For a long time, women in fantasy and fiction have been portrayed either as damsels in distress or as love interests or secondary characters. But with time, this notion has changed and its effects can be seen in the world of gaming as well. One can now find videogames with strong female leads, who don’t care for the male fantasy of a strong woman, but embrace their femininity and grace, and prove themselves lethal when need be. Here are a few iconic female characters who we would probably trust with our lives.

Aya (ASSASSIN’S CREED ORIGINS)

While Assassin’s Creed Origins focuses on the story of Bayek of Siwa, his wife Aya is central to the story. In fact, the game shows her to be one of the founders and earliest members of The Hidden Ones, who later come to be known as the Assassin’s Creed. The game takes a bit of artistic liberty with historical fantasy and shows her committing the murder of Julius Caesar. A woman from whom everything was ripped away, Aya is the epitome of a strong and wise woman, who dared to stand against an internationally operating oppresive regime, and succeeded in establishing the assassin legacy.

Aloy (HORIZON: FORBIDDEN WEST and HORIZON: ZERO DAWN)

Set in a post-apocalyptic biopunk world, the Horizon games revolve around Aloy, an outcast child with a mysterious past, and her adventures as she gradually discovers the truth about herself. Aloy is someone everyone can relate to (except for her wicked fighting skills and her fearless nature), as she tackles bullying, racism, and betrayal, and takes it all in stride. Never forgetting the values inculcated in her, Aloy forges her own path as a Nora Brave and a Seeker, creating a saga out of her life, while being possibly the sweetest person you’ll ever know.

Senua (HELLBLADE: SENUA’S SACRIFICE)

The protagonist of Hellblade (an indie game based on nordic mythos and folklore), Senua can be considered a study in perseverance. Determined to ask the soul of her beloved back from Hela, the Goddess of Death, she embarks on a seemingly perilous journey to hell. What sets her apart from other strong female leads is the fact that Senua is not a one-dimensional “strong woman”. She does not effortlessly cut down whatever obstacles are placed in front of her. She is aware of the dangers of the journey she has undertaken and is, in fact, rather scared of what she might face. But she stays true to her promise and pushes on with perseverance.