List of Games with the Main Protagonist Being Female

[Nz17]

Since I haven't seen anything like this anywhere else, let's create a list of video games which have the main character (the hero, the protagonist) as a female. There's not too many games that star a woman or girl as the primary character, so it will be interesting to see how many titles we can think of for this.

Don't Count
-Games where you just select a gender
-Games where you create the main character (à la pen-and-paper RPGs)
-Games where a female character is important to the story but is not the main character
-Games where female(s) are just one of many selectable, playable characters
-Games where the character is mainly there to be ogled
-Games where a female character is just an unlockable
-Movie/television/celebrity/other tie-in games, character-based cash-in games (Hello Kitty, etc.): this one is to keep the list from getting too long with "obvious" names and those games which don't star heroines which are truly video games champions in nature

Do Count
-Games where a woman is clearly the main character
-Games where she is more important than the other characters
-Games where the story is about her or centered about her
-Games where she is undoubtably the hero, the champion, and is irreplaceable

This list is not a list of playable female characters, but of female lead characters who are either the only playable character in their games, or the predominant character who is clearly the lead.

Please follow this format with your suggestions:
Console system
Game name (Note) [Character name]

===The List (last updated 2011-02-23):===
Arcade
Ms. Pac-Man [Ms. Pac-Man]

NES
Arkista's Ring [Christine]
Guardian Legend, The [The Guardian]
Legend of the Ghost Lion [Maria]
Metroid [Samus Aran]

Amiga
Great Giana Sisters, The [Giana]

Sega Master System
Phantasy Star [Alis Landale]

Sega Genesis/Mega Drive
Alisia Dragoon [Alisia]
Anetto Futatabi [Annet Myer]
Dahna: Megami Tanjō (Japan-only) [Dahna]
El Viento [Annet Myer]

Sega Game Gear
Lunar: Walking School (Japan-only) [Ellie]

SEGA CD
Popful Mail [Mail]
Time Gal [Reika Kirishima]

Super NES
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble [Dixie Kong]
Kendo Rage [Josephine]
Final Fantasy VI (FFIII) [Terra]

Philips CD-i
Zelda's Adventure [Princess Zelda]

GameBoy Color
Shantae [Shantae]

Sega Saturn
Enemy Zero [Laura Lewis]
Magic Knight Rayearth [Hikaru]
Magic School Lunar! (Japan-only) [Ellie]

PlayStation
Clock Tower [Jennifer Simpson]
Clock Tower II: The Struggle Within [Alyssa Hale]
D [Laura Harris]
Dino Crisis [Regina]
Dino Crisis 2 [Regina]
Fear Effect [Hana]
Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix [Hana]
Misadventures of Tron Bonne, The [Tron Bonne]
Parasite Eve [Aya Brea]
Parasite Eve II [Aya Brea]
Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure [Cornet]
Tomb Raider [Laura Croft]

Nintendo 64
Perfect Dark [Joanna Dark]

Dreamcast
D2 [Laura Parton]
Space Channel 5 [Ulala]
Space Channel 5 Part 2 [Ulala]

Game Boy Advance
Lady Sia [Sia]
Scurge: Hive [Jenosa Arma]
Yggdra Union: We'll Never Fight Alone [Yggdra Yuril Artwaltz]

PlayStation 2
Clock Tower 3 [Alyssa Hamilton]
Final Fantasy X-2 [Yuna]
Haunting Ground [Fiona Belli]
Nightshade (Kunoichi) [Hibana]
Oni [Konoko]
Phantom Brave (also on Wii, subtitled "We Meet Again") [Marona]
Rule of Rose [Jennifer]
Silent Hill 3 [Heather Mason]

GameCube
Beyond Good and Evil [Jade]
P.N.03 [Vanessa Z. Schneider]

Nintendo DS
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia [Shanoa]
Giana Sisters DS [Giana]
Super Princess Peach [Princess Peach Toadstool]

XBOX 360
Mirror's Edge [Faith Connors]
Perfect Dark Zero [Joanna Dark]

Wii
Metroid: Other M [Samus Aran]

Nintendo DSi
Shantae: Risky's Revenge [Shantae]

PlayStation 3
Final Fantasy XIII [Lightning]

PC
Portal [Chell]

[Enigmus]

Both Portal games.

[calistarwind]

Beyond Good and Evil

[todesengel]

MSX/Famicom/TG16/PCE/Genesis/SNES
The Valis series (The MSX & Famicom releases are Japan only, as well as Valis 4 on the PCE)

Playstation
Parasite Eve 1&2

SFC/PS1/PC/Wonderswan/PS2
Clock Tower series(don't remember if the main character of the second PS1 game was female)

NES
Guardian Legend

PS2
Silent Hill 3

DS
Castlevania Order Of Ecclesia
Super Princess Peach

PC
Tomb Raider series

[wingzrow]

Terra from final fantasy III on the super nintendo should count.

[buzz_n64]

Ms. Pac-Man (Multi-platform)
The Little Mermaid (Multi-platform)
The Little Mermaid II (Multi-platform)
Zelda's Adventure (CD-i)
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble (SNES/GBA)
Pocahontas (Gen/GB/PS)
Anastasia (PS EUR)
The Fifth Element (PS)
V.I.P. (PS)
Xena Warrior Princess (n64/PS/gbc)
Perfect Drak
Perfect Dark Zero
Super Princess Peach (DS)
Space Channel 5 (DC/PS2)
Oni (PS2)
Outlaw Volleyball Red Hot (Xbox)
BMX XXX (Multi-Platform)
Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball (Xbox)
Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball 2 (360)
Mirror's Edge (360)
Silent Hill 3
Bayonetta
We Cheer (Wii)
Gals Fighters
Gals Panic series
Power Puff Girls series
Bratz series

Mary Kate & Ashley: Get A Clue (GBC)
Mary Kate & Ashley: Crush Course (GBC)
Mary Kate & Ashley: Pocket Planner )GBC)
Mary Kate & Ashley: Winner's Circle (GBC)
Mary Kate & Ashley: Sweet Sixteen: Licensed to Drive (PS2/GC)
Barbie games, other celebrity games, Wii fitness aerobic games..........

[Yago]

Arcade:

Ms Pacman

:)

Oh, how about Resident Evil 3 Nemesis

[Haoie]

Isn't going to be a pretty short list isn't it?

I swear, the list of games when the main guy's a robot is probably longer.

[SEGA_Queen]

The only one I can think of right now is The Misadventures of Tron Bonne.

[Ryaan1234]

One of my favorite PS1 titles, Threads of Fate. I'm not sure if it counts as you can play through the game with either a lead male or female, but they both have different stories and play styles.

...I'll have to think of some more.

[Edmond Dantes]

Annette Futatabi
Arkista's Ring
Dino Crisis
El Viento
Legend of the Ghost Lion

Do games where you get to choose the gender (like Dragon Warrior III) count? Or where there's multiple playable heroes and they're mixed genders (like Legacy of the Wizard, or else most fighting games)?

[Bighab]

A few off the top of my head:
El Viento Genesis
Alisia Dragoon Genesis
Dahna Jpn MegaDrive

[mobiusclimber]

NES:
Legend of Ghost Lion
Faria (sort of)
Super Mario 2 (sort of, you can choose)

SNES:
Kendo Rage

Genesis:
Alisia Dragoon

Sega CD:
Time Gal

D (PSX, Saturn), D2 (Dreamcast), Enemy Zero (Saturn)

[Ryaan1234]

Do games where you get to choose the gender (like Dragon Warrior III) count? Or where there's multiple playable heroes and they're mixed genders (like Legacy of the Wizard, or else most fighting games)?
That's my issue. Pokemon for instance you can choose female or male but the gameplay and story is affected very little, if at all. Threads of Fate has major differences between the male/female roles and technically each one has their own unique "game".

[mobiusclimber]

I'm obviously too slow for this, LOL

[Ryaan1234]

I can't believe I didn't immediately think of this one: The Great Giana Sisters (various late 80s home computers).

[mobiusclimber]

Magic Knight Rayearth (Sat), Popful Mail (Sega CD), Fear Effect 1 & 2 (PSX), Haunting Ground (PS2), Rule of Rose (PS2), Lady Sia (GBA), Suikoden 3 (sort of, PS2), Strawberry Short Cake (multiple platforms).

[Aussie2B]

Do you want to include Japanese-only releases or no? I think the list would be significantly longer if you did since male American gamers seem more bothered by playing as a female lead. Plus Japan is a little more accepting of female gamers as well.

Anyway, here's some via skimming through my collection:

Valkyrie Profile 1 and 2
Angelique series
The whole Puppet Princess series (AKA what Rhapsody is from)
Yuna series
Athena series
Legend of Valkyrie series
Heavenly Guardian
Castlevania Legends
Wonder Momo
Arubarea's Maiden
Princess Minerva
64 Trump Collection (or probably any game based on Alice in Wonderland)
Mischief Makers
Anything with The Powerpuff Girls
Gunnm
Persona 2
Um Jammer Lammy
Many of the Puyo Puyo games and its spin-offs
La Pucelle
Shadow Hearts: Covenant (I think?)
Gurumin
Jeanne d'Arc
Monster World IV

[grolt]

The "Cotton" series (multiple platforms)
Girl's Garden (SG-1000)
Princess Ninja (Arcade)
Psychic World (Master System)
LadyStalker (Mega Drive)

[Loremaster]

Can't believe nobody mentioned the Touhou games for PC-98 and Windows.

[Edmond Dantes]

Can't believe nobody mentioned the Touhou games for PC-98 and Windows.

If this were TV Tropes, someone would have.

[RP2A03]

Eternal Darkness (GCN).

[Zama]

Hyperdimension Neptunia comes to mind :)

[kupomogli]

The Third Birthday Aya
Xenosaga Shion.
Final Fantasy 10-2 Yuna, Paine, and Rikku.
Rhapsody Cornet.
Trapt Allura
Kagero Deception 2 Millenia
Wild ARMs 3 Virginia
Wild ARMs XF Clarissa
Yggdra Union Yggdra
Dragon Warrior Monster 2 Tara's Adventure

Games that can have multiple choices between main characters and the storyline is different in either the entire game or segments.

Fire Emblem Sacred Stones. Eirika is one of two main characters.
SaGa Frontier, Romancing SaGa 1, 2, and 3, Unlimited Saga. Various Characters.
Suikoden 3. Chris is one of three main characters.


Valkyrie Profile 1 and 2
Persona 2
Gurumin
Jeanne d'Arc


I had these but deleted them off just now.

[mobiusclimber]

Shadow Hearts: Covenant (I think?)

None of the Shadow Hearts games features a female as the main character, but the prequel game, Koudelka, does.

[The 1 2 P]

Bloodrayne--Rayne(Xbox)
Bloodrayne 2--Rayne(Xbox)
Bullet Witch--Alecia(360)
Rumble Roses(PS2)
Rumble Roses XXX(360)
Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad(360)
Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers(Wii)
Onechanbara: All their other games
X-Blades--Ayumi(360)
Resident Evil: Code Veronica X(DC)
Nightshade(PS2)
Metroid Prime Trilogy--Samus(Wii)
Buffy The Vampire Slayer--Buffy(Xbox)
Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds--Buffy(Xbox)
Fatal Frame 1-3(PS2)
Rogue Ops(PS2)
Venetica(360)

If we really took the time this would be a pretty long list, most certainly longer than most people would initially think it would be.

[ubersaurus]

The Valis series, Space Channel 5 series, Toejam & Earl 3, and hey, weren't the main characters of FF13 and FFX-2 female? There's also Pocky from Pocky & Rocky.

I'm also pretty sure the pilot in Galactic Attack on Saturn is female. There's also the two terrible CD-i Zelda games.

Also, all the playable characters in Deathsmiles are girls.

[Edmond Dantes]

There's also Pocky from Pocky & Rocky.

In fact, she's pretty much the default main character of the entire Kiki Kaikai franchise (Rocky was actually the villain of the Japan-only first game)

[Superman]

Dreamfall: The Longest Journey

and that's all I have because all the others were taken (at least the ones I know of)!

[tom]

Billie Sue (yeah, that has got you guys thinking, hasn't it)

[tom]

anyhow, as already mentioned, how about games where you can chose (not create) male or female?

Simon Says (Odyssey 1972)
Ghost Manor (VCS 1982)
Akalabeth (apple 79)
many Infocom titles (Moonmist, Ballyhoo...etc)

.

[tom]

Aerobics (1983 Spinnaker A8)
Valkyrie (1985 Gauntlet, Arcade)
Alien (1983 20th Century Fox, VCS)
Aliens (1986 Activision, C64)
Lady (Plundered Hearts, Infocom, A8)
Lara Croft (Tomb Raider, many)
Ingrid (Gnome Ranger, Level 9, A8)


Kim --step aside Samus, I kick your puny butt with ease-- Kimberly (1983 Snowball, Return to Eden, Level 9, C64)
The protagonist in the two first instalments, Kim Kimberly, is a tall, athletic, intelligent woman with brown eyes and fair hair. She was born and raised at Hampstead Crèche, which was closed when she was 13 due to violations of the Android Protection Acts. She finished her education at the Milton Keynes School of Life in Malta, then returned to England for National Service. She started out doing standard security work with the occasional surveillance of subversive members of society, but ended working as a counter-espionage agent. Still in her twenties, Kim accepted to travel undercover on the Snowball 9 to be there as the last resort for the worst-case scenario.


.

[Damaramu]

Off the top of my head, there's also:

Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja
Summon Night - Swordcraft Story 1 & 2
Final Fight 2 & 3
Streets of Rage series
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Alien Storm
Alien Syndrome
Undercover Cops
Rolling Thunder 2 & 3
Elevator Action Returns
Metal Slug series
Burning Rangers
Princess Crown
Nightshade
GrimGrimoire
Odin Sphere
Muramasa: The Demon Blade
The Ninja Warriors
Battle Mania & Battle Mania Daiginjo

[sheath]

Aside from what has been mentioned on the Master System, in Quartet one of the player characters is female (I forgot her name). Also in Zillion 1 you can play as Apple after you rescue her.

On Genesis, MUSHA's main character is a girl, the Co-pilot in Sol Deace/Feace is female as well. All of the Golden Axe and Streets of Rage games have a main female character to play as. Obviously most of Sega's RPGs do as well, including Shining in the Darkness and the rest of the Shining and Phantasy Star Series.

Turbo CD has the Valis games which are all women. Then again, the Genesis versions of the Valis games do too.

One of the Final Fights on SNES has a female ninja to play as.

Elevator Action Returns on Saturn jp has a main female protagonist as well. Burning Rangers let's you play as a man or a woman, as does NiGHTs.

On PS1, Tenchu 1+2 let you play as a male or female character.

[RadiantSvgun]

I'm surprised no one mentioned Gotienzer on PC-Engine. You play as a captive princess. Some hero comes to rescue you and he and your captor kill each other at the same time, leaving you to find your way out.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Shantae! (yes, you got it, I saw that, but posting PN03 with an exclamation doesn't quite cut it)

There is literally a crap-ton where you can choose a female main character... If you want to count them, Good Luck! LOL

[Parodius Duh!]

not to many? theres a million games where the protagonist is female.

Athena (NES)
Krion Conquest (NES)
The Cotton Series
Magical Pop'n (SFC)
Hyper Iria (SFC)
Ghost Sweeper Mikami (SFC)
Streets of Rage Games have a Female character
Final fight 2 has a female character
Gourmet Sentai (SFC)
Billions of dating simulation games
Monster World 4 (Megadrive)
Battle Mania (Trouble Shooter, MD/Genesis)
Battle Mania 2 (MD/Genesis)
The pilot is a female in Gleylancer (Megadrive)
Steam Hearts (Saturn)
Paikura Daisakusen (Saturn)
Perfect Dark (N64)
Resident Evil
Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 3
Espgaluda (PS2, Arcade)
Oni (PS1)
Castlevania 64

[Emperor Megas]

It's really silly to think that it would be a short list. I can think of literally hundreds of games with female protagonists, and even more with selectable female protagonist.

I just just glance through, so I'm just listing a few that I didn't see mentioned (some may have been).

Cooking Mama series
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Bullet Witch
Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball series
Death By Degrees
Deathsmiles
Deception series
Devil Hunter Yoko series
Diner Dash series
Dora the Explorer series
Eternal Poison
Falling Stars
Fatal Frame series
Final Fantasy X-2
Gaiares (Alexis controls the TOZ)
Gardening Mama
Götzendiener
Heavenly Sword
Hello Kitty series
Hi Pi Puffy AmiYumi: The Genie and the Amp
Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi: Kaznapped!
Kaizou Choujin Schbibinman
Kameo: Elements of Power
Keio Flying Squadron series
Kya: Dark Lineage
Lady Sia
Malice
Mirror's Edge
Momoko 120%
Nightshade
Ninja Princess
Perfect Dark series
Resident Evil Code: Veronica
Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure
Sakura Wars series
Sailor Moon series
Scurge
Super Princess Peach
Thunderforce III (your co-pilot Shely, is a woman)
Wonder Momo
X-Blades

Some games where you can select to play through with a female character:

Alien Syndrome
Alone in the Dark
Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare
Baldur's Gate series
Burning Rangers
Bust A Groove series
Dark Wizard
Gauntlet series
Golden Axe series
GunValkyrie
Harvest Moon series
Jet Set/Grind Radio series
King's Bounty
Left4Dead series
Marvel Ultimate Alliance series
Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits
Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors
Resident Evil series
Tenchu series
X-Men Legends series

Practically any fighting Game
Practically any Kart Racer
Practically any Party game
Practically any character based puzzle game
Practically any character based arcade shooter


not to many? theres a million games where the protagonist is female.Yeah, pretty such.


Aside from what has been mentioned on the Master System, in Quartet one of the player characters is female (I forgot her name).Mary.

[sheath]

I'm surprised no one mentioned Gotienzer on PC-Engine. You play as a captive princess. Some hero comes to rescue you and he and your captor kill each other at the same time, leaving you to find your way out.

I'd like to check into this game, but I can't find it by that spelling.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Tom, that's so Raven of you. :D

[Emperor Megas]

I'd like to check into this game, but I can't find it by that spelling.It's actually spelled: Götzendiener (but you can find it listed as Gotzendiener as well). It's a pretty great game.

[ubersaurus]

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II lets you play as a female character, and apparently, the female character is the "canon" one.

Last Hope on the neogeo/DC also features a female pilot. I want to say Border Down does as well. All the characters you can play in Triggerheart Exelica are girls, too, as are all the characters in the fighting game series Arcana Heart.

Anyone mention Tomb Raider yet?

[sheath]

It's actually spelled: Götzendiener (but you can find it listed as Gotzendiener as well). It's a pretty great game.

Thanks, I found it under Gotzeindiener. If it plays as great as it looks I will definitely be picking this one up, provided it isn't one of those $50+ PCE-CD games.

[mobiusclimber]

Thanks, I found it under Gotzeindiener. If it plays as great as it looks I will definitely be picking this one up, provided it isn't one of those $50+ PCE-CD games.

It's super cheap but it's also fairly short with little to no replay value. It was produced by Gainax, btw (Neon Genesis Evangelion, His & Hers Circumstance, Mahoromatic, etc etc).

Personally, I'd like to see this list restricted to games that were released in the states and that aren't just a "select a character" type game.

In that vein, there's also Syberia I & II, A Witch's Tale, Aeon Flux, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Wendy: Every Witch Way, Ghost in the Shell (PSX & PS2), Wet, Gurumin...

[Aussie2B]

There is literally a crap-ton where you can choose a female main character... If you want to count them, Good Luck! LOL

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. If we cast our nets THAT broadly, then it stops being an interesting subject to look into, if you ask me. I mean, what's the point when we're counting pretty much EVERY fighter, for example? It's far more interesting to limit it to games where you're FORCED to select a female character or not play at all. It's a gutsy move on the part of the developer because it can literally be a game-breaker for some male players.

Granted, there's still some grey area even there. With, say, Suikoden 3, there are three main characters and only one is female, but to play through the full game, you do have to select that female character eventually and play through her story. In comparison to, say, Star Ocean 2 where you can pick a female lead and get a very slightly different presentation of the story, but you still play through the entire same game via either character.

And then there's the matter of if you want to talk about games that have a main protagonist only or if we should include, say, any fighter/wrestling game that has an all-female cast, even if there isn't much in the way of story or a defined lead.

[The 1 2 P]

Someone mentioned the Mary Kate and Ashley games but theres also the numerous Hannah Montana games and all the other Disney series games starring female leads.

[mobiusclimber]

Someone mentioned the Mary Kate and Ashley games but theres also the numerous Hannah Montana games and all the other Disney series games starring female leads.

Yeah, and not only are there games based on movies like Mulan or Snow White, but there's also a line of Disney Princesses games where you play as the various female protagonists from past Disney films.

[fairyland]

Cannon Spike? Cammy is the main character in that, but you can select several other people.

Catwoman. I know, people want to forget about that.

Shame that people already named the ones that immediately came to my mind. LOL!

[Gameguy]

Dracula X: Rondo of Blood. You can fight Dracula as a little girl, which is pretty awesome for a Castlevania game.

[Nz17]

OK, I hope a lot of you will read this even though it is pretty far down the list of replies.

For a game to count in this list, the main character, the protagonist, must be female - but she must clearly be the main character, be more important than the other characters, and if you will, the game is about her. She is the hero, she is the champion. She is not one of many, she is not a selectable option, nor is she a player-created character. She is not a faceless, replaceable character. She is not an unlockable. And she isn't there mainly to be ogled.

This list is not a list of playable female characters, but of female lead characters who are either the only playable character in their games, or the predominant character who is clearly the lead.

And if you would, please follow this format with your suggestions:
Console system
Game Name (Note) [Character Name]

So for example:
PlayStation
Little Princess: Marl Ōkoku no Ningyō Hime 2 (Japan-only) [Kururu] {Fixed}

[todesengel]

Edited my list to match your example.

[Robocop2]

Would MGS 2 count? Raiden was kind of a little girl in that game

[Satoshi_Matrix]

Not sure if these have been mentioned, but I'll throw them in in case they haven't yet:

Athena - You're thr goddess Athena, or at least SNK's Athena (NES)
Legend of the Ghost Lion - A rather obscure RPG where you play as a little girl with a sharp stick (NES)
Pokemon Crystal - Kris, the best Pokegirl ever. (GBC)
Pocket Monsters Trading Card Game 2 Team Great Rocket - Had a girl named Mint (GBC)
Megaman Powered Up - You can play as Roll! (PSP)
Bulletwitch - You play as a witch. For fires bullets. (Xbox 360)
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem - the main lead is a woman (GC)
Fatal Frame 1-4 - You play as various women (PS2/Xbox/Wii)
Heavenly Guardian - You're a snow goddess. (PS2)
Heavy Rain - Some chapters you play a woman named Madison (PS3)
Kameo - Kameo is a shapshifting woman (Xbox 360)
Robot Alchemic Drive - You can play as a girl named Yui Tsukioka (PS2)
Shantae - Shantae is the best genie ever. (GBC)
Wendy: Every Witch Way - You're Wendy the witch (GBC)
WET - Don't fuck with Ruby Malone (360/PS3)

[mobiusclimber]

Not sure if these have been mentioned, but I'll throw them in in case they haven't yet:
.....
Shantae - Shantae is the best genie ever. (GBC)


I was reading your list and thinking that almost every single one of them had been mentioned already but hot DAMN did you even read the first post of this topic??? BOTH Shantae games are listed.

[edit: And don't mind me, I'm just feeling bitchy. =p]

[lkermel]

Here're some Famicom games featuring female protagonists (just off top of my head):

Apple Town Monogatari (http://www.videogameden.com/fds.htm?apm)
Goardic Gaiden (http://www.videogameden.com/fc.htm?gua)
Space Hunter (http://www.videogameden.com/fc.htm?sph)
The Quest of Ki
Titanic Mystery
Valis (http://www.videogameden.com/fc.htm?val)
Valkyrie no Bouken (http://www.videogameden.com/fc.htm?val)

And some Super Famicom ones:

Advance Variable Geo
Battle Zeque Den (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?bzd)
Clock Tower
Madō Monogatari (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?mam)
Natsuki Crisis Battle (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?ncb)


The PC Engine has also its share. There are literally tons of Japanese games featuring female protagonists - Kiki KaiKai, Cotton, Valis, Makeruna! Makendou, the Valkyrie series, Marchen Maze, all the 'dating games' (Nakayama Miho no Tokimeki High School, Tokimeki Memorial...), Fushigi No Yume No Alice, Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire, Wonder Momo.... The list is probably HUGE !!!

As a side note, this is what I don't like about the new Metroid game (Other M) - the fact that Samus was a female bounty hunter was really nicely integrated (and subtle) in the other games, now they use it as the main selling point, and it became bigger than the game itself...

[Aussie2B]

And she isn't there mainly to be ogled.

Then I think the list would have to be cut down to like 10 games, haha. There are very few games that have a female lead that isn't sexualized to some degree. Even the cutesy ones are usually in somewhat skimpy clothing. You'd have to look more toward the games that are specifically targeted at female gamers, otherwise their angle is probably to attract male gamers that want to look at a cute/sexy girl as they play. I can't think of many examples in which the game is pretty neutral, not targeting any particular gender of gamer, while also having a non-sexualized character. Lenneth of Valkyrie Profile is about the only one I can think of, which is one of many reasons why I love the game so much. Truly a respectable, strong female lead. Samus is almost there, but then there always has been the selling point of the bikini ending.

By the way, the star of Little Princess is Kururu, Cornet's daughter. :)

[Emperor Megas]

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. If we cast our nets THAT broadly, then it stops being an interesting subject to look into, if you ask me. I mean, what's the point when we're counting pretty much EVERY fighter, for example? It's far more interesting to limit it to games where you're FORCED to select a female character or not play at all. It's a gutsy move on the part of the developer because it can literally be a game-breaker for some male players.I've literally never even considered that before. You really think that there are people (enough to actually matter, I mean) who wouldn't play a game because the protagonist was female? Weird. :|

[The 1 2 P]

And she isn't there mainly to be ogled.

Then this list would be cut by like 75%.


And if you would, please follow this format with your suggestions:
Console system
Game Name (Note) [Character Name]

I'm going to go back and edit my list as best as I can..


Then I think the list would have to be cut down to like 10 games, haha. There are very few games that have a female lead that isn't sexualized to some degree. Even the cutesy ones are usually in somewhat skimpy clothing. You'd have to look more toward the games that are specifically targeted at female gamers, otherwise their angle is probably to attract male gamers that want to look at a cute/sexy girl as they play.

My thoughts exactly. As soon as I read what he wrote I said Bayonetta, Bulllet Witch and most of the other games we listed need to be removed from the list. But instead he needs to remove that part from his criteria.

[Aussie2B]

I've literally never even considered that before. You really think that there are people (enough to actually matter, I mean) who wouldn't play a game because the protagonist was female? Weird.

Absolutely, but there are varying degrees. Some guys will play a game if there's no option but they'll still complain and feel uncomfortable playing as a female character. That's probably why it was a secret in the first Metroid and was a subdued fact in later games, at least until the most recent ones in which it's long been accepted that Metroid has a female lead. But, for example, I see guys complaining on Valkyrie Profile boards on a regular basis that they'd rather have a male lead. Some never play the game, some suck it up.

Female gamers have never had that luxury because we accepted playing as male characters from the very beginning because there was no other option, even when it would produce awkward moments like having to name your character in Dragon Warrior and then having the princess profess her love for you. I long ago decided to always come up with a male name for a male character in a game rather than going with my own name like the typical male gamer would. It's funny how even with a series like Harvest Moon that seems to attract female players more than male, we still had to wait a long time to get a female lead with a selection of men to marry (the Game Boy games in which you can select a male or female sprite hardly count because it's a stripped down Harvest Moon with no dating element).

[mobiusclimber]

Female gamers have never had that luxury because we accepted playing as male characters from the very beginning because there was no other option, even when it would produce awkward moments like having to name your character in Dragon Warrior and then having the princess profess her love for you.

Funny because a lot of times I go out of my way to make these sort of things happen in games (ie, trying to trick games into making same-sex relationships, like naming a knight in full armor a girl's name or giving the women a man's name).

[Nz17]

And she isn't there mainly to be ogled.

I thought I should add some emphasis to that qualifier for those who missed it. Objectification over looks to some degree is very difficult to avoid even by women toward other women. Therefore like I implied, games can be included as long as objectification isn't the main point of the character.

[Tron 2.0]

Galadriel from the sega saturn classic princess crown.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec5mVkBSR6E

[tom]

Billie Sue (yeah, that has got you guys thinking, hasn't it)

no one knew?

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/thomasholzer/b_Wabbit_Blue_front.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/thomasholzer/b_Wabbit_Blue_back.jpg

[Nz17]

I've been going through all of the suggestions, and I have to say thanks for all the good input that people have provided. I've clarified a bit more on what we're looking for here, and I've started to go through the list and validate the games which have been mentioned. As you might guess, it takes a long time to go through all this to make sure that a game matches the criteria. Therefore as of now I've gotten about halfway through page one of the posts. I'll try to continue updating the list throughout the next few days.

Some "problematic" games that I'm not sure should be included are Faria: A World of Mystery and Danger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faria:_A_World_of_Mystery_and_Danger), Threads of Fate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threads_of_Fate), and Suikoden 3 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suikoden_3). For those who have played any of them, please state why or why not they should be included in this list. If your reasons include spoilers, please mark them as such to help people avoid spoiling the games' stories.

[Auto-Fox]

Gley Lancer - Sega Mega Drive (Japan only).
Arrow Flash - Sega Genesis/Mega Drive.

[lagartija_nick]

Sega Saturn
D

Gamecube
Darkened Skye

[Icarus Moonsight]

You could play as the girl in Ghost Manor. That was the first game like that I played that left a lasting impression... Other than Ms. Pac-Man.

[Swamperon]

I will third Eternal Darkness! Even though you play as different characters, you're essentially playing Alex's reading of each chapter (so I guess her imagination).

And Star Ocean: Second Story should be counted. Yes you choose between Rena and Claude but there is enough of a difference between the two to warrant its inclusion.

Also Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn has Micaiah as the female leader.

[mobiusclimber]

Some "problematic" games that I'm not sure should be included are Faria: A World of Mystery and Danger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faria:_A_World_of_Mystery_and_Danger), Threads of Fate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threads_of_Fate), and Suikoden 3 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suikoden_3). For those who have played any of them, please state why or why not they should be included in this list. If your reasons include spoilers, please mark them as such to help people avoid spoiling the games' stories.

I don't get what part any of these are problematic beyond what has already been mentioned. The first line of the plot in the Wiki article for Faria you linked to states: "The player controls a female character with no official name..." Now there IS a pretty big spoiler concerning this character later on, but for much of the game you're playing as a female. If you, or anyone, don't want to be spoiled, then quit reading this paragraph now. Ready? ................... Your character was turned into a woman by the evil wizard you spend the whole game trying to defeat. But again, you spend the ENTIRE game playing it as a woman. It's not a guy in drag or something, you really are a woman.

As for Threads of Fate and Suikoden 3, again, the "problem" with them has already been mentioned several times. In Suikoden 3, there are not one but THREE main characters. (You actually play the game from the perspective of, I think, five different people, one of which is a dog.) One of those main characters is female. It's entirely possible to play 75% of the game with the female as the main character depending on a choice you make 2/3rds of the way into the game.

In Threads of Fate, you select between a male and a female protagonist in the beginning of the game and they each have a totally different story to play as. It's a bit like Resident Evil 2, but even moreso I think (in that the stories are even more different).

[NayusDante]

Don't think these have been mentioned yet.

IBM PC
King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella (Rosella)
King's Quest VII: The Princeless Bride (Rosella and Valenice)
Seperra Core (Maya)
Syberia (Kate)

[mrmark0673]

NES: (not yet on your list)

Alien 3
Barbie (weak, but still there)
The Krion Conquest
The Little Mermaid

I think those are the only additonals I can think of, I'll see if I can add to a few other systems.

[mobiusclimber]

...
Don't Count
...
-Games where the main character is a faceless, replaceable character
...

Do Count
-Games where a woman is clearly the main character
...

NES
...
Metroid [Samus Aran]


Does not follow. If you use those two as criteria then Metroid doesn't count. Samus could be a man, an alien, a liger, anybody or any thing for the entire game. The main character might clearly be a woman at the end, but not for most of the game. I'm not saying this because I think Metroid doesn't deserve to be on this list, it's probably the lynchpin here. I'm saying this because I think the rules are getting a bit TOO specific to the point were some pivotal titles don't even qualify.

[NayusDante]

By that logic...

Metroid - No
Metroid II - No
Super Metroid - Almost
Metroid Fusion - No
Metroid Zero Mission - Yes
Metroid Other M - Yes

Even though they're all the same character.

[Nz17]

Well the whole "Games where the main character is a faceless, replaceable character" was meant more to chase off all the suggestions of games (fighting and such) where there are a bunch of selectable "eye candy" characters rather it being than a strict rule. I'll remove it from the criteria.

[NayusDante]

Sega Master System
Phantasy Star (Alis)

Sega Genesis
Phantasy Star IV (Alis?)