Video games are special because they are a medium that allows an audience to experience stories and gameplay from a multitude of perspectives. Sure, it's fun to control a powerful male warrior in a fantasy game, but when the power of a mother is on full display it's hard to match that energy.
Every day in real life mothers pull off extraordinary feats of mental, emotional, and physical strength and serve as the backbone of many familial relationships. In the world of video games, both AAA and indie games have showcased on occasion some powerful mothers from various universes and mythos, but which among them stands the test of time as the most powerful of the bunch?
8 Ana (Overwatch)
The original Overwatch launched with a roster of heroes and villains that all came from different walks of life. One of these heroes was an Egyptian woman named Fareeha Amari, who went by the codename Pharah. She served as security chief and a soldier and was revealed to be the daughter of a deadly Egyptian bounty hunter named Ana Amari.
Rarely do video games showcase older women in powerful ways, but since the day she was introduced, Ana's proficiency with long-distance weaponry was on full display. She also happens to sport a rather intimidating design featuring a single section of silver hair sticking out from her hood.
7 Sonya Blade (Mortal Kombat)
Sonya Blade holds a special place in video game history, being the first female on the Mortal Kombat roster. She was a slick soldier who could hold her own in hand-to-hand combat. The Mortal Kombat universe features several different timelines, and in one of them Blade and Johnny Cage end up in a relationship that results in the birth of their daughter, Cassandra Cage.
As expected with the two parents having bold personalities, their marriage ended in a divorce. Despite being a human, Blade managed to overcome plenty of challenges, including fighting monsters and otherworld creatures that posed a threat to Earth.
6 Mia Winters (Resident Evil)
Mia Winters is originally present as a victim of circumstance that needs Ethan Winters to save her, but as Resident Evil 7 unfolds it's clear that she is much more powerful than she appears. In addition to attacking and overpowering Ethan, she also seems to possess a rather exceptional healing factor.
It turns out that this was all the result of a bioweapon infecting Mia's psyche. After the events of Resident Evil 7 the Winters would end up having a child named Rosemary, but their lives wouldn't remain stable. Resident Evil 8 focuses on Mia getting captured and it's up to Ethan to once again save her.
5 Clementine (Walking Dead)
When people think about strength, it's often the physical embodiment of the word that comes to mind. Emotional strength is just as impressive, and those who can overcome and persevere are built in a way that feels like a cheat code.
Based on everything Clementine had to endure while growing up in a zombie apocalypse is indicative of her resolve. Though she's not the birth mother of AJ, she takes him in as her own. In a way, her parental position mirrors that of Lee Everett, the man who looked over and protected her when she was simply a child.
4 Flemeth (Dragon Age)
Dragon Age as a series is home to dozens of familial stories and connections that run throughout the games. The Witch of the Wilds, most commonly referred to as Flemeth, was a woman believed to be a living legend that was as old and powerful as anything to ever walk the land.
One of her daughters is a character named Morrigan who also happens to be a witch and can join the player's party. The combination of shapeshifting and casting spells made Flemeth a rather scary entity to deal with, and the idea of her passing these traits down to all of her daughters was just as frightening.
3 The Boss (Metal Gear Solid)
Revolver Ocelot was a rather accomplished agent, so it was always safe to assume that his parents weren't likely run-of-the-mill and played some sort of environmental or biological part in his incredible physical and intellectual skills. Well, The Boss was a female American Soldier who happened to found the Cobra Unit and also gave birth to Ocelot.
There's a saying that states "power resides where men believe it does" and The Boss was the living embodiment of that. Nothing quite says strength like leading a unit responsible for obtaining victory at the Battle of Normandy, or developing close-quarters combat techniques pivotal throughout the Metal Gear narrative.
2 Kassandra (Assassin's Creed)
Assassin's Creed: Odyssey is an entry in the Assassin's Creed series that many argue is the best of the bunch when looking at modern releases. The game lets players choose either a male or female protagonist, but it's the female Kassandra who serves as the canon assassin in the story.
She's a physically imposing warrior who has taken down mythological creatures and entire empires. By her journey's end, she gives birth to a child named Elpidios with her partner Natakas. It turns out that being the granddaughter of the legendary King Leonidas I has its perks.
1 Freya (God Of War)
Throughout God Of War, Kratos has had to work around dynamic relationships with individuals, as said relationships change based on information coming to the surface. Freya from 2018's God Of War is one such case as she originally enters Kratos and Atreus' life as a hesitant healer.
When it is revealed that she is the mother of Baldur, the god seeking Kratos' head, and a man Kratos kills, Freya's generosity turns to ash. It's assumed that she will be seeking revenge on the god killer in the highly anticipated sequel God Of War: Ragnarok. She's known as the Witch of the Woods and is rather powerful in her own right.