March is often a time to celebrate Women’s History Month, highlighting many aspects of history impacted by various women who pushed boundaries and made a positive change to the world around us. And while much of that is geared toward what goes on in the real world, gaming has its group of female characters that stand out in many of the series we love to play. Some of these have changed how we enjoy or view gaming in a significant way.
Even if you are someone who only plays only a small amount of games, chances are you’ve heard about some popular female video game characters that get brought up constantly. So let’s celebrate some of the characters in gaming that continue to make waves and remain relevant to the greater gaming community. Whether it’s those who stand against evil monsters, take their fights to the streets, or make us see the world through a different point of view; here are five female game characters you should definitely know about.
Chun-Li – Street Fighter
Not only is she often known as the strongest woman in the world, but Chun-Li is also the first lady of fighting games. First appearing in 1991 with Capcom’s Street Fighter 2: The World Warrior, Chun-Li was part of the original eight world warriors that helped shape the fighting game scene as we know it. Representing China in the Street Fighter tournament, Chun-Li is a martial artist that works for Interpol, trying to take down the evil organization known as Shadaloo. Her mission coincides with her personal motivation to avenge the death of her father at the hands of M. Bison.
Chun-Li is one of the first female characters that were playable in a fighting game. Her overall design and backstory was one of the big parts of making the game different, with a diverse roster of characters apart from other fighting games. Over the years, Chun-Li has remained incredibly popular and a staple of the Street Fighter series. She has made a number of appearances in various spinoffs and crossovers that featured Capcom characters, including Marvel vs. Capcom, Project X Zone, and Capcom vs. SNK.
The Boss – Metal Gear Solid
One of the more layered and complex characters in the Metal Gear Solid series isn’t Snake or Big Boss, but his mentor. Commonly just known as The Boss, she goes by other names as well including The Joy, Mercury Lady, and the Mother of Special Forces. The Boss taught everything that Snake knows before the events of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, giving him the tools he needs to survive and take on any mission given to him. However, a conspiracy involving the world’s superpowers and the Philosopher’s Legacy causes her to be on the opposite side of her student, putting the two at odds in a heartbreaking but action-packed story.
The Boss has a fabled history within the Metal Gear Solid universe. She not only played a significant role during World War 2 at the Battle of Normandy but also played roles in other historical events like the Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba. She is a dedicated soldier that is the embodiment of patriotism, while also physically and mentally strong enough to lead the infamous Cobra unit. The Boss and her actions before and during the Metal Gear Solid games helped lay the foundation for many events that take place later on in the series.
Chloe – Uncharted
The Uncharted game are all about adventure and seeking hidden treasures throughout the world. One of the best-supporting characters that is a beloved fan favorite is Chloe Frazer. She first appeared in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves opposite Nathan Drake, but had an even bigger presence in the games that followed afterward. Chloe is a treasure hunter and thief for hire with a variety of skills that has given her a high degree of notoriety in the series. While she is a love interest of Nathan in the games, at times she also becomes a rival for him as they chase leads toward treasures.
While Uncharted 2 had Chloe being part of the action, later Uncharted games got to show Chloe as more than just another love interest. Uncharted The Lost Legacy has Chloe going on a quest for the tusk of Ganesh, where she runs into Nadine Ross and faces various mercenary groups across India. Chloe is a complex character that values her own needs and goals above anything else but still manages to have a heart when it really counts throughout the series. She is quick to take action and make a move when things get dangerous and dire for everyone involved.
Shanoa – Castlevania
When it comes to female heroes within the Castlevania series, there aren’t many who hold the name of Belmont. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t female heroes that uniquely stand alone with their own level of vampire-hunting goodness. Shanoa is the heroine of Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia that uses magical glyphs to battle the hordes of monsters under the control of Dracula’s minions. While the Belmont clan is absent from the world, the Order of Ecclesia is tasked with keeping monsters at bay and preventing them from reviving Dracula.
Shanoa is a powerful magic user that was trained at a young age to help destroy Dracula as one of the Order of Ecclesia’s female warriors. The glyphs that appear on her body allow her to use different abilities, ranging from melee and projectile attacks to more powerful magical spells. She is both driven by her goal to vanquish Dracula and strong-willed when facing adversity, although during the game she struggles with amnesia that goes away after rediscovering her past by the end. While the series is often dominated by whip-wielding male heroes against the dark lord, Shanoa is a fresh breath of variety in the ongoing action series.
Bastila Shan – Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
When it comes to Star Wars games, one of the most beloved is Knights of the Old Republic. It’s a game that not only helped improve the original Xbox library but gave us some of the best characters in the Star Wars franchise for video games. Bastila Shan is a Jedi knight who is not only devoted to the light side of the force but helps save the galaxy from a massive threat caused by the Sith during the days of the Old Republic.
In the game’s story, Bastila helps guide Revan, the player’s main character, on their path as a Jedi and quest to find the Star Forge, a powerful tool used to create the most powerful in the galaxy. Bastila also has the force unique ability called Battle Meditation, which allows her to boost the morale and overall abilities of an entire army. She was also incredibly skilled with a lightsaber, often shown wielding a double-bladed lightsaber and using a wide variety of other force powers in combat.
Although Bastila isn’t the central character in the Knights of the Old Republic games, her force powers and reputation have become very popular. Her story is almost a staple to most Star Wars projects that are related to the Old Republic timeline, with many referencing her story or powers in some way. What was interesting about Bastila in the original Knights of the Old Republic was the high level of detail in her backstory and lines of dialogue that can be heard by talking with her at various points of the game. Depending on the actions of the player, her affiliation and outcome in the plot would also change, whether you chose to be more like a Jedi or a Sith.
So who are your favorite female video game characters? Which are the games you love to go back to often and replay? Tell us about all of it in the comments!
