The best SNES games with female protagonists

Summary

  • Super Nintendo games had no female representation, reflecting societal norms at the time.
  • Highlighting SNES games with female protagonists was a step towards inclusivity in gaming.
  • Games like Wild Guns and Alien 3 allowed players to control compelling female characters in action-packed titles.



Considering that the Super Nintendo came out early during the gaming renaissance in the West, it's easy to see why female representation was lacking in these games. Most titles did not prioritize female leads, which was a reflection of society at the time.

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This makes it all the more important to highlight SNES games that allow players to control compelling female protagonists in a variety of video games. It was a step in the right direction that slowly opened the floodgates for games to attract more people.


8 Super Valis 4

A side-scrolling action title with two female protagonists, Lena and Yuko

  • Platforms: PC, Super NES
  • Release date: March 27, 1992 (SNES)
  • Developer: LaserSoft
  • Genres: Action, Platform


A lot of popular games on the SNES took the form of action-packed side-scrollers that were simple and addictive to play. Such is the case with Super Valis 4an enhanced version of an NES title that boasts a simple yet addictive gameplay loop.

This version makes a unique change by cutting out two playable male characters and replacing them with another playable female protagonist named Yuko. She was great to control with Lena and help her Super Valis 4 stands out as a fun action game that players can sink their teeth into.

7 Cutthroat Island

A fun related movie where players can choose Morgan Adams, a washerwoman

  • Platforms: Game Boy, Game Gear, Genesis, Super NES
  • Release year: 1995
  • Developer: Software creations
  • Genres: Action, Platform

His legacy Cutthroat Island is far from admirable, the film being such a huge bomb that blockbusters weren't seen as viable films until Pirates of the Caribbean burst onto the scene. So fans will be surprised to know that the video game is surprisingly fun in comparison.


The ten levels that players experience in this title are decent and feature their fair share of gems. Of the two player-controlled protagonists, one of them is Morgan Adams, a pirate who uses a thin scythe to stab his enemies in battle.

6 Wild guns

Savage Reloaded Pistols

ISSUED
May 31, 2010

Developer(s)
Natsume Atari

OpenCritic rating
Correct

Wild guns is a classic SNES title with the simple action of popping out from behind the roof and shooting down enemies on multiple levels. The game starts with the death of Annie's family, who hires a bounty hunter and goes on an adventure to avenge their death.

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The classic shooting action of the game is perfect for players who want to enjoy a simple game with Wild Arms Reloaded being the best way to experience this title in modern times. Gamers looking to control a female protagonist bent on revenge will love what Wild Guns brings to the table.


5 Alien 3

  • Platforms: Amiga, Commodore 64, Game Boy, Game Gear, Master System, NES, Genesis, Super NES
  • Release month: October 1992
  • Developer: Probe software
  • Gender: Run and gun

Alien 3 is a great run and gun title that fans will have a blast with, allowing players to step into the shoes of Ellen Ripley as she shows the Xenomorphs who's boss. It's a relatively simple title, but one that's well made and feels satisfying to play.

It helps that the game's visuals are authentic, while the music adds a ton of atmosphere to the shooting action. It may be a product of its time, but players who want to check out a simple yet rewarding action game will have a blast playing Alien 3.


4 Trials Of Mana

Three of the six possible main characters are Angela, Charlotte and Riesz

Trials of Mana (1995)

Sistema

8-bit super grayscale logo

ISSUED
September 30, 1995

Developer(s)
Square

Mana's Trials is one of the many entrances celebrated in Hand series that became relevant again thanks to the remake treatment. However, fans can have a blast checking out the original version of this title, which boasted an ambitious narrative where players could choose from one of six protagonists.

Angela, Charlotte, and Riesz are great main characters to control if players don't want to be stuck with a generic anime swordsman. It's a simple real-time action JRPG where players will slowly unlock new powers and items to make the moment-to-moment combat as dynamic as possible.

3 Zombies ate my neighbors

Players can choose between Zeke and Julie in a charming but challenging shooting game


Zombies ate my neighbors

ISSUED
July 19, 1993

OpenCritic rating
Weak

Zombies ate my neighbors is a fun run and gun title that players can check out if they want to try a challenging action game. Players can control either Zeke or Julie (both if played in co-op) as they mow down numerous undead threats in each level.

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The comical visuals and satisfying gameplay make it clear why so many people love what Zombies ate my neighbors brings to the table. Gameplay is virtually identical regardless of which character players control, with the game being surprisingly engaging and forcing players to perform effectively in combat if they don't want to die a humiliating death.

2 Final Fantasy 6

The game may have an ensemble cast, but both Terra and Celes serve as focal points in the game's two halves

Final Fantasy 6

ISSUED
October 11, 1994

Developer(s)
Square Enix, Square

OpenCritic rating
Strong

Final Fantasy 6 is one of the most legendary JRPGs ever made, featuring one of the largest casts of characters in the series to date. While many people claim that the game boasts an ensemble cast, the importance of Terra and Celes in the World of Balance and Ruin, respectively, cannot be overstated.


Terra's deep-seated hatred of Kefka ensures that she has the most to gain from his demise, to the point where she will magically appear before the final battle if she is not recruited before Kefka's Tower. Meanwhile, Celes serves as the player's introduction to the World of Ruin and its horrors, which can lead to one of the most iconic moments in the game if her guardian, Cid, succumbs early to his illness.

1 Super Metroid

Samus is an iconic protagonist that fans love

Super Metroid

Action-adventure

Metroidvania

Sistema

8-bit super grayscale logo

ISSUED
April 18, 1994

Developer(s)
Nintendo

Super Metroid is one of the most important video games ever made. It paved the way for a new genre of 2D platformers to take over the mainstream that continues to influence indie gaming.

It helps that this series also features one of the most iconic video game heroines of all time. Samus is an amazing character who lets her actions speak for her as she blasts aliens and gains powers to make it easier for her to explore alien worlds.


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