Cash, Daniel, Derek, Mac, Michael, Michelle, Kaikee
Princess Peach was first introduced in The Super Mario Bros (1985) but has also also appeared in various games since.
However there are a few games in which you can actually play as the Princess such as Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988) and Super
Princess Peach (2005). Not to mention she is playable in any Mario Kart, Mario Sports Franchises, as Super Smash Brothers
series.
Princess Zelda made her first appearance in The Legend of Zelda (1986) being captured by Ganon, requiring Link to come and save her. The
intersting thing about the game though is that Link's name is never mentioned anywhere, however Zelda's name is in the
title. She appeared many times as a damsel in distress throughout the series up until the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of
time (1998) when to defend her kingdom Hyrule, Zelda takes on the form of Shiek to battle Ganons forces. Since then,
Zelda has become a fighter so much so that she has been included as a character in the Super Smash Brothers series.
Samus made her debut in 1986 in the game Metroid, a galactic bounty hunter sent to go kill the head of a group of
Space Pirates. Samus is the main character in the Metroid series notable by her orange and yellow Varia Suit. She has
also been included into the roster of fighters in the Super Smash Brothers series.
Lara Croft is the prestigious daughter and archeologist of the Croft family starring in her own game Tomb Raider origionally
released in 1996, and has been kicking butt since in a huge number of sequels since, the most recent being Rise of the Tomb
Raider(2015). However popular in video games Lara Crofts story was popular enough to be made into multiple films as well
as comic books. Lara Croft is in some ways an icon of female strength in the video game industry, being one of the first strong
characters of her own game.
Alyx Vance is the a prominent figure in the group known as the Resistance, staking her claim in the game Half-Life 2
(2004). Alyx is an engineer and a fighter capable of developing a scrap robot with sentient A.I. with the purpose of protecting
her. Alyx helps and heals all around her as well as plays a strong role in her cause of protecting those she cares about.
Chell is the first and only human in the games Portal (2007) as well as Portal 2 (2011). Chell wakes up in a facility
alone that was made exclusively to do "tests" however find what is called the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device (portal gun for
short) and uses it to escape the facility in which she is trapped.
Faith Connors, also known by her codename Phoenix Carpenter is the main character in the games Mirror's Edge (2009) as well Mirror's
Edge Catalyst (2016). Faith Connors is the protagonist of the game in which a new regime has befallen a busy city, leading to major protests.
These protests led to the rise of people called "Runners" who were essentially spies, combat units, and people out on missions to attempt to
either slow or halt this new government movement. Faith is one of these runners, free running across the city and taking down anybody who opposes her.
Dark Souls (2011) is known for is explicitly difficult combat as well as intently grotesque and detailed worlds. It is worth noting however, that when
played, you are given the option to play as a male or female however this is exclusively a cosmetic distinction. There is no change in dialogue,
player ability, or armor appearance or influence. Dark Souls has two connecting games, Dark Souls 2 (2014) as well as Dark Souls 3 (2016).
Aveline is from the Line of Assassin's Creed games, making appearances in Assassin's Creed III: Liberation (2012) as well as Assassin's Creed IV: Black
Flag (2013). Aveline is the pirate assassin who was raised in a privileged home, growing into an assassin defending the slaves of New Orleans. Aveline is a direct descendant
the so-called "Subject 1", dealing with DNA and lineage very important to the Assassin's Creed story.
Jodie Holmes is a a girl, born in a world where she was bound to a phantom of sorts named Aiden. She is the star of the game Beyond Two Souls (2013) which is in
essence, the story of Jodie's life. You are jumped around between different years and ages as you can make choices in her life that change the outcome of your game, leading
to both good and bad endings. While Aiden is a great asset to Jodie, it is still implied that she has a superior power over the other worldly being, allowing her to
do and see things other people can't as she finds herself and where she belongs in the world.
Tracer is from the game Overwatch (2014), an online multiplayer first person shooter with a vast cast of playable characters. We felt it compelling to add Tracer to
our roster because she is in the official Overwatch world, a lesbian. Now, there are other characters in videogames who are also lesbians however none are quite as popular
as Tracer. Being a mascot of sorts for the world-wide popular game, there have been many controversies about this choice of personality. So much so, that the comic in which
Tracer's girlfriend is show, has been banned in some countries.
Max Caulfield is your average college freshman in love with photography with the typical ability to completely stop or even rewind time. such a power is fitting for the main
character of a game called Life is Strange (2015). The game is separated by chapters as you play through some of Max's life, starting where you first learn of the ability to change time and using
it to save a childhood friend. As the story progresses, you follow Max and Chloe on their adventure through college and eventually end up having to save a town. She's just your
average college girl out to save the world.
Aloy is the star of the game Horizon Zero Dawn (2017), which in many ways won game of the year. Now this broke some records as there are not an enormous number of games that
achieve such a title while sporting a strong, thinks for herself kind of female protagonist. Though the game is pretty open world, there is no focus on a romantic interest, you are
just out in the plains hunting down huge dangerous robotic creatures referred to merely as "machines". As your travel through the world, you discover the story behind what even happened
to the land that now, seems like some sort of post apocalyptic robotic wasteland.
Senua is from the game Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice (2017), a game set around Norse mythology. This game flips roles from the tradition as you play as the female Pict warrior
on your way to save your dame in distress from the goddess Hela. What is even more intriguing is that Senua deals with a severe case of psychosis, however in the game Senua believes it
simply to be a curse. The game deals heavily with Senua finding ways to deal with her "darkness" as she calls it, fighting her way to glory through other-worldly beings.
The amount of women playing video games has been rising steadily for the most part, with women making up about 42% of all gamers, at least in the U.S. (
Newzoo, Statista). This will be difficult without more support from the male gaming community however with the steady increase of females in the gaming community, such
inequalities may be solved in the not so far off future. Some of the rise of females being supported in and joining the gamer community can be seen in a recent release, Horizon Zero Dawn. There was a great amount of pushback (
example A, example B, example C) from the male gaming community, despite this Horizon Zero Dawn still sold a whopping 7.6 million copies before
its first year even, leading to a massive number of game bundles, merchandise, even a a very plot and play heavy DLC. At this point there are a great number of people and organizations working towards even more equal representation in games such as Any Key,
Code Liberation Foundation, and many more. As a community, country, as a species, we are far from equality in many aspects. So while we have a long way to go, with the change in representation at least in video games, we know that we are at taking steps forwards.
(sources)