Article originally published on 11th May 2018. Brought forward because today is Mother’s Day.

This May 12th, we give thanks to our mothers and moms for raising us right and proper, as well as taking care of us during our childhood and even adult years.

At the same time, we also hold a moment of silence for the mothers of video games. They have it rough; they either die early, turn evil, or have their kids run off to go questing and some other world-saving nonsense.

From the best to the worst and in-between, let’s raise a glass or two for these hard-working and (mostly unloved) matriarch figures in video game history.

Hecate – Hades 2

The latest addition to this list. Hecate in Hades 2 is basically Melinoë mother figure, raising her and training her in the ways of the witch. While she’s an early boss character, she fights her surrogate daughter to prep her for her eventual confrontation with the Titan of Time Chronos. She’s also up for a conversation at the game’s hub area The Crossroads, usually near the cauldron where Mel does her incantations. And if you have bath salts, you can have a heart-to-heart talk with her while relaxing in the springs nearby. Truly a game mom figure of 2024. 

Mia Winters – Resident Evil Village

You don’t see much mothering from Mia Winters beyond the start of RE Village, but you can feel the dedication towards her daughter Rose. This is pretty evident to how Rose ends up at the end of the game and in the RE Village DLC.

Lady Dimitrescu – Resident Evil Village

The mom in gaming that took the world by storm in 2021. Lady Dimitrescu is a giant mutant vampire woman who has three vampire daughters and protects them with her giant claws and mommy strength. While her potential is arguably wasted in the whole game, she is memorable for many reasons. Her drive, her outfit, and her demeanour among other things. 

Brigid Tenenbaum – Bioshock

This aged woman is the mother of all the Little Sisters and Big Sisters. Her research created these little ADAM-filled tykes and the grown-up badass versions of them. Her motherly instincts kick in when she had to take care of them while in the now-dystopian Rapture. Better late than never, eh?

Jenova – Final Fantasy VII

She takes care of Sephiroth and gave him his powers, but at what cost? The cost of blowing up the entire world of Midgard for misusing the planet’s Lifestream energy. We know that the in-game corporation Shinra deserves all the hate, but why involve everyone else? That’s just mass genocide.

Queen Brahne – Final Fantasy IX

She snubs her own daughter Dagger for ultimate power. Nothing as stereotypically evil and irresponsible as putting your own needs before others, eh? Especially to your own flesh-and-blood.

The Queen – Ico

She is the woman responsible for Ico’s stoney predicament and Yorda’s quest to escort her away from the castle. You think having a wicked stepmom who boycotts you from dinner is bad? Try having a mother who turns you to stone, only to have some interloper with a club and a horned helmet help you out.

Ness’ Mom – Earthbound

She isn’t a bad mother, but she isn’t overseeing her kid Ness enough. She lets her son go out and play with his friends doing telekinesis and pyrotechnics stuff in the town they all live in. At least she’s there to talk to Ness when needed.

Next: More Moms