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The Top 15 JRPGs With Female Leads
One of the biggest appeals of the Final Fantasy franchise comes from having people from all walks of life banding together to fight for a common cause. But although the series focuses on many characters at once, Final Fantasy has still commonly featured that one main protagonist. You know, like the person on the box art, or the one who’s narrating the story.
The Final Fantasy XIII trilogy, otherwise known as the Lightning saga, is one of the few games in the franchise to feature a female main protagonist. The saga’s titular Lightning represents the central character around the games’ stories. A resident of Cocoon who rises up to save her sister, she and her allies then find themselves forced into an unwilling contract with their Fal’Cie masters.
She takes a backseat in the second game, Final Fantasy XIII-2, but her role is taken over momentarily by her sister, Serah Farron. Lighting eventually returns as the sole playable character in the final game in the trilogy, Lighting Returns. If you’re looking for a beefy JRPG experience with a female protagonist, FFXIII is one of the choices you can’t ignore.
Square’s first M-rated game, as well as one of the few games out there that are actually set during Christmas. The main heroine of this horror-themed JRPG is Aya Brea, a rookie officer for the NYPD.
Following the spontaneous combustion of all living humans at a theatre on the night of Christmas Eve, Aya is thrust into a conflict of biological proportions and must save the city of New York from Eve, a mutated being who seeks to destroy humanity and replace them with a host of ‘superior’ beings.
Parasite Eve utilizes a gameplay style similar to the tank controls of classic Resident Evil, but marries it with an ATB system and RPG mechanics more commonly seen in RPGs like Final Fantasy. The result is a unique hybrid of action and turn-based where even firing your gun is a strategic commitment.
Aya herself is a badass, considering that she’s the only one capable of fending monster after monster without bursting into flames, wielding nothing more than her trusty pistol.
Depending on who you ask, different people will argue whether Yuna was the main protagonist of Final Fantasy X. That being said, she is most definitely the one in the spotlight for its sequel, Final Fantasy X-2.
Moving on from the sombre atmosphere of the first game, Yuna returns with a more upbeat attitude, alongside Rikku and newcomer Paine. These three make up an all-female cast that journeys together throughout the game’s duration, making it one of the more interesting entries here.
Final Fantasy X-2 is a fun choice for those looking for a game where women are the ones with agency. Though the story requires context from Final Fantasy X, it’s a more lighthearted tale about Yuna coming to terms with her own desires as she embarks on adventures (as well as misadventures).
Originally a part of Falcom’s Legend of Heroes series, Trails in the Sky became so popular that it marked the beginning of the Trails series of games, which still continues to this day. The first two games in Trails in the Sky features Estelle Bright as the main protagonist, a reckless but big-hearted girl who strives to become a Bracer, a protector of peace, like her father.
But like any JRPG, humble beginnings eventually lead to bigger stakes, and Estelle and her adopted brother Joshua soon get caught up in an intricate plot surrounding the very fate of the Liberl Kingdom.
Since the Trails series is especially lore-centric, with some continuity or heavy referencing between its games, most people recommend starting with the very first games. It just so happens that not only is Trails in the Sky the first in the long series, but also features a female protagonist who really takes center stage.
Valkyrie Profile is a Norse-mythology-inspired game that focuses on the Valkyrie known as Lenneth, who is responsible for collecting the souls of dead warriors and helping them return to Valhalla, where they become Einherjar.
Lenneth’s past is shrouded in mystery, especially with regards to her origins as a Valkyrie, though the game also focuses on the tales of the Einherjar that join her in battle. Through brief tales, you’ll get to experience emotional stories that tragically reflect on the circumstances behind each Einherjar’s death.
Gameplay-wise, Valkyrie Profile is an action-oriented RPG where you can perform combos using Lenneth and her allies. However, beyond this battle system is also a complex management system in which you must train your allies adequately so that they can survive Valhalla and aid in the upcoming fight in Asgard.
As far as female protagonists go, Lenneth will no doubt strike as a strong lady, who not only leads in battle, but is also resolved to fight for her ideals. Coupled with deep gameplay and a unique story structure, and there’s plenty to enjoy here.
Did we miss any prominent JRPG entry with a strong female lead? Let us know on the comments below or on our social media pages.
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