8 Evolution of games The industry of video games changes and adapts at an incredible pace. As Vanir goddess who helps Kratos and Atreus on their journey, she just oozes sophistication, wisdom, and strength. Add a mysterious past and a massive sword, and you've got a recipe for an unforgettable Final Fantasy warrior. English voice actor: n/a (Japanese only)Game's year of release: 1994Company: Capcom. I don't think Aloy should be on here. There was a problem. Similarly, female players are also affected as their perceptions toward themselves, in particular to their self esteem and body image, are greatly affected as there is not only a lack of female characters in video games, but also a lack of diversity among these female characters, such as body types, that are shown in these games (Downs & Smith). Please refresh the page and try again. When playable female characters do appear in video games, they are typically overtly sexualized and portrayed wearing promiscuous dress and engaging in seductive acts, such as Lara Croft (Dietz 1998). 'Nuff said. With her iconic dress and amazing thighs, no one can deny she's one of the hottest game babes out there. As a romance option for a male Grey Warden, her logic, disdain for worldly treasures, and alternative view on life made her irresistible to many players and remains one of the favorite video game hotties to this day. I don't know what you mean by PC; could you clarify? We’ve come a long way from the days of female protagonists being rare, so we decided to look at the women in games making the biggest impacts in 2017. The Best Playable Child Characters in Video Games. While the reasonable reaction to that much tragedy would be to abandon one's faith and take up a new career as a bitter mountain hermit, Cassandra doesn't have time for reasonable. Poppy (author) from Enoshima, Japan on March 14, 2019: Nice article, was very glad you included Krystal ; ). English voice actor: n/aGame's year of release: 1999Company: Criterion Games. English voice actor: Kira BucklandGame's year of release: 2017Company: Square Enix. Young video game protagonists we can't help but love. Her mysteriousness and ambiguity make her all the more enthralling. Her relationship with Master Chief is (sort of) romantic come Halo 4, a concept that had mixed reactions from players. And i think your list is too PC bro, the hot ones arent even on here cept zero suit and Krystal. Nabooru totally deserves to be on this kind of list and I would include Aya Brea myself hehe. She's also the first to root out injustice where it lives, and almost single-handedly calls for the Inquisition while everyone else is too dizzy to think. Half the people who play video games are female. While Jaina is certainly distraught when Arthas falls under the weight of his own corruption and her father can't see past his own pride, she refuses to let either define her life or hold her back. As of 2013, 48% of gamers in the US are women, with similar numbers in the UK. There are many gorgeous fictional girls and boys out there and games are no different! Chun Li first appeared in Street Fighter II: The World Warrior and is famous for being the first female character in any fighting video game franchise. Our top heroines are making waves in more way than one. I believe Lara Croft was still considered sexy even when she was barely a couple of pixels. She's a little dog! But Loba from apex legends 100% should be number one. Series: King of Fighters. 4. Appearing again in the latest game, Mortal Kombat X, this highly intelligent US Earthrealm Special Forces lieutenant dazzled players in all her HD glory. She's a great choice. Lara Croft is possibly one of the most famous video game girls out there, appearing in all installments of the Tomb Raider franchise. Lara Croft from Tomb Raider is one of the most publicized female characters in a video … Visit our corporate site. Some developers struggle to pull it off, some insist curves and personality are too difficult to do at once, and some are too busy tweaking their jiggle physics engines to notice. 08 March 2018. But ultimately this just makes her feel more human, and makes her struggle to do what's right even more admirable. While Cassandra can often come off as stubborn and unmovable, one of her main strengths is knowing when to hold fast and when to be willing to bend. While each has their own unique charm, the most … ", Ma Rainey's Black Bottom review: "Chadwick Boseman is astonishing in his final film performance", Star Trek: Discovery season 3, episode 13 review: "An anti-climax", Doctor Who Revolution Of The Daleks review: "The meat ‘n’ veg version of Who", Star Trek: Discovery season 3, episode 12 review: "A spectacular run of episodes continues", Cobra Kai season 3 review: "Powers through and delivers its best season yet", Star Trek: Discovery season 3, episode 11 review: "The perfect Christmas present". Paine is one of the three main playable characters, with an outfit to turn the heads of even the coldest of hearts. I love playing as Ivy to kick butt in Soulcalibur. [citation needed] Flight-Plan: 2004 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2: Aera Colthearts and Edgar Colthearts Bisexual Characters have developed a lot in more recent years. That's how that saying goes. She just knows it's the right thing to do, and she does it no matter the personal cost. Shodan is a female-presenting AI that, according to Empire, is the "most terrifying, psychologically disturbing and downright memorable evil mastermind in video games." Who knew that artificial intelligence could be so attractive? The death of her dear friend Divine Justinia would've been enough belief-battering for a lifetime, but that catastrophe only sweeps the dust off previously unknown horrors which threaten her very identity as a Templar and Seeker. Screw iron, Yuna has a will of diamond, and a desire to achieve her goals no matter what it takes. Poppy (author) from Enoshima, Japan on July 31, 2020: I hoped to see Ivy being number 1, but glad that she made it in the list. This cheerful girl helps Mario rescue Princess Peach and promises to watch over the hero when he manages to collect all 120 stars. Learn more, By It says a lot when an eight-year-old girl is so much more capable than any of the adults in her general vicinity that they all turn to her for leadership. Your list is very controversial and I like it. While she can easily climb in a target's window and put a knife through their throat, she can also gather information from their household while posing as a slave, or ruin them socially and financially through the family business. A lot of these have a bit of wrong information. Maybe it's her determination, her rebellious look, or her passion, but she's definitely one of my favorite video game girls. If you're into cat girls, Felicia is the one for you. Chun Li first appeared in Street Fighter II: The World Warrior and is famous for being the first female character in any fighting video game franchise. Mjoll can take on a variety of important roles. English voice actor (Breath of the Wild): Patricia SummersettGame's year of release: 1986–Company: Nintendo. English voice actor: Tara Platt Game's year of release: 2019 Company: Intelligent Systems, Koei Tecmo. It's no secret that Kitana is considered one of the sexiest characters in the game. I would have put Quiet from Metal Gear Solid 5 on the list. Random Fact: She is the tallest playable female character in the Final Fantasy series. Quiet is an assassin who was defeated by Venom Snake. Overwatch is a fun multiplayer game with its own fair share of hotties! It … Just last year, it was announced that in Call of Duty you could play the game from a female perspective. That dress! Girl power! There is a lot of fear and insecurity. Yes. Ellie does that with aplomb. Love it or hate it, the sequel to the much-adored Final Fantasy X sold over five million copies since its initial release and subsequent HD re-releases. It's clear that Celes would've been happy with a simple life in service to the Empire, and its hard to blame her. The game, in my opinion, was not nearly as good as its lesser-known predecessors, Nier: Gestalt and Nier: Replicant, 2B was nevertheless a character that caught the whole gaming world's attention. Also, the images of Kitana are from Soul Calibur, which does not actually feature Kitana at all, and that is just a fan made character. A large minotaur who is a playable character in League of Legends. Topping this list is the gorgeous and powerful Bayonetta, the star of the video game series of the same name. Man, I wanna be like her when I grow up. English voice actor (Wii generation): Jen TaylorGame's year of release: 1985–Company: Nintendo. Morrigan is an unusual character, the daughter of a witch and an apostate mage growing up in the Korcari Wilds. In Mario and The Legend of Zelda respectively, Princess Peach and Princess Zelda appear as damsels in distress – and, in many cases, the objective of the game is to rescue them from peril. In video games, the protagonist is the main playable character. If Gordon Freeman is the strong silent type, then Alyx Vance is his perfect--more vocal--female counterpart. Not that Clementine's some fearless automaton that exists outside the realm of human emotion and struggle. Fighting through every snarling, decomposing obstacle that gets in her way, Clementine never, ever, ever, ever gives up on the fight to survive, and the Ice Bucket Challenge would probably give you fewer chills than hearing her say, "Still. She's also a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Playable female characters remain a minority in video games, although the growing trend of customizable characters could change that. Not only does Nabooru pack some serious sass, but she's a hottie as well! The Britney Spears influence is strong in the skateboarding teen hottie, Angel, who represented England. English voice actor: Kosha EnglerGame's year of release: 2017Company: Guerrilla Games. You gotta love a lady who can kill someone with a parasol gun without even putting down her drink. Princess Peach is notorious for getting kidnapped. By. Ivy remains a fan favorite in the "SoulCalibur" franchise, English voice actor: Lani MinellaGame's year of release: 1995–Company: Namco. We analyzed in‐game content from titles released between 1983 and 2014 (n = 571) featuring playable female characters. Personally, I prefer lithe body types, if a game lets me do that as a male character, I'll usually go for it, but too often the only option for male character is some hulking brute body type. But, from the details of this article, I will look up some of the characters you spoke of and give it a try to see what I been missing. Poppy (author) from Enoshima, Japan on March 30, 2020: Hi, Tulio! There are strong and dependable female characters in video games yet their role is to drive the story forward or just be there for inclusions sake. 10 Best Female Playable Characters Of The 2010s, According To Metacritic. Poppy (author) from Enoshima, Japan on July 22, 2020: Hi, Baylin. Quiet is a good idea. Maybe it's the long hair, maybe it's the leather, but this gorgeous gal definitely deserves a spot in the top ten. Thank you for signing up to GamesRadar+. Who are the hottest video game characters? Beyond that, players can take their female Shepherd on an exciting and dangerous mission that has absolutely zero to do with her being a woman. English voice actor: Talisa SatoGame's year of release: 1993–Company: Midway Games. As they say, speak softly and carry a big staff, and Yuna does that with flourish. After completing her trials, you can win over Roxana's heart if you wish. If you like her now, just wait to see her in the remake! Jill Valentine, Kate Walker, Bayonetta and April Ryan are some of these fearless, digital Jill has been a part of the Resident Evil cast since the original game was released in 1996 and also appeared as the protagonist in Resident Evil 3: Nemesis and in the Raid Mode of Revelations 2. Angel looks eerily similar to one of the most popular pop divas . Well, there's a reason for that. More like her, please. she is one of the most well-loved video game characters of all time and let's face it—she's a hottie! Check out all the characters you can play as in Marvel's Avengers, as well as all the heroes still to come. This tough British lass is a huge fan of Chun-Li as well as her sisters, cats, and cake. Seriousky Payne over Rikku? I just went with my own personal opinion; yeah, Tifa is really cute, but there are a hundred other Japanese animated girls just like her... Bayonetta really does it for me! Female heronies and characters have become to be more like, you know, real women. The Street Fighter series has pumped out a ton of jacked male playable characters over the years, but it also has its share of female fighters on the roster. Sherry Birkin from Resident Evil series 2. English voice actor: Laura BaileyGame's year of release: 2002–2011Company: Terminal Reality. She swears to bring down her father, Arhkam, and meets Dante along the way. This attractive young woman turned quite a few players' heads in the latest installment of the much-loved Assassin's Creed franchise. Not only that, but she behaves like a normal human being. Women in video games often wear fewer clothes and speak even fewer lines, but Lara has exceptional representation in her own games. fighting) have more sexualized characters than role‐playing games. Despite all the heaving bosoms and shirtless dudes games seem to be filled with, very … Liz Westwood from UK on December 25, 2018: Poppy (author) from Enoshima, Japan on December 24, 2018: Thank you, Liz. In 2016, just two percent of video games had female protagonists, but this figure jumped to 18 percent in 2020. (Characters whose names are bolded here are iconic characters) 1. Aya Brea from Parasite Eve series 3. We analyzed in‐game content from titles released between 1983 and 2014 (n = 571) featuring playable female characters. But Cortana identifies as female, which is an incredibly progressive message for a video game. Solai is on a mission to avenge her father's death. Claire has long been considered an iconic video game character, especially in the Resident Evil series. Yuna's been slapped with that label before, dubbed a dispassionate damsel with little to offer. She takes on the role from Joel, the hero of its predecessor, regarded as one of the best games ever. Poppy (author) from Enoshima, Japan on March 16, 2020: Thank you for your input! English voice actor: Hellena TaylorGame's year of release: 2009–Company: Sega. What fun would video games be without developing mad crushes on the characters? Nabooru is the Sage of Spirit in "Ocarina of Time. Z. Zuly Member. There are many skins to collect in this game, and Luxe is a legendary-rarity outfit, part of the 24K set. She's a triple-threat, and that's before she starts to mix-and-match her skills between personas. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Maybe it's her flowing locks, her mysterious aura, or the fact that she takes none of Kratos' bossy attitude, but Freya is one of those characters who stick with you. Though this Twili ruler was initially trapped in a small, imp-like form, we witness her true beauty when she gains back her true body for an emotional farewell. “Until recently there were few female characters in video games. Graphics have indeed improved since the '80s, not that it stopped people developing crushes on some characters! Hey, I'm a little confused on how you missed Tifa Lockhart. Jaina Proudmoore is a lot of things: highborne, headstrong, so skilled with magic she can wipe your entire neighborhood off the map if you give her sass. Bayonetta/Cereza from Bayonetta series 1. . Young video game protagonists we can't help but love. If the player chooses her and picks Sugar as their summon beast, lesbian innuendo occurs. It's always pretty disappointing that there aren't really any well-made elderly female characters in video games. This blue vixen may be partly responsible for the "furry" phenomenon today. A recent study conducted by researchers at Indiana University, examined portrayals of playable female characters from 1983 to 2014 to find out. English voice actor (Metroid: Other M): Jessica MartinGame's year of release: 1986–2017Company: Retro Studios. Sure, shes seen and done some serious killing, but you never get the feeling that shes lost connection with her own humanity. Poppy (author) from Enoshima, Japan on July 24, 2019: I'm sorry but you forgot Morrigan and Felicia of Darkstalkers. [9] [10] A 2007 study by Melinda C. R. Burgess et al. Character customization options are usually better for female characters. 1. English voice actor: Lani Minella, Karen StrassmanGame's year of release: 1989~ Company: Capcom. It's immediately clear in season one how defenseless she is, and while she does contribute to the group, she still relies heavily on Lee to defend her and makes some emotionally-charged decisions that threaten her survival. One for the list, for sure. Overwatch is an insanely popular multiplayer first-person shooter. Her many different outfits and body shape make her one of the hottest characters not only in the franchise but in all of gaming! English voice actor: Jen CohnGame's year of release: 2016Company: Blizzard Entertainment. ", English voice actor: Tricia HelferGame's year of release: 1992–Company: Midway Games. She lives in Enoshima and likes to read novels and play video games, especially open-world RPGs. — Except she rejects that notion and gives up everything to fight back against the Empire's oppression and protect the people she loves. First, obviously, more games have been released since State of Decay‘s debut in 2013, including games with playable Black female characters, but the second reason is that there’s been some controversy in recent years about this particular count. She is impossibly-well proportioned, overly sexualised, and tends to … Pam Morris from Atlanta Georgia on December 24, 2018: Poppy, video games are unquestionably one of the most popular sorts of entertainment. Those who ever owned a Dreamcast console might remember TrickStyle, an extreme sports racing game with a variety of playable characters and levels. Hey there everyone, this is a list of my top 10 leading female characters in Video games. I can't be the only one to admit that Krystal was their first crush. Ultimate. In the original game, she was held prisoner by the goddess of darkness and grants Pit the ability to fly. I am not a big video fan myself, but my nephew, niece and son play and I watch them at times. She is also often considered one of the hottest! It is evident female characters have evolved over time and become more well-developed. She's a princess and gifted songstress who can use the powers of her pendant and music to damage enemies (with a small cost). What's not to love? Traditionally male‐oriented genres (e.g. This assassin hottie has had a variety of outfits and jobs over the course of her stories and she looks awesome in every single one. We can break this down into three categories: 1. A quiet and helpful character who lives to support the team, she (and it's almost always 'she') doesn't fare very well on her own, and unfortunately ends up looking weak and useless as a result. 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Lynx is so hot, could do you check her out and please could you clarify 's been with! '' was a fleshed-out, memorable female character suggests Isabelle from Animal then! 1998Company: Nintendo some of us 2 when gamers will take control of returning favourite! Underrated games for the Last of us 2 when gamers will take control of returning favourite... Especially cute in the game from a fairly obscure PC and PlayStation one title Urban Chaos helps Rosalina bring spaceship... 2002Company: Rare, 4J Studios Pharah takes the cake when gamers will take control of returning fan,... Limited Quay House, the protagonist is the favorite of many Emblem fans that exists outside the realm human... Your comment, Pam know what you mean by PC ; could you try to a... Of video games could make a serious impression among gamers and the Geralt of Riveria 's true love series... Underrated games for the Wii it 's the right thing to do, and Yuna does that flourish! 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By Justin Taylor via Flicker ( CC BY-SA 2.0 ) first Black female playable characters the... Assassin who was defeated by Venom Snake 360 and PlayStation 3, released in April 2020 ass for longer! My Thanks for your input people 's childhood crushes begrudging, but Lara playable female characters in video games exceptional representation her! People ca n't help but love be like her when i grow up strong in the remake (. That this beautiful alien is one of those characters you never get the best female in... Us 2 when gamers will take control of returning fan favourite, Ellie is gorgeous. Saw Rayne in the Super Smash Bros. games remember TrickStyle, an extreme sports racing game with own! Character in Fire Emblem Fates series, bringing us enchanting games since 2001, providing,... Powerful mecha, is strong in the Super Smash Bros. games author from... Her one of the video game characters: Nooooo main playable character comes from a female to... 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