Celebrating the daring and defiant women who made their mark on the world of gaming.
Resilient, resourceful and ready for action – these heroines are always prepared for the next adventure.
A young outcast with an immense task on her hands, the Horizon franchise's lead protagonist Aloy was an instant hit with players. Strong-minded and solitary by nature, her determination in the face of such overwhelming odds make her an immensely satisfying character to root for.
Standout appearances:
A long-time fan favourite, sharp-witted career thief and treasure hunter Chloe Frazer finally geared up for her own adventure in 2017's Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. Teaming up with Uncharted 4's Nadine Ross, Frazer sets out to finish her father's work and locate the lost Tusk of Ghanesh.
Standout appearances:
Gaming's original female icon, Lara Croft has been braving ancient ruins for nearly three decades. Having appeared on every PlayStation console ever released, including the upcoming Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, few characters better deserve their space in a list of PlayStation's greatest heroines than Lara.
Standout appearances:
A veteran deep-space scout, Selene is used to fending for herself far from home. However, becoming trapped on the nightmarish planet of Atropos she must face greater demons than the hostile alien life. Experienced, hardy and determined to a fault, Selene manages to overcome frustration time and again, while struggling against her own internal traumas.
Standout appearance:
Women with the will and skills to endure even the harshest, most unforgiving worlds.
First appearing in 2013's critically-acclaimed The Last of Us, Ellie's wicked wit, strength and resilience singled her out in a brutal world. Returning to PlayStation in 2020 as the lead protagonist of The Last of Us Part II, her sophisticated character growth and complex network of relationships have made her one of the most well-realised characters in modern gaming.
Standout appearances:
An enduring gaming icon, original STARS Bravo stalwart Jill Valentine has been blasting her way through bioweapons since the mid-'90s. Though she's been reimagined over the past three decades, her uncompromising sense of justice and unwavering loyalty have never abandoned her.
Standout appearances:
The monsters that Hinako faces over the course of SILENT HILL f are more than just an immediate threat. Each encounter represents a repressed emotion: towards her friends, her family and society’s expectations for a girl her age. Hinako must face and resolve them – or be consumed by them.
Standout appearance:
The compassionate and level-headed Sam is the only person to object to the cruel prank that kicks off the events of Until Dawn. When she reunites with her friends for a party that descends into a nightmare, Sam’s wits and willpower keep her one step ahead of her horrific pursuers.
Standout appearance:
Hard-hitting and tough as nails. These ladies aren’t afraid to throw down with anyone foolish enough to challenge them.
The sole survivor of a brutal raid on her home, Atsu takes on the mantle of The Onryō to seek vengeance on those responsible. Unlike Ghost of Tsushima’s Jin, Atsu is pragmatic and singularly focused in her quest for justice, but as her story continues, she begins to question her destructive worldview.
Standout appearance:
When a military operation to reclaim Earth from the monstrous Naytiba goes wrong, EVE is left to complete the mission. The star of Stellar Blade captivated players over the course of her story, thanks to her stoic personality, dry sense of humour and acrobatic combat style.
Standout appearance:
A legendary hero who formed the Cobra Unit during World War II; her unit's numerous accomplishments led the Allied powers to victory. After the war, the Cobras were disbanded, and she spent 10 years with Snake as his mentor. Re-enters Snake's life to offer him support during the Virtuous Mission, but then...
Standout appearance:
The First Lady of Fighting Games lightning-kicked into Street Fighter II and became an instant icon, thanks to her lethal combination of speed and agility. As the lone woman among the original World Warriors, Chun-Li struck a knockout blow for representation in games, influencing countless imitators since.
Standout appearance:
The heroines that are always there to step up and save the world – no matter how weird that world may be.
Rivet bounded onto PS5 in 2021 as part of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. A natural-born freedom fighter, she uses her knowledge of machines and gadgets to help the underground resistance in their battle against tyrannical overlord, Emperor Nefarious. Though she's upbeat and easygoing, there's more to her past than you might imagine.
Standout appearance:
A no-nonsense bartender of a popular bar in the Sector 7 slums, and an effervescent flower girl with a mysterious background – Tifa and Aerith make for an unexpected pair of freedom fighters, but it'd be a mistake to underestimate them. Aerith's sunny optimism and Tifa's tenacity complement rather than clash, providing levity and level-headedness to their comrades.
Standout appearances:
Cynical sci-fi writer Mio and cheerful fantasy scribe Zoe are forced to work together when a corrupt executive traps them in a simulation of their own stories. Though their genres, personalities and styles clash, their shared trials cause them to eventually develop a respect and admiration for each other’s differences.
Standout appearance:
Despite her size, the teenage Maelle is a sword-fighting prodigy. Unlike her fellow party members, she sees the titular Expedition 33 as an opportunity to discover a world beyond Lumière. But when her story provides more than she bargained for, Maelle is faced with difficult, unimaginable choices.
Standout appearance:
Determined and strong-willed women that refuse to back down in the face of worlds where everything is against them.
A terrible affliction causes Rainy to summon the phenomenon known as timefall – deadly precipitation that rapidly ages everything it touches – but she also possesses the ability to reverse its effects. Though clouds follow her wherever she goes, Rainy’s sunny disposition reminds us that there’s nothing so damaged that cannot be repaired.
Standout appearance:
In Norse mythology, Angrboda is the powerful mother of monsters, including Fenrir, Jörmungandr, and Hel. In God of War Ragnarök, she faces the prospect of a prophesized life outside her control, and becomes a compelling character driven by a search for purpose and desire to claim her own future.
Standout appearance:
While Taka is known for her beauty and witty conversation, she’s more than just pleasant company – her list of contacts makes her an excellent spy, influencing Japan’s politics from the shadows. Despite this, the kind-hearted geisha remains a beacon of selflessness in the harsh world of Rise of the Rōnin.
Standout appearance:
The empathetic Spirit Guide returns in Kena: Scars of Kosmora, searching for a cure for an affliction that has plagued her since childhood. Despite the pressure of this lingering threat, Kena never forgets her responsibilities, and remains committed to helping troubled souls move on to the next world.
Standout appearance:
Calm, determined, and blessed with eerily good ‘hunches’, Agent Saga Anderson is an ace investigator with nerves of steel. Even while her past, present, and future are upended and threatened by otherworldly forces, she remains resolute, refusing to let anyone else write her ending.
Standout appearance:
Medieval Paris, where the tolling bells herald the end of 1499. Paris is engulfed as monstrous creatures suddenly emerge from the shadows. Armed with the legendary holy whip, the Vampire Killer, Trevor Belmont’s successor ventures into the burning streets and the looming castle to hunt down the beasts. Will she succeed in saving Paris from devastation?
Standout appearance:
This page has been updated to address speculative content not provided by the publisher regarding Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse.
Enter your date of birth.
LIVE_BLOG_FEED_AGE_VERIFY
{OVERLINE}
{PARAGRAPH}
{FEATURE_DESC}
