Lest We Forget

I thought this such a small, trivial matter. When I began to look it all up, I thought this was going to be so simple. You see, according to many, there are so few female protagonists, so few female characters in the gaming world, so few positive female role models to look at. Such a paltry list, I thought. And then I looked up games, names, plot synopsizes, character lists, images, wikis, homepages and fan sites. Two weeks, three days and five pages of names later, I know still, to my great shame, that this is just the tip of the iceberg. But even so, such a rich, intricate tapestry of personalities awaited me; as I read and delved deeper into what made them, molded them, and forged them into the person they became on the digital worldfront.

I saw saints become sinners, and sinners become saints. I read paragraphs and histories from many genres. Warrior goddesses, soldiers, healers, victims, survivors. Digital angels, codified demons. Literal Deus ex Machina, et Demones licio. I have traveled with many of them, through worlds ravaged by the fires of nuclear war and lands resplendent with mystery and wonder. I have wept when the world forced them to grow too old for their age, smiled when they overcame adversities many would never attempt, and felt hollow inside when some of their tales ended all too soon. And as I spent time with them, learned of their stories, and listed them along with the many others, I realized one simple truth.

Every one of them has a tale to tell, if you would but sit and listen.

Every one has a part to play. Every one – heroine, villain and victim all – has a story. And to ignore them, to pretend that they do not exist, or that they simply fall into some contrite little “trope”, would be an insult to each and every one of them. Every virtuous act, every deceitful ploy, forgotten to suit a narrative too blind to the realization that there ARE worlds filled with these women. They do and have and will exist again in some way. Each one adding yet another chapter, another tale, to their rich and colorful histories.

And so to them, I say that I will not forget, even if some already do. I raise a glass, and salute the many female characters that have shaped worlds, saved galaxies, and tested heroes far and wide. And to all the developers that have given them to us, I also give thanks. Thank you so very, very much.

Here is a list of prominent female characters throughout the ages.

Suikoden Series

Odessa Silverberg
Pilika
Hellion
Sonya Schulen
Cleo
Ronnie Bell
Kasumi
Camille
Viki
Nanami
Pilika
Teresa Wisemail
Miakis
Alenia
Luserina Barows
Raja
Lucretia Merces
Zerase
Eresh
Cathari
Jillia Blight
Sierra Mikain
Chris Lightfellow
Queen
Aila
Lily Pendragon
Arshtat
Lymsleia
Sialeeds
Haswar
Lyon
Lucia
Elaine
Cecile
Apple
Emily
Sarah
Flare En Kuldes
Katarina Cott
Gretchen
Rita
Elenor Silverberg
Helga
Adrienne
Deborah
Noah
Lilan
Lilen
Lilan
Liloon
Kika
Maxine
Jeane

Borderlands Series

Lilith The Siren
Maya The Siren
Gaige The Mechromancer
Athena the Gladiator
Nisha the Lawbringer
Aurelia
Una Baha
Ellie
Fiona
Tiny Tina
Captain Scarlett
Mad Moxxi
Commandant Helga Steele
Colonel Tungsteena Zarpedon
The Eridian
Angel
Dr. Patricia Tannis

Dragon Age Series

Morrigan
Leliana
Wynne
Grey Warden (Female)
Hawke (Female)
Isabela
Aveline
Tallis
Merrill
Cassandra Pentaghast
Sera
Vivienne
Flemeth
The Inquisitor (Female)

Fallout Series

Lily Bowen
Rose of Sharon Cassidy (Cass)
Veronica Santangelo
The Courier (Female)
Sarah Lyons
Star Paladin Cross
Moria Brown
The Lone Wanderer (Female)
Natalia Dubrovhsky
Katja
President Tandi
Alya
Chista
Miria
The Chosen One (Female)

The Elder Scrolls Series

The Dragonborn (Female)
Aela The Huntress
Njada Stonearm
Ria
Beleval
Irileth
Ingjard
Serana
Delphine
Mjoll The Lioness
Frea
Illia
Lydia
Borgakh The Steel Heart
Ugor
Karliah
Lamae Beolfag

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