7 Reasons Why We Need More Female Protagonists in AAA Games

There are many reasons I relate better to a female protagonist rather than a male in video games. I'd like to see more female lead roles in games, especially in AAA games. So, here's a list of some of the reasons why we need more kick-ass female lead characters on the front page.

Diversity 

This is a major issue everywhere, but don't we want it at least in our games? I think females create more diverse gameplay and atmosphere. Even bringing different races into games is far more entertaining. I enjoyed the chemistry between Chloe and Nadine in Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. Bringing female characters into games definitely shows that there are things they can do just as well as the male characters. Believe it or not, there are a lot of female gamers who look up to some of those female characters. It creates an impact on many women, and they see how strong females can be. This leads to another reason I feel we need more female protagonists.

Inspirational 

Inspiration is exactly what I got from owning my very first PlayStation when I was eight years old. I immediately fell in love with Tomb Raider and Lara Croft. She was beautiful, smart, athletic, and adventurous. Lara was the face of a strong female protagonist back then. I looked up to her and wanted to be just like her when I grew up. Female protagonists inspire young girls and women to be their best selves and to have confidence that they can do anything. I could never forget Lara's adventure because she was a woman with so much courage, and I couldn't have felt that way if the protagonist were a male.

Same Old Clichéd Love Interest 

It's cute but not necessary all the time. Most games use females as love interests or supporting characters. I enjoyed Final Fantasy X's love story with Tidus and Yuna, but I got extremely excited when Final Fantasy X-2 featured an all-female lead cast. Something about playing as a fierce and strong woman makes me want to play more games with female protagonists. The love stories are great, but they get old. There are just as many women gamers who are ready to see female characters take the lead.

More than a Sexual Object

There is more to a female character than her sexual appearance. Lara Croft was beautiful, but she did have on enough clothes to cover her body. Female characters are portrayed with little clothing to attract attention. There needs to be another way to keep the attention of players on the character. Strength and agility can go a long way rather than using partial nudity to keep attention.

Emotions Are Better 

Female characters are often better with emotions. Male protagonists in games commonly display little to no emotion; they usually have a line they don't cross for fear of being looked at as weak. Female characters, on the other hand, can express feelings without being judged as harshly. Female characters bring the game an intense feel of love and compassion.

Best of Both Worlds

Female characters can be portrayed as a strong hero or a kind and generous hero that protects her friends. This is exactly what makes a female protagonist unique. They can use feelings anytime and not be seen as too emotional or vulnerable unlike if they were males. What's more, female characters in games are often more agile than males and demonstrate good flexibility in combat. 

Can Be Strong Role Models to the Younger Audience

Today, many games inspire our young girls and inform them about gender equality and about how strong they are. Indie games have begun tackling this topic in great depth over recent years, and this is promising. There are so many games that can be made to portray a strong, smart, and astonishing beauty that inspires women everywhere. 

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Strong female protagonists in games can make a huge difference, and with characters such as Lara Croft and Horizon: Zero Dawn's Aloy, we can see just how inspirational they can be. 

What are your opinions about more female lead protagonists in gaming? Let us know in the comments.