It’s incredible to think that it’s already Women’s Day and that this marks the fourth year I’ve had the privilege of celebrating it with you, NAG readers.
Each year, I’ve taken the opportunity to shine a light on the remarkable women reshaping the gaming world, from groundbreaking games created by women to some of the fiercest female characters in my favourite titles.
The video game industry has made remarkable progress toward inclusivity and representation in recent years. We’re seeing a beautiful transformation where female characters are no longer relegated to mere sidekicks waiting for the hero to save them.
Instead, we are greeted with diverse, strong, impactful female leads who drive their stories with power and grace.
This year, I wanted to look forward and celebrate the exciting future of gaming. I’m thrilled to share with you some upcoming games featuring female protagonists that I’m eagerly anticipating. I hope you’ll be just as excited about them as I am.
So, without further ado, here are ten upcoming games starring female leads:
Bloomtown: A Different Story
Developer: Lazy Bear Games
Publisher: Twin Sails Interactive
Release Date: TBA 2024
Bloomtown: A Different Story is a narrative JRPG that blends turn-based combat, monster taming, and social RPG elements. It is set in a charming 1960s Americana world.
Step into the shoes of Emily and her younger brother Chester, who spend their summer vacation in their grandpa’s quaint, peaceful town. But Bloomtown’s serenity is deceptive—children are mysteriously disappearing, and nightmares are becoming disturbingly real. For a 12-year-old girl with an adventurous spirit, something is clearly amiss.
It’s up to you to unravel the mystery and save Bloomtown and its inhabitants from a dark fate.
Why you should have Bloomtown: A Different Story on your radar:
If you like the aesthetic of pixel art combined with the narrative style of Gravity Falls, this is the perfect game for you. No matter how many times I watch the trailer, it never feels less exciting, and for that reason, I can’t wait to dive in and experience everything the game has to offer.
Constance
Developer: btf
Publisher: btf
Release Date: 2025
Constance is a 2D hand-drawn action-adventure game in which you step into the shoes of an artist armed with a paintbrush. You navigate a vibrant yet deteriorating inner world shaped by her mental health struggles.
Harness paint-based mechanics to stay in constant flow, dive through the ground and walls, slice through the air, and defeat enemies with your artistic prowess.
Why you should have Constance on your radar:
Imagine, if you will, a game that’s the love child between Hollow Knight and Celeste. What you get is Constance. Everything from its 2D hand-drawn style to its action-adventure mechanics perfectly complements each other, and I can’t wait to experience it.
Dustborn
Developer: Red Thread Games
Publisher: Spotlight by Quantic Dream
Release Date: 20 August 2024
Dustborn is a single-player, story-driven action-adventure game that delves into themes of hope, love, friendship, robots, and the transformative power of words.
You play as Pax: an exile and con artist with the unique ability to weaponize language. On the hunt for a new life and a fresh start, Pax has been hired to deliver a crucial package from Pacifica to Nova Scotia, navigating through the Justice-controlled American Republic. Sounds like a perfect excuse for a road trip, right?
So grab your gear, assemble a crew with their own unique abilities, and set off on a cross-country journey!
Why you should have Dustborn on your radar:
Dustborn is a game that has something to say and isn’t afraid of saying it, and you know what, sometimes that kind of rockstar energy is just what the gaming world needs.
Jurassic Park: Survival
Developer: Saber Interactive
Publisher: Saber Interactive
Release Date: TBA
Return to Isla Nublar the day after the events of the iconic 1993 Jurassic Park film in this all-new adventure, 65 million years in the making.
Step into the shoes of Dr. Maya Joshi, an InGen scientist who missed the evacuation, and experience heart-pounding first-person action in this single-player adventure. Uncover a never-before-told story as you navigate the wonders and dangers of a dinosaur-filled island.
Why you should have Jurassic Park: Survival on your radar:
Jurassic Park: Survival takes us back to when many of us first fell in love with dinosaurs, and that’s not even the best part. Jurassic Park: Survival finally delivers the survival horror aspect many fans have yearned for since their first dino-themed nightmare.
Life Is Strange: Double Exposure
Developer: Deck Nine Games
Publisher: Square Enix
Release Date: 29 October 2024
Max Caulfield, now a photographer-in-residence at the prestigious Caledon University, is devastated to find her closest new friend, Safi, dead in the snow.
Desperate to save her, Max attempts to Rewind time, a power she hasn’t used in years. Instead, she unlocks a parallel timeline where Safi is still alive but in grave danger.
Max soon realizes that the killer will strike again in both realities. With her newfound ability to Shift between two timelines, Max must solve the murder and prevent it in both worlds.
Why you should have Life Is Strange: Double Exposure on your radar:
The original Life Is Strange game remains a standout for games with super-powerful female leads. While bringing that very same character back almost a decade later is a risk, it’s also a way for an entirely new generation of gamers to fall in love with the franchise and an excellent reason for old fans to return.
Lost Records: Blood & Rage
Developer: Don’t Nod
Publisher: Don’t Nod
Release Date: TBA
Step back into 1995 with Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, a brand-new narrative adventure from the minds behind the critically acclaimed Life is Strange series.
Play as Swann, a quirky introvert who documents life through her beloved camcorder, and immerse yourself in the vibrant summer of Velvet Cove.
Meet Nora, the rebellious firebrand; Autumn, the thoughtful leader; and Kat, the enigmatic and strong-willed soul.
Experience the thrill of making music videos in Nora’s garage, sharing secrets under the stars, and uncovering dark, mysterious places. This summer is brimming with unforgettable moments for this newly formed sisterhood.
The friendship unravels as the summer winds down, culminating in an unexplained event that forces them to promise never to see each other again. Twenty-seven years later, fate reunites them to face the long-buried secret they left behind in 1995.
Why you should have Lost Records: Blood & Rage on your radar:
Lost Records: Blood & Rage is like a more mature Life Is Strange but with a bigger cast and with elements of iconic cinematic horror games like The Quarry and Until Dawn mixed in.
Mixtape
Developer: Beethoven and Dinosaur
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Release Date: 2025
On their final night of high school, three friends set off on one last adventure together, guided by a mixtape of memories and a soundtrack that defines a generation.
As they head to their last party, a carefully crafted playlist transports them into dreamlike reenactments of their formative moments.
Players will explore a series of vignettes highlighting the crucial experiences that shaped the friends’ lives.
From skateboarding and soaring through the air to capturing memories at an abandoned amusement park, hitting baseballs, and orchestrating a fireworks show from a car’s backseat, the game celebrates the essence of teenage camaraderie.
Why you should have Mixtape on your radar:
Mixtape is what you get when you take music from all-time favourites like The Smashing Pumpkins and mix it with The Perks of Being a Wallflower but in the style of Into the Spider-Verse and with vibes of Life is Strange. If that isn’t enough to win you over, I don’t know what will.
Reka
Developer: Emberstorm Entertainment
Publisher: Fireshine Games
Release Date: August 2024
Reka is an immersive exploration game with elements of base building and crafting. Embark on your adventure as Reka, an apprentice to the renowned witch Baba Jaga.
In the heart of the autumnal woodlands, master your witchcraft and bring your iconic chicken-legged cottage to life. Explore a stunning, scenic world, tackle quests, gather ingredients, and unravel Baba Jaga’s mysterious secret.
Why you should have Reka on your radar:
From its distinct Howl’s Moving Castle vibes to its haunting soundtrack, Reka is a game that takes popular lore and makes it its own in a way that just feels incredibly right.
Star Wars Outlaws
Developer: Massive Entertainment
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: 30 August 2024
Dive into the first-ever open-world Star Wars game and traverse various planets across the galaxy, featuring both familiar and novel locations.
Step into the role of Kay Vess, a rising rogue in search of freedom and a fresh start. Battle, steal, and outsmart your way through the galaxy’s criminal underworld as you align with the galaxy’s most wanted. The galaxy brims with opportunities if you’re ready to embrace the challenge.
Why you should have Star Wars Outlaws on your radar:
I mean, why not? Not only is it the first open-world Star Wars game, but it also has a female protagonist and a cute AF sidekick, and it’s also on the cover of the NAG Winter Edition. Enough said.
Usual June
Developer: Finji
Publisher: Finji
Release Date: 2025
What was meant to be a peaceful summer—working odd jobs, hanging out with new friends, and chatting with ghosts—quickly turns into a whirlwind of mystery and danger for June. Instead of relaxation, she finds herself unravelling Fen Harbor’s darkest secrets, battling spectral creatures, and preventing a space-time cataclysm that threatens to end existence as we know it.
Join June and her new friends (both living and spectral) as they delve into the town’s century-old hidden history, navigate a fractured multi-dimensional continuum, hang out at the cemetery, fend off colossal monsters from beyond, and dodge their parents’ questions about their post-graduation plans.
Why you should have Usual June on your radar:
I’ve really been enjoying third-person action-adventure games lately, and Usual June takes that and adds a whole bunch of story supernatural elements to it – what’s not to love?
This is usually the part where I ask you to leave any games that you think should be on this list in the comments, and while I would very much appreciate you doing that, I want to take a minute to say something a little different today.
I want to wish you reading this a very happy Women’s Day and let you know that you belong.
Whether you enjoy playing games with female leads or couldn’t care less, I want you to know that you’re wanted and needed.
Your very presence helps make gaming a more inclusive and special space.
So, from all of us here at NAG,
Game On, Geek Out!
Oh, and if you want to check out some of my previous Women’s Day posts, you can check them out here:
The Game Industry Games Created By Women