Games for Women

(I dont know what else to name this list)

There are very few published games that depict women in a smart, nuanced and well rounded way, and that has always been frustrating to me. I have compiled a list of every game i can verify that has a fair outlook on women as a whole and is an enjoyable experience to boot. Below are some of the guidelines i tried to follow when adding a game, but due to the nature of some of them not all may apply.

The list is also split into two sections: the first has a playable female protagonist while the second only has supporting female cast, but they are very well rounded and are safe from any sort of tropes or sex mongering.

The rules are as followed:

• game must pass the Bechdel test if two female characters can interact

• there must be no male-view sexualization or conservative undertones at all.

• the female characters in the game must have nuanced personalities that are not limited to her just being a girl plus some other trait.

• a female character can exist without being in a romantic interest with another man in the game, and are not a parent.

Touhou Kikeijuu: Wily Beast and Weakest Creature
Touhou Kikeijuu: Wily Beast and Weakest Creature
All of mainline touhou fits
Ib
Ib
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
The most beautiful and perfect and wonderful game. Exemplary example.
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
The only fire emblem to my knowledge with a female design artist and it shows
Yomawari: The Long Night Collection
Yomawari: The Long Night Collection
Legend of Mana
Legend of Mana
Splatoon 3
Splatoon 3
All splat included
Dark Souls
Dark Souls
Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition
Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition
Bloodborne
Bloodborne
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet Double Pack
Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet Double Pack
This goes for all pokemons
The Dog Island
The Dog Island
Enjoy the Diner
Enjoy the Diner
We Love Katamari
We Love Katamari
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
Ys Origin
Ys Origin
Early ys is a fairly safe series
Magical Vacation
Magical Vacation
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley
Trials of Mana
Trials of Mana
A Short Hike
A Short Hike
SaGa Frontier Remastered
SaGa Frontier Remastered
Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition
Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
All pmd titles included
Rule of Rose
Rule of Rose
Octopath Traveler
Octopath Traveler
Shockingly I think there was only one talk between the girls about romance, and some of the character designs are a bit suspect, but noting awful from what i remember
Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage!
Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage!
'Why the anime mobile game'
well, because vocaloid is so vast and made by so many people it is impossible to make a singular statement if its alright or not. This is probably the best project diva game in my opinion, the in-game characters are mostly female and there is nothing perverted about the way they are shown ever (as of my knowledge) and the songs chosen aren't the worst of the worst like in megamix where they have 18 songs about pedophila and high schoolers fucking
Luna's Fishing Garden
Luna's Fishing Garden
Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Panel de Pon
Panel de Pon
The Witch's House
The Witch's House
Dragon Quest Builders 2
Dragon Quest Builders 2
This is, by far and wide the safest dragon quest game you can ever possibly play. There is some questionable content in the second part of the story, but only that, and it is far more palatable than any other game in the series.
Pocket Mirror
Pocket Mirror
The game is not written well at all but at least theres only 1 boy.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring
Yume Nikki
Yume Nikki
Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk
Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk
Celeste
Celeste
The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince
The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince
The Cruel King and the Great Hero
The Cruel King and the Great Hero
Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon
Tales of the Black Forest
Tales of the Black Forest
Project Kat: Paper Lily Prologue
Project Kat: Paper Lily Prologue
Pocky & Rocky Reshrined
Pocky & Rocky Reshrined
Sonic Rush
Sonic Rush
Blaze is so cool
A Hat in Time
A Hat in Time
Street Fighter 6
Street Fighter 6
Napple Tale: Arsia in Daydream
Napple Tale: Arsia in Daydream
Chicory: A Colorful Tale
Chicory: A Colorful Tale
Your protagonist is never referred to with a gender so it might be up to the players interpretation. The other lead is female though so i may as well count it
Sword of Mana
Sword of Mana
Yomawari: Lost in the Dark
Yomawari: Lost in the Dark
The Cat Lady
The Cat Lady
Tacoma
Tacoma
Pikmin 4
Pikmin 4
Dinkum
Dinkum
Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3
Tchia
Tchia
Sukutte: Save Me...
Sukutte: Save Me...
STRONG AND COURAGEOUS WOMEN!!
Webkinz Classic
Webkinz Classic
Webkinz is a heaven I didn't know I lost
Clockwork Calamity in Mushroom World: What would you do if the time stopped ticking?
Clockwork Calamity in Mushroom World: What would you do if the time stopped ticking?
Endless Ocean
Endless Ocean
Sable
Sable
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger
Female leads are only playable in the back half of the game but they are equally as important as chrono
Ova Magica
Ova Magica
Goodbye World
Goodbye World
Wii Sports Resort
Wii Sports Resort
Night in the Woods
Night in the Woods
who let they alligator shop at spencers
Gris
Gris
Control
Control
Phoenotopia: Awakening
Phoenotopia: Awakening
Heaven's Vault
Heaven's Vault
Kentucky Route Zero
Kentucky Route Zero
Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Age: Inquisition
This one is a bit strange as dragon age is kind of weird but i know its definitely pretty good with its female characters.
Secret Agent Barbie
Secret Agent Barbie
For nicole only
Dishonored: Death of the Outsider
Dishonored: Death of the Outsider
Vividlope
Vividlope
Portal
Portal
Final Fantasy XIV Online
Final Fantasy XIV Online
Have not played so im a bit unsure but i think it is alright, hopefully.
Ōkami
Ōkami
This one is tricky. The female characters themselves feel almost divorced from the comments made on them (by issun. frequently.) because they hold autonomy in many situations and are shown as hard working and determined, but i think most of that must be just how it was in the original japanese myths. I do not trust kamiya, i hate him actually, but this used to be my favorite game so its sort of an awkward pill to swallow.
BlankSpace
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
All of zelda is more or less good but im putting the best examples on here
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D
Katamari Damacy
Katamari Damacy
Can only play as another cousin in vs mode
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Goes for all kirby
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy
Princess peach gets captured, yes, but its mainline mario so you can never really mess up here
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Chrono Cross
Chrono Cross
It has too many characters to not pass in some capacity but watch out a bit for 90s nonsense. The story also just isnt the best.
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight
OneShot
OneShot
Ace Attorney Investigations 2
Ace Attorney Investigations 2
Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth
Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth
Ace attorney never goes further than having a lady with her boobs out. But im a big fan of boobs, so let them be out i say.
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
Shenmue
Shenmue
Hylics 2
Hylics 2
Psychonauts 2
Psychonauts 2

36 Comments


1 year ago

Blaze is indeed really fuckin' cool.

1 year ago

Thank you for the validation
"Goes for all of Mario" Hard disagree but power to you for loving the games.

7 months ago

@LinkBetweenGames i was kind of thinking more mainline 3D when i wrote this list, i guess some things like the peach game do suck. But aside from that its fine mostly... i should edit this list anyhow but id rather lay on the floor and do nothing
I get that.

6 months ago

Great list! Are you taking suggestions?

6 months ago

@cowboyjosh yeah sure go ahead, im interested in redoing this list anyhow as i feel like it could be better.

6 months ago

ff15 aint on here ⁉

6 months ago

oh games that actually have female characters, not just a game made for women to ogle sexy boys

6 months ago

@Snigglegros is that the one with the allegedly hot boys who ride around in a car or something. I think thats a boys game, a mans game even.

6 months ago

The one that I thought of right away is Life is Strange. Its prequel Before the Storm and the most recent entry True Colors are also good fits IMO. The first two are primarily about relationships between young women and the last one casts a broader net but still fits.

Tell Me Why which is another Don't Nod game is primarily about the relationship between a woman and her brother who is a trans man, but it does fit your criteria as exhibiting relationships between other women that aren't about men or motherhood.

Hellblade barely presents any interaction at all between characters, but is one of my favorite portrayals of a woman in a game because she's not sexualized, she looks like a normal person (the actor/model was the studio's video editor) and the story is all about her mental health and coping with trauma.

I think the Dishonored games might fit, but I haven't actually finished any of them so I can't say for sure there's no male gaze stuff. I would tend to doubt it given the studio involved but you know how it is.

Portal (but not Portal 2; fuck off Cave Johnson) should fit.

Night in the Woods feels like a shoe-in...?

I feel like Final Fantasy VI must pass the Bechdel test at some point what with it being so long, but I can't remember specifically.

Finally everyone in Outer Wilds is a nonbinary/gender neutral space alien so I think it deserves a mention. It's really not about women in any way. But it's very safe!

That's... depressingly a lot fewer than I thought I could come up with :-/

6 months ago

@Snigglebros - I mean Cidney? Entirely male gaze.

6 months ago

@moschidae Here is a report on a NHK poll on popularity poll of FF games among women, FF15 being the highest one. I think its probably entirely on the hot boy main cast

@FallenGrace yeah i didnt read the description at first, ff15 is my first game for girls to my brain.

6 months ago

Blaze the Cat mentioned!!! Fire the cannons!!!

6 months ago

@Snigglegros maybe a yaoi bait list is in order in case the ff15 women feel left out

@cowboyjosh thank you very much, i will add these later today when im redoing the list. Even though life is strange does probably make it i dont think i will add it because i can not personally attest to its integrity and it kind of looks like something the tumblr girls in my high school would of been obsessed with. Ill check what final fantasy that one is too cause there's about 5000 of them and i cant remember any of them for shit

@gruel i wake up and im under fucking attack...

6 months ago

@moschidae: i meant it positively lmao. blaze fucking rules.

6 months ago

@gruel oh thats a relief, its not good to be shot at with cannons before 12 pm. Blaze does indeed fuckin rule

6 months ago

@cowboyjosh oh yeah that final fantasy with the crazy clown man. I actually played the uncensored cut of that a long time ago but i quit because there was this weird opera dude with a skyship who like... abducted women or some weird noncon thing. I dont remember too well but it was bad enough to make me stop playing so unfortunately i dont think i can add it

6 months ago

@moschidae
What's your stance on Xenosaga? There's some robot booba in XSIII but I think its lead character Shion being a woman and a lot of the series covering her tumultuously complex and struggled character is worth noting.

6 months ago

@SunlitSonata hm ive never played xenosaga, but im generally very wary of anime games in general. I do think you can definitely have a character who looks all boobed out and still have the decency to actually give them a meaning/personality beyond just being a woman (with boobs). Anime ish games have definitely nose dived into the ground over time so i wouldnt be surprised if it was a lot better than what im used to seeing today, but i would have to look more into it to form a definitive stance on it.

6 months ago

@moschidae
Xenosaga was pretty tame with that stuff compared to say, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, which has wacky expression anime humor and is way over the top with that………stuff.
XS has (optional) swimsuits for both genders but the series respects Shion’s struggles as the main protagonist as well as the thoughts and feelings of the other notable girl character MOMO. The main robot girl KOS-MOS even with her design is still a character with a meaning and role to play in being a rock and encapsulation for Shion’s feelings, and the series doesn’t have any love triangle stuff beyond Shion struggling to unlearn her former boyfriend’s nihilism with everything that’s happened to her. You can see for yourself, just some personal thoughts on it.

6 months ago

Also would recommend adding Napple Tale, the Dreamcast game. Very charming and a perfect fit for this list.

6 months ago

@SunlitSonata thats interesting... i forgot that this game sprung the xenoblade series. I genuinely think xenoblade 2 is an affront to humanity which is strange because i dont think 1 or xenosaga was anything like that but who knows. The swimsuit stuff and the designs to me are definitely hints that theyre pandering to someone, and the stuff with the protag having a weird ex boyfriend gives me a bad feeling too. The writing and character designs are somewhat separate things though so it could very well be decent, but i personally feel kind of dubious of it. It was interesting hearing about it, though

6 months ago

@SunlitSonata and thank you, ive seen napple tale around once but i didnt know it was made by a mostly female staff. Thats very neat, ill add it right away

6 months ago

Hello! I'd like to name several for consideration, as a woman who prefers games starring well-written women in leading or main roles. In order of “I think this game was made for this list” to “it’s both very good and very bad at times”:

- Gris: An abstract story about a woman's trauma. No dialogue or interactions with others, but it’s entirely about her.
- Sable: About a girl setting off on her own as part of a coming-of-age ritual. She interacts with multiple NPCs, including women, about quests and finding one’s purpose.
- Tacoma: Stars a woman, and features women talking to women (and has a lesbian relationship).
- Phoenotopia Awakening: Stars a young woman, Gail, who gains help from several friends and fellow villagers, including her sister.
- Control: About a woman searching for her missing brother. No male gaze. Definitely passes the Bechdel test as her main contact is another woman.
- Heaven’s Vault: Stars an intelligent female archaeologist. No romances and her main point of contact at the university is a woman.
- Kentucky Route Zero: Split male/female MCs. No romance, and definitely depicts other women well.
- Oxenfree: Stars a female MC and her friends, male and female. You can choose whether to encourage a m/f couple to get together.
- Tails Noir: Stars a male MC, but two main female characters are very complex and affect the plot.
- Hades: Stars a male MC, but female characters are excellently written. Most of the cast is male but I can think of a few instances of woman/woman conversations that aren't about men.
- Disco Elysium: Cannot recommend this one enough for nuanced writing. Majority male cast, but no male gaze. Every side character is well-written and lives in their own world, especially the women.
- Paradise Killer: Stars a woman detective investigating a murder; easily passes the Bechdel test. One woman is scantily clad but I interpret it as artistic, not porny. There is a side m/f relationship, and the MC can sleep with another woman.
- The Wolf Among Us: No male gaze, although it's implied the main m/f characters have romantic tension, the story is about defending sex workers and the female characters that exist feel like "real" people.
- Pillars of Eternity 1 & Deadfire: Can play as a woman, and the female companions are well written. The romances in Deadfire are open to all players.
- Dragon Age: Origins, 2, and Inquisition all have deep, nuanced female characters that affect the plot, and you can play as a woman in all of them. Several women are romanceable by male PCs but not all (Sera is a lesbian and some female companions are "unromanceable"). There is "boob armor" but it's not mandatory to have female companions wear it, and they banter with each other all the time if they're in the same party about a variety of topics.
- Also from Bioware, Mass Effect has some amazing female characters, and but imo its sexism sins are worse than Dragon Age’s, so it’s up to you. Miranda Lawson is brilliantly written with a lot of depth, but she's also the worst subject of male gaze-ification. Like Dragon Age, you can play as a woman—female Shepard is deeply beloved by fans for her voice actor’s portrayal of a military woman—and some female companions aren't romanceable by men. Some sexist tropes unfortunately affect the whole series; I think Mass Effect Andromeda is the most gender-neutral game, although its companions are not as memorable.
- Fire Emblem: Three Houses: This and its sister game FE Warriors: Three Hopes pass the Bechdel test easily dozens of times, and the two biggest female characters are both morally gray. The male MC can romance nearly all women in Houses, but a female MC can romance some women as well, and some women can end up with each other. There is some boob armor but it’s downplayed and breasts are often cropped from portraits so you don't see them. So, another mixed bag, but I think this has the best depiction of women of the more modern FEs, which are otherwise unapologetically fanservicey.
- God of War: Ragnarok: The cast is overwhelmingly men, however the female characters there are are very, very well written with no revealing outfits. It mostly follows mythology, which you could argue is old-fashioned in nature, but I think it was modernized well. There are no overt romances, however many are mothers and there's an implied m/f romance in the future, so it's a bit of a gray area for your criteria.

6 months ago

@Iaerugo wow, thank you so much for taking the time out to list off all these games! And in such an organized manner too. I didnt know about some of these, ill add a good chunk of them to list in a bit. Thanks again (:

6 months ago

@laerugo oops

6 months ago

@moschidae My pleasure, many of these are personal favorites so I'm eager to show them some love. If you check any out, I hope you may enjoy them!

6 months ago

No idea how to put spoilers here but Chrono Trigger is almost 30 or so years old, spoiler warning anyway






I always saw Lucca as the main character considering her importance in the story and how well... you don't need to get Chrono back to complete the game (though it naturally won't give the best ending)!

6 months ago

@sakana i never finished playing chrono trigger but i did get to that part, i didnt know you didnt actually have to save chrono though lol. Do you remember how much of the game you can play as anyone else? Cause if its a fair amount ill move it up to the playable female characters section


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