In a community primarily filled with men where most video games are made by men, female video game characters are a rare and appreciated sight. Some of these female characters are even as popular as Solid Snake or Mario to many hardcore gamers. With that in mind, here are the top five greatest females in video games!
Number One: Samus Aran, Metroid. Move over Lara Croft, we have a new champion here. Samus is a true champion of the gaming world; she is a real heroine and, unlike many female characters, she is not overly sexualized. Shaking off the damsel in distress persona, this true bounty hunter was taken in as an orphan, raised by aliens, and was blessed with unique combat skills. This proves she is the overall champion.
Number Two: Kairi, Kingdom Hearts. Although ignored greatly in the franchise, Kairi is one of the most important characters in the Kingdom Hearts. With Sora and Riku constantly going through different ways to save her, she was not only made to be cute but also implemented carefully in the game. Kairi alone is a very annoying character, but her plot line with Sora is still a tearjerker, whether it be their goodbye or even the montage at the end of the first Kingdom Hearts.
Number Three: Madison Paige, Heavy Rain. Madison is one of the four protagonists in Heavy Rain, and she is perhaps the most mysterious character in the game. Her character is portrayed as a 27-year-old female photographer and journalist who is noted to have severe insomnia, believed to be caused by her time spent in Iraq. Her strong personality truly shined through while investigating “The Origami Killer,” and she was able to keep Ethan level-headed throughout the game.
Number Four: Princess Zelda, The Legend of Zelda. Although not a playable character, Princess Zelda is the one who Link must save. Players direct Link through numerous tasks and games throughout the series. Princess Zelda is sort of like Princess Peach, but way cooler, because she didn’t just have to cry for help, and she is arguably a woman who is wise beyond her years. Princess Zelda is also a character in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros Brawl, and Super Smash Bros for 3DS.
Number Five: Kitana, Mortal Kombat. Princess Kitana made her official debut in Mortal Kombat II, and she has fought strong ever since. Although 10,000 years old, she has the appearance of a young woman. Kitana isn’t all about hand-to-hand combat; she relies on her Steel Fan weapon to tomahawk at other opponents, making her one of the most powerful females in Mortal Kombat. I’d posit that she’s even more powerful than her evil twin, Mileena.