It's been a great decade for gaming. From all-time classics to unexpected smash-hits, we've been treated to moments of greatness in the gaming industry almost every year. With that comes revolutions in gameplay, masterful narratives, and some of the best-written characters the medium has ever seen.
15 Best Female Heroes In BioWare Games, Ranked
BioWare has been a master at creating immersive worlds and compelling characters. Here are the most memorable female heroes from them, ranked.
We're here to celebrate those characters; specifically, the heroes. They won't necessarily be heroic at all times, and some of them might not even be the official protagonist, but they are stars in their respective games in one way or another. They're the greatest video game heroes of the last decade, and they'll be icons for a lot longer than that.
Since we're specifically looking at video game heroes from the last decade, it only feels fair to talk about characters whose first appearance was in the last decade. Otherwise, while a character may have been well-written in the last decade, they've had years of development and previous stories building up to that point, making it hard for new characters to compete. That means no Kratos, Alan Wake, or Spider-Man, despite their most recent gaming appearances featuring excellent writing. Also, we're treating "the last decade" as anything released during or after 2016. There are Spoilers Ahead
10 Zagreus - Hades
A Persistent Demigod Who Wants To Know His Mother
Hades
- Released
- September 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Roguelite
On the surface, Zagreus is your typical heroic protagonist. He's noble, considerate, and determined, always there for his friends when they need him, and never smitten by fame or glory. However, beneath that layer is a demigod who feels that his life is missing a piece. Zagreus has never met his mother, Persephone, who left the Underworld shortly after he was born to return to the surface world.
Fed up with not knowing his other parent or understanding why she left him behind, Zagreus decides he is going to fight his way out of the Underworld to meet her. Despite his father Hades' constant urging to do the opposite, Zagreus persists, even when failure after failure sends him right back to the Underworld to be admonished by the God of the Dead. Zagreus' earnest persistence even grants him the favor of the other gods of Olympus. When Zagreus finally reaches the surface, he discovers that his bloodline is cursed, and he'll die after mere moments outside the Underworld. Yet even that doesn't stop him. He escapes over and over just for a few fleeting moments with his mother before he must start all over again. How could you not root for that?
9 Kim Kitsuragi - Disco Elysium
A Loyal Partner, Even When Harry Doesn't Deserve Loyalty
Disco Elysium
- Released
- October 15, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Developer(s)
- ZA/UM
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Kim Kitsuragi had never met Harry du Bois before their first encounter in Revachol, and it would be hard to blame him if he'd taken one look at the disheveled amnesiac detective and turned tail, but that's just not who Kim is. He's analytical, a bit of a stick in the mud, and a stickler for protocol and procedure, but he never turns his back on someone who needs his help (unless they're a racist), and whether Harry admits it or not, he desperately needs Kim's help.
Kim may not be the protagonist of Disco Elysium, but he is its beating heart. Harry is messy, a blank canvas (literally) that could succumb to any dumb idea that comes his way. Kim keeps things focused, orients the narrative, and provides a voice of reason, even if Harry ignores it. Treat him well, and Kim may give Harry a kind word. Disrespect him, and at best, Kim will recommend that Harry be fired. At worst, Harry will get Kim killed. In many ways, Kim is the "hero" of Disco Elysium, because outside a specific (and frankly kind of boring) playthrough, it sure as hell isn't Harry.
8 Aloy - Horizon Zero Dawn
A Child Of Circumstance Learns She Is Something Greater
Horizon Zero Dawn
- Released
- February 28, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen - Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Guerrilla Games
Aloy is a much more traditional hero than most on this list. She's an unknown, a young Nora girl who stumbles upon an augmented reality device she dubs a "Focus," which allows her to connect to the robotic animals that have taken over the wilderness. She grows up using her Focus, and by the time we join her, she's basically mastered it. It turns out that's just the tip of the iceberg. Aloy's connection to the Focus, and the technology of the fallen Earth, is much deeper than she suspects. She's not even a Nora, if we want to really get into it. That connection makes Aloy a prominent figure wherever she goes, regardless of what she actually does.
Yes, Aloy helps people. She saves people, but despite the calls for her to assume positions of influence, she rejects them at every turn. At first, it makes sense: Aloy is singularly focused on solving the mystery of Elizabet Sobeck and the Focus, but the longer it goes on, it's almost frustrating how regularly she pushes away any deeper bond with the world. The thing is, it feels real. Aloy knows that she's an outsider, that she will always be split between the current world and the fallen one. The fact that Aloy feels that pressure, and that it makes her reserved, is honest. She's not some altruistic warrior hero; she's a human shouldering an unfathomable task, and it affects her. That's what makes her so believable.
7 Johnny Silverhand - Cyberpunk 2077
The Long-Dead Rocker Revolutionary With A Decades-Old Vendetta
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
Johnny Silverhand died a long time ago. He was a rockstar, a sex symbol, a veteran, and eventually a revolutionary. It was that last one that got him killed. Johnny was a vocal critic of the government and megacorporations, particularly Arasaka, which controlled all of Night City at the time. In 2023, Johnny led an incursion into Arasaka Tower, where he met Adam Smasher and was promptly... Smashed. However, just before he died, Johnny's consciousness was imprinted on an engram. From there, all he needed was a host his consciousness could slowly take over, deleting the host from their own mind in the process. In Cyberpunk 2077, that host is V.
Cyberpunk 2077: Samurai's Most Tragic Member isn't Johnny Silverhand
This overlooked character’s story hits harder than expected—especially when the credits roll and Night City doesn’t forget.
When he first appears in V's head, Johnny attacks them, trying to take over their mind outright. When that fails, he agrees to cooperate with V instead. Johnny senses the budding revolutionary in V, and he exploits it, pulling at the strings until V shares his mission. At least, that's what he does to start. Inevitably, V learns more about Johnny and the cruel acts that drove him to be a revolutionary, and they start to see that his quest is less about revenge and more about justice. As V begins sympathizing with Johnny, Johnny starts doing the same with V. In the end, when the chips are down, and they need to either take the fight to Arasaka or flee Night City forever, Johnny leaves the choice up to V. Johnny certainly doesn't start as a hero, but neither does V. Watching them both turn into heroes (whatever that looks like in Night City) is what makes Cyberpunk 2077 a masterpiece.
6 Abby - The Last Of Us Part 2
Hero To Some, Villain To Others, But Undeniably Human
The Last of Us Part 2
- Released
- June 19, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
This is probably a controversial pick, but regardless of how you feel about Abby, odds are you feel it pretty strongly. That's fair. After all, Abby starts as the villain in The Last of Us Part 2. She tricks Joel, then murders him, and restrains Ellie so that all she can do is watch. It's a brutal, graphic scene, designed solely to make the player hate Abby with everything they've got, because that puts them squarely in Ellie's corner when she sets out for revenge. Then the rug pull happens.
Right at the midway point of the game, you're left on a cliffhanger and have to play through the days following Joel's murder as Abby, witnessing Ellie's revenge from her perspective. It's a jarring, uncomfortable twist that really didn't work for many players. For the rest, Abby's story eventually helps them see her perspective and contrast it with Ellie's. They see Abby's flaws, but also her rationale, her pain, her grief, and how they mirror Ellie's almost exactly. It also makes them see Joel in a different light, and arguably, see him as he truly was. The fact that many players reached the end of The Last of Us Part 2 and came to the conclusion that Ellie was, in fact, the game's true villain is a testament to how well Abby's character is written.
5 2B - NieR: Automata
An Android Built For War Who Breaks Her Programming
NieR: Automata
- Released
- March 7, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Platinum Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Of the three protagonists in NieR: Automata, 2B is sort of an amalgamation of the other two, 9S and A2. She develops an emotional connection to 9S, something that androids supposedly aren't capable of, and she uncovers the secret behind YoRHa and the endless alien war on Earth. Meanwhile, 9S is ruled by his emotions, and A2 has completely divorced herself from YoRHa after discovering their betrayal.
How NieR: Automata’s 2B, 9S, and A2 All Have Different Personalities
NieR: Automata's 2B, 9S, and A2 are androids and are not supposed to have emotions, but they all have their own personalities and feelings.
2B is somewhere in the middle, bonded to YoRHa through 9S and her dedication to the mission, but at the same time shaken to her core by the discovery that the war she's been fighting is a lie. She's the most human of the trio in that sense: conflicted. Yet it's not just her internal conflict that makes her so iconic. It's also her bravery and her confidence. It's her knack for completing every mission she's sent on, while also willingly thinking beyond YoRHa's orders and making decisions for herself. It's her ability to show mercy even when she's literally programmed not to. She's easy to cheer for, respect, and admire, and that's why her death hits so hard. Plus, 2B is basically the cosplay queen right now, which just solidifies her as a modern gaming figurehead.
4 Hornet - Hollow Knight: Silksong
A Lifelong Warrior Seeking A Kingdom She Can Save
Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Released
- September 4, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Hornet doesn't receive a ton of character development in Hollow Knight, but she's certainly mysterious enough to leave you wanting more. That's what you get in Hollow Knight: Silksong, and plenty of it. Hornet was meant to be the protector of Hallownest, but she failed, resulting in the fallen bug kingdom you explore in the first game. Years later, after escaping captivity in Pharloom, she finds a chance at redemption.
Unlike the Knight, who is literally a blank vessel cast as the prophesied hero, Hornet has lived a life. She has memories, a history, and a long list of battles she's fought and won. The "established hero on one of their many lifetime quests" is not a common archetype in video games. Often, we begin as a nobody and rise to glory, but Hornet has been at this a long time, and that comes through in her character. She's confident, but respectful. She knows how to handle a subjugated populace. She won't take flak from anyone, but she'll help out those who need it, even those she finds annoying. We learn more about her throughout the game, including about her connection to the Weavers, but even access to a greater power doesn't change who she is. Hornet is a hero to the core: imperfect and laden with failures, but determined to push forward and to do what's right, no matter what it costs her.
3 Verso - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
A Flawed Copy Of A Dead Man Who Desperately Wants Peace
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Released
- April 24, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sandfall Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
Several other heroes in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 could be sitting here in this spot; Gustave and Maelle, to name a couple. However, Verso has a deeper complexity to him that puts him a step above. First of all, he's not even the real Verso. The real Verso is dead. Painted Verso is a flawed copy trapped in a world designed by the real version of himself, then made immortal by that man's mother, and the worst part is, he knows it. Painted Verso is trapped forever, existing as an imitation of a man whose image he can never live up to, and meanwhile, everyone he meets and gets close to dies. Well, everyone other than his genocidal father.
The thing is, Verso still forms genuine connections with the expeditioners he meets. He cares about them, and he wants to help them succeed. What he keeps to himself is that their success also means the destruction of his world, but it's not withheld out of malice. Verso just knows that there is no "stopping" the Gommage; it's already being stopped as much as possible. Killing the Paintress will hasten the process, but in a way, that's a mercy. Verso is a great character because of this complexity. Yes, he cares for the expeditioners, but he's also selfish. He cares for his family, even if they're not really his family. He loves his friends, even though helping the expeditions means destroying them. There are no clear answers with Verso, yet he's completely relatable, and that takes some damn fine writing to accomplish.
2 Astarion - Baldur's Gate 3
A Vampire Longing For Freedom
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG
There are easily half a dozen iconic characters in Baldur's Gate 3, yet there's a reason why Astarion has become the most recognizable of the bunch, to the point that even those who haven't played the game know about "the sexy vampire." For two centuries, Astarion was a vampire spawn enslaved to the vampire lord Cazador, right up until he was abducted by mind flayers, infested with a tadpole, and recruited to Tav's party.
Curse of Strahd Made Me Emotional Over Ascended Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3
While reading Curse of Strahd for D&D 5e, I kept thinking about ascending Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3. That was the most frightening thought of all.
On the surface, Astarion is a stereotypical vampire: charming, well-spoken, and clever. That's his shell, and as you break through it, his despair leaks through. Astarion is terrified, mostly of Cazador, but more broadly of being the prey in a world he believes is ruled by predators. Consequently, he's willing to do anything to secure power or safety, especially if it could protect him from Cazador. However, if you challenge him on his morals, Astarion will eventually break down his cynicism and genuinely bond with Tav and the other party members. It's a brilliant and moving moment to see the brash vampire make friends (or more), and it shows why, despite the many fantastic characters in Baldur's Gate 3, Astarion is the one who people have connected with most.
1 Arthur Morgan - Red Dead Redemption 2
An Outlaw Trying To Be A Better Man
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
It's rare for a video game protagonist to come around and immediately establish themselves as an iconic industry figure, but that's exactly what Arthur Morgan did. It's particularly impressive given that Arthur was following in the footsteps of John Marston, himself a beloved gaming icon. To be honest, Arthur leaves John in the dust. It's how earnest he is, even as an outlaw with a checkered past. He looks out for his friends, even the ones who don't deserve it. Everything he does is for those he cares about, even if those same people act greedy and selfish towards him. Somehow, in amongst the bank robbing, contract killing, and jailbreaking, Arthur is noble and just.
That's why it's believable that he could make a switch at the midway point of Red Dead Redemption 2. Once Arthur's tuberculosis diagnosis is confirmed, he tries to turn over a new leaf, desperately seeking redemption for his past deeds. It fits because Arthur was never a "bad" man in the traditional sense, even on a low Honor playthrough. He did bad things, absolutely, but the good in him is always visible. As Arthur changes, he starts to see his gang — and its leader, Dutch — in a different light, further shaking his sense of self and his sense of family. Arthur represents the brilliant breakdown of a character trope, splaying out the pieces and asking if they can be built up into something better and more human. Given the resounding love across the gaming community for Arthur Morgan, it seems the answer is yes.
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