Summary
Compared to other genres in video games, the open-world aspect has pretty much only been around since the PS3 and Xbox 360 generation. Other games before that had some assembly of open environments or sandbox-designed levels, but the true open world could not be accomplished until the HD generation started.
Open-world RPG likeSkyrim,Elden Ring, andFallouthave custom character creation as a standard, which allows players to decide the gender of their character. Naturally, this means that players are free to create female characters for themselves. While this technically qualifies as having female protagonists, a player-created female character is not the same as, say, Aloy from the Horizon series. To keep things fair and give credit where it’s due, only female protagonists who are pre-created characters will be considered for this list.
Updated Aug 11, 2025, by Hamza Haq:Open-world games have come a long way since the genre’s inception, with new and better technology like Unreal Engine 5 making it easier than ever for solo developers to create their own games; this trend promises to continue. As a result, the gaming scene has expanded as a whole, and games have become more accessible than ever. One of the benefits of this is that female protagonists are no longer the exception to the rule but the norm.
Out of the two twins, Evie Frye is more level-headed and likable. Her tendency to use her brains instead of pure brawn to tackle objectives makes her more engaging to play with. The fact that she’s more stealth-focused as opposed to Jacob makes her way more engaging to control as a protagonist in a game where sneaking around is more engaging than dabbling in outright combat.
Despite a less-than-flattering critical reception, most people lovedGreedFallwhen it launched. The game was released around the same time when industry giant BioWare was at its lowest point, with the release ofMass Effect: Andromedabeing lambasted by fans and critics alike for being an inferior game that spat in the face of theMass EffectIP. So, whenGreedFallcame out, players loved its simple, unwavering focus on popular Western RPG tropes.
This game is weirdly comfortable to play, with a great story, fun characters, and janky yet entertaining combat helping it stand out as one of the best games Spiders has ever made. The studio has struggled to break into the market time and time again, which is why this success should be celebrated, especially with players having the chance to go for a male or female main character.
Genshin Impactis the biggest gacha game in the last decade and what has put the genre firmly into the mainstream, inspiring titles like Honkai Star Rail, Wuthering Waves, and Tower of Fantasy, among others. It’s an absolutely massive open-world game withtons and tons of playable characters, unique regions to explore, hundreds of hours worth of content, and a lot more.
Right at the start of the journey, before players enter Teyvat for the first time, they’re allowed to choose between a male protagonist, Aether, and a female protagonist, Lumine, as their Traveler. There isn’t much of a difference between the two, as both male and female versions of the Traveler have the same powers and abilities, and the choice is largely cosmetic, but Lumine is still by far the preferred version of the Traveler for a vast majority of the player base.
Tchiais acozy open-world adventure gamewhere players take control of a small girl named Tchia who sets out on a journey across the archipelago where she resides in search of her kidnapped father.
Tchia is a child protagonist, something that is quite rare to see in open-world games, but considering the world setting and the story behind her, it’s fitting. The game is focused on exploration and discovery, with tribesmen spread out across the islands serving as makeshift guides for Tchia to aid her along her journey. Despite offering a vast open world to explore,Tchiaremains groundedand focuses on the story more than on the gameplay.
A lot of people accusedAssassin’s Creed Valhallaof being a bit too bloated for its own good. These criticisms are certainly warranted, but players who aren’t in any danger of being exhausted by the game’s massive open world will love whatValhallabrings to the table.
Eivor can be both male or female, with the latter being considered as the canon option. Female Eivor is a blast to control, and the wealth of abilities she can use in battle makes this game an easy pick for players seeking out good open-world games with female protagonists. With this game being the lastAssassin’s Creedto adopt the new RPG-focused approach, Valhalla is a decent send-off to this style ofAssassin’s Creedgame.
WhileCyberpunk 2077might be one of the most controversial releases of all time, there’s no denying that there are several qualities of this game that have helped it stand strong as one of the better RPGs around.
Controlling the female Vin one of the greatest video game stories around is something that should be lauded for all the right reasons. For all of the criticisms that can be leveled atCyberpunk 2077, the protagonist is generally not one of them.
Of the two playable genders inAssassin’s Creed Odyssey, Kassandra is more favored by fans over her brother Alexios. Firstly, her acting is better. Alexios sounds a bit dull whereas Kassandra gets into it.
In addition to this, her plight feels more real and can thus connect to players better. This was also a big step for the franchise.
Tied withDragon Age Inquisition,Horizon Zero Dawnwas a pleasant surprise for PS4 players. Many were surprised that theKillzonecreators, Guerrilla Games, could go so far in the other direction and nail it.
This game is likeMonster Hunterif the monsters were robots. It’s a post-apocalypse while not feeling like a typical cataclysmic setting likeFallout. Game stuff aside, Aloy was a strong lead.
Horizon Forbidden Westis an excellent sequel that builds up on the success of the first game. Aloy is back and better than ever, with the red-haired protagonist journeying to uncover the mystery surrounding the world after getting a glimpse of what the world used to be like in the prequel.
The numerous monsters inForbidden West’s unique setting coupled with the exploration of the world’s ruins make for a truly great time as players explore the world to its fullest. Aloy is as great a protagonist as ever and still steals the show… even if the script doesn’t do her any favors.While this game may have been overshadowed by the success ofElden Ring, there’s no denying thatForbidden Westis a great title that is a perfect sequel in many ways.
LikeRise of the Tomb Raider, this was are-release on PS4after it relaunched onthe Xbox One. It’s the best version to date thanks to the included DLC along with patches. The original version is not far behind either.
There are two female leads in this game. One is a bit of a spoiler, so she will not be listed. Of the two though, 2B would still win by a landslide.
