For this year's International Women's Day, our GOG Team members share their favorite games with strong female characters that are available on GOG.COM. Read their stories about what made them fall in love and look up to the characters, and discover their perspectives that show why representation in games is important.Horizon Zero DawnBy: Olguese
I loved Horizon Zero Dawn for many reasons: beautifully crafted lore, a post-apo, post-tech world that was a pleasure to look at and explore, an engaging storyline… And of course Aloy and the way she plays the cards she was dealt in life.
In her journey, she overcomes obstacles, both imposed by the social reality she lives in as well as the difficulties living in her world brings. Her unique circumstance meant she had to gain a lot of physical strength. But that is not what makes Aloy strong. Her determination to understand who she was is how she shows strength. She shows strength by overcoming fear and danger to come strongly into her own identity. And with all that, she keeps compassion and softness in her character, which shows that strength can be exercised without sacrificing one’s fragile side.
I would argue that the fact Aloy is a woman is relevant to the story and has a deeper meaning. When she discovers her origins, it becomes clear that the ways in which women can exercise strength are diverse - and all of us can work with that too. A truly inspiring juxtaposition to finish off an exciting journey - both in the machine ridden world and mental reality.
Hellblade: Senua’s SacrificeBy: Ela
This game captivated me with its atmosphere of dread from the very first minute. Playing it was never relaxing - uncertain consequences of losing combat, voices constantly whispering in my ear, creepy visuals all contributed to an intense, immersive experience. It’s a serious game, Senua’s story is dark and at times, disturbing, and it kept me feeling invested. Also, Senua is an interesting character, with flaws and struggles that made her feel real. Add to that superb voice acting and a cool, realistic design. A game with a great story and a possibility to play as a woman who kicks everyone’s ass? Yes, please!
Night in the WoodsBy: padlinka
There's something so special about the way Night in the Woods characters interact, something that felt real and relatable to me from the get go. It navigates relationships between mother and daughter, and friends who drifted apart in such a beautiful way, balancing the gloomy and the wholesome, the arguments and the good times.
I love how Mae finds common ground with her mom by talking about morbid stuff from the creepy books her mom loves (eels, honey!).
I love how both Mae and Bea are not without faults and exploring their friendship in game seriously brought me to tears.
And most of all, even though Possum Springs is a town consisting solely of quirky animals, I love how everyone in it is just so deeply human.
Whispers of a MachineBy: Tania
I started playing Whispers of a Machine just because I was looking for some new point&click. Additionally the sci-fi elements were like a cherry on top for me. I soon found out that the game is far deeper in its message than the usual puzzle and riddle solving ones. Seeing the ambiguous points of view of various characters, morality issues and the haunted past of the heroine left me pondering on my own choices and approaches as well as where do we go as humans. I really enjoyed the story and philosophical aspect that reminded me as well of Talos Principle. I highly recommend giving this title a chance.
If those stories picked your interest, and you’d like to experience them yourselves, you can find all of the games from this article, and more, in our GIRL POWER collection. 