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.
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
A female character is the only or primary player character.
1988
- The Colonel's Bequest (GOG)
1992
- The Dagger of Amon Ra (GOG)
1993
- Legend of Kyrandia: Hand of Fate (GOG)
- Phantasmagoria (GOG)
- Freddi Fish 2: The Case of The Haunted Schoolhouse
- Freddi Fish and Luther's Maze Madness
- Tomb Raider (GOG)
1999
- Freddi Fish 4: The Case of the Hogfish Rustlers of Briny Gulch
- Septerra Core
- Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation (GOG)
- Urban Chaos
2001
2003
- Beyond Good & Evil (GOG)
- BloodRayne (GOG)
- Journey to the Center of the Earth (GOG)
- Nancy Drew: Danger on Deception Island
- Nancy Drew: The Haunted Carousel
- Tomb Raider VI: The Angel of Darkness (GOG)
- The Egyptian Prophecy: The Fate of Ramses
- Nancy Drew: Curse of Blackmoor Manor (GOG)
- Return to Mysterious Island
- Syberia II (GOG)
- Wars and Warriors: Joan of Arc
- BloodRayne 2 (GOG)
- Nancy Drew: Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon
- Nancy Drew: Secret of the Old Clock
- Still Life (GOG)
- The Blackwell Legacy
- Dreamfall: The Longest Journey (GOG)
- Nancy Drew: Danger by Design
- Nancy Drew: The Creature of Kapu Cave
- Secret Files Tunguska
- Tomb Raider: Legend
- Aquaria
- Blackwell Unbound
- Culpa Innata
- Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey
- eXperience 112
- Nancy Drew: Legend of the Crystal Skull
- Nancy Drew: The White Wolf of Icicle Creek
- Portal
- Tomb Raider: Anniversary
- Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble!
- Chronicles of Mystery: The Scorpio Ritual
- Heileen 1: Sail Away
- Insecticide
- Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses!
- Nancy Drew: The Haunting of Castle Malloy
- Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice
- Tomb Raider: Underworld
- A Vampyre Story
2009
- Blackwell Convergence
- Dreamkiller
- Emerald City Confidential
- The Graveyard
- Heileen 2: The Hands of Fate
- Jane Angel: Templar Mystery
- King's Bounty: Armored Princess
- Lucidity
- Mata Hari
- Mirror's Edge
- Nancy Drew Dossier: Resorting to Danger!
- Nancy Drew: Ransom of the Seven Ships
- Nancy Drew: Warnings at Waverly Academy
- The Path
- Return to Mysterious Island 2: Mina's Fate
- Science Girls
- Secret Files 2: Puritas Cordis
- Still Life 2 (GOG)
- Twin Sector
- Velvet Assassin
- Venetica
- X-Blades
- Alice in Wonderland
- Blade Kitten
- Broken Sword: Director's Cut
- Dreamscape
- Empress of the Deep
- Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
- Hotel Collectors Edition
- Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill REMASTERED
- Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Water's Edge
- Nancy Drew: Trail of the Twister
- NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits
- The Otherside: Realm of Eons
- Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale
- Saira
- Winter Voices
- Alice: Madness Returns
- Blackwell Deception
- CAFE 0 ~The Drowned Mermaid~
- Cargo! The Quest for Gravity
- Defy Gravity Extended
- Dungeons - The Dark Lord
- Elizabeth Find M.D - Diagnosis Mystery - Season 2
- Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek
- Gundemonium Recollection
- GundeadliGne
- Hitogata Happa
- Hydrophobia: Prophecy
- Legend of Fae
- Lucky Rabbit Reflex!
- Portal 2
- Sanctum
- Space Channel 5: Part 2
- Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP
- Vagrant Hearts
- X-note
- Abyss: The Wraiths of Eden
- Blades of Time
- Disney's Brave: The Video Game
- The Cat Lady (GOG)
- Cinders
- Cherry Tree High Comedy Club
- The Curse of the Werewolves
- Dark Arcana: The Carnival
- Disney Princess: My Fairytale Adventure
- Edna & Harvey: Harvey's New Eyes
- eXceed 2nd - Vampire REX
- Fairy Bloom Freesia
- Fortune Summoners
- Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams (GOG)
- Haunted
- Heileen 3: New Horizons
- Long Live The Queen
- Magical Diary
- Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart
- Offspring Fling!
- Sea Legends: Phantasmal Light
- Secret Files 3
- They Bleed Pixels
- 9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek
- 99 Spirits
- Akaneiro: Demon Hunters
- Angelica Weaver: Catch Me When You Can
- Bleed
- Blood of the Werewolf
- Blue Rose
- Bunny Must Die! Chelsea and the 7 Devils
- Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink
- Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller (GOG)
- Contrast
- Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos
- Edna & Harvey: The Breakout
- Eldritch (Female by default)
- Enigmatis: The Mists of Ravenwood
- Eryi's Action
- Finding Teddy
- Gone Home (GOG)
- Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams - Rise of the Owlverlord (GOG)
- Ittle Dew (GOG)
- Lilly Looking Through (GOG)
- Memoria
- Ms. Splosion Man
- Nicole (otome version)
- Nightmares from the Deep: The Siren's Call
- Remember Me
- Resident Evil: Revelations (Jill Valentine as primary protagonist)
- Secret Files: Sam Peters
- Shelter
- Slender: The Arrival
- Super House of Dead Ninjas
- Time Mysteries: The Final Enigma
- Tomb Raider (2013)
- Violett
- A City Sleeps
- Abyss Odyssey
- Akane the Kunoichi
- Alchemy Mysteries: Prague Legends
- Alien Isolation
- Amazing Princess Sarah
- AR-K
- Assassin's Creed Liberation HD
- Backstage Pass
- Bedlam
- The Beast of Lycan Isle - Collector's Edition
- BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Episode Two (Requires BioShock Infinite)
- The Blackwell Epiphany
- Black Viper: Sophia's Fate
- BloodRayne Betrayal
- Braveland Wizard
- Captain Morgane and the Golden Turtle
- Child of Light
- Claire
- Cloudbuilt
- Crypt of the NecroDancer
- Crystals of Time
- Cypress Inheritance: The Beginning
- Demon Hunter: Chronicles from Beyond
- Dex
- Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell's Adventure
- Dollhouse: Room 1313
- Dracula 4 and 5 (GOG)
- DreadOut
- Dreamfall Chapters
- Enola
- Fault Milestone One
- Final Dusk
- Freedom Planet
- Gray Matter (GOG)
- Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride
- Grim Legends 2: Song of the Dark Swan
- Gun Wings
- Hatoful Boyfriend
- Heroine's Quest: The Herald of Ragnarok
- how do you Do It?
- Journal
- J.U.L.I.A.: Among the Stars
- Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris
- Leona's Tricky Adventures
- Lili: Child of Geos
- Loren: The Amazon Princess (Gender optional, story centered on female character)
- The Marvellous Miss Take
- May's Mysteries: The Secret of Dragonville
- Melissa K. and the Heart of Gold - Collector's Edition
- Melody's Escape
- Millie
- Mirror Mysteries
- Mirror Mysteries 2
- Mitsurugi Kamui Hikae
- Momodora III
- Munin
- The Musketeers: Victoria's Quest
- Myths of Orion: Light from the North
- Nameless ~The One Thing You Must Recall ~
- Nearwood - Collector's Edition
- Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna)
- Ninja Pizza Girl
- Pac-Man Museum - Ms. Pac-Man DLC (Requires Pac-Man Museum)
- The Powerpuff Girls: Defenders of Townsville
- Princess Isabella
- Princess Isabella: Return of the Curse
- Princess Isabella: The Rise of an Heir
- Princess Remedy in a World of Hurt
- Rock Zombie
- Ronin
- Shan Gui
- Shannon Tweed's Attack of the Groupies
- Shantae: Risky's Revenge - Director's Cut
- Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
- Sharpe Investigations: Death on the Seine
- Skyborn
- Suguri
- Time Mysteries: Inheritance - Remastered
- Transistor
- Ultionus: A Tale of Petty Revenge
- UmiharaKawase
- Whispering Willows
- Wings of Vi
- 404Sight
- Aerannis
- Anna's Quest
- AR-K: The Great Escape
- Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China
- BANZAI PECAN: The Last Hope For the Young Century
- Bedlam
- Belladonna
- Beyond Eyes
- Black Closet
- Black Home
- Brilliant Shadows - Part One of the Book of Gray Magic
- Camera Obscura
- Cibele
- Cinderella Escape!
- Cosplay Maker
- Cradle
- Dark Storm VR Missions
- Darkness Assault
- Daughter of Shadows: An SCP Breach Event
- Dracula's Legacy
- Dragon Fin Soup
- Dreaming Sarah
- dUpLicity ~Beyond the Lies~
- Eaten Alive
- Ferrum's Secrets: Where Is Grandpa?
- Fran Bow
- FreezeME
- Giana Sisters 2D
- Glass Wing
- Grave Prosperity: Redux - part 1
- Gravity Ghost
- Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure
- Her Story
- Hot Tin Roof: The Cat That Wore A Fedora
- Hypnosis
- Invisible Apartment
- Jotun
- Kagura Douchuuki
- The Lady
- Last Days of Spring
- The Last NightMary - A Lenda do Cabeça de Cuia
- The Legend of Dark Witch
- Lemma
- Life Is Strange
- Lightning Returns - Final Fantasy XIII
- Lilly and Sasha: Curse of the Immortals
- Lilly and Sasha: Guardian Angels
- Lilly and Sasha: Nexus of Souls
- MechaNika
- Mighty Switch Force! Hose It Down!
- Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition
- Mushihimesama
- Neon Construct
- New Kind of Adventure
- Night Mysteries: The Amphora Prisoner
- The Park
- The Perils of Man
- Pink Heaven
- Pregnancy
- Princess Kaguya: Legend of the Moon Warrior
- Pulse
- Republique Remastered
- Resident Evil Revelations 2 / Biohazard Revelations 2
- The Ritual on Weylyn Island
- Sakura Fantasy Chapter 1
- Save Your Mother
- Sayonara UmiharaKawase
- Seduce Me the Otome
- Shadows on the Vatican Act II: Wrath
- Shelter 2
- Silver Creek Falls: Chapter 1
- Silver Creek Falls: Chapter 2
- Sound of Drop - fall into poison-
- Spooky Cats
- Submerged
- Sunset
- Super Trench Attack 2
- Sword Daughter
- Sylvio
- The Madness of Little Emma
- The Sword of Asumi
- Taimumari
- Toren
- Traverser
- Turnover
- UBERMOSH
- Vagrant Hearts
- Velocity 2X
- Vicky Saves the Big Dumb World
- Void And Meddler
- Wicked Witches
- Without Within
- Woolfe - The Red Hood Diaries
- Written in the Sky
- Zanzarah: The Hidden Portal
- Alicia Griffith: Lakeside Murder
- Anima: Gate of Memories
- Arctic Alive
- The Average Everyday Adventures of Samantha Browne
- Bear With Me
- Bizarre Earthquake
- Blackfaun
- Blamdown: Udder Fury
- Blue Sheep
- Blue Tear
- Bombshell (GOG)
- Book Series - Alice in Wonderland
- Bot Vice
- C14 Dating
- Cally's Caves 3
- Cellar
- Dark Night
- Demon's Crystals
- DreadOut: Keepers of The Dark
- Drizzlepath: Genie
- Drusilla Dreams
- Elena
- Empty Horizons
- Endless Fables: The Minotaur's Curse
- Epistory - Typing Chronicles
- Even the Ocean
- Eventide: Slavic Fable
- Evil Maze
- Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
- Finque
- The Flame in the Flood
- Gemini: Heroes Reborn
- Ghost 1.0
- Hidden Object 6-in-1 bundle
- Highway Blossoms
- Hope Lake
- htoL#NiQ: The Firefly Diary
- The Huntsman: Winter's Curse
- ICEY
- Ittle Dew 2
- Izanami's Dream Battle
- Kathy Rain
- Khimera: Destroy All Monster Girls
- Kindred Spirits on the Roof
- Lara Croft GO
- Ley Lines
- The Lion's Song: Episode 1 - Silence
- The Lost Mythologies
- Love in the Glen
- Magical Mysteries: Path of the Sorceress
- Magnetta
- Massive Cleavage vs Zombies: Awesome Edition
- Metagal
- Momento Temporis: Light from the Deep
- Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight
- Moonchild
- Mythic Wonders: The Philosopher's Stone
- Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet
- New York Mysteries: High Voltage
- Nightfall: Escape
- Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel
- Nurse Love Addiction
- Onechanbara Z2: Chaos
- Oxenfree
- Princess Edge - Dragonstone
- Princess Isabella: The Rise of an Heir
- Rabi-Ribi
- Regeria Hope Episode 1
- Resident Evil 0 HD Remaster
- Revolution 60
- Riddles of the Past
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- Rising Runner
- Rynn's Adventure: Trouble in the Enchanted Forest
- The Sad Story of Emmeline Burns
- Seduce Me 2: The Demon War
- Senran Kagura Bon Appétit!
- Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus
- Seraph
- Shadwen
- Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
- Silver Bullet: Prometheus
- Silver Creek Falls - Chapter 3
- Slap Village: Reality Slap
- Smashing the Battle
- Song of the Deep
- Sora
- Space Pilgrim Episode II: Epsilon Indi
- Space Pilgrim Episode III: Delta Pavonis
- Starlight Vega
- Super Night Riders
- Sydney's World
- Taiker
- Timespinner
- Through the Woods
- The Town of Light
- Trulon: The Shadow Engine
- Unaided: 1939
- Unraveled: Tale of the Shipbreaker's Daughter
- VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
- The Walking Dead: Michonne - A Telltale Miniseries
- We Know the Devil
- A Wild Catgirl Appears!
- You Deserve
- 20XX
- A Hat in Time
- Agatha Knife
- AIRIS
- Aliens Go Home Run
- Alwas Awakening
- Animallica
- Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey
- Atelier Sophie:The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book
- Barbara-ian
- Bayonetta
- Blackwood Crossing
- Bleed 2
- BLUE REFLECTION
- Bloody Boobs
- Blossoms Bloom Brightest
- Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King
- BOOR
- Captain Kaon
- CAYNE
- The Charming Empire
- Children of Zodiarcs
- Cinderella Escape 2 Revenge
- Cinderella Phenomenon - Otome/Visual Novel
- Crossroad Mysteries: The Broken Deal
- Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls
- Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
- Dark Elf
- Darkarta: A Broken Heart's Quest Collector's Edition
- Darkarta: A Broken Heart's Quest Standard Edition
- Dead Horizon
- Demonheart
- Dialogue: A Writers Story
- Die Young
- Dimension Drive
- Dishonored: Death of the Outsider
- The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile
- Dragon Essence: Color My World
- Dragonia
- Dreamfall Chapters
- Drizzlepath Glass
- ECHO
- Edge of Hearts
- Eldritch Hunter
- ELE BLAZE
- Eventide 3: Legacy of Legends
- Evil Genome
- The Falconers: Moonlight
- Fallen Times
- Fate/EXTELLA
- Fumiko
- Galaxy Girls
- GIGA WRECKER
- Graze Counter
- GUNGUNGUN
- The Heiress
- Hell Girls
- Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
- HIVESWAP: Act 1
- The Initial
- Killing Time
- Kimmy
- Kio's Adventure
- The Last Birdling
- Leaving Lyndow
- Legend of the Skyfish
- Les Fleursword
- Life is Strange: Before the Storm
- Love Ribbon
- The Low Road
- Lydia
- Mages of Mystralia
- Material Girl
- Memoranda
- Milkmaid of the Milky Way
- Mini Ghost
- Moero Chronicle
- Molemen Must Die!
- Monster Monpiece
- Nephise
- Nephise Begins
- NieR:Automata
- Night in the Woods
- Nights of Azure
- The Painscreek Killings
- Perception
- Les Quatre Alices / The Four Alices
- </reality>
- RED
- Red Haze
- Reflection of Mine
- Rise of Balloons
- A Rose in the Twilight
- Rosenkreuzstilette
- Sakura Gamer
- Save Our Souls: Episode I - The Absurd Hopes Of Blessed Children
- Scar of the Doll
- SENRAN KAGURA ESTIVAL VERSUS
- The Shadows of Pygmalion
- SHE SAVE
- Shikhondo - Soul Eater
- ShineG In The Bullethell
- ShineG In The Zombies
- Shuyan Saga
- Skylar & Plux: Adventure On Clover Island
- Solaria Moon
- Sorgina: A Tale of Witches
- SoulSet
- Space Pilgrim Academy
- Star Waker
- SteamWorld Dig 2
- Strangers of the Power
- Strikey Sisters
- Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls
- Super Cloudbuilt
- Sweet Fantasy
- Syberia 3
- A Tale of Caos: Overture - Act III
- Tacoma
- Tales of Berseria
- Tangledeep
- Time Recoil
- Tokyo Dark
- Tormentor X Punisher
- Twins of the Pasture
- The Vagrant
- VALKYRIE DRIVE -BHIKKHUNI-
- Vitamin Girl
- What Remains of Edith Finch
- The Wild Eternal
- Winged Sakura: Endless Dream
- Witch of Ice Kingdom
- Wonderful Everyday Down the Rabbit-Hole
- Xenon Valkyrie
- XOXO Droplets
Steam Bundles
Games in which you control a party of characters with at least 1 female player character. JRPG's would fit almost by definition.
Steam
- Asguaard
- Athopiu - The Final Rebirth of Hopeless Incarnate
- Breath of Death VII
- Coffin of Ashes
- Costume Quest (GOG)
- Cthulhu Saves the World
- Croixleur Sigma
- Cosmic Star Heroine
- D.N.Age
- Edolie
- Final Fantasy III (1 out of 4, Refia)
- Final Fantasy VI
- Final Fantasy VII
- Final Fantasy VIII
- Ghostbusters
- Grotesque Tactics: Evil Heroes
- Grotesque Tactics 2: Dungeons and Donuts
- Hellenica
- Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart
- The Land of Lamia
- Left 4 Dead
- Left 4 Dead 2
- The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky
- The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky Second Chapter
- Megadimension Neptunia VII
- Moonchild
- ObsCure
- ObsCure II (The Aftermath)
- -Occult Raise-
- -Occult RERaise-
- Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millenium
- Phantom Brave PC
- Resident Evil: Revelations
- Resident Evil: Revelations RAID Outfit - Lady HUNK DLC
- Resident Evil Revelations RAID Outfit - Rachael Ooze DLC
- Septerra Core
- Storm of Spears RPG
- Sudeki
- Disney's Tangled / Rapunzel
- Thimbleweed Park
- Thomas Was Alone
- To The Moon
- Trine
- Trine 2
- Wyv and Keep: The Temple of the Lost Idol
Optional Female Protagonists
Female playable characters are available either as an option or through customization.
Steam
- Abyss Odyssey
- Alien Storm
- Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare
- AMPLITUDE: A Visual Novel
- Appointment With F.E.A.R.
- Audition Online
- Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition
- Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition
- Beyond Divinity
- BIT.TRIP Presents ... Runner2: Future Legend of Rythm Alien
- Blood Knights
- Borderlands (Lilith/Siren)
- Borderlands 2 (Maya/Siren)
- Borderlands 2: Mechromancer Pack DLC
- Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
- Card City Nights
- Code of Princess
- Curse of the Crescent Isle DX
- Dark Souls
- DC Universe Online
- Deadbreed
- Dead Island
- Dead Island: Riptide
- Dead Island Epidemic
- Deathtrap Dungeon (GOG)
- Deus Ex: Invisible War
- Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition
- Dino D-Day
- Disney Infinity 1.0: Gold Edition
- Disney Infinity 2.0: Gold Edition
- Disney Infinity 3.0: Gold Edition
- Divine Divinity
- Divinity II: Developer's Cut
- Dragon Age: Origins
- Dragon Ball Xenoverse
- Drakensang
- Dungeons of Dredmor
- The Elder Scrolls: Arena (Free Download)
- The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall (Free Download)
- The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- The Elder Scrolls Online
- Enclave (Unlocked after 2nd mission)
- Euro Truck Simulator 2
- Fable III
- Faery - Legends of Avalon
- Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game
- Fallout 2
- Fallout 3
- Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition
- Fallout Tactics
- Final Fantasy XI: Ultimate Collection Seekers Edition
- Final Slam 2
- Frozen Free Fall: Snowball Fight
- Gain Ground
- Game Dev Tycoon
- Golden Axe (Tyris Flare)
- Golden Axe II (Tyris Flare)
- Golden Axe III (Sahra Burn)
- Gotham City Impostors
- Granado Espada
- Greed: Black Border
- Guild Wars
- Guild Wars Factions
- Guild Wars Nightfall
- Guild Wars: Eye of the North
- Just Cause 2: Multiplayer Mod
- Karos
- KickBeat Steam Edition
- Kill to Collect
- Kung Fury: Street Rage
- La Tale
- Legend of Grimrock
- Mabinogi
- Mass Effect
- Mass Effect 2
- Mercenary Kings
- Metal Slug 3
- Minecraft: Story Mode - A Telltale Games Series
- Mount & Blade
- Orcs Must Die! 2
- Outbreak: The New Nightmare
- Pandemonium
- Path of Exile
- PlanetSide 2
- Planet Stronghold
- Platformines
- Resident Evil / biohazard HD REMASTER
- RIFT
- Rise of the Triad
- Risk of Rain (Huntress unlockable)
- Resident Evil 5 (Sheva Alomar)
- RWBY: Grimm Eclipse
- Sacred 2 Fallen Angel: Gold Edition
- Sacred 3
- Saints Row 2
- Saints Row: The Third
- Saints Row IV
- Silverfall
- Sir, You Are Beind Hunted (Madam) (GOG)
- Sonic Adventure DX (Amy Rose)
- SpellForce 2: Gold Edition
- Spelunky (GOG)
- Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II
- Streets of Rage (Blaze)
- Streets of Rage 2 (Blaze)
- Streets of Rage 3 (Blaze)
- Terraria
- Titan Quest
- Titan Quest: Immortal Throne
- Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2
- Torchlight
- Torchlight II
- Total War: ROME II - Daughters of Mars DLC (requires Total War: ROME II)
- Valdis Story: Abyssal City
- Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
- Wildlife Camp
- The Witcher Adventure Game
- Yet Another Zombie Defense
- Ys Origin
- Zombie Army Trilogy
GOG
Other
Roster of Characters
Usually multiplayer games with the focus on a sizable cast of selectable characters. Generally fighting, racing or party games.
Steam
- BlazBlue: Calamity TriggerAll-Star Fruit Racing
- Dead or Alive 5: Last Round
- Deadbreed
- Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes
- Disney Infinity 3.0: Play Without Limits
- Dragon Ball Xenoverse
- Dustforce
- Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends Complete Edition
- Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-
- Hauntsters
- The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match
- Injustice: Gods Among Us - Ultimate Edition
- The King of Fighters XIII Steam Edition
- LEGO Batman
- LEGO The Hobbit
- LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
- LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues
- LEGO The Lord of the Rings
- LEGO Marvel's Avengers
- LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
- LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean
- LEGO Star Wars - The Complete Saga
- LEGO Star Wars III - The Clone Wars
- LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- Lost Saga NA
- Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection
- Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition
- Mortal Kombat X
- Naruto SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 3: Full Burst
- Naruto SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM Revolution
- Skullgirls
- Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing
- Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
- Street Fighter Alpha 2 (GOG)
- Street Fighter IV
- Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition
- Street Fighter V
- Street Fighter X Tekken
- Tales from the Borderlands
- Vanguard Princess
- Virtua Fighter 2
- Yatagarasu: Attack on Cataclysm
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
- Batman: Arkham City (Catwoman playable)
- Brütal Legend (Drowned Ophelia in Multiplayer)
- Call of Duty: Ghosts
- Cave Story+ (Curly Brace unlockable)
- Crusader Kings I
- Crusader Kings 2
- Disney's Bolt (Penny)
- Guacamelee!
- I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream
- King's Quest Collection (King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella & King's Quest VII: The Princeless Bride feature female protagonists)
- Knee Deep
- Max Payne 2
- Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (Female staff playable)
- Metro: Last Light - Chronicles Pack DLC (Requires Metro: Last Light)
- Resident Evil 4 (Ada Wong campaigns unlockable and playable in Mercenaries)
- Resident Evil 6 (Helena, Ada & Sherry appear in the campaign and are playable in Mercenaries)
- Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
- Rogue Legacy (Randomly generated character on death)
- Shadowgrounds: Survivor (1 female character out of 3)
- Shadowrun returns
- Star Wars Starfighter (1 female character out of 3)
- State of Decay
- The Typing of the Dead: Overkill (2 episodes featuring Varla and Candy)
15/10/2017
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.
ReplyDeleteAlso 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.
DeleteIt's also a series I met my girlfriend over the fandom of, so it's kind of special to the both of us.
*the second has you controlling a male with a female main character.
DeleteAdded Ittle Dew. I should probably check that one out myself.
DeleteOh god, Ittle Dew is so much fun!
DeleteGlad you like it. XD I wanna do fanart.
Deletedidn't see fire emblem but still a good list
DeleteFire Emblem isn't on Steam or GoG.
DeleteWhat 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"
ReplyDeleteBasically 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).
DeleteI 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.
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.
DeleteAs 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.
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.
DeleteIn 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.
Deletealso 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.
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
ReplyDeleteYup, and they are now added. :)
DeleteFrom my personal steam library the following games feature female protagonists:
ReplyDeleteFemale 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)
That's quite a lengthy list. Thanks!
DeleteFrom my steam library:
ReplyDeleteOnly 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)
Added, thanks!
Delete(I'll probably use the Non-Steam ones later)
More games where the main character is female:
ReplyDeleteWild 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.
Also the entire Parasite Eve series with Aya Brea as the playable character.
ReplyDeleteTouhou Project
ReplyDeleteDo games like Diablo 3 where you can select your own gender not count for some reason?
ReplyDeleteI kinda have it limited to Steam or GoG games right now, but I guess I could add Battle.net as well.
DeleteI'll contribute a few of the things I currently have installed on Steam.
ReplyDeleteYs 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.
You forgot two more games:
ReplyDeleteRogue 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
Alicia Dragoon
ReplyDeleteResident 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.
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.
ReplyDeleteSome more suggestions:
ReplyDeleteENSEMBLE 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
Thanks for this comprehensive list of female protagonists. I see you are someone with broad tastes!
ReplyDeletealways remember me
ReplyDelete3 games with samanta swift
and almost every game from ArtifexMundi
hildi in fullbore
ReplyDeleteParasite Eve: Aya Brea
ReplyDeleteGreat female protagonist, 1998
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.
ReplyDeleteAlso, 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.
Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm and Kerrigan
ReplyDeleteUniverse 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.
Damn it... Cate Archer, not Kate Archer. My mistake.
DeleteI'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 ;_;
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame. :(
DeletePathologic 1/3 protagonists is female.
ReplyDeleteCargo! The Quest for Gravity female lead.
Silent Storm + Silent Storm: sentinels generated protagonist and big roster of females.
It is a playstation one game, but it is one of my absolute favorites.
ReplyDeleteThe Misadventures of Tron Bonne
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Misadventures_of_Tron_Bonne
Hello how are you ! I wonder how to recruit Amber Fox from Metal Gear Solid V, thank you
ReplyDeleteShe was either a pre-order bonus or an import reward from Ground Zeroes. I'm not entirely sure.
Delete4 out of 8 of the main characters in Until Dawn are female.
ReplyDeleteThe 2000 section needs to have American McGee's Alice, the prequel to Alice: Madness Returns.
ReplyDeleteIt's not available on Steam or GOG.
DeleteI may have missed it, because there are a lot of games, but there is also the entire Touhou Series.
ReplyDeleteWhoa... that's a lot of female characters.
ReplyDeleteI'm not exactly sure if this game counts, but the creator of The Cat Lady has made a remake of his previous game Downfall.
ReplyDeleteIn 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/
You can actually add one more game with a female protagonist called:Wet
ReplyDeleteThat game was released for both Ps3 and Xbox360 consoles at 2009.
Where's the Touhou Project?
ReplyDeleteThere's a new game called Kathy Rain, with a very interesting female protagonist, that you can add.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the Pokemon games?
ReplyDeleteEach game gives you the ability to pick whether you want to play as a boy or a girl.
Kingdom Hearts series has quite a few:
ReplyDelete- 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).
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.
DeleteYou missed The Walking Dead: Season 2 by Telltale Games witch came out in 2013.
ReplyDeleteYou forgot The Walking Dead: Season 2 - A. Telltale Games Series (Release Date: December 19th 2013)
ReplyDeleteThe Walking Dead: A New Frontier - A Telltale Game Series (Release Date: Some time in November 2016)
What about Metroid?
ReplyDeleteI have a few
ReplyDeleteDanganronpa 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)
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.
ReplyDeleteYou missed too Dino Crisis 2, when you play as Regina for a limited time.
ReplyDeleteYou 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.
ReplyDeleteYou 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.
ReplyDeleteHow did you not include Gravity Rush or Heavenly Sword?
ReplyDeleteDishonored 2 (Emily Kaldwin).
ReplyDeleteDusk 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.
The Lost Mythologies.
ReplyDeleteWhat Never Was.
Alternate Dimansion.
ReplyDeleteBullet Witch.
Ib.
Marie's Room.
Clive Barker's Jericho (three women).
ReplyDeleteJapanese-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.
ReplyDeleteThis is a brilliant list, thank you so much! Any plans on updating it? Thanks again :)
ReplyDeleteI came to visit two years after my last comment and was immediately saddened at seeing that my last comment... was the last comment :(
ReplyDeleteSorry about that, I don't check here often anymore.
DeleteThere's so many games releasing on Steam now that it would be very difficult to keep this list updated too. :(