Compared to their male counterparts, final girls in horror games don't receive nearly as much appreciation as they deserve. Despite their status as sole survivors essentially coining the term, they often tend to get overlooked, usually getting outshined by horrific villains and monsters.
Technically, the term 'final boy' didn't exist until it was conceived as an equivalent to the original trope. Statistically, there are more final girls in horror than boys, but even so, their presence isn't nearly as impactful in a male-dominated world. Within the sphere of horror, there are two types of final girls, the famous and the forgotten — the latter of which deserve more recognition.
7 Jessica Riley (Until Dawn)
One of Until Dawn's biggest assets and selling points is Hayden Panettiere's Samantha Giddings, the quintessential final girl. Not only did Panettiere's name value as an established actress glamorize Sam's character, but she became the poster girl for Until Dawn above fellow characters Ashley, Emily and Jessica.
Jessica Riley, played by Meaghan Martin, has a PlayStation trophy dedicated to her survival — "Don't Scare Jessica To Death." This trophy is unlocked if Jessica survives the night, marking her as one of the hardest characters to save. She is relatable, versatile and admirable, but her absence for half the game has her playing second fiddle to Sam, Ash and Em.
6 Moira Burton (Resident Evil Revelations 2)
Naturally, Claire Redfield is the most appealing element of Resident Evil Revelations 2. Marking the return of Redfield as the main protagonist, the episodic horror serves as a follow-up to Resident Evil: Revelations and Resident Evil 5. Players can either control both Claire and Moira Burton in single-player mode, or cooperate with someone else in multiplayer mode.
Moira Burton, charity worker for TerraSave and the eldest daughter of Barry Burton, can live or die depending on who takes the gun (Claire or Moira) to confront a mutated Neil Fisher. If Moira takes the gun, she overcomes her fear and empties the magazine into Neil, saving Claire's life. If that isn't final girl material, nothing is. Sadly, Moira is often forgotten over the more prominent and in-demand survivor, Claire.
5 Madison Paige (Heavy Rain)
As the only female playable character, Madison doesn't fade into the background, but Heavy Rain — released all the way back in 2010 — certainly does. In over a decade, there have been bigger (though not necessarily better) games than Heavy Rain, so it's considered somewhat of an oldie but goodie.
Madison Paige is an investigative journalist hot on the trail of the Origami Killer. She'll do whatever it takes to get the information she needs. While Madison, like the other playable characters, can die in Heavy Rain, her storyline also has multiple endings. There's so much depth to Madison's mentality, especially where Ethan is concerned, but she isn't just another damsel in distress. In fact, she can be the judge, jury and executioner for several other characters.
4 Kara (Detroit: Become Human)
Like Madison, Kara is the only female playable character in her respective game, Detroit Become Human. Interestingly, Kara can die right at the beginning of the game, therefore cutting out her whole storyline. If she survives, she becomes deviant, rescues Alice, and becomes her adoptive mother, then starts a new life with Luther.
Unfortunately, like most female characters, Kara isn't as popular as her male counterparts, Connor and Markus. Therefore, she is severely underrated. Although often criticized, Kara's narrative is the most emotional of them all. She is the heart and soul of Detroit Become Human and there's no denying that, even if not everyone thinks so.
3 Abby Anderson (The Last of Us: Part II)
Whenever someone thinks about The Last of Us: Part II, or the entire franchise for that matter, it isn't often that Abby Anderson springs to mind — and that's the problem. While Ellie Williams is the central focus, there wouldn't be such an intriguing plot without her archenemy. After Joel kills Abby's father, Abby retaliates by murdering Joel in cold blood, eventually sparking a rivalry between Ellie and Abby, who want each other dead.
When The Last of Us: Part II released, it wasn't long before the voice of Abby, Laura Bailey, started receiving death threats from enraged gamers who couldn't differentiate between Laura's life and Abby's actions. Regardless, Abby made her mark on the fandom — one way or another — and gave Ellie a serious run for her money. It's nerve-racking and downright entertaining to watch Ellie and Abby duke it out.
2 Rebecca Chambers (Resident Evil 0)
In the Resident Evil franchise, the most talked-about final girls are Claire Redfield and Jill Valentine. Ada Wong and Rebecca Chambers, the runners-up, aren't so popular. Appearing as a supporting character in the original Resident Evil, Chambers became the protagonist of the prequel, Resident Evil 0.
Unlike Claire and Jill, Rebecca doesn't feature in many games, so her potential for character development is severely limited. Physically, Rebecca is the weakest S.T.A.R.S. member, but her scientific brain and tactical thinking make her uniquely qualified to tussle with some unsavory types and come out victorious.
1 Nancy Wheeler (Dead By Daylight)
Just as Nancy Wheeler is the formidable final girl of Netflix's Stranger Things, she's also a vastly undervalued addition to the Dead By Daylight roster. Introduced alongside Steve Harrington and the Demogorgon in the Stranger Things chapter, Nancy is an aspiring journalist turned total badass.
Any survivor can be a final girl (or boy) in Dead By Daylight. However, Nancy Wheeler isn't everyone's first choice over fan-favorites like Meg Thomas, Feng Min, and Yui Kimura. Especially after the Stranger Things content was removed, Nancy decreased in popularity dramatically. Regardless, she still remains one of the most beneficial, exciting, and iconic survivors to be added to the line-up.