Female Game Protagonists

Wish to see more female playable characters in video games? Start by supporting the games that already exist!

This list makes no value judgments about the contents of these games, it is merely intended as a tool to help you find games which feature a female protagonist. After all, there are people of both genders who are either completely comfortable with sexual(ized) content or those who aren't and that's both okay. Therefore further research on your part may be required.

Also please note that this list is currently mostly restricted to games available through Steam and as such is by absolutely no means a complete or even a representative list. Given that I have not personally played through all of them personally, there is also the possibility that I was misinformed about some of them.


Female Protagonists
Female Protagonists
A female character is the only or primary player character.

PC

1988

  1. The Colonel's Bequest (GOG)

1992

  1. The Dagger of Amon Ra (GOG)

1993
  1. Legend of Kyrandia: Hand of Fate (GOG)
1994
  1. Freddi Fish: The Case of the Missing Kelp Seeds
1995
  1. Phantasmagoria (GOG)
1996
  1. Freddi Fish 2: The Case of The Haunted Schoolhouse
  2. Freddi Fish and Luther's Maze Madness
  3. Tomb Raider (GOG)
1997
  1. Tomb Raider II starring Lara Croft (GOG)
1998
  1. Freddi Fish 3: The Case of the Stolen Conch Shell
  2. Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft (GOG)
1999
  1. Freddi Fish 4: The Case of the Hogfish Rustlers of Briny Gulch
  2. Septerra Core
  3. Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation (GOG)
  4. Urban Chaos
2000
  1. The Longest Journey (GOG)
  2. Tomb Raider V: Chronicles (GOG)
2001
  1. Freddi Fish 5: The Creature of Coral Cove
2002
  1. Nancy Drew: Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake
  2. Nancy Drew: Secret of the Scarlet Hand
  3. Syberia (GOG)
2003
  1. Beyond Good & Evil (GOG)
  2. BloodRayne (GOG)
  3. Journey to the Center of the Earth (GOG)
  4. Nancy Drew: Danger on Deception Island
  5. Nancy Drew: The Haunted Carousel
  6. Tomb Raider VI: The Angel of Darkness (GOG)
2004
  1. The Egyptian Prophecy: The Fate of Ramses
  2. Nancy Drew: Curse of Blackmoor Manor (GOG)
  3. Return to Mysterious Island
  4. Syberia II (GOG)
  5. Wars and Warriors: Joan of Arc
2005
  1. BloodRayne 2 (GOG)
  2. Nancy Drew: Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon
  3. Nancy Drew: Secret of the Old Clock
  4. Still Life (GOG)
2006
  1. The Blackwell Legacy
  2. Dreamfall: The Longest Journey (GOG)
  3. Nancy Drew: Danger by Design
  4. Nancy Drew: The Creature of Kapu Cave
  5. Secret Files Tunguska
  6. Tomb Raider: Legend
2007
  1. Aquaria
  2. Blackwell Unbound
  3. Culpa Innata
  4. Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey
  5. eXperience 112
  6. Nancy Drew: Legend of the Crystal Skull
  7. Nancy Drew: The White Wolf of Icicle Creek
  8. Portal
  9. Tomb Raider: Anniversary
2008
  1. Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble!
  2. Chronicles of Mystery: The Scorpio Ritual
  3. Heileen 1: Sail Away
  4. Insecticide
  5. Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses!
  6. Nancy Drew: The Haunting of Castle Malloy
  7. Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice
  8. Tomb Raider: Underworld
  9. A Vampyre Story
2009
  1. Blackwell Convergence
  2. Dreamkiller
  3. Emerald City Confidential
  4. The Graveyard
  5. Heileen 2: The Hands of Fate
  6. Jane Angel: Templar Mystery
  7. King's Bounty: Armored Princess
  8. Lucidity
  9. Mata Hari
  10. Mirror's Edge
  11. Nancy Drew Dossier: Resorting to Danger!
  12. Nancy Drew: Ransom of the Seven Ships
  13. Nancy Drew: Warnings at Waverly Academy
  14. The Path
  15. Return to Mysterious Island 2: Mina's Fate
  16. Science Girls
  17. Secret Files 2: Puritas Cordis
  18. Still Life 2 (GOG)
  19. Twin Sector
  20. Velvet Assassin
  21. Venetica
  22. X-Blades
2010
  1. Alice in Wonderland
  2. Blade Kitten
  3. Broken Sword: Director's Cut
  4. Dreamscape
  5. Empress of the Deep
  6. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
  7. Hotel Collectors Edition
  8. Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill REMASTERED
  9. Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Water's Edge
  10. Nancy Drew: Trail of the Twister
  11. NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits
  12. The Otherside: Realm of Eons
  13. Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale
  14. Saira
  15. Winter Voices
2011
  1. Alice: Madness Returns 
  2. Blackwell Deception
  3. CAFE 0 ~The Drowned Mermaid~
  4. Cargo! The Quest for Gravity
  5. Defy Gravity Extended
  6. Dungeons - The Dark Lord
  7. Elizabeth Find M.D - Diagnosis Mystery - Season 2
  8. Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek
  9. Gundemonium Recollection
  10. GundeadliGne
  11. Hitogata Happa
  12. Hydrophobia: Prophecy
  13. Legend of Fae
  14. Lucky Rabbit Reflex!
  15. Portal 2
  16. Sanctum
  17. Space Channel 5: Part 2
  18. Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP
  19. Vagrant Hearts
  20. X-note
2012
  1. Abyss: The Wraiths of Eden
  2. Blades of Time
  3. Disney's Brave: The Video Game
  4. The Cat Lady (GOG)
  5. Cinders
  6. Cherry Tree High Comedy Club
  7. The Curse of the Werewolves
  8. Dark Arcana: The Carnival
  9. Disney Princess: My Fairytale Adventure
  10. Edna & Harvey: Harvey's New Eyes
  11. eXceed 2nd - Vampire REX
  12. Fairy Bloom Freesia
  13. Fortune Summoners
  14. Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams (GOG)
  15. Haunted
  16. Heileen 3: New Horizons
  17. Long Live The Queen
  18. Magical Diary
  19. Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart
  20. Offspring Fling!
  21. Sea Legends: Phantasmal Light
  22. Secret Files 3
  23. They Bleed Pixels
2013
  1. 9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek
  2. 99 Spirits
  3. Akaneiro: Demon Hunters
  4. Angelica Weaver: Catch Me When You Can
  5. Bleed
  6. Blood of the Werewolf
  7. Blue Rose
  8. Bunny Must Die! Chelsea and the 7 Devils
  9. Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink
  10. Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller (GOG)
  11. Contrast
  12. Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos
  13. Edna & Harvey: The Breakout
  14. Eldritch (Female by default)
  15. Enigmatis: The Mists of Ravenwood
  16. Eryi's Action
  17. Finding Teddy
  18. Gone Home (GOG)
  19. Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams - Rise of the Owlverlord (GOG)
  20. Ittle Dew (GOG)
  21. Lilly Looking Through (GOG)
  22. Memoria
  23. Ms. Splosion Man
  24. Nicole (otome version)
  25. Nightmares from the Deep: The Siren's Call
  26. Remember Me
  27. Resident Evil: Revelations (Jill Valentine as primary protagonist)
  28. Secret Files: Sam Peters
  29. Shelter
  30. Slender: The Arrival
  31. Super House of Dead Ninjas
  32. Time Mysteries: The Final Enigma
  33. Tomb Raider (2013)
  34. Violett
2014
  1. A City Sleeps
  2. Abyss Odyssey
  3. Akane the Kunoichi
  4. Alchemy Mysteries: Prague Legends
  5. Alien Isolation
  6. Amazing Princess Sarah
  7. AR-K
  8. Assassin's Creed Liberation HD
  9. Backstage Pass
  10. Bedlam
  11. The Beast of Lycan Isle - Collector's Edition
  12. BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Episode Two (Requires BioShock Infinite)
  13. The Blackwell Epiphany
  14. Black Viper: Sophia's Fate
  15. BloodRayne Betrayal
  16. Braveland Wizard
  17. Captain Morgane and the Golden Turtle
  18. Child of Light
  19. Claire
  20. Cloudbuilt
  21. Crypt of the NecroDancer
  22. Crystals of Time
  23. Cypress Inheritance: The Beginning
  24. Demon Hunter: Chronicles from Beyond
  25. Dex
  26. Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell's Adventure
  27. Dollhouse: Room 1313
  28. Dracula 4 and 5 (GOG)
  29. DreadOut
  30. Dreamfall Chapters
  31. Enola
  32. Fault Milestone One
  33. Final Dusk
  34. Freedom Planet
  35. Gray Matter (GOG)
  36. Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride
  37. Grim Legends 2: Song of the Dark Swan
  38. Gun Wings
  39. Hatoful Boyfriend
  40. Heroine's Quest: The Herald of Ragnarok
  41. how do you Do It?
  42. Journal
  43. J.U.L.I.A.: Among the Stars
  44. Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris
  45. Leona's Tricky Adventures
  46. Lili: Child of Geos
  47. Loren: The Amazon Princess (Gender optional, story centered on female character)
  48. The Marvellous Miss Take
  49. May's Mysteries: The Secret of Dragonville
  50. Melissa K. and the Heart of Gold - Collector's Edition
  51. Melody's Escape
  52. Millie
  53. Mirror Mysteries
  54. Mirror Mysteries 2
  55. Mitsurugi Kamui Hikae
  56. Momodora III
  57. Munin
  58. The Musketeers: Victoria's Quest
  59. Myths of Orion: Light from the North
  60. Nameless ~The One Thing You Must Recall ~
  61. Nearwood - Collector's Edition
  62. Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna)
  63. Ninja Pizza Girl
  64. Pac-Man Museum - Ms. Pac-Man DLC (Requires Pac-Man Museum)
  65. The Powerpuff Girls: Defenders of Townsville
  66. Princess Isabella
  67. Princess Isabella: Return of the Curse
  68. Princess Isabella: The Rise of an Heir
  69. Princess Remedy in a World of Hurt
  70. Rock Zombie
  71. Ronin
  72. Shan Gui
  73. Shannon Tweed's Attack of the Groupies
  74. Shantae: Risky's Revenge - Director's Cut
  75. Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
  76. Sharpe Investigations: Death on the Seine
  77. Skyborn
  78. Suguri
  79. Time Mysteries: Inheritance - Remastered
  80. Transistor
  81. Ultionus: A Tale of Petty Revenge
  82. UmiharaKawase
  83. Whispering Willows
  84. Wings of Vi
2015
  1. 404Sight
  2. Aerannis
  3. Anna's Quest
  4. AR-K: The Great Escape
  5. Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China
  6. BANZAI PECAN: The Last Hope For the Young Century
  7. Bedlam
  8. Belladonna
  9. Beyond Eyes
  10. Black Closet
  11. Black Home
  12. Brilliant Shadows - Part One of the Book of Gray Magic
  13. Camera Obscura
  14. Cibele
  15. Cinderella Escape!
  16. Cosplay Maker
  17. Cradle
  18. Dark Storm VR Missions
  19. Darkness Assault
  20. Daughter of Shadows: An SCP Breach Event
  21. Dracula's Legacy
  22. Dragon Fin Soup
  23. Dreaming Sarah
  24. dUpLicity ~Beyond the Lies~
  25. Eaten Alive
  26. Ferrum's Secrets: Where Is Grandpa?
  27. Fran Bow
  28. FreezeME
  29. Giana Sisters 2D
  30. Glass Wing
  31. Grave Prosperity: Redux - part 1
  32. Gravity Ghost
  33. Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure
  34. Her Story
  35. Hot Tin Roof: The Cat That Wore A Fedora
  36. Hypnosis
  37. Invisible Apartment
  38. Jotun
  39. Kagura Douchuuki
  40. The Lady
  41. Last Days of Spring
  42. The Last NightMary - A Lenda do Cabeça de Cuia
  43. The Legend of Dark Witch
  44. Lemma
  45. Life Is Strange
  46. Lightning Returns - Final Fantasy XIII
  47. Lilly and Sasha: Curse of the Immortals
  48. Lilly and Sasha: Guardian Angels
  49. Lilly and Sasha: Nexus of Souls
  50. MechaNika
  51. Mighty Switch Force! Hose It Down!
  52. Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition
  53. Mushihimesama
  54. Neon Construct
  55. New Kind of Adventure
  56. Night Mysteries: The Amphora Prisoner
  57. The Park
  58. The Perils of Man
  59. Pink Heaven
  60. Pregnancy
  61. Princess Kaguya: Legend of the Moon Warrior
  62. Pulse
  63. Republique Remastered
  64. Resident Evil Revelations 2 / Biohazard Revelations 2
  65. The Ritual on Weylyn Island
  66. Sakura Fantasy Chapter 1
  67. Save Your Mother
  68. Sayonara UmiharaKawase
  69. Seduce Me the Otome
  70. Shadows on the Vatican Act II: Wrath
  71. Shelter 2
  72. Silver Creek Falls: Chapter 1
  73. Silver Creek Falls: Chapter 2
  74. Sound of Drop - fall into poison-
  75. Spooky Cats
  76. Submerged
  77. Sunset
  78. Super Trench Attack 2
  79. Sword Daughter
  80. Sylvio
  81. The Madness of Little Emma
  82. The Sword of Asumi
  83. Taimumari
  84. Toren
  85. Traverser
  86. Turnover
  87. UBERMOSH
  88. Vagrant Hearts
  89. Velocity 2X
  90. Vicky Saves the Big Dumb World
  91. Void And Meddler
  92. Wicked Witches
  93. Without Within
  94. Woolfe - The Red Hood Diaries
  95. Written in the Sky
  96. Zanzarah: The Hidden Portal
2016
  1. Alicia Griffith: Lakeside Murder
  2. Anima: Gate of Memories
  3. Arctic Alive
  4. The Average Everyday Adventures of Samantha Browne
  5. Bear With Me
  6. Bizarre Earthquake
  7. Blackfaun
  8. Blamdown: Udder Fury
  9. Blue Sheep
  10. Blue Tear
  11. Bombshell (GOG)
  12. Book Series - Alice in Wonderland
  13. Bot Vice
  14. C14 Dating
  15. Cally's Caves 3
  16. Cellar
  17. Dark Night
  18. Demon's Crystals
  19. DreadOut: Keepers of The Dark
  20. Drizzlepath: Genie
  21. Drusilla Dreams
  22. Elena
  23. Empty Horizons
  24. Endless Fables: The Minotaur's Curse
  25. Epistory - Typing Chronicles
  26. Even the Ocean
  27. Eventide: Slavic Fable
  28. Evil Maze
  29. Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
  30. Finque
  31. The Flame in the Flood
  32. Gemini: Heroes Reborn
  33. Ghost 1.0
  34. Hidden Object 6-in-1 bundle
  35. Highway Blossoms
  36. Hope Lake
  37. htoL#NiQ: The Firefly Diary
  38. The Huntsman: Winter's Curse
  39. ICEY
  40. Ittle Dew 2
  41. Izanami's Dream Battle
  42. Kathy Rain
  43. Khimera: Destroy All Monster Girls
  44. Kindred Spirits on the Roof
  45. Lara Croft GO
  46. Ley Lines
  47. The Lion's Song: Episode 1 - Silence
  48. The Lost Mythologies
  49. Love in the Glen
  50. Magical Mysteries: Path of the Sorceress
  51. Magnetta
  52. Massive Cleavage vs Zombies: Awesome Edition
  53. Metagal
  54. Momento Temporis: Light from the Deep
  55. Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight
  56. Moonchild
  57. Mythic Wonders: The Philosopher's Stone
  58. Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet
  59. New York Mysteries: High Voltage
  60. Nightfall: Escape
  61. Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel
  62. Nurse Love Addiction
  63. Onechanbara Z2: Chaos
  64. Oxenfree
  65. Princess Edge - Dragonstone
  66. Princess Isabella: The Rise of an Heir
  67. Rabi-Ribi
  68. Regeria Hope Episode 1
  69. Resident Evil 0 HD Remaster
  70. Revolution 60
  71. Riddles of the Past
  72. Rise of the Tomb Raider
  73. Rising Runner
  74. Rynn's Adventure: Trouble in the Enchanted Forest
  75. The Sad Story of Emmeline Burns
  76. Seduce Me 2: The Demon War
  77. Senran Kagura Bon Appétit!
  78. Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus
  79. Seraph
  80. Shadwen
  81. Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
  82. Silver Bullet: Prometheus
  83. Silver Creek Falls - Chapter 3
  84. Slap Village: Reality Slap
  85. Smashing the Battle
  86. Song of the Deep
  87. Sora
  88. Space Pilgrim Episode II: Epsilon Indi
  89. Space Pilgrim Episode III: Delta Pavonis
  90. Starlight Vega
  91. Super Night Riders
  92. Sydney's World
  93. Taiker
  94. Timespinner
  95. Through the Woods
  96. The Town of Light
  97. Trulon: The Shadow Engine
  98. Unaided: 1939
  99. Unraveled: Tale of the Shipbreaker's Daughter
  100. VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
  101. The Walking Dead: Michonne - A Telltale Miniseries
  102. We Know the Devil
  103. A Wild Catgirl Appears!
  104. You Deserve
2017

  1. 20XX
  2. A Hat in Time
  3. Agatha Knife
  4. AIRIS
  5. Aliens Go Home Run
  6. Alwas Awakening
  7. Animallica
  8. Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey
  9. Atelier Sophie:The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book
  10. Barbara-ian
  11. Bayonetta
  12. Blackwood Crossing
  13. Bleed 2
  14. BLUE REFLECTION
  15. Bloody Boobs
  16. Blossoms Bloom Brightest
  17. Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King
  18. BOOR
  19. Captain Kaon
  20. CAYNE
  21. The Charming Empire
  22. Children of Zodiarcs
  23. Cinderella Escape 2 Revenge
  24. Cinderella Phenomenon - Otome/Visual Novel
  25. Crossroad Mysteries: The Broken Deal
  26. Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls
  27. Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
  28. Dark Elf
  29. Darkarta: A Broken Heart's Quest Collector's Edition
  30. Darkarta: A Broken Heart's Quest Standard Edition
  31. Dead Horizon
  32. Demonheart
  33. Dialogue: A Writers Story
  34. Die Young
  35. Dimension Drive
  36. Dishonored: Death of the Outsider
  37. The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile
  38. Dragon Essence: Color My World
  39. Dragonia
  40. Dreamfall Chapters
  41. Drizzlepath Glass
  42. ECHO
  43. Edge of Hearts
  44. Eldritch Hunter
  45. ELE BLAZE
  46. Eventide 3: Legacy of Legends
  47. Evil Genome
  48. The Falconers: Moonlight
  49. Fallen Times
  50. Fate/EXTELLA
  51. Fumiko
  52. Galaxy Girls
  53. GIGA WRECKER
  54. Graze Counter
  55. GUNGUNGUN
  56. The Heiress
  57. Hell Girls
  58. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
  59. HIVESWAP: Act 1
  60. The Initial
  61. Killing Time
  62. Kimmy
  63. Kio's Adventure
  64. The Last Birdling
  65. Leaving Lyndow
  66. Legend of the Skyfish
  67. Les Fleursword
  68. Life is Strange: Before the Storm
  69. Love Ribbon
  70. The Low Road
  71. Lydia
  72. Mages of Mystralia
  73. Material Girl
  74. Memoranda
  75. Milkmaid of the Milky Way
  76. Mini Ghost
  77. Moero Chronicle
  78. Molemen Must Die!
  79. Monster Monpiece
  80. Nephise
  81. Nephise Begins
  82. NieR:Automata
  83. Night in the Woods
  84. Nights of Azure
  85. The Painscreek Killings
  86. Perception
  87. Les Quatre Alices / The Four Alices
  88. </reality>
  89. RED
  90. Red Haze
  91. Reflection of Mine
  92. Rise of Balloons
  93. A Rose in the Twilight
  94. Rosenkreuzstilette
  95. Sakura Gamer
  96. Save Our Souls: Episode I - The Absurd Hopes Of Blessed Children
  97. Scar of the Doll
  98. SENRAN KAGURA ESTIVAL VERSUS
  99. The Shadows of Pygmalion
  100. SHE SAVE
  101. Shikhondo - Soul Eater
  102. ShineG In The Bullethell
  103. ShineG In The Zombies
  104. Shuyan Saga
  105. Skylar & Plux: Adventure On Clover Island
  106. Solaria Moon
  107. Sorgina: A Tale of Witches
  108. SoulSet
  109. Space Pilgrim Academy
  110. Star Waker
  111. SteamWorld Dig 2
  112. Strangers of the Power
  113. Strikey Sisters
  114. Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls
  115. Super Cloudbuilt
  116. Sweet Fantasy
  117. Syberia 3
  118. A Tale of Caos: Overture - Act III
  119. Tacoma
  120. Tales of Berseria
  121. Tangledeep
  122. Time Recoil
  123. Tokyo Dark
  124. Tormentor X Punisher
  125. Twins of the Pasture
  126. The Vagrant
  127. VALKYRIE DRIVE -BHIKKHUNI-
  128. Vitamin Girl
  129. What Remains of Edith Finch
  130. The Wild Eternal
  131. Winged Sakura: Endless Dream
  132. Witch of Ice Kingdom
  133. Wonderful Everyday Down the Rabbit-Hole
  134. Xenon Valkyrie
  135. XOXO Droplets


Steam Bundles

Free Downloads


Party of Characters
Party of Characters
Games in which you control a party of characters with at least 1 female player character. JRPG's would fit almost by definition. 


Steam




Optional Female Protagonists
Optional Female Protagonists
Female playable characters are available either as an option or through customization.


Steam


GOG

Other




Roster of Characters
Roster of Characters
Usually multiplayer games with the focus on a sizable cast of selectable characters. Generally fighting, racing or party games.


Steam

Other


Unsorted
Games in which female characters might be playable for only a limited time, in limited capacity or any other reason why I feel these games/bundles do not belong in any of the categories above. It might also be that I'm not entirely sure in what capacity the female characters are playable if I haven't personally played the game yet.


Steam



15/10/2017

71 comments:

  1. I'd nominate Ittle Dew to add to add to your list. I found out about it during my talks and argues on Kitetale's video, it's a short adventure, but it pokes so much fun at the Zelda format.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Also if you add console games to there- well, it's old, but I'd have to recommend the Wonder Project J series. The first one has you controlling a female with a male main character and the second has you controlling a male with a female.
      It's also a series I met my girlfriend over the fandom of, so it's kind of special to the both of us.

      Delete
    2. *the second has you controlling a male with a female main character.

      Delete
    3. Added Ittle Dew. I should probably check that one out myself.

      Delete
    4. Oh god, Ittle Dew is so much fun!

      Delete
    5. Glad you like it. XD I wanna do fanart.

      Delete
    6. didn't see fire emblem but still a good list

      Delete
    7. Fire Emblem isn't on Steam or GoG.

      Delete
  2. What doubts do you have about the Resident Evil games (which I think should include 6 as well) exactly? I'd say they fall under "Co-op / Mutual-aid games"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Basically because I haven't played any of the ones on Steam and I'm not entirely sure to what extend who is playable (I have Resident Evil 5, but it keeps crashing shortly after starting up).

      I think I can bump up Revelations as Jill probably has her own campaign, if I'm not mistaken. For 5 I'm not sure if Sheva is only playable for the co-op partner or if player 1 can choose between her and Chris.

      I don't really know anything about Resident Evil 6 but I just saw that Ada Wong is playable so yeah, I should add that one.

      Delete
    2. I can't remember now, but I think 5 gives you the option to choose between Chris and Sheva when you first start the game. Will confirm later.
      As for 6, there are 4 campaigns: Leon/Helena's, Chris/Piers', Jake/Sherry's and Ada's: 4 males and 3 females. You can choose your character when you start a campaign or individual chapter. I believe Revelations works in a similar fashion.

      Delete
    3. I'll be sure to keep an eye out for 6 and Revelations when the Halloween Steam sales come up. After RE5 I'd rather not risk being burned at full price.

      Delete
    4. In RE5 Sheva Alomar (the female protagonist) is playable throughout the entire campaign. In singleplayer you can chose who you play as and co-op one plays as chris and one as Sheva - The game never switches characters.

      also there's a seperate campaign featuring Ada Wong and there's the "mercenaries" optional game mode (both singleplayer and multiplayer) where you can play as a number of different characters, some of them female.

      Delete
  3. Would games where instead of creating a character and choosing a class and gender, you pick an already existing character with defined personality and skills? For example, Team Fortress 2, except that there are no women in it. I had Rusty Hearts (2/4 characters) and Path of Exile (3/7) in mind, both avaiable on Steam

    ReplyDelete
  4. From my personal steam library the following games feature female protagonists:

    Female character only:
    -Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (female character only, 2011)

    Female characters only party:
    -Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble! (all female party, 2008)

    Optional female character
    -Fallout 1 (customizable character)
    -Fallout 2 (customizable character)
    -Fallout tactics (customizable character, party can include females)
    -Fallout: New Vegas (customizable character, same as Fallout 3)
    -Dungeons of Dredmor (player can select male or Female character)
    -Mercenary Kings (early access, two playable characters, male or female)
    -Legend of Grimrock (party based game with customizable characters)
    -Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness Episode 1 and 2 (customizable main character, party occasionally includes females)
    -Shadowrun returns (customizable character, party can include females)


    Party based with female characters in party:
    -On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3 (JRPG Style with female characters in your party)


    Co-op:
    -Orcs Must Die! 2 (one male and one female character, in single player you can choose)
    -Guacamelee (in co-op mode one player plays a female character, you can play as her in singleplayer too but that's more of a "costume swap")


    Roster of characters:
    -Dustforce
    -Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed

    Other:
    -Incredipede (Female protagonist, however you play as a weird creature that has no obvious gender. Only through the narration do you get to know that you are playing a female creature)
    -Crusader Kings I and II (you play as a succession of historical and fictional rulers, occasionally including females. You don't get to pick your ruler except at the start - after that, you have to take what comes up in the line of succession, depending on your succession system that can include women)

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  5. From my steam library:

    Only female protagonist:
    - Dungeons - The dark lord

    Optional:
    - Sacred 2 Fallen angel
    - Spellforce 2

    Mutual Aid:
    - Breath of death VII
    - Cthulu saves the world
    - Grotesque Tactics: Evil Heroes
    - Grotesque Tactics 2: Dungeons & donuts
    - Knights of the old republic
    - Knights of the old republic 2

    Non-steam:
    - Psychotoxic (protagonist)
    - A vampire story (protagonist)
    - Zanzarah (protagonist)
    - Oni (protagonist)
    - Icewind Dale (optional)
    - Planescape: Torment (mutual)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Added, thanks!

      (I'll probably use the Non-Steam ones later)

      Delete
  6. More games where the main character is female:
    Wild arms 3
    Wild Arms XF
    The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky

    Games where you can choose between a male and a female main character:
    Secret of Mana (various)
    Star Ocean: the Second Story
    Tales of Xillia

    Also Odin Sphere.

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  7. Also the entire Parasite Eve series with Aya Brea as the playable character.

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  8. Touhou Project

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  9. Do games like Diablo 3 where you can select your own gender not count for some reason?

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    Replies
    1. I kinda have it limited to Steam or GoG games right now, but I guess I could add Battle.net as well.

      Delete
  10. I'll contribute a few of the things I currently have installed on Steam.

    Ys Origin (3 characters, 1 is female, the female character is the easy to use "default" but can't really be considered the "main protagonist")
    Warframe (debatable whether they're "characters", but warframes definitely come in male and female)
    Sine Mora (story mode hops between various characters of both genders, characters can be selected in arcade mode, 3 males, 3 females, 1 robot)
    Natural Selection 2 (now has female humans, sex of aliens is murky)
    Cargo - the quest for gravity (one player character, who is female)

    Hope that's a bit helpful.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You forgot two more games:

    Rogue Trooper
    (Venus Bluegenes - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_Bluegenes)

    Army Men Sarge's Heroes series
    Vikki Grimm - http://armymen.wikia.com/wiki/Vikki_Grimm

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  12. Alicia Dragoon

    Resident Evil series (all until 4 had a playable male and female)

    Dark Stalkers series (fighting)

    Rival Schools series (fighting)

    Advance Wars series (Tactics)

    Xenosaga 1 is mainly about Shion Uzuki and her robot KOS-MOS.




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  13. Don't forget Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten! Four out of the seven protagonists (including main character Azra) are all female, and it's a great game to boot.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Some more suggestions:

    ENSEMBLE CASTS:
    Thomas Was Alone
    Phantasy Star IV
    Millenium: A New Hope
    Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten
    Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Ultimate Boy
    Dungeon Hearts

    SELECTABLE FEMALE CHARACTERS:
    Valdis Story: Abyssal City
    Monaco
    Jamestown
    Ys Origin (Yunica)
    Cave Story+ (Curly)
    Risk of Rain (Huntress)

    FEMALE CHARACTER-CENTRIC
    They Bleed Pixels
    Analogue: A Hate Story & Hate Plus (PC could be any gender, but the two characters the story focuses on - *Mute & *Hyun-ae - are both female)
    Fortune Summoners
    Defy Gravity
    Sanctum

    CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION
    FTL: Faster Than Light
    Paper Sorcerer
    One-Way Heroics
    Puzzle Quest

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  15. Thanks for this comprehensive list of female protagonists. I see you are someone with broad tastes!

    ReplyDelete
  16. always remember me
    3 games with samanta swift
    and almost every game from ArtifexMundi

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  17. Parasite Eve: Aya Brea

    Great female protagonist, 1998

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  18. I'd recommend adding Touch Detective 1, 2 1/2, since the main character is an elementary school girl who solves mysteries by touching things. It's a really obtuse point and click adventure, but it's really good.
    Also, Silent Hill 3, and Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia. I find it sad that both of these games, despite being some of the best in their respective series, were the lowest grossing. I guess people really don't want female heroines.

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  19. Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm and Kerrigan
    Universe at War: Earth Assault and Mirabel
    Homeworld 1 and 2 and Karan S'jet
    Giants: Citizen Kabuto and Delphi
    There are mission in Red Alert series, when you control only Tanya
    No One Lives Forever and Kate Archer
    Jagged Alliance 2 have a lot of female mercenaries
    Heavy Metall F.A.K.K. 2 and Julie
    Drakan: Order of the Flame and Rynn
    Tribes: Vengeance have at least one female protagonist. Maybe Julia?

    I am not sure all of of these games are available on Steam or GOG - or any digital distribution platform - but despite that they fit in Your list and can be purchased. From Amazon, Ebay et cetera.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Damn it... Cate Archer, not Kate Archer. My mistake.

      Delete
  20. I'm afraid you may have to remove Rusty Hearts from the list. It simply doesn't exist anymore. And it was pretty cool for a Korean MMO ;_;

    ReplyDelete
  21. Pathologic 1/3 protagonists is female.
    Cargo! The Quest for Gravity female lead.
    Silent Storm + Silent Storm: sentinels generated protagonist and big roster of females.

    ReplyDelete
  22. It is a playstation one game, but it is one of my absolute favorites.

    The Misadventures of Tron Bonne

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Misadventures_of_Tron_Bonne

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  23. Hello how are you ! I wonder how to recruit Amber Fox from Metal Gear Solid V, thank you

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    Replies
    1. She was either a pre-order bonus or an import reward from Ground Zeroes. I'm not entirely sure.

      Delete
  24. 4 out of 8 of the main characters in Until Dawn are female.

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  25. The 2000 section needs to have American McGee's Alice, the prequel to Alice: Madness Returns.

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  26. I may have missed it, because there are a lot of games, but there is also the entire Touhou Series.

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  27. Whoa... that's a lot of female characters.

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  28. I'm not exactly sure if this game counts, but the creator of The Cat Lady has made a remake of his previous game Downfall.

    In it there are some parts where you play as a female character, the two female characters being Agnes and Susan.

    http://store.steampowered.com/app/364390/

    ReplyDelete
  29. You can actually add one more game with a female protagonist called:Wet
    That game was released for both Ps3 and Xbox360 consoles at 2009.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Where's the Touhou Project?

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  31. There's a new game called Kathy Rain, with a very interesting female protagonist, that you can add.

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  32. What about the Pokemon games?
    Each game gives you the ability to pick whether you want to play as a boy or a girl.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Kingdom Hearts series has quite a few:
    - In 2010, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep allows you to play as Aqua, one of the only Keyblade Masters in the entire franchise.
    - In 2009, Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days allows you to play as Organization 13 Members Larxene and Xion in Mission Mode.
    - In 2013 to present, mobile Kingdom Hearts X: Unchained also allows you to play as a customizable (although limited) female character.

    Some Other Games I can name:
    - Recent 2016 game, Dead by Daylight allows you to pick from three survivor female characters: Meg Thomas, Claudette Morel, and Nea Karlsson. Additonally, a DLC allowed people the option to play as Killer, The Nurse.
    - Super Smash Series offer a large variety of female character options. [Super Smash Bros (1999), Super Smash Melee (2001), Super Smash Brawl (2008), Super Smash for 3DS / WiiU (2014)]
    - In 2003, Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly allows you to play as female protagonist, Mio.
    - Almost the entire series of Digimon games allows you to pick a female character.
    - Sims Series allows you to play as (Ex. The Urbz: Sims in the City, 2009) or oversee female characters.
    - Mario Kart Series has plenty of female characters to choose.

    Extra Animal Ones?:
    - Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon (2008) allows you to play as Cynder, who is an essential character to the plot and mechanics of the entire game (although she is a dragon...).
    - In 2006 game, Okami, allows you to play as Amateratsu, the goddess of the sun (granted she is a wolf, but she is confirmed to be a lady).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just read that it was limited to STEAM, so in that case, ignore everything and just put Dead by Daylight. That still works out.

      Delete
  34. You missed The Walking Dead: Season 2 by Telltale Games witch came out in 2013.

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  35. You forgot The Walking Dead: Season 2 - A. Telltale Games Series (Release Date: December 19th 2013)

    The Walking Dead: A New Frontier - A Telltale Game Series (Release Date: Some time in November 2016)

    ReplyDelete
  36. I have a few
    Danganronpa another episode (Komaru Naegi and Fukawa Touko (both female)
    Kingdom hearts 0.2 (Aqua)
    THE walking dead season 2 (Clementine)
    The binding of Isaac (Eve, Magdeline and Lilith)
    Spyro year of the Dragon (Sheila)
    LISA (LISA)
    LISA the painful rpg DLC (Buddy)

    ReplyDelete
  37. you missed all of the Hyperdimension Neptunia games besides Hyperdevotion Noire. Main female protagonist is either Neptune (most of them), Nepgear (1 game and 1 remake), Blanc (1 game), IF (1 game), Segami (1 game), Plutia (1 game, 1 remake), Vert (1 game). All female characters.

    ReplyDelete
  38. You missed too Dino Crisis 2, when you play as Regina for a limited time.

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  39. You missed Alone in the Dark (1992) in the category list at Optional female protagonists: Gog. If there wouldn't have been an optional female protagonist here, there probably wouldn't have been one in Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare neither.

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  40. You missed Telltale's "The Walking Dead: Season Two" (2014) and "The Walking Dead: The Final Season" (2018-2019), which both feature the badass Clementine as the only playable character (so far). You also missed "The Walking Dead: Michonne" (2015), which also features a woman protagonist surviving in the apocalypse.

    ReplyDelete
  41. How did you not include Gravity Rush or Heavenly Sword?

    ReplyDelete
  42. Dishonored 2 (Emily Kaldwin).
    Dusk Diver.
    Enter the Matrix (Niobe).
    Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone (Zhai).
    Heliophobia.
    Hunted: The Demon's Forge (E'lara).
    Mass Effect: Andromeda and Mass Effet 3.
    Max's Big Bust - A Captain Nekorai Tale.
    Prey 2017.
    Scourge: Outbreak (Tasya Semivolkova).
    The Lord of the Rings: War in the North (Andriel).
    The Edgelands.
    The World Next Door.
    X Mushrooms.

    ReplyDelete
  43. The Lost Mythologies.
    What Never Was.

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  44. Alternate Dimansion.
    Bullet Witch.
    Ib.
    Marie's Room.

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  45. Clive Barker's Jericho (three women).

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  46. Japanese-only game, but Roll.EXE is a playable character in Rockman.EXE 4.5 Real Operation, and appear as Navi BattleChips in all the Battle Network games, and also playable in Megaman Battle Chip Challenge, with her own story.

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  47. This is a brilliant list, thank you so much! Any plans on updating it? Thanks again :)

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  48. I came to visit two years after my last comment and was immediately saddened at seeing that my last comment... was the last comment :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry about that, I don't check here often anymore.

      There's so many games releasing on Steam now that it would be very difficult to keep this list updated too. :(

      Delete