Whether or not it is a science fiction movie like Aliens, a slasher like Halloween, or a psychological horror like The Silence of the Lambs, the horror style has all the time had loads of unimaginable and memorable feminine protagonists. Though most genres even to today nonetheless characteristic extra male protagonists, horror is among the few examples the place the reverse is true.
Because the style must subvert expectations to achieve success, it isn’t shocking that many minority teams, together with girls, are represented extra in horror than in different genres. Inside horror video games, gamers can encounter all kinds of robust feminine protagonists.
Up to date on July twenty ninth, 2022 by Tanner Fox: With Capcom’s Resident Evil collection having fun with a brand new period of status, the Lifeless House franchise set to make a triumphant return in 2023, and the near-confirmation of the energetic improvement of a brand new Silent Hill title, it is a good time to be a fan of survival horror gaming.
In fact, whereas Ethan Winters, Isaac Clarke, and James Sunderland take up a lot of the main target of those video games, these franchises have all showcased various noteworthy feminine characters. Plus, there’s an underbelly of indie horror that usually consists of unsung feminine protagonists deserving of extra recognition.
Alyssa Hamilton
Clock Tower 3
After the catastrophe that was Clock Tower: Ghost Head, the historic survival horror collection Clock Tower had one final swan music within the type of the 2002 PS2 recreation Clock Tower 3. Directed by award-winning Japanese movie director Kinji Fukasaku, who impressed Quentin Tarantino, the sport follows a 14-year-old woman named Alyssa Hamilton who discovers that she is a part of a household of magical women referred to as “Rooders” which might be destined to defeat beings often called “Entities” and their corrupted human hosts.
Regardless of having an odd combination of serial killers, magic, and time journey, Clock Tower 3 is in the end a coming-of-age story for Alyssa. Whereas she is strong-willed and caring from the start, which is proven by her touring again dwelling though her mom informed her to remain away and her comforting a number of spirits throughout her journey, she actually good points the emotional energy to face on her personal on the finish of the sport when she fights and defeats her corrupted grandfather.
Rei Kurosawa
Deadly Body III: The Tormented
Whereas Deadly Body II: Crimson Butterfly is usually thought-about the height of the Deadly Body franchise, the most effective protagonist might be from the 2005 PS2 survival horror sequel Deadly Body III: The Tormented. After the loss of life of her fiancé in a automobile crash, the primary heroine, a 23-year-old freelance photographer named Rei Kurosawa, is cursed by a spirit, and begins having reoccurring goals of an odd home referred to as the “Manor of Sleep.”
Though the maps and story will not be as polished because the earlier entry, Rei’s struggles with survivor’s guilt are extraordinarily highly effective and relatable for anybody who has misplaced a beloved one, which makes up for the setbacks. With the assistance of the protagonist from the primary recreation, Miku Hinasaki, and the uncle of the protagonists from the second recreation, Kei Amakura, Rei solves the thriller, ends the curse, and good points the energy to maintain dwelling.
Rin Kagura
Calling
When it was launched in 2010, the Wii-exclusive horror title Calling did not obtain notably optimistic opinions. Whereas it made use of revolutionary mechanics that relied closely on the Wii distant speaker, its simple Silent Hill influences made it really feel a bit routine.
That mentioned, among the many recreation’s 4 protagonists, Rin is probably probably the most attention-grabbing. Teleported to the Mnemetic Abyss after promising to go to a hospitalized woman, Rin should endure all method of horrors in an effort to hold her phrase. Rin additionally stands out as a result of the sport’s post-credit scene reveals that she truly survived her journey by way of the Mnemetic Abyss.
Rebecca Chambers
Resident Evil 0
Launched because the timid and meek S.T.A.R.S. rookie medic within the authentic Resident Evil, Rebecca Chambers bought an opportunity to show her value within the 2002 prequel Resident Evil 0. Despatched in as a part of the S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Staff to analyze a collection of mysterious circumstances occurring within the Arklay Mountains, she’s quickly embroiled in a conspiracy involving a wrongly-accused convict and the horrid reanimation of a betrayed Umbrella founder.
Resident Evil 0 went down as one thing of a controversial entry within the collection, however Rebecca was undoubtedly a spotlight, and she or he showcased on a couple of event that she was way more succesful than she appeared to be.
Alexandra Roivas
Everlasting Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
Developed by Silicon Knights, who additionally created Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and Steel Gear Stable: The Twin Snakes, Everlasting Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem is a 2002 GameCube cosmic horror action-adventure recreation, and the primary M-rated recreation revealed by Nintendo. After Alexandra “Alex” Roivas learns that her grandfather has been brutally murdered, she investigates her household property to determine what occurred and uncovers the Tome of Everlasting Darkness.
Though the sport follows 12 playable characters over about 2000 years, Alex stays the primary protagonist who in the end defeats the highly effective beings often called “Ancients.” Even earlier than the sport, Alex is proven to be extremely clever as a result of she was finding out summary arithmetic and quantity idea at a college in Washington.
Kirie Minami
World of Horror
Launched in early entry in February 2020, World of Horror is a rogue-like horror RPG closely impressed by the works of H.P. Lovecraft and Junji Ito. Sporting a particular one-bit artwork type, it is a deliberate throwback to the very early days of PC gaming, however that does not take away from its terrifying nature.
One in every of a number of playable protagonists, Kirie Minami is probably probably the most notable World of Horror character, as she’s a direct homage to Kirie Goshima, the central character in Ito’s seminal work Uzumaki.
Hana Tsu-Vachel
Concern Impact
Starting with the 2000 PS1 title of the identical title, Concern Impact is a collection of horror action-adventure shooters that make the most of cel-shaded character fashions and FMV backgrounds. Though every of the entries within the franchise follows totally different plots, all of them focus on a gaggle of mercenaries that primarily dwell in a futuristic cyberpunk model of Hong Kong.
Out of the a number of playable characters within the franchise, the primary protagonist is Hana Tsu-Vachel, who’s pressured to take harmful mercenary jobs in an effort to in the future repay her contract to the Chinese language Triad. Due to her harsh childhood, Hana is hard, ruthless, clever, sarcastic, and might struggle or discuss her approach out of most conditions. She can be canonically an LGBTQ+ character, and she or he presently has a girlfriend named Rain Qin.
Sara Chidouin
Your Flip To Die: Loss of life Recreation By Majority
Impressed by iconic visible novel video games equivalent to Danganronpa, Your Flip To Die -Loss of life Recreation By Majority- is an ongoing episodic horror journey recreation that started in 2017. After the primary heroine, a highschool woman named Sara Chidouin, and her pal, Joe Tazuna, are kidnapped, they’re despatched to an odd facility the place they’re pressured to compete in a “Loss of life Recreation” with different kidnapped people.
Regardless of solely being 17 years previous and different members of the group being adults, Sara shortly turns into the chief due to her robust and reliable nature. She typically helps the remainder of the group, makes robust choices, and solves complicated puzzles, however she additionally struggles with self-doubts.
Jennifer
Rule of Rose
Kidnapped and made to dwell as a member of a twisted social hierarchy instituted by a gaggle of orphaned youngsters who name themselves the Pink Rose Aristocracy, protagonist Jennifer stars within the distinctly distinctive survival horror escapade Rule of Rose. With de-emphasized fight and a heavy concentrate on narrative, it is a somber, nearly surreal title that every one survival horror followers ought to expertise.
Sadly, Jennifer is usually thought-about to be a significant detriment to the expertise; typically unable to correctly struggle again, her lack of melee experience makes the sport unnecessarily troublesome. Nonetheless, from a narrative standpoint, Jennifer’s character—and Rule of Rose as a complete—shouldn’t be ignored.
Regina
Dino Disaster
Created by the identical group that created the Resident Evil franchise, the Dino Disaster collection is usually referred to as “Resident Evil however with dinosaurs,” however the early use of real-time 3D environments and the in-depth AI of the dinosaurs make this forgotten franchise a lot greater than that. In the course of the first two mainline titles, the sport follows particular operations agent Regina as she fights dinosaurs that entered the fashionable period utilizing “Third Power” expertise.
Not like Hana who’s extra impulsive and hot-headed, Regina is often cool, calm, and picked up. Although she is comparatively unfazed by the dinosaurs and gore she witnesses, she does care about different individuals, which is proven by her in search of misplaced troopers and comforting survivors.
Jill Valentine
Resident Evil
Whereas there’re a number of outstanding feminine characters within the historic survival horror franchise Resident Evil, some of the influential examples is the one who began all of it: Jill Valentine. Within the authentic 1996 PS1 recreation Resident Evil, Jill, together with fellow S.T.A.R.S. member Chris Redfield, is among the two attainable playable characters who’re investigating the mansion, and she or he continues to be a significant character all through the franchise.
As one of many solely girls on the planet with Delta Drive coaching, Jill is extremely robust, clever, and resourceful. Regardless of the fixed horrifying risks brought on by bioweapons, she manages to outlive and maintain on to her ethical ideas.
Claire Redfield
Resident Evil 2
Apart from Jill, the opposite most influential feminine character within the Resident Evil franchise is Claire Redfield, who’s the youthful sister of Chris Redfield. In the course of the zombie outbreak in Raccoon Metropolis within the 1998 PS1 recreation Resident Evil 2, Claire, together with rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy, is among the two playable characters who’re making an attempt to flee, and she or he continues to be a significant character all through the franchise.
As a result of she was taught easy methods to struggle and use firearms by Chris from a younger age, Claire is assured in her skills, a fast thinker, and strong-willed. She additionally cares deeply for different individuals, which is proven by her tirelessly trying to find her brother when he disappeared and caring for Sherry Birkin.
Aya Brea
Parasite Eve Collection
Starting with the 1998 PS1 title of the identical title, Parasite Eve is a collection of motion horror RPGs which might be based mostly on a science fiction horror novel. After assembly opera singer Melissa Pearce at a efficiency, the franchise’s important protagonist, Aya Brea, and Melissa each awaken their mitochondrial powers. As Melissa turns into Mitochondria Eve and begins ending the human race, Aya should use her powers to cease her.
In each the primary recreation and the direct sequel, Aya is a posh character who’s concurrently skilled, sarcastic, courageous, kind-hearted, and filled with self-loathing. Her in-depth persona makes her not solely a fantastic horror protagonist but in addition one in every of the most effective RPG protagonists ever.
Heather Mason
Silent Hill 3
Launched in 2003 for the PS2, Silent Hill 3 is a survival horror recreation that is a part of the bigger Silent Hill franchise. Going down after the occasions of the primary recreation, the story follows a teenage woman named Heather Mason who turns into entangled within the schemes of a cult from the titular city.
Not like most fictional depictions, Heather is a sensible teenager who’s moody and blunt but in addition pretty naive. She loves literature and purchasing, and she or he is extremely courageous and strong-willed.
Ada Wong
Resident Evil 6
A highly-revered antihero with mysterious motives, Ada Wong is a recurring femme fatale who all the time appears to be one step forward of Resident Evil‘s rookie-cop-turned-secret-agent Leon Kennedy. Seen primarily within the second, fourth, and sixth mainline Resident Evil installments, she’s a spotlight of any recreation during which she seems.
Sadly, although she does function one in every of 4 important protagonists in Resident Evil 6, Capcom’s 2012 addition to the survival horror collection is not sometimes celebrated as one in every of its finest moments. Nonetheless, she additionally serves because the protagonist of the Resident Evil 4 facet missions Separate Methods and Task Ada, each of which had been glorious items of ancillary RE content material.
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