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Let’s face it, in the world of film and TV, many of the most prominent characters have been men. Nowadays, though, that appears to be changing, particularly when assessing the leading gaming titles from over the years. In fact, a number of great female characters have stolen the show.  

Now, with women being represented in a better way in the gaming sphere, male protagonists aren’t as common as they were previously. The over-sexualized female characters of old are being replaced by powerful women who embark on memorable adventures and destroy any nasties in their path. In recent times, in particular, we’ve been treated to some female video game characters that highlight just how far we’ve come in the modern world. Below is a look at some of the best of them.

Amanda Ripley 

A prominent character from Alien: Isolation, Amanda Ripley is the daughter of Ellen Ripley from the movies. Like her mother in the film world, Amanda certainly makes her mark in the gaming sphere. In this smash-hit survival horror title, Amanda Ripley’s character grows stronger as she aims to uncover the truth behind her mother while battling a series of nasties that come her way, including by fighting her way out of a Xenomorph nest with a flamethrower. As the game progresses, one thing’s for sure; you don’t mess with Amanda Ripley.

Sonya Blade

The Mortal Kombat series of games have helped establish some memorable female characters over the years, but not many of them come close to Sonya Blade. An ever-present fighter in the games, she has continually reigned supreme to become one of the most deadly opponents you can face in the games. Not even Gods can defeat her, as arguably the baddest female fighter in the gaming world continues to see off her rivals with ease.

Agent Jane Blonde

In the online casino gaming world, there aren’t many female characters who have managed to come out on top as much as Agent Jane Blonde has. In the Agent Jane Blonde casino game, which puts a different spin on the James Bond franchise with a powerful lady leading the way, plenty of fun can be had as gamers get stuck into this secret agent-themed title with the spy of the hour being a female that nobody messes with. Dressed in spy attire and taking place on nine paylines and five reels, Agent Jane Blonde is a great character.

Lara Croft

We couldn’t leave Lara Croft off the list, could we? The ultimate female video game character of all-time, she first burst onto the scene in 1996 and hasn’t looked back since. With her storylines becoming more powerful and her character evolving further as the games continued to entertain mass audiences, she’s the master of killing to survive and smashing through a series of tough challenges that tend to stand in her way. With film adaptations and books spreading her name further, Lara Croft is arguably the queen of gaming.

Ellie

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An unforgettable face from The Last of Us Part 2, Ellie is one of the most savage female characters we’ve seen in the gaming category. After maturing a great deal, her survival instincts kicked into gear as she destroys any dangers in her way. This soon turns into rage, though, as Ellie goes down a path of destruction that takes her on a dark journey in a story that is one of the most engaging in the series.

Special mention must also go to Chun-Li (Street Fighter), Elizabeth (Bioshock: Infinite), Aloy (Horizon Zero Dawn & Forbidden West), Samus Aran (Metroid Series), and Rubi Malone (Wet).