The best SNES games with female protagonists

Summary

• Super Nintendo games lacked female representation, reflecting the social norms of the time.
• Highlighting SNES games with female protagonists was a step towards gaming inclusivity.
• Games like Wild Guns and Alien 3 allowed players to control impressive female characters in action titles.

Since the Super Nintendo came early during the Western gaming resurgence, it's easy to see why these games lacked female representation. Most titles did not favor women in leading roles, which was a reflection of society at the time.

It is all the more important to highlight the SNES games, which allow players to control impressive female protagonists in a wide variety of video games. It was a step in the right direction that slowly opened the floodgates for gaming to reach as many people as possible.

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, platformer

Many popular SNES games took the form of an action-packed side-croller that was simple and engaging to play. This is the case with Super Valis 4an enhanced version of the NES title that boasts a simple yet engaging gameplay loop.

This version makes a unique change by removing the two playable male characters and replacing them with another playable female protagonist named Yuko. Together with Lena, she handled herself perfectly and helped Super Valis 4 stand out as a fun action game that players can sink their teeth into.

7 Cutthroat Island

A fun cinematic draw where players can choose Morgan Adams, a female swashbuckler

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

Legacy of Cutthroat Island is far from admirable because the film is such a huge bomb that blockbusters were not considered viable until Pirates of the Caribbean burst onto the scene. So fans will be surprised to know that the video game tie-in is surprisingly fun in comparison.

The ten levels that players will experience in this title are decent and feature a fair amount of pageantry. Of the two protagonists players control, one is Morgan Adams, a female pirate who uses a thin rapier to stab her enemies in battle.

6 Wild weapons

A shooting game where players can choose to control Annie and avenge her family

Wild weapons is a classic SNES title with the simple action of jumping out from behind cover and shooting down enemies in many levels. The game begins with the death of Annie's family, who hires a bounty hunter and goes on an adventure to avenge their death.

The classic shooter is ideal for players who want to enjoy a simple game Wild Arms Reloaded it's 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
• Genre: Run and guns

Alien 3 is a great run-and-gun title that will have a lot of fun for fans and lets players take on the role of Ellen Ripley as she shows the Xenomorphs who's boss. It's a relatively simple title, but it's carefully crafted and satisfying to play.

It helps that the game's visuals are authentic, while the music lends the shooter plenty of atmosphere. It may be a product of its time, but gamers looking to check out a simple yet rewarding action game will have a blast. Alien 3.

4 Trials of Mana

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

Trials of Mana is one of the many famous items in Moll a series that has become relevant again thanks to the remake. However, fans can still have a great time if they check 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 stick with a generic anime swordsman. It's a simple real-time action JRPG where players will slowly unlock new abilities and items to make the combat as dynamic as possible from moment to moment.

3 Zombies Ate My Neighbors

Players can choose between Zeke and Julia in a charming but difficult shooter

Zombies Ate My Neighbors is a fun run-and-gun game that players can try if they want to experience a challenging action game. Players can control either Zeke or Julia (both if played in co-op) as they slash through the numerous undead threats in each level.

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

2 Final Fantasy 6

The game may have a cast, but both Terra and Celes serve as focal points in the two halves of the game

Final Fantasy 6 is one of the most legendary JRPGs of all time, boasting one of the largest casts of characters in the series to date. While many people claim that the game boasts an overall cast, the importance of Terra and Celes in World of Balance and Ruin 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 magically appears before the final battle unless she is recruited in front of Kefka's tower. Meanwhile, Celes serves as the player's introduction to the World of Ruin and its horrors, which may lead to one of the game's most iconic moments if her guardian Cid soon succumbs to his illness.

1 Super Metroid

Samus is an iconic hero that fans love

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

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