OPINION: The evolution of women’s roles in gaming

Is there sexism in gaming? Yes. But the last few years have seen a lot of progress. 

Many games have started moving away from sexualizing female characters and using the “damsel in distress” trope. Some of the best games from last decade featured strong women in a central role. Two excellent examples include the Horizon: Zero Dawn and The Last of Us franchises. 

Aloy, the protagonist of Horizon: Zero Dawn, actively avoids romance to focus on her goal and journey. Not having romance options in dialogue is something not commonly seen in games.  

Ellie, one of the lead characters in The Last of Us, held her own at age 14 in a post-apocalyptic world. She is also the central character in the recently released game The Last of Us Part II, which came out June 19.

A leading role is not the only place strong women have appeared in recent games. Sadie Adler, an important supporting character from Red Dead Redemption II, is portrayed as a capable and dangerous gun slinger, even though the game is set in 1899. 

Call of Duty: Ghosts was the first Call of Duty game to feature playable female characters. Since then, more shooters, like Rainbow Six: Siege and Overwatch, have included large and diverse casts of playable women. 

Games are changing to reflect the betterment of society. And this will continue as the world moves toward equality.  

The PlayStation 5 reveal event on June 11 showcased a lineup of games for the new console. Some of the most notable games shown featured female lead protagonists. Among them were Project Athia, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Returnal and arguably the most anticipated game of the entire event, Horizon: Forbidden West, the much-awaited sequel to Horizon: Zero Dawn. 

It would seem game studios and developers are now making diversity a priority. The biggest hurdle is and will continue to be the bad apples of the gaming community, which tend to spoil the bunch.  

Are games beginning to become more inclusive toward women? Yes. Will sexism in gaming end soon? We don’t know. Games reflect society and as the world continues to become more inclusive, gaming will follow suit.

I recognize that I am a man speaking about gender equity, so I invite conversation on this topic. Feel free to reach out and share your experience.

Joey Cisneros can be reached at [email protected]