For better or for worst, 2021 is coming to a close, and it's been a bit of an unusual year for the gaming industry. In light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, many games have either been delayed or are set to release sometime in 2022. But this has allowed some unexpected gems to rise in their wake, putting emphasis on the surprising qualities that made each game unique and memorable.
The last year in gaming has seen many excellently written women who are determined in their quests, whether that be to escape a dangerous planet, stop the protagonist, or discover the truth. While, like anyone, these women are flawed, these imperfections ultimately serve as catalysts in their stories, and the resolutions wouldn't exist without their impactful roles. They follow in no particular order.
Selene (Returnal)
Winning Best Action Game at The Game Awards 2021, Returnal is a narrative take on the roguelike formula, following Selene as she explores a mysterious planet at learns that she's sent back to the moment her ship crashed each time she dies. Selene was described by the narrative director to be a "highly intelligent" scientist whose ambitions were so strong that they drove her "to a fault." However, it's not every day that female characters are portrayed as astronauts or aerospace engineers, especially in gaming.
Lady Dimitrescu (Resident Evil Village)
Also known as the 'step-on-me' lady, Lady Dimitrescu is one of the biggest icons to come out of the gaming industry in recent years, despite not being the main villain or character of her game. She debuted in a promotional trailer for Resident Evil Village, where fans immediately fell in love with her, plastering memes about the desire to be killed or trampled by her all over the internet. This led to the discovery that Lady Dimitrescu is a staggering 9 feet and 6 inches tall, further incurring fetishes over her power and terror, and marking the monstrous woman as the most memorable character of Resident Evil Village.
Yuffie (Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intermission)
As the more recent release of Final Fantasy 7 is a remake, Yuffie isn't a new character by any means, but's only an optional playable member of Cloud's party. Instead, she was given her own dedicated story DLC through Intermission, which allowed the writers to further explore and expand on Yuffie's backstory. A ninja who uses an oversized shuriken to fight, her DLC sets up her encounter with Cloud's party for the upcoming Remake Part 2. Despite her brash and cocky attitude, she's noted as being a caring and loyal friend to the others, which is just a few of many reasons why Yuffie's been a fan favorite since the original game's release.
Rivet (Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart)
Voiced by the stunning Jennifer Hale, Rivet is the Ratchet & Clank franchise's first addition of a female playable character. Like Ratchet, she's a lombax as well as an alternate dimension version of him. When she was first introduced, Rivet received a highly positive reaction from fans while critics noted Hale's emotionally captivating performance. Many have commended the writing of Rivet's character, which goes far beyond simple gender-swapping Ratchet by giving her a distinctive personality and backstory, making her an unexpected but great choice for one of the best female characters to come out of 2021.
Shionne (Tales of Arise)
Shionne Vymer Imeris Daymore is one of two playable protagonists in Tales of Arise and the only being female. She's afflicted with a curse known as "thorns," which causes intense pain to those she touches, which some perceive to be a great ability instead of an affliction. Shionne's relationship with Alphen throughout Tales of Arise showcases her good nature. Because Alphen is immune to her curse, she's finally able to open up to and trust someone else. And despite her being more closed off than Alphen, she's still willing to use her healing magic on strangers. That's not to say Shionne isn't strong on her own though; she's a determined woman rebelling against her oppressive nation.
Alex Chen (Life is Strange: True Colors)
Like each new major installment of Square Enix's point-and-click adventure series, Life is Strange: True Colors introduced an (almost) brand-new cast of characters, save for Before the Storm's Steph Gingrich, but the new protagonist Alex Chen might be the new fan-favorite of the franchise. Like characters the Life is Strange series is known for, Alex is still a bit awkward but is more likable than past protagonists. As easy it is for Alex to empathize with those around her, it's easy to empathize with Alex Chen as she explores a new town filled with unfamiliar faces without her brother by her side. She's compassionate and thoughtful, not taking anyone's personal issues lightly as she deals with her own grief and loss. And her romance with Steph might be the series' strongest yet.
Julianna (Deathloop)
Julianna's role in Deathloop was an original and refreshing concept, even if it didn't land perfectly with every single player. She's the main antagonist of the game, trying to impede Colt every step of the way, but her relationship with the protagonist runs much deeper. As the protector of the loop, Julianna maintains focus on her priorities and has strong resolve, though her confidence turns into a cheeky attitude at times when she's going up against Colt. Though it's not pertinent to the plot, players can take control of Julianna instead in a separate game mode and invade other players, where she continues to stop Colt in his quest to end the loop.
Kena (Kena: Bridge of Spirits)
Set in a whimsical fantasy world, Kena: Bridge of Spirits has reminded many of Disney's Pixar films, and the same could be said about Kena herself. Despite being a spirit guide, this world's version of Charon, guiding spirits from the physical world to the spirit realm, she's lively, kind, and curious. However, she's not just a novice spirit guide like some might expect. Kena has much knowledge on helping spirits crossover, but she lacks experience. Her journey throughout Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a growth period for her, where Kena, just like the player, is learning about loss and how to let go.
Mantis (Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy)
Mantis' character is quite different in the Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy game than in the film or comics. In Square Enix's game, she's far more powerful. While in the MCU, Mantis simply displays the abilities of an empath, the video game is more in line with the comics' version, brandishing terrific martial arts skills, precognition, and astral awareness on top of being an empath. Mantis is still adorable like she is in the film but also serves a greater purpose in the Guardians of the Galaxy. And despite this, the game did away with the aged and problematic Eastern seductress archetype that the comics introduced, making Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy's the superior version of Mantis.
The Weapon (Halo Infinite)
In a nutshell, The Weapon in Halo Infinite is a copy of Cortana, made with the purpose of locking the original Cortana AI down and terminating her. The Weapon was also to be deleted alongside Cortana, however, she instead becomes Master Chief's new AI companion, effectively taking the role of Cortana, though Master Chief doesn't initially trust her fully. While The Weapon has the same knowledge and capabilities as Cortana, she is, in a way, younger and more innocent, having none of the history that led Cortana down her path of destruction. Much like how Master Chief reflects on decades of saving the galaxy, The Weapon is a reflection on his relationship with Cortana, the letting go of it, and moving onto new dynamics and the future.