Best female video game characters?

Lara Croft!

Now that I got that out of the way, I agree your list so far, but...and I have a few additions.

I'd include Alyx, the first lady of Half-Life. She represents to me why I like Valve. Alyx isn't a sex symbol, she's a strong lead character. I think it's testimant to their work on making characters real that I forgot there were a lot of women in Half-Life 2, many fighting right along with Gordon. Deus Ex was the same way, though I didn't like those women.

Another one that just came to mind is Aribeth from NWN. Actually, pretty much all Bioware games have great female characters. Bastilla from KOTOR; Silk Fox from Jade Empire; and let's not forget the other NPCs who'd join your party. I'm particularly fond of Mission Vao.

Here's a couple more:
Sarah Kerrigan (StarCraft)
Meryl Silverburgh (Metal Gear Solid)
Bella Goth (The Sims)

Damn, beat me two it!

I can't stand Lara Croft in the video games, prob cause I can't stand those games!

Kerrigan (Starcraft/Starcraft Brood War)
Alyx Vance (Half Life 2)
Samus definitely!
B. Orchid (Killer Instinct/Killer Instinct II)
Anarki (Quake III - ok lol, I have no idea what i'm thinking)
The chicks from DoA (now i'm really losing it)


There seems to be so few good female characters....the first 3 are the best, Kerrigan being my fav, the character had soul, evil soul though .

Disgaea, wow. Nice catch. A nice dark horse nomination for the list.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm up to about 50 characters so far. The list should be online in the next week or so.

And if you have any thoughts on who might play some of these characters in a movie, if they haven't already been adapted, throw those suggestions in as well.

American McGee's Alice - Supposedly, is already being made into a movie starring Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Ms. Pac Man - Could star Tyne Daly or Roseanne Barr.

April Ryan from The Longest Journey.

Hands down. No objections even possible. I will personally track down & silence anyone who so much as suggests it's even possible for another character in a game to top her.


From there, I tend to like SHODAN from System Shock 2, Victoria from Tribes Vengeance, that mutant chick from Tiberian Sun (yes, I'm kidding), Farah from Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, and I'm having trouble thinking of any more serious contenders right now...

April Ryan is indeed a great female character

Cate Archer - excellent choice Llamaman! She was great, and I can't believe I didn't include her in my 1st post...

Little hope indeed - and that is a darn shame. The second one in particular was a game I have replayed more than almost any other - good sneaking, quirky story and characters, two thumbs WAY up!

I vote for Mila Kunis - need to see her do something besides comedy.

Anyone remember the Nazi Assassin babes in Return to Castle Wolfenstein? No, not their fat overmaster, the girls themselves.

Anyone recall Crystal Steele from Blade Runner?

The assassin chicks in Half-Life always struck me as being more A-Sexual than attractive. Unlike the RTCW ones. Mmmmm.....

Fair question. The criteria will be explained eventually in the article next week, but for the purposes of getting feedback on this forum, here it is:

By best, I don't mean hot or attractive. In other words, I'm not going to throw chicks from Leisure Suit Larry or Playboy: The Mansion on this list because they're not memorable characters beyond their physical appearances and are almost indistinguishable.

That's not to say looks don't count. But the list isn't the "hottest" female characters. It's the best, meaning the characters have to be memorable beyond looks. They have to make a significant impact on the actual gameplay or narrative, whether they are central characters, playable characters or supporting characters. Thus, the list will feature characters like Sarah Kerrigan of Starcraft and Victoria and Julia from Tribes: Vengeance, who are emphasized more thrugh the game's story than the visuals, as well as attractive characters like Ada Wong from Resident Evil or Eva from Metal Gear Solid.

In essence, the point isn't to grab a bunch of well-designed digital images in skimpy outfits and prop them up as the female icons of gaming -- Playboy has already done that twice, and it was a disgrace. The point is to pay tribute to the female characters that had an impact on us, from Zelda and Princess Peach all the way up to Alyx Vance. Oh, and to find the appropriate actress/model to play that character in a movie, too.

You are a man of misunderstanding, aren't you?

"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." ~ George Bernard Shaw

Though I also rather like what W.C. Fields had to say on the matter: "I am free of prejudice. I hate everyone equally."

"What can I say, man? Affirmative action..." [/The Chief, Undercover Brother]