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. Women are no longer in a movie, show, or game just to look pretty, to appeal to a male audience. They're no longer the damsels in distress the heroic male character has to rescue.
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To put it frankly, they're badasses-fully capable of not only saving themselves but others too. They're strong and independent and, most importantly, they're incredible role models for girls of all ages. With that said, here are the most badass females in video games.
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 makes this list for being an all-around cool girl. She's 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.
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 aimed 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.
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This heroic individual always put 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, brave female character.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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This character is cold-hearted, mysterious, and has great combat abilities. Despite her seductive nature, she is incredibly independent and likes it that way. A perfect example of a strong female badass.
Heather Mason is the main protagonist of Silent Hill 3 and an absolute badass. She is a reincarnation of Alessa Gillespie and Cheryl Mason, which after 17 years made her 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 one of the most unstoppable protagonists in video game history, even when all odds are stacked against her. At one point in the game, Heather 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 heroine.
Ellie Williams was born and raised during the apocalypse and that's what makes her so 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.
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.
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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.
When Chun-Li was first introduced in Street Fighter 2, she was the first and only female fighter on the roster and despite that, she still is one of the strongest characters to play. Her creation made a statement, she was great female representation.
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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, but a badass through and through.
Lara Croft is the main protagonist of the entire Tomb Raider franchise and arguably one of the most badass 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 a journey 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 that inspires many, not just because of her looks but for her strength, independence, and determination.
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