19 Most Badass Women In Video Games

Highlights

• Women in media are now more commonly portrayed as strong, independent, and capable of saving themselves and others.
• Video game characters like Samus Aran and Abby showcase impressive skills and multifaceted personalities.
• Female characters like Lara Croft and Chun-Li serve as icons of strength, intelligence, and courage in the gaming world.

As the years go on, society is slowly but surely becoming more equal, and a factor that equates to that change is the more realistic representation of women in media. It is less often that women are put in a movie, show, or game just to look pretty or to appeal to a male audience. Now, there is a demand for female characters to receive the respect and recognition they deserve, no matter what they appear in.

In any form of media, women can be fully capable of not only saving themselves but others, too. They can be strong and independent, and those who are often serve as incredible role models for women of all ages. The realm of video gaming is home to many female characters like this, and though they are all worthy of recognition, some stand out more than others due to how badass they are.

Updated August 7, 2024, by Mara Cowley: Video games have no shortage of strong female video game characters, tracing back to the early days of gaming with women such as Samus Aran or any number of female characters from fighting games. Each of them comes equipped with an in-depth and multifaceted personality, weaknesses, strengths, desires, and fears to make them an all-around impressive character who has more to offer than simply kicking butt and taking names. This article already showcased many badass and incredible female video game characters, but it barely scratches the surface of all the powerful women who deserve accolades.

19 Commander Shepard (Mass Effect)

The Galaxy’s Only Hope For Safety From The Reapers

Commander Shepard is a cool, certified badass, whatever gender players choose, but there is something special about selecting to play as FemShep. Perhaps it’s the incredible voice work done by Jennifer Hale, or maybe it’s because of how it flips the classic story of a space opera by having a woman as the chosen hero.

And the universe of Mass Effect is in dire need of a hero. An ancient race of sentient machines known as the Reapers have come to do what their name suggests, culling all advanced and sentient life in the universe, leaving one less advanced race behind each cycle. But of course, Shepard isn’t about to let trillions die, suiting and booting up to fearlessly face off against their forces and unite the galaxy or die trying.

18 Cassandra Pentaghast (Dragon Age: Inquisition)

A Strong And Skilled Warrior Who Brooks No Nonsense

Cassandra first appeared in Dragon Age 2 as the Seeker in search of Hawke, questioning their friend and traveling companion Varric about what exactly happened in Kirkwall. Players don’t learn much about her, other than that she is blunt, impatient, and finds Varric neither charming nor amusing.

She is nevertheless a rather intriguing character, one players thankfully learn more about in Inquisition. She is a dedicated warrior who takes no nonsense and is very serious about her role in stopping Corypheus. Though she makes it clear no one should ever get on her bad side, there is more to Cassandra’s character, as players learn she has a secret love for romance books. This does nothing to deter from her status as a badass.

17 Chloe Frazer (Uncharted: The Lost Legacy)

Strong And Charismatic, Chloe Is A Driving Force In The Uncharted Series

Chloe Frazer first appeared in Uncharted 2 and appeared in the subsequent sequel as the badass and too-cool-for-school thief, whose allegiances seemed to constantly change, leading Drake to always be suspicious of her and her motives, even if they romantically tangled once.

Eventually, Chloe starred in her own game, and she definitely deserved to. The Lost Legacy sees Chloe teaming up Nadine Ross as they search for the tusk of Ganesh. Seeing her leading the charge in an Uncharted game was a refreshing change and a testament that she has the necessary strength to hold her own and the charisma to be a protagonist.

16 Bayonetta (Bayonetta)

A Incredibly Powerful Character With A Great Deal Of Depth

Bayonetta is a character with perhaps the most fan-service in gaming history, but there is more to this glamorous gun-wielding witch than her luxurious hair and good looks: She is a badass and empowered woman.

Having her own trilogy at this point, she has become an icon in gaming, with the ability to turn her hair into deadly weapons and wear pistols as heels. It would have been all too easy to have her appeal, attractiveness, and skills in battle be her most notable traits, but part of the reason Bayonetta is such an interesting and badass character is because there is more to her than her ability to turn her clothes into weapons. Beneath the callous, teasing veneer, she does have the capacity to care, and that in itself shows great strength of character.

15 Samus Aran (Metroid Prime)

A Fearless Space-Farer With An Impressive Amount Of Skills

Nintendo first introduced gamers to Samus Aran all the way back in the 80s. At first, this character was assumed to be a man due to the heavy armor and amount of alien ass-kicking proclivities. Later, however, Samus Aran would be revealed to be a woman thanks to her zero-suit outfit reveal, landing her a place in the hallowed halls of badass women in games.

Metroid Prime showcases Samus’ impressive array of abilities, leaving no doubt that she is a powerful and capable badass and the only one in the galaxy who can stop the Dark Hunter. Her wide array of abilities, which include her space jump and charge beam, make her a very capable and resourceful woman with boundless amounts of mobility and combat capabilities, which even her heavy armor cannot impede.

14 Abby (The Last Of Us Part 2)

A Strong Woman Capable Of Vicious Deeds

The Last of Us 2 was a direct continuation of the first game, following the story of a grown Ellie seeking revenge for the murder of Joel at Abby’s hands. This act sets Abby up as one of the most reviled game villains by fans who had grown to love Joel and expected another game in his shoes. Love or hate her, there is no denying Abby is a badass to be reckoned with.

Players will spend a portion of the game playing as Abby, giving them a peek around the curtain into her character. Here is where they will learn about the strength she has in other aspects of her life and her willingness to overcome her own fears to save her friends. She is strong in many regards other than her villainy, making her a well-rounded badass.

13 Clementine (Telltale’s The Walking Dead)

Clementine Grows From Scared Little Girl To Hardened Survivor

In the first season of The Walking Dead, players discover Clementine hiding away from the world in her tree house and take her under their wing like their own daughter. By the end of it, Lee Everett’s story comes to an end, and Clementine learns that she needs to know how to protect herself, which she quickly learns to do.

Disasters like zombie apocalypses don’t allow children to be children, and Clementine grows up very quickly as a result, becoming an independent and fierce young lady when she should only be worrying about things like homework and what to do on the weekend. She becomes one of the most badass characters in the franchise, surviving all manner of horrors that shape her into a hardened survivor.

12 Senua (Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice)

Overcomes Her Weaknesses To Survive

Hellblade wowed many gamers with its impressive visuals, haunting soundtrack, and very grounded and realistic protagonist. Senua isn’t the typical bold and brash badass one might find in a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie; she instead holds a silent strength within her as she fights herself as much as the enemies intent on impeding her progress.

Her journey suits her character perfectly, as she sets out to save the soul of her dead lover, rather than following a typical badass plotline such as saving the world and bagging treasure and glory. The only treasure she needs is to save the one she loves, and she has to overcome her own vulnerabilities and self-doubt in order to succeed. This shows an impressive resilience and a kind of strength that most game characters won’t portray.

11 Lae’zel (Baldur’s Gate 3)

Her Mind And Tongue Are Just As Sharp As Her Sword

In a world with magic and monsters, there is no shortage of men and women taking up the blade and learning how to fend for themselves. Battle is practically in the blood of the githyanki, a race whose members wage restless wars against the illithid under the strict militaristic guidance of Vlaakith.

Lze’zel is no different from her brethren, feeding into this stereotypical view of githyanki, but that is not to say her character is disinteresting. Her intrinsic differences from other Baldur’s Gate 3 party members are part of what makes her character so interesting and badass. She is a force to be reckoned with in battle. Even when she isn’t fighting, she can be combative and aggressive, unafraid to tell things the way they are, and speaks her mind with no hesitation. Her tongue can cut just as easily as her blade.

10 Valkyrie (Apex Legends)

Even Combat Cannot Shake Her Calm Demeanor

Kairi Imahara, better known as Valkyrie, is a character in Apex Legends. This winged avenger is the daughter of Viper, a mercenary (and Titanfall 2 character) who worked for the Apex Predators. After her father’s murder, she set out for revenge.

Valkyrie is calm and collected, even when in combat. This legend often makes smug remarks in the game, making it clear that she’s extremely confident. She’s also one of Apex Legends‘ many LGBTQ+ characters. With all this in mind, a character like Valkyrie would not have existed many years ago, and that’s what makes her truly badass.

9 Page (Fable 3)

The Brave Leader Of An Underground Resistance

Although Fable 3 wasn’t as successful as anticipated, there is no doubt that this particular character is an absolute badass. Page is the leader of the Bowerstone Resistance, an underground organization that aims to put an end to King Logan’s tyrannical rule. Despite knowing the danger this put her in, especially after watching those who dare question his decisions get executed, she still remained set on helping those who were suffering as a result of his reign.

This heroic individual always puts her duties before even her own safety, and though she has a distrust of strangers, she is generally compassionate and kind. All of this makes her a perfect example of a strong and brave female character.

8 Nina Williams (Tekken)

A Brutal And Callous Assassin Trained To Kill From A Young Age

Nina Williams is the opposite of a typical damsel in distress. She’s a straight-up cold-blooded assassin and a fan-favorite character often described as one of the best in the Tekken franchise for her lethal combat style. From a young age, her father trained her in the art of assassination, which later led to her involvement in contract killing.

Her backstory highlights just how brutal she is, agreeing to kill both her own child and sister. Whilst she isn’t a hero, Nina is a powerful anti-hero and (later in the series) villain. She proves much stronger than many other characters in the games, both physically and mentally, and that’s what makes her a badass.

7 Oracle (Batman: Arkham Series)

Remains An Intelligent Woman, Instrumental In Helping Batman’s Missions

Oracle (real name Barbara Gordon), originally worked alongside Batman as Batgirl. However, this all came to an end once Joker shot her in the spine, paralyzing her from the waist down.

Despite being confined to a wheelchair, she refused to stop aiding Batman in their fight to stop crime. Instead, she took on the name Oracle and began using her computer expertise to feed him vital information and assist him on his missions. In summary, she didn’t let her disability stop her from being a hero, making her an absolute badass whether she’s Batgirl or Oracle.

6 Ada Wong (Resident Evil 2)

An Independent And Mysterious Femme Fatale

Ada is an anti-hero/anti-villain within the Resident Evil franchise, involved in many of the biohazard incidents that have occurred throughout its timeline. She works for an organization called Neo Umbrella, which aims to spread the C-Virus throughout major cities across the world.

This character is cold-hearted, mysterious, and has great combat abilities. Despite her seductive nature, she is incredibly independent and likes it that way. She is a perfect example of a strong female badass in a video game.

5 Heather Mason (Silent Hill 3)

Even God Is No Match Against Heather Mason

Heather Mason is the main protagonist of Silent Hill 3 and an absolute badass. She is a reincarnation of Alessa Gillespie and Cheryl Mason, who, after 17 years, was made the target of a cult that wanted to use her in attempts to birth God once more. After they murdered her adoptive father, Harry Mason, Heather set out for revenge, and that’s exactly what she got.

She proves to be one of the most unstoppable protagonists in video game history, even when all odds are stacked against her. At one point in the game, she faces a partially-formed God and proceeds to kick it in the face multiple times, even once it’s dead, presumably out of rage. It’s an iconic scene involving an iconic and badass heroine.

4 Ellie Williams (The Last Of Us)

Even From A Young Age, Ellie Was A Hardened Survivor

Ellie Williams was born and raised during the apocalypse, and that’s just one thing that makes her incredibly badass – she’s a born survivor. Despite being so young in the original game, Ellie doesn’t lack the skills and knowledge needed to survive. In fact, she often proves more of a survivor than a lot of the adults she encounters.

Whilst some players might argue that Ellie becomes a much mightier force to be reckoned with in The Last of Us Part 2, it’s clear that she’s always been a fighter, even from a young age. Her encounter with David says it all.

3 Jill Valentine (Resident Evil)

One Of The Most Capable And Hardy Women In Resident Evil History

Jill is the main protagonist of both Resident Evil and Resident Evil 3, and she’s fearless when it comes to facing zombies and other forms of evil. Before the events of Resident Evil, she was part of the US Army, which led to her becoming one of the few women in the Delta Force. Soon, she was employed by Albert Wesker to be a member of S.T.A.R.S., an elite section of the RPD that handled much more serious crime.

Jill is a total badass and a fan-favorite heroine. There is no doubting her strength and bravery, especially after defeating something as relentless as a bioweapon (and one of the most powerful bosses of the franchise), Nemesis, single-handedly.

2 Chun-Li (Street Fighter)

Strong In Stature And In Backstory

When Chun-Li was first introduced in Street Fighter 2, she was the first and only female fighter on the roster. Despite that, she is still one of the strongest characters to play. Her creation made a statement, and she served as great female representation in the realm of gaming.

Her backstory highlights just how strong of a woman she is, as she’s an expert martial artist and Interpol officer who is determined to avenge the death of her father, murdered by M. Bison. All in all, Chun-Li is not only an icon; she is a badass video game character through and through.

1 Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)

Has Intelligence And Resourcefulness To Go With Her Strength And Courage

Lara Croft is the main protagonist of the Tomb Raider franchise and is arguably one of the most badass video game characters of all time. She’s an archeologist, treasure hunter, and tomb raider. All in all, she really is the full package – highly intelligent, athletic, brave, strong, and adventurous. Lara’s research has sent her on journeys to uncover some of the world’s most dangerous artifacts, yet there are truly none too powerful to prove her match.

Some would say that Lara Croft is the most iconic female video game character to exist, and rightly so. She’s a character who inspires many, not just because of her looks but for her strength, independence, and determination.