Every year, gamers are introduced to a plethora of great video game characters, with the likes of Death Stranding's Cliff Unger and Sekiro's Owl/Father standing out this year. However, 2019 has also been a great year for female characters, having such standouts as Control's Jesse Faden and The Outer Worlds' Parvati Holcomb.
As such, it stands to reason that these characters find themselves recognized for their role in game this year, as they appear in big and small games and a range of genres from looter shooter to horror games. With this in mind, here are the best 15 female video game characters of 2019.
Amara (Borderlands 3)
Every Borderlands game, with the exception of The Pre-Sequel, has a siren class: Lilith, Maya, and Amara. And while these are always intriguing characters of the bunch, they are so for different reasons. Lilith is known for her leadership capabilities, Maya for her wisdom and perhaps even pseudo-relationship with Krieg, and Amara for being the absolute toughest of the bunch. With 6 arms, Amara cleaves her opponents, enough to earn the reputable nickname, "The Tiger."
Amicia De Rune (Plague Tale)
A Plague Tale: Innocence is a surprising horror title in many ways. Not only does it come from Asobo Studios, which mostly develops movie-to-video-game adaptations such as WALL-E and Toy Story 3, but it captures the complex protagonists, Amicia de Rune and her brother Hugo, in a truly through way. Amicia can be described as progressive, assertive, adventurous, but comes complete with a truly-formed personality complete with egocentrism and an inability to connect or share easily with others. This makes the their journey through 14th century France all the more realistic and emotional.
Carmina Rye (Far Cry New Dawn)
When Far Cry New Dawn players met Carmina Rye, it was an instant callback to Far Cry 5's Nick Rye. She was born the day the bombs dropped, so it stands to reason she would return, and like her father, she brings a ton of fervor with her. Traces of the Deputy, her father, and her mother can all be seen in Carmina, so along with the intriguing bunker child background, it makes Carmina Rye stand out in Far Cry New Dawn.
Cere (Jedi Fallen Order)
Cere gives Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and general Star Wars fans alike an in-depth look into a Jedi broken by the Purge. Her entire character arc centers around dealing with the fallout of Order 66 and coming to terms with how she failed her Padawan. As such, she has previously tapped into the Dark Side of the Force, cutting herself off from the Force later to prevent herself from being lost the Dark Side. Her next encounter with it is much more heartfelt, as she is being seduced by a Sith Lord at the same time, but she manages to redeem herself and become a true Jedi Master.
Claire Redfield (Resident Evil 2)
Resident Evil 2 Remake did a lot to improve upon the original, bringing Claire Redfield to life in a new way. Despite a few additions to the game, it remains the same story and Claire remains the same powerhouse as before. RE2 is just the start of her search for her brother, but what she's willing to do to find him, to survive the Racoon City incident, and everything else involved with her character development make her a stand out in the franchise.
Edelgard (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)
Fire Emblem: Three Houses' Edelgard is incredibly detailed, from her royalty in the Adestrian Empire, her office academy life, and the way she carries her to her roles as a natural leader and excellent student. She's modest and formal, sometimes breaking to relax, and is a general private person. All of this and more humanizes her like her nickname, El, and her dancing abilities. She's also afraid of rats and cannot swim, making her an all around complex and lovable character.
Farah Karim (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare)
Farah's life and personality is one shaped by war, as when she was roughly 7 years old, her mother was crushed by a Russian artillery strike and her father was murdered by a Russian soldier. She would escape this incident, growing up to become a freedom fighter. She'd go on to be a founding member of the Urzikstan Libertation Force, where she believes that, "Will is the most important weapon." She doesn't seek an aggressive war, but to simply protect the land that is her's and her peoples's.
Fragile (Death Stranding)
When she was first revealed at E3 2018, Fragile caught the eye of many Death Stranding fans. They come to learn in the game that she is controlled and intelligent, playing a role in helping Sam learn to deal with BTs. Her DOOMS extinction factor is higher than Sam's, and it allows her to teleport throughout the world by moving through her Beach, though she must use this cautiously. She even coins an interesting proverb befitting the world of Death Stranding: "A cryptobiote a day keeps the timefall away."
Jesse Faden (Control)
Jesse Faden, as the new director of the Federal Bureau of Control, must investigate the Oldest House following an invasion by the Hiss. Faden is thrust into the chaos and must fight back the Hiss using a ton of paranatural abilities that make her character a joy to play. Her troubled past, coupled with the events that surround her, make Jesse Faden's story in Control one that stands out amidst other similar titles.
Kait Diaz (Gears 5)
Kait may not be new to the gaming world in 2019, but Gears 5 took her to new heights. It is very much a journey of self-discovery for Kait, as she tries to understand her role in the current world order and her past connection with the Swarm. This grows more and more complicated throughout the story, as she faces off with a personal enemy. This passing of the torch, from Marcus and JD Fenix to Kait Diaz, is likely one that will determine the outcome of Gears 6 -- whenever it releases.
Kronika (Mortal Kombat 11)
While most fighting games are not known for their story, Mortal Kombat 11 is an exception. The timelines fuse together as the result of the series unplayable antagonist, Kronika, who has reset the timeline over and over in seeking perfection. Raiden's actions in the current timeline, as they do in every time line, set her on the path to fix the time flow once more, with there being plenty of twists throughout this story. She is a Titaness, a deity even more powerful than an Elder Gold, and the Keeper of Time. She is also the mother of Shinnok, whose fate instigates the events of Mortal Kombat 11, and Cetrion.
Lifeline (Apex Legends)
After Apex Legends surprise launched back in February, players quickly became enamored with Lifeline. Not only is she vital to the metagame as the only healer, but her origin, her relationship with other characters like Octane, and her signature quips all make her an interesting character. Even though every Apex Legends character is unique in their own way, it's hard to argue that Lifeline is not at the forefront of that.
Merrin (Jedi Fallen Order)
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order introduces players to Merrin, a Dathomirian Nightsister. Even though Nightsisters are traditionally antagonistic, at best, toward Jedi, she and Cal manage to connect over their roles as survivors. She survived the massacre of her people during the Clone Wars, waiting on her revenge on Dathomir before she actually joined up in Cal. She plays a vital role in Cal's decision in the ending of Jedi: Fallen Order, and it's likely she will do so again assuming the game gets a sequel.
Miriam (Bloodstained)
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night sees Miriam take it upon herself to reverse her curse and contront an old friend, actions that are characteristic of her. She is brave and selfless, preferring to keep those close to her safe. She also fights against her curse so that it does not corrupt her, escalating her role in the events of the game.
Parvati Holcomb (Outer Worlds)
Parvati Holcomb is the first companion The Outer Worlds players will meet, and her innocence makes her a fan-favorite character in the game. She always seeks to do the right thing, effectively serving as the consciousness for Outer Worlds characters who just want to kill every NPC. And her personal quests emphasize her innocence, as players effectively build up her confidence for a date with someone she has a huge, child-like crush on.