeline. Her journey is
05:13ultimately one of self-acceptance, as clues in the game pointed to Madeline being trans, which was confirmed
05:18by the game's creator, Maddie Thorson. Number 13, 2B, Nier Automata.
05:29One of the most memorable character designs in gaming, 2B was a sleek and elegant yet deadly android.
05:35A pawn in a machine proxy war, 2B was created for battle and to look stylish while doing it,
05:40her hot couture design was made with cosplayers in mind. But what makes her such a great character
05:45wasn't just her looks or fighting skills, but her loyalty and kindness towards others,
05:49particularly her squad mates. Nowhere was that more evident than with her comrade 9S,
05:54with their relationship being explored over the course of Nier Automata, uncovering dark truths
05:58and conspiracies together. The third entry in the series, adapted from the world's most popular
06:13tabletop game, Baldur's Gate 3 benefits from the rich lore and gameplay mechanics of Dungeons & Dragons.
06:19The game has a number of companion characters, six of which could be chosen as a player character,
06:23but our favourite has to be the tiefling barbarian Karlak. What makes her so infectiously fun is the
06:28absolute love she has for the things she enjoys in life, bringing joy and positivity even after
06:33having gone through a decade of war waged between demons and devils. She possesses a true lust for life,
06:39whether that be food, drink, friendship, a good fight, or even actual lust.
06:44It's a good old life, isn't it?
06:46Number 11, Miel, Claire Obscure, Expedition 33.
06:51Lumiere's not my home, not the way it is for you.
06:54In the magical but dark city of Lumiere, a mysterious entity known only as The Painter
06:59marks an ever-decreasing number on a rock face, erasing any that have reached that age from
07:04existence. It's in this context that we meet the expedition that has set out to stop The Painter,
07:09including its youngest member, Miel, just 16 years old. In a game centred around youth,
07:14Miel possesses all of the best and all the worst qualities of adolescence.
07:18Orphaned at just three, the teen has had a difficult life and trusts few,
07:22but those she does are held in high esteem. Unlike the others in her party,
07:26marked for an ever-approaching doom, she seeks not to save Lumiere, but to escape it.
07:32It's okay. It's okay.
07:35I was worried.
07:37We made it.
07:38Number 10, Bayonetta. Bayonetta series.
07:42Do you naughty little angels deserve a good spanking?
07:50Beautiful.
07:52When director Hideki Kamiya approached character designer Marie Shimazaki to create a protagonist for
07:58his upcoming game, he gave three directives. She'd be a female lead, she'd be a modern witch,
08:03and she'd use four guns. Thus, after a year of design and redesign,
08:07video games got one of their most visually distinct characters ever with Bayonetta.
08:11The tall and slender bespectacled witch dual wields pistols, with her high-heeled boots providing two more
08:17to aid her in her fighting style mixing guns and martial arts known as bullet arts.
08:21While some have complained that the character is overly sexualized,
08:24others have found her empowering, unapologetically erotic, and tough as nails.
08:29You always know how to make an entrance, John.
08:31A rare sight to see you in the city.
08:34Number 9, Ciri. The Witcher series.
08:37Adopted by monster hunter Geralt of Rivia, the young princess Ciri grew from a rambunctious young
08:42tomboy into a fierce warrior during the Witcher series.
08:44Based on the series novels by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski,
08:49the dark historical fantasy world of The Witcher was perfectly suited to the action RPG genre.
08:54In addition to learning from her father, Ciri received tutelage and protection from the sorcerer Yennefer.
08:58This all allowed Ciri to become a skilled witcher in her own right,
09:02and with the upcoming new trilogy of Witcher titles,
09:04she will be taking the reins as the main player character over from her father, beginning with The Witcher 4.
09:16You almost had me fooled, fluent.
09:19Number 8, Chun-Li. Street Fighter series.
09:22Round one, fight!
09:27With one of the most recognizable designs in any fighting game, and alongside Ryu and Ken,
09:32Chun-Li has become the face of the Street Fighter franchise.
09:35Just as recognizable as her blue outfit and hair buns are Chun-Li's fighting style, personality, and backstory.
09:41First appearing in Street Fighter 2 at a time when a woman in a fighting game was nearly unheard of,
09:46Chun-Li sought revenge on the game's antagonist, M. Bison.
09:49Her quest to avenge the death of her father is one of the franchise's best storylines,
09:54even being adapted to other media multiple times.
09:56The first lady of fighting games, as she's been dubbed by fans and critics,
10:00helped break cultural norms, opening the gates for countless female brawlers.
10:11Number 7, Tifa Lockhart. Final Fantasy series.
10:19The childhood friend of Cloud Strife, Tifa recruits the fighter into the eco-terrorist group Avalanche,
10:25who fight against the Shinra company during the events of Final Fantasy VII.
10:29One of nine playable characters in that game, Tifa became an immediate fan favorite due to her
10:33bold and brave personality, with a willingness to fight for her friends and what she deemed right.
10:38However, Tifa was a deeper character than it appeared at first blush,
10:41her extroversion masking her insecurity and loneliness.
10:44Her character received significantly expanded development in Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth,
10:49while she also made notable appearances alongside other Final Fantasy characters in Kingdom Hearts 2.
10:54I'm looking for somebody. Have any of you seen a guy with spiky hair?
10:58Number 6, Ellie, The Last of Us series.
11:01Look how dark it is.
11:07Can't be any worse out there.
11:09Growing up in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by fungal infections,
11:13Ellie constantly saw the lives of those she cared about cut short.
11:16This trauma hardened her, resulting in a sarcastic,
11:19abrasive exterior that masked deep-seated survivor's guilt and insecurity.
11:23Initially a companion for Joel, Ellie becomes a playable character partway through the first game.
11:28Her history and character depth expand in the prequel DLC Left Behind and the sequel Part 2,
11:33where she serves as the primary protagonist. Part 2 follows her dark quest for revenge,
11:37presenting her as a deeply sympathetic yet brutal character.
11:50There have been a number of iconic player characters in the Resident Evil franchise,
11:54and no list of women in video games would be complete without mentioning Claire Redfield.
11:59And while that recurring zombie killer is certainly iconic, we have to give our spot
12:03to another hero from the series, Jill Valentine.
12:05One of two playable characters, along with Claire's brother, Chris Redfield,
12:09to premiere in the original game, Jill has been there since the beginning.
12:12Introduced as a member of STARS, who would later go on to become part of an anti-bio-terrorism task
12:17force,
12:18Jill has faced off against all sorts of horrific creatures and evil corporations.
12:22Number 4, Princess Peach, Super Mario series.
12:30Starting off as a damsel in distress in the first Super Mario Bros.,
12:34Peach has been kidnapped by the dastardly Bowser time and time again.
12:37However, as further games were released, Peach developed her own distinct personality,
12:42endearing her to fans. She has become a playable character in many Mario games,
12:46with her abilities largely drawn from the American version of Super Mario Bros. 2.
12:50She's even gone on to star in a number of her own games,
12:53including Super Princess Peach and Princess Peach Showtime.
12:56All told, the bubbly but independent ruler has appeared in more video games than any other female character.
13:07Number 3, Princess Zelda, The Legend of Zelda series.
13:10Although she is the title character of the franchise,
13:13Zelda was initially a supporting character to be rescued by the series protagonist, Link.
13:17Over the years, she became a playable character in game series like Super Smash Bros.
13:20and Hyrule Warriors, and was even playable in the mainline title, Spirit Tracks.
13:25Through her many incarnations and alter egos, Zelda has always remained iconic,
13:30her wisdom being her defining feature. After decades of waiting,
13:33Zelda finally got her true time to shine with Echoes of Wisdom.
13:36Finally, a Zelda game where you play almost entirely as Zelda,
13:39and one that highlighted what made her such a memorable and legendary character.
13:43Number 2, Samus Aran Metroid series.
13:52Coming from an era where the only female representation for video game protagonists
13:56came from putting a bow on Pac-Man, Samus was a revolutionary character.
14:00In fact, the very notion that the power armor clad Samus was a woman
14:03was played as a bit of a twist when she removed her armor at the end of the first Metroid
14:07game.
14:08Since that first appearance, Samus has drawn praise for her depiction of femininity without
14:12over-sexualization. Possessing both a motherly instinct and the strength to consistently face
14:17down a draconic space pirate, Samus is a force to be reckoned with.
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14:36Are you not entertained?
14:38Number 1, Lara Croft, Tomb Raider series.
14:45Equal parts sex symbol and an icon of feminine strength and athleticism,
14:49Lara Croft is one of the most memorable video game characters of any gender.
14:53Her confidence and toughness are matched only by her cunning and intelligence,
14:57making her way through deadly jungles and solving ancient puzzles.
15:00The dual-pistol-wielding British archaeologist is credited by many
15:03for breaking cultural boundaries and making female-led video games widely accepted.
15:08Over the years, she's been redesigned to be less of an object for the male gaze,
15:11while never losing her signature aesthetic. Without Lara Croft, the story of video games
15:15is an incomplete one.
15:21Which women in gaming are your favorites? Let us know in the comments below.
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