Top 10 Badass Female Protagonists in Video Games

A journey through powerful characters and Innovative gameplay.

Opinion by Maisie on May 11, 2025

Strong female protagonists have made it possible for more diverse and interesting stories to be told in video games. The gaming community will never be the same without these characters. They have changed the games they live in and will always affect us. These lead women are all different, with their own stories to tell. They range from stealthy agents to warriors who have lost their memories.

Let's look at a few great games with unforgettable female leads that have a great mix of story, gameplay, and new ideas.

Perfect Dark

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The first one is Perfect Dark, which was made by Rare and first came out in 2000 on the N64. The player takes on the role of Joanna Dark, a secret agent for the Carrington Institute, in this first-person shooter that combines spying, sci-fi, and shooting. The story of the game is about finding out about a plot involving rival corporations and strange aliens.

The thing that made Perfect Dark stand out at the time was how well it combined stealth and intense gunfights. It would be hard for players to find the right balance between full-on action sequences and sneaking around to avoid being caught. You could use lifts, open doors, and hack into computers, which made the environments very interactive and the world feel real. The multiplayer mode was one of the best parts, though. It was a lot of fun to fight friends and AI bots in different arenas while playing games like Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, and King of the Hill.

There is still hope for the franchise, even though Perfect Dark Zero wasn't a great prequel in terms of pace or story. Fans can't wait for Perfect Dark to go back to its roots and mix exciting spy stories with more modern gameplay in a reboot that is currently being made.

Returnal

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The third-person roguelike shooter Returnal was made by Housemarque and released by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The game came out on April 30, 2021, only for PlayStation 5. On February 15, 2023, it was ported to PC. It's about an astronaut named Selene Vassos who crashes-lands on the alien planet Atropos while looking into the strange "White Shadow" signal. Selene is stuck in a time loop and has to find her way through environments that are always changing, fight dangerous creatures, and find out the planet's secrets in order to get out.

Some of the themes in the story are guilt, trauma, and how Selene's experiences have affected her mental health. Players piece together Selene's past by listening to audio logs and learning about her environment. They learn about her son Helios's tragic car accident and how she and her mother, Theia, had a difficult relationship. The ending of the game makes you think deeply about Selene's journey and the emotional scars she bears.

Returnal is a mix of bullet hell shooters, Metroidvania exploration games, and scary games about the mind. Selene's progress is lost when she dies, but she keeps some upgrades, so players have to change their plans and adapt with each cycle. The game has six different biomes, and each one has its own enemies, dangers, and story. Combat moves quickly and requires accurate aim and quick reflexes. There are many weapons and power-ups to help you stay alive.

Alice: Madness Returns

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Alice: Madness Returns takes place in a twisted version of Wonderland. The story is about Alice, a young woman who is still dealing with the trauma of losing her family in a fire. The game, which was made by Spicy Horse and released by EA in 2011, is a psychological action-adventure with fighting and platforming. The story is about trauma and healing, and it takes place in a Wonderland that is falling apart, which represents Alice's broken mind.

You can explore and fight simultaneously, and Alice can use famous weapons like the Pepper Grinder and the Vorpal Blade. The art direction mixes Victorian style with creepy, surreal settings, which adds to the game's unsettling mood. By the end, the gameplay can get boring, but the graphics and emotional themes keep people interested the whole time.

People really like this game and the one that came before it, American McGee's Alice. Fans still want a remaster or even a third game in the series. Without a doubt, Alice: Madness Returns is a one-of-a-kind experience that combines dark fantasy with psychological depth.

NieR: Automata

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The action RPG NieR: Automata, made by PlatinumGames and directed by Yoko Taro, has received high praise from critics. It came out in 2017 and is a follow-up to NieR (2010), which was a spin-off of the Drakengard series. The game takes place in a future after the end of the world and looks at existentialist ideas, consciousness, and the meaning of life from the point of view of androids who play the main characters.

The story takes place during a proxy war between Machines made by aliens and androids made by humans. As players fight to take back Earth for humans, they mostly control 2B, an android that fights, and 9S, an android that scans. As the story goes on, players find out that people haven't lived for hundreds of years and that the androids' war is based on a made-up story. The way the game is set up means that you have to play it more than once. Each time you do, you'll discover new story elements and points of view, leading up to the profound Ending E.

Hack-and-slash combat and role-playing game elements are both present in NieR: Automata. People can fight quickly by combining light and heavy attacks and using a wide range of weapons while quickly and stylishly avoiding enemies. The game also has a support system called "Pod" that helps both in and out of battle. The game also has parts from other types of video games, like shoot 'em ups and text adventures, which shows that it is interested in cycles and changes.

Stellar Blade

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Stellar Blade is an action-packed role-playing game with a story. It was made by Shift Up and released by Pearl Abyss. The game is set in a world after the end of the world, where the last few humans are trying to stay alive among monsters. You play as a character named "AE," a skilled warrior with a mysterious past. Your job is to find out what caused the destruction and fight to restore humanity's future.

You can fight quickly and easily, explore, and solve puzzles in this game, which has both hack-and-slash gameplay and a deep story. The world of Stellar Blade is beautifully made, with a mix of futuristic and natural settings that make it stand out. The character designs and cutscenes look like they belong in an anime, with a focus on fast-paced action and dramatic moments.

The story is about survival, kindness, and hope, and the gameplay is all about beating tough enemies and finding out what they are hiding. People have said nice things about its graphics, combat, and emotional stories.

Bayonetta 3

Bayonetta 3 is an action-adventure hack-and-slash game for the Nintendo Switch that was made by PlatinumGames and released by Nintendo. It came out on October 28, 2022, and is the third game in the Bayonetta series. It follows the story of Bayonetta, the titular Umbra Witch.

The game introduces Singularity, a multiverse-threatening bad guy who wants to rule all realities and can travel between them. Bayonetta works with a new character, Viola, a witch-in-training from a different universe, to fight the Homunculi, bioweapons made by humans that were set free by the Singularity. As they try to get Chaos Gears and face Singularity in the Alphaverse, their journey takes them through many different alternate universes, including an under-attack New York City.

AI Limit

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AI Limit is a sci-fi action RPG set after the end of the world. It was made by Sense Games and released by CE-Asia on March 27, 2025, for PlayStation 5 and PC. The game takes place in a world that is falling apart, and people are struggling to stay alive as a strange substance called "Mud" spreads.

In the very far future, people are on the verge of going extinct. Havenswell, the last city, is a bright spot of hope. As Arrisa, an immortal Blader, players must explore the ruins to find out about the legend of Elysium and how the Mud got spread.

AI Limit adds a new way to fight that is based on the "Sync Rate." Unlike normal stamina bars, this one encourages players to be aggressive. By doing combos, dodging attacks, and beating enemies, you fill up your Sync Rate, which makes your attacks stronger and lets you use powerful spells. But if you don't keep synchronization, your abilities may get weaker.

The cel-shaded art style of the game makes it look like an anime, and there are a lot of different weapons to choose from. Since there isn't a traditional stamina bar, the action never stops, which encourages players to keep fighting.

Bright Memory

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Even though Bright Memory is an independent game, it's full of intense battles, beautiful graphics, and a smooth mix of first-person shooting and hack-and-slash action. Bright Memory was made by FYQD Studio and came out in 2020. It's about an agent named Shalia who looks into supernatural events. You can quickly switch between guns, melee attacks, and special abilities in this game, which makes the combat very exciting.

With its ray tracing, 120 FPS modes, and high production values, Bright Memory looks and feels like a AAA game, even though it was made by an independent studio. In spite of being short (just a few hours), the game doesn't drag on for too long. It delivers on every level, making it a great choice for fans who love action-packed games with beautiful graphics.

Asterigos: Curse of the Stars

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Someone who wants a fan service game with RPG elements and a bit of Souls-like difficulty should consider Asterigos: Curse of the Stars. Acme Game Studio's Asterigos came out in 2022. It's about a warrior named Hilda who goes to a cursed city to find her missing father. The game's fluid combat system, which includes six weapons and elemental skills, lets players try out different ways to play.

The game is hard, but it's also easier to get stuck in than most Souls-like games. The combat and exploration systems are fun, and even though some bosses aren't very impressive, the game is fun all around. Asterigos should have gotten more attention than it did. It's a fan favorite among action RPG fans thanks to its mix of RPG elements, different types of combat, and deep exploration.

The Tomb Raider

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Without a doubt, Lara Croft is one of the most famous video game characters ever. When Eidos Interactive first released Lara in 1996, she became a symbol of strength, intelligence, and a desire to try new things. Lara Croft, the main character in the Tomb Raider series, goes into dangerous areas, figures out hard puzzles, fights enemies, and finds ancient artifacts and secrets. The show has changed a lot over the years. The 2013 reboot gave the character a more realistic and emotional look, showing how she grows from a beginner explorer to the brave adventurer we love today.

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