Now that I think of it, there haven't been that many video games with female lead characters until recently. And there are only a few more with playable female characters. Maybe it's because for a long time the primary video game audience was little boys, and they figure he wouldn't want to play as a girl (Lest he contract cooties). Perhaps there weren't enough older guys who may be into that sort of thing to invest in that kind of game.

Here are all the games I can think of with female lead characters. Notice I don't know any pre-NES (console) games- can anyone fill in those blanks?


NES
Metroid
The Guardian Legend of the Ghost Lion
Arkista's Ring
Athena
Wing of Madola (Famicom)
Mugen Senshi Valis (Famicom)
WURM
Salamander (see the ending) (Famicom)
Krion Conquest

Master System
Alien Syndrome? (Never played it)
Uhh...

Genesis/Mega Drive
Alisia Dragoon
Fantasm Soldier Valis
Valis III
Syd of Valis
El Viento
Monsterworld IV
Dahna

Super NES
Valis IV
Seiken Densetsu III
Final Fantasy III(FF6)
Kendo Rage
Sailormoon games
Aretha (SFC)

PC Engine/DUO
Valis
Valis II
Valis III
Valis IV
Hellfire S
Basted
Effera & Jilliora
Shubibinman III
Princess Minerva
Sylphia
Sapphire
Fausette Amour
Galaxy Fraulien Yuna
Fray in Magical Adventure
Metal Angel
Cotton

Sega Saturn
Keio Kukigettai
Cotton 2/Boomerang
-?

Playstation
Time Gal
uhh...
(I don't have a very broad knowlege of Playstation and later consoles.)

Anyway, I know I'm missing some, and at the moment I'm too lazy to make a list for arcade games. Can you guys add anything?

Oh, and later I think I'll make a post in this thread about games with playable famale characters. (not nessicarily the lead characters) Everyone loves those, right?