Will 2024 finally be the year of the female lead?

It isn’t often we get to praise an entire year for championing female protagonists over male ones, but 2024 could be the year that finally changes the narrative.

Obviously, games have been released before now that have had female leads – Tomb Raider is an obvious one – but the reason Lara Croft stood out so much, besides her triangular breasts, was because other games at the time predominately starred male leads.

Days of seeing nothing but a sea of male characters are slowly coming to an end, but it’s still surprising how many games are overlooking or even foregoing female leads (we’re looking at you Persona 3: Reload). It’s fair to say those games are in the minority, but the fact that they still exist is worrying.

Thank goodness then that 2024 is focusing on the femme energy of greats, like Princess Peach, to show us how formidable women can be. Don’t let the cutesy vibes of Princess Peach: Showtime! fool you, just because Princess Peach dresses head to toe in pink doesn’t mean you can mess with her. Given Peach’s popularity, it’s surprising she hasn’t starred in more solo games; there was a Nintendo DS title back in 2005, but it wasn’t hugely popular.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is here, so make sure you watch the trailer for this phenomenal game

But now? Well, we’re here for Peach getting out of Mario’s shadow, and showing everyone who’s really running the show. It isn’t just Nintendo’s ladies taking the lead – Hades II is also humming with strong female energy as well. Despite playing as a male in the first game, the sequel removes a male lead entirely.

It seems ridiculous to me that having to play as a female character is such a shock to the system for some gamers, yet backlash is all around. Women have had to play as male protagonists for decades. Without sounding malicious, it’s about time they understood what it’s like to be locked into a character you don’t feel any affinity towards.

And while there are plenty of titles that allow you to choose between the two, they’re not necessarily female-forward games. Neither are they male-centric, they simply give you a choice, which feels like the bare minimum of high customisation games like Baldur’s Gate 3.

“More women protagonists + more racial representation + more disability representation = great things ahead!!” commented a happy gamer. If you want to know what such a future looks like, look no further than The Last Sentinel trailer.

It dazzled, not just because it looks like another superb narrative RPG we can lose ourselves in, but because there was a very notable (missing) component.

“I liked the Last Sentinel trailer because it went from focusing on the woman robot protecting the children to the “demon” being gender ambiguous until she removed her helmet,” a Redditor shared. “Like it wasn’t a man coming in to save the day. Just more women! I don’t think the trailer had a single man? I know it‘ll be like five years before we get more info but I’ll remember that trailer.”

Even if the game includes male characters, the fact that the trailer gender-bent expectations was a pleasant surprise.

The legacy of strong females continues with the ladies of Final Fantasy VII, arguably with Tifa stealing the top spot for the hardest hitting character. Sure, she’s loved by many for her appearance, but there’s more to her than conventional attractiveness; combine these two traits – strength and beauty – together and the result is a powerful package.

As for Aertih, while some don’t deem her a physically commanding ally, she’s indisputably the heart of FFVII. Her emotional vulnerability has the power to change the undercurrent of a charged, tense scene, making her a must-have companion to brighten even the darkest aspects of their world.

Contestably though, when someone thinks of female strife, they picture Senua from Hellblade. Senua’ Saga: Hellblade II is out this year, and it promises to be as brutal a journey as the original. An icon of perseverance, Senua fights for her own survival second as she tries to save her deceased lover. That undiluted fortitude will see her into the next journey, one that continues to face down horrific tyranny to overcome “the darkness within and without”.

So many awe-inspiring female characters, yet their presence, while momentarily celebrated, never seem to be able to break through the glass ceiling they’re boxed in by. I wish women weren’t still so marginalised by a medium that they frequent. This year looks set to attempt to bring about change, but let’s not pretend that it won’t be a languid battle. There will be numerous stumbling blocks, with that “equality” always at risk. However, the foundations these characters are built upon will surely remain solid despite regular attacks.