Celebrating the Women of Gaming in Women's History Month

March has been officially recognised as Women’s History Month for more than a century, allowing us all to celebrate the achievements of women everywhere.

It's true that gaming hasn’t always seemed the most inclusive space for women, but in recent years we’ve seen more women than ever before finding their way into the industry and making a lasting impact. Whether they be fierce content creators, e-sports competitors, or game developers working behind the scenes, they’ve collectively brought about change to the gaming scene in tangible ways, with more titles than ever before delivering a female-fronted experience. 

While nowadays we wouldn’t blink an eye at The Last of Us Part II or Horizon Zero Dawn for writing badass female protagonists, there was once a time where gaming didn’t offer so much real representation. Perhaps that’s why in one of the very first games to do so, Metroid, it was left until the ‘true’ ending to reveal that the bounty hunter Samus Aran was actually a woman. Inspired by Ripley from Aliens, and other popular actresses at the time, the team delivered a twist that garnered some underwhelming reactions. 

It wasn’t long until Tomb Raider followed suit, making a mark that seemed to shift views much more substantially. As one of the oldest and most popular titles to date with a female lead, Lara Croft changed the gaming industry more than anyone could’ve ever anticipated at the time. Creating waves that were crucial for a future of empowered women to thrive, it wasn’t long before Croft became the centre-piece for every young girl to see potential in their gaming dreams.

The Evolution of Lara Croft

While Lara Croft's design may have been more sexualised than we might see in a modern video game, it was her character that made her an iconic protagonist. She was a figure that single-handedly defined what the industry had been missing, showing a powerful woman portrayed as more than just a 'damsel in distress'. Instead, she showcased what it meant to be athletic, intelligent, strong, self-confident and relentless at chasing what she knew she could achieve - even when others doubted her. She was everything that young women everywhere needed and aspired to be, and a massive reason that today, many decades later, the franchise continues to thrive. 

With newer games like Life is Strange, Mass Effect (if you are a ‘FemShep’ fan), The Last of Us, Horizon Zero Dawn and more all offering female-fronted gaming experiences, it’s clear that Tomb Raider's impact was unprecedented in shaping what we play today. Online gaming has also seen titles like Apex Legends, VALORANT and Overwatch 2 incorporating an array of characters – male, female, non-binary and trans – that have connected widely with their audience for diversity too. 

But while we’re seeing an increase in representation for female protagonists in front of the spotlight (as the playable characters in our games), there’s just as much importance in the work of real women behind the scenes, crafting the characters we know, love and can genuinely relate to. 

From Amy Hennig’s directing and scriptwriting work on Uncharted, to Kim Swift’s level design in Portal and Left 4 Dead, a lot of our beloved favourites have been crafted by women that don’t always get the praise or recognition they deserve. Corrine Yu, while programming parts of Halo, Borderlands and Quake 2, even went as far as to create new lighting techniques and dynamic radiosity algorithms that Microsoft patented for their excellence.

Amanda Ripley of Alien Isolation

And that’s how we feel too. Through the song we get a sense of the character’s aspirations, her frustrations – even as we identify with her carefree singing. (She sings like nobody’s watching; in a film Similarly, the voice acting and motion capture behind every epic female lead is integral to the characters. Jennifer English’s performance in Baldur’s Gate 3 as Shadowheart added a layer to her identity that the script alone could not possibly offer. Without Kezia Burrows’ likeness and performance capture as Amanda Ripley in Alien Isolation, the game would’ve been missing crucial emotions for her character’s experience. You’ll also hear Anjali Bhimani as both Rampart in Apex Legends, and Symmetra in Overwatch 2, delivering performances that bring both characters to life with such individuality you’d scarcely recognise her voice to be the same. 

We look forward to seeing even further representation down the line, with the hope that the credits of our favourite games showcase a diverse array of people from all walks of life. As such, here are some of our favourite games with a female lead, or a part female team behind them, for you to check out and support: 

Oxenfree (created by Night School Studios) - Oxenfree sees you play as the all-too relatable protagonist Alex, a teenager overcoming grief, change and a sprinkle of teenage drama with an overarching eerie paranormal story to tell.

VIDEOVERSE (created by Kinmoku, a solo indie developer) - VIDEOVERSE explores retro chat-rooms and urges creating a safer space online with communities that thrive in their diversity.

Night in The Woods (created by Infinite Fall) - Night in The Woods introduces us to feline protagonist Mae, a quirky cat that has to deal with issues around her self-esteem, grief, and a lack of direction for her future. 

Celeste (Created by Extremely Ok Games, founded by Maddy Thorson) - Celeste offers a one-of-a-kind platforming experience mixed with an emotional narrative at its core. You also play as the eponymous Celeste.

Cities Skylines (created by Colossal Order) - Cities Skylines is a city-building management style game that keeps you on your toes. Lead designer Karoliina Korppoo, as well as other female staff were integral for creating the experience it is today. 

The future has never looked brighter for women in gaming. From incredible protagonists in AAA and indie games alike, to the diverse teams behind the scenes building the next big thing, the gaming industry has become more inclusive and representative than ever before. March comes to a close soon, but the women making history will still be there, changing the industry to the benefit of all.

At ReadyAimFire, we can't wait to see what comes next.