Highlights

• Open-world games have gained popularity in recent times due to the fun of exploration and the inclusion of female protagonists.
• GreedFall, Assassin's Creed Syndicate, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla are standout open-world games with female protagonists.
• These games offer engaging stories, fun gameplay, and the ability to choose a female main character, providing a fresh and important addition to the genre.

Compared to other genres in video games, the open-world aspect has pretty much only been around since the PS3 and Xbox 360 generation. Other games before that had some assembly of open environments or sandbox-designed levels, but the true open world could not be accomplished until the HD generation started.

The point is the genre is newer than, say, the RPG or brawler. It should come as no surprise then that female heroes aren’t as prominent in this department. That’s why some of these games had to stretch the very idea of what makes an open-world game an open-world game. These scores are all based on the highest value given from PCs to consoles to portables.

Updated on February 2, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: Open-world games have become all the rage in modern times. Players love the idea of exploring these sandboxes and accomplishing the many things that are possible in these video games. While it's true that some of these games can be a bit exhausting to complete (in no small part because this genre is already stuffed to the brim with a wealth of titles), some games stand out as the best of the bunch. The fun involved in exploring the worlds of these games coupled with great storylines, characters, and writing make them a blast to play through, and it helps that the inclusion of women protagonists makes for a small yet important addition to the realm of video games.

23 De Sardet (GreedFall)

Metascore: 72

Despite a less-than-flattering Metascore, most people loved GreedFall when it launched. The game was released around the same time when industry giant BioWare was at its lowest point, with the release of Mass Effect: Andromeda being lambasted by fans and critics alike for being an inferior game that spat in the face of the Mass Effect IP. So, when GreedFall came out, players loved its simple, unwavering focus on popular Western RPG tropes.

This game is weirdly comfortable to play, with a great story, fun characters, and janky yet entertaining combat helping it stand out as one of the best games Spiders has ever made. The studio has struggled to break into the market time and time again, which is why this success should be celebrated, especially with players having the chance to go for a male or female main character.

22 Evie Frye (Assassin's Creed Syndicate)

Metascore: 76

Assassin's Creed Syndicate was the first game in the series to feature a female protagonist, even if she had to share this role with a male. Still, the dynamic of the Frye twins is excellent and makes for a great experience as players get invested in their quest to liberate London while also accomplishing their duties as Assassins.

Out of the two twins, Evie Frye is more level-headed and likable. Her tendency to use her brains instead of pure brawn to tackle objectives makes her more engaging to play with. The fact that she's more stealth-focused as opposed to Jacob makes her way more engaging to control as a protagonist in a game where sneaking around is more engaging than dabbling in outright combat.

21 Eivor (Assassin's Creed Valhalla)

Metascore: 80

A lot of people accused Assassin's Creed Valhalla of being a bit too bloated for its own good. These criticisms are certainly warranted, but players who aren't in any danger of being exhausted by the game's massive open world will love what Valhalla brings to the table.

Eivor can be both male or female, with the latter being considered as the canon option. Female Eivor is a blast to control, and the wealth of abilities she can use in battle makes this game an easy pick for players seeking out good open-world games with female protagonists. With this game being the last Assassin's Creed to adopt the new RPG-focused approach, Valhalla is a decent send-off to this style of Assassin's Creed game.

20 The Junior Deputy (Far Cry 5)

Metascore: 82

The Far Cry series hasn't made major waves with its latest entry, with the game feeling like a carbon copy of the previous title. It's a shame since Far Cry 5 made enough changes for many people to be hopeful about the future of the series.

The fact that players could customize the look of their character as they saw fit was pretty great too. The gameplay felt inspired, with the open world being a blast to explore and explode.

19 The Student (Hogwarts Legacy)

Metascore: 84

Hogwarts Legacy faced its fair share of controversy and backlash before release. However, there's no denying that this game is the best Harry Potter title that fans of this massive wizarding world can check out.

The game has its fair share of disappointments, but is still a fun magical adventure that fans can get lost in as they create a custom character of any gender. The sheer number of spells and abilities that players can whip out in battle makes them pretty formidable indeed.

18 The Courier (Fallout: New Vegas)

Metascore: 84

Truth be told, the 84 rating for Fallout: New Vegas doesn't do justice to its incredible storytelling, world-building, and NPCs. Many consider the game to be the best 3D Fallout game of all time, and arguably the greatest game that was made using Bethesda's engine.

The Courier is a mysterious character that can be either male or female, depending on the player's preference. Once players are done forming their version of The Courier, they can start exploring the Mojave and all the amazing sights it has to offer.

17 V (Cyberpunk 2077)

Metascore: 85

While Cyberpunk 2077 might be one of the most controversial releases of all time, there's no denying that there are several qualities of this game that have helped it stand strong as one of the better RPGs around.

Controlling the female V in one of the greatest video game stories around is something that should be lauded for all the right reasons. For all of the criticisms that can be leveled at Cyberpunk 2077, the protagonist is generally not one of them.

16 Playa (Saints Row 4)

Metascore: 86

The Saints Row series is full to the brim with unique and zany gameplay, and the franchise pushes the borders of sheer ridiculousness with its third and fourth titles.

Saints Row 4 ends up giving the player-character superpowers. Roaming around as a female superhero as she wreaks havoc in the city — while being the President of the United States, no less — is extremely entertaining.

15 Kassandra (Assassin's Creed Odyssey)

Metascore: 87

Of the two playable genders in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Kassandra is more favored by fans over her brother Alexios. Firstly, her acting is better. Alexios sounds a bit dull whereas Kassandra gets into it.

In addition to this, her plight feels more real and can thus connect to players better. This was also a big step for the franchise.

14 Aloy (Horizon Forbidden West)

Metascore: 88

Horizon Forbidden West is an excellent sequel that builds up on the success of the first game. Aloy is back and better than ever, with the red-haired protagonist journeying to uncover the mystery surrounding the world after getting a glimpse of what the world used to be like in the prequel.

The numerous monsters in Forbidden West's unique setting coupled with the exploration of the world's ruins make for a truly great time as players explore the world to its fullest. Aloy is as great a protagonist as ever and still steals the show... even if the script doesn't do her any favors. While this game may have been overshadowed by the success of Elden Ring, there's no denying that Forbidden West is a great title that is a perfect sequel in many ways.

13 Sole Survivor (Fallout 4)

Metascore: 88

This is the generic name given to the player in Fallout 4. That’s funny considering Bethesda went out of its way to incorporate as many names into the database as possible.

Only the robot butler will refer to the character by the player's chosen name, but everyone else will use some generic title. The female version, as the one who gave birth to Shawn, feels like the better choice.

12 The Nerevarine (The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind)

Metascore: 89

The Elder Scrolls series was fairly underground for a long time, but that changed once Bethesda decided to adopt a different approach for The Elder Scrolls 3's development. This ended up paying dividends in the long run.

As either a male or female character, players soon realize that they're the reincarnation of Indoril Nerevar. Following this, they embark on a journey to save the province of Morrowind from ruin.

11 The Inquisitor (Dragon Age: Inquisition)

Metascore: 89

The first Dragon Age game is sitting at a 91. While it too features a female heroine of various races, that character is silent.

Sure, players can choose their text questions and responses, but the third game was a better choice for this list. The main hero in it, The Inquisitor, has more story input.

10 Aloy (Horizon Zero Dawn)

Metascore: 89

Tied with Dragon Age Inquisition, Horizon Zero Dawn was a pleasant surprise for PS4 players. Many were surprised that the Killzone creators, Guerrilla Games, could go so far in the other direction and nail it.

This game is like Monster Hunter if the monsters were robots. It’s a post-apocalypse while not feeling like a typical cataclysmic setting like Fallout. Game stuff aside, Aloy was a strong lead.

9 The Lone Wanderer (Fallout 3)

Metascore: 91

After the first two games dabbled in the isometric CRPG genre, Fallout was acquired by Bethesda, and the rest is history. The company was hot on the heels of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion's massive success, and it seemed like the studio could do no wrong at that point. So, when Fallout 3 was announced and released, it was only a given that players would be floored by what was on offer.

The switch to a fully open 3D world was a huge step in the right direction, with Fallout 3 being a massive success in every way. The Lone Wanderer could either be male or female. Exiting the vault to explore this title's massive world is still a magical moment that never ceases to be impressive, even after so many years since its launch.

8 2B (NieR: Automata - Game Of The YoRHa Edition)

Metascore: 91

Like Rise of the Tomb Raider, this was a re-release on PS4 after it relaunched on the Xbox One. It’s the best version to date thanks to the included DLC along with patches. The original version is not far behind either

There are two female leads in this game. One is a bit of a spoiler, so she will not be listed. Of the two though, 2B would still win by a landslide.

7 The Player (Forza Horizon 5)

Metascore: 92

Forza Horizon 5 is one of the greatest racing video games ever made. Everything from the graphics to the gameplay is sublime and a brilliant evolution of the series.

The player-controlled character can be customized extensively, appearing in story cutscenes and the like. It's a great way to personalize what should just be a racing title and makes for an unforgettable driving experience.

6 Custom Or Certain Origin Characters (Divinity: Original Sin 2)

Metascore: 93

Divinity: Original Sin 2 is one of the greatest CRPGs ever made. It's clear to see why Larian Entertainment was chosen to spearhead Baldur's Gate 3 a gargantuan yet amazing undertaking.

Players can either create a character of their own from scratch or choose from one of six Origin characters present in the game. Sebille and Lohse are great characters in their own right, and the latter in particular is a fan favorite.

5 Hero Of Kvatch (The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion)

Metascore: 94

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion was a massive step forward for the franchise. The game was lauded by both fans and critics for its brilliant map and for progressing the open-world design that Bethesda still employs to this day.

Regardless of whether the player takes a male or female character, roaming around the area of Cyrodil as the Hero of Kvatch is an engaging and entertaining journey from start to end.

4 Dragonborn (The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim)

Metascore: 94

Of course, it would be impossible to talk about The Elder Scrolls games without mentioning the masterpiece that is Skyrim. This game is one of the best open-world titles of all time. One needs only look at how relevant this game is to this day to understand why.

Stepping into the shoes of the male or female Dragonborn is a great time even after more than a decade since its release. Roaming through the varied and beautiful land of Skyrim is a treat that never threatens to be boring.