There are a plethora of incredible video games with leading female protagonists. Despite recent allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment, and general sexism that has rocked the video game industry recently, there are plenty of games that are proof having a female protagonist makes for a strong story and title. Gender is clearly not the fact that makes or breaks a game.
Unfortunately, however, not everyone has received the memo. Ubisoft has specifically been the subject of various shocking allegations, some anonymous and others not. Many former female employees report a toxic – and sexist – working environment, which has translated into the company’s games. “The culture there is really hard as a woman,” Ellen Lee, a previous employee at Ubisoft’s San Francisco office, told Bloomberg after working for the developer for seven years. “If you weren’t part of the boys’ club, you were just working hard on the outskirts.”
Perhaps one of the most telling revelations is that Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey was originally supposed to only have a female protagonist, Kassandra. However, the male protagonist, Alexios, was added later on thanks to a mandate that came from higher up in the company, which was premised on the belief that video games with female protagonists don’t perform as well as those with male protagonist. This allegedly happened to several Assassin’s Creed games in the past. However, the following games stand as proof that a female lead can spearhead a highly successful game or franchise.
Successful Video Games With Female Leads
2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn’s main protagonist is Aloy, a hunter who is trying to discover her post as she survives in a post-apocalyptic world dominated by machines. As of 2019, the game had sold over 20 million copies. It currently rests as one of the most successful games developed during the PS4 generation and a sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, is currently in development for the PS5.
Even though Ellie wasn’t the main playable character in the original The Last of Us, players step into her shoes for much of The Last of Us: Part 2. Players also get to play only as her in The Last of Us' DLC. The original game sold over 17 million copies, and the sequel was one of the fastest-selling PS4 titles ever. Even though The Last of Us: Part 2 remains a divisive entry in the franchise among fans, it cannot be denied that Ellie was a captivating character from the beginning.
Remedy Entertainment’s 2019 title Control revolves around Jesse Falden, the new Director of the fictional Federal Bureau of Control (FBC), who must find a way to defeat the Hiss. The game earned Game of the Year awards at multiple publications in addition to various other accolades, making it a smash hit and one of Remedy's best-reviewed games to date.
First-person shooter VR game Half-Life: Alyx allows players to step into the shoes of Alyx Vance, who must retrieve a deadly weapon from extra-terrestrial Combine. The game only released this year in March, but it has received critical acclaim for its graphics, writing, and voice acting, and, like most Half-Life titles, has also been host to a thriving mod scene, complete with entire GoldenEye 007 levels.
These top-notch titles are proof that games with female protagonists can be wildly successful, and video game developers should take note of how well a product with a strong female lead can perform when done right.
Source: Bloomberg