Summary
Indie gamesare known for their boundary-pushing stories, their creative world-building, and their unique characters. Among the indie games that stand out in all these categories, there are plenty that immerse players throughstrong female characters.
These characters illustrate not only physical strength but mental resilience as well. Thefantasy gameson this list demonstratefemale protagonists who take on bold quests, learn valuable lessons about themselves, and succeed in combat against powerful mystical enemies. The fantasy setting of these games often heightens the immersion of players taking on these exciting roles, adding fantastical settings, whimsical plots, and new skills to be learned.
In a world that is as vivid as it is detailed, players must explore, gather resources, and interact with the local inhabitants. Playing asa mysterious witch, the objective ofWytchwoodis collecting the ingredients to craft spells, all the while learning more about the past and trying to help characters in a cozy local community.
The witch is a curious and unusual character, who is full of knowledge and wit about magic and how to use it to her advantage. Her strength lies in her problem-solving abilities, which come in handy in the game’s many puzzles and tasks.
Celestefollows its protagonist, Madeline, as she climbs up the mystical Celeste Mountain on a journey of self-discovery. The retro-inspired pixel art platformer is, on the surface, another take on this classic style of game, but the creativity and heart ofCelestemake it feel original, fresh, and wholesome.
Madeline is a protagonist focused on overcoming her fears in the name of self-discovery and bravery, like many of the heroines in this list. In Madeline’s case, her fears manifest in a literal alter ego, who she must chase up the mountain to conquer her internal struggles.
Indivisiblecombines platforming and turn-based combat in a stunning hand-drawn setting to tell the story ofAnja, a young girl fighting to defend her world from dark forces using her mystical powers. The game’s powerful art is one of its most impressive features, bringing to life its world and numerous playable characters in true technicolor, with a style reminiscent of Southeast Asian mythology and classic comics and cartoons.
Anja’s strength as a character lies in her bravery and determination to use her powers to save the world, learning important lessons along the way about her skills and how best to use them.
Spiritfareris a truly unique game, where players take on the role of Stella, a young girl who helps spirits pass on to the afterlife on her boat, aiding the spirits in finding peace along the way. Unlike a lot of fantasy games, this story involves no combat, instead focusing on the management of Stella’s ship, which involves building and customizing, as well as developing relationships with the spirits.
Stella is an unconventional protagonist. Her strengths lie in a more gentle form of heroism, featuring empathy, kindness, and emotional maturity that makes the game both profound and heartening.
Sableis an open-world adventure full of gorgeous landscapes to explore and puzzles to solve, with the narrative focusing on self-discovery and experiences gained throughout the journey.The protagonist is Sable, a nomadic girl who embarks on a journey known as the Gliding, where she searches for her purpose in the world.
Sable, the titular protagonist, is an excellent character to play. She encourages independence and curiosity throughout this vast journey, keen to learn more about who she is and shape her identity through her experiences.
Polygon Treehouse
Platforms
PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S, Mac
Rökiis a charming, Norse-inspired puzzle adventure game full of snow-capped mountains and stunning pine forests. The protagonist, Tove, is a young girl searching for her brother while completing puzzles, all while trying to confront her fears. The gameplay focuses on solving environmental challenges, exploring the landscape, and gathering items along the way.
Tove’s character is inspiring because she is determined to protect her brother, especially when coming face to face with mythical creatures and confronting them bravely. The game manages to explore this narrative beautifully; while the story is mysterious and the landscapes awe-inspiring, Tove’s confrontation with enemies is hopeful, not scary.
