It’s (almost) International Women’s Day, so, what better way to celebrate than with games made by women? I’ve compiled a list of my favourite female-led video games and the women involved in their development below:

Ayami Kojima (lead artist)

For all the gothic horror-loving boys, girls and non-binary babes. Fight zombies, werewolves and other ghastly creatures before defeating Count Dracula, who resurrects every 100 years to take over the world. Inspired by horror films, the series is a classic and a must-play for Halloween. (With the lights on, of course.)

Robin Hunicke (creator, producer)

Chirrrrrp. Chirrrrp. A short, but sweet indie where you explore vast deserts and ruins as an entity. Along the way, you'll meet other creatures and communicate by (you guessed it!) chirping. It’s an extremely wholesome way to spend your weekend… unless you’re the poor soul my friend kept chasing because they wouldn’t chirp back.

Rhianna Pratchett (lead writer)

Every girl wanted to be Lara Croft when they were younger. Hell, I still do.

Travel the world as a badass archeologist in search of artefacts lost in the depths of dangerous ruins. This game perfectly captured the eeriness and loneliness of being in a dark underground tomb. Not that I’ve experienced it, but… you know.

Siobhan Reddy (producer)

LittleBigPlanet is a puzzle platformer game best played with friends. Despite some parts being slightly stress-inducing (looking at you, flaming seesaws), it’s full of lighthearted moments and a great way to pass the time. Also, Sackboy is the best boy. No further comments.

Aya Kyogoku (director, producer)

So, you’re in debt to a raccoon. You fish, craft and slave away to create a desert island paradise for other animal villagers that contribute nothing but sass. But, it’s all okay because the game is super cute and before you know it, you’ve played over 600 hours. And that’s how they get you.

Rhianna Pratchett (lead writer)

This was one of the first ever games I bought on Steam! With thrilling parkour and a stunning graphic art style, I loved to maneuver through the city and fly across rooftops. However, this meant I would often fail timed missions. Balance is key here, folks.

Jade Raymond (producer)

As someone who tries to parkour at every opportunity, I'd like to believe Assassin's Creed is helping me pave the way to success. It’s an action-adventure franchise filled with rich lore and insane historical accuracy that weaves fiction and history together incredibly well.

Sujin Ri (creator)

This game had my friends and I in a chokehold for weeks. Mystic Messenger is a mobile otome (story-based romance) where you play as a female protagonist trying to discover the secrets behind a mysterious phone app. The only thing that pained me was when characters would call or text at weird hours of the night. Hello, sleep deprivation.

Jojo Zhou (lead narrative)

Ever felt like starting a cult? Then this is the game for you.

Cult of the Lamb is an action roguelight where you play as a possessed lamb that needs to repay their debts (noticing a trend here) by building a loyal following in your saviour’s name. Strike down the non-believers, assert your cult’s dominance and be an all round baaaaaddie.

Portal, BioShock, Halo, Celeste… there’s obviously a wealth of games out there I didn’t mention! International Women’s Day gives us the chance to not only highlight games made by women, but shines a light on games made by non-binary and other minorities too.

From gender-neutral protagonists to LGBTQIA+ friendly workspaces, the gaming landscape is slowly changing and I can’t wait to see where it leads.

‘Til next time!