Thevideo gamingindustry has gone through several changes over its long run, with games evolving from mere pixels into graphical behemoths that almost look lifelike, at times. The sheer evolution of this industry is truly incredible, with droves of fans flocking towards this industry to witness the latest gaming developments and accomplishments so that they can experience it for themselves.

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Characters in gaming have also evolved and encompassed a number of tropes. One type of character that has become pretty popular in gaming is the femme fatale role, with a multitude of games representing this trope in some form or the other. Keeping this in mind, here are some of the best and most iconic femme fatales to ever feature in a video game.

10Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)

It’s only fitting to kickstart a list about femme fatales by talking about the greatest one of them all.Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft is an icon that has remained a staple of the video game industry since time eternal.

The adventures of this archeologist have constantly wowed fans ever since her foray on the PlayStation. While her presence in the industry might’ve diminished slightly later on, a well-timed reboot that modernized her character ensures that Lara would be anything but a relic of the past.

An image from Tomb Raider showing Lara Croft about to fire an arrow from a bow.

9Cate Archer (No One Lives Forever)

No One Lives Foreverfeatures a duology of some truly underratedFPStitles that deserve way more recognition. These spy adventures feature a healthy dose of stealth and action to keep players invested all the way to the very end.

At the heart of these games is the legendary Cate Archer. This femme fatale has a ton of tricks up her sleeve, with her infectious personality making the games all the more memorable and exciting.

No one lives forever cate archer

8Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy)

Each game in theFinal Fantasyseries features a standalone story that is an absolute blast to play through. The seventh game is considered by many to be the greatest in the series and a major reason why the franchise gained international fame and recognition.

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Final Fantasy 7 Remake Tifa

Its cast of characters features some of the most well-known video game characters of all time,including the amazing Tifa Lockhart. Her charming attitude and immense strength in combat makes her one of the best party members in the series by a country mile.

7Chloe Frazer (Uncharted)

TheUnchartedseries features the lovable Nathan Drake as he raids tombs and hunts for hidden treasure. The second game expanded the cast of this series with the lovable Chloe Frazer.

This sassy British archeologist doesn’t shy away from getting her hands dirty and even has a short fling with Nate. However, there’s no denying the fact that she’s always strong in a tense situation, and the fact thatplayers can control her inUncharted: The Lost Legacyis a treat!

Chloe in Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

6Mona Sax (Max Payne)

Max Payneis the series that catapulted Remedy Entertainment to the very top of the video game industry. This story-heavy third-person shooter is a game that fans still can’t get enough of to this day,

Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payneis considered by many to be the best game in the trilogy, mainly due to its gripping story and amazing gunplay. It also placesa greater focus on Mona Sax, an intriguing character from the first game who captivates fans with her mysterious yet exciting personality.

Mona Sax from Max Payne 2 - The Fall of Max Payne

5Samus Aran (Metroid)

Fans of the firstMetroidgame had their minds blown when they found out that the armored soldier they were controlling throughout the game was actually a woman named Samus Aran. Ever since this reveal, this blonde soldier has played a focal role in eachMetroidtitle to great effect.

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An image showing Samus Aran fro Metroid Prime in her signature orange suit.

Her iconic power armor and great combat capabilities make her one of the best video game protagonists of all time. Even the train wreck that wasMetroid: Other Mcouldn’t destroy the legendary nature of its character… even though it tried its very best.

4Dahlia Hawthorne (Phoenix Wright)

The third game in thePhoenix Wrightseries is considered by many to be the very best of the original trilogy. It features a wealth of amazing cases, great music, and some of the most riveting characters of all time.

Dahlia Hawthorne is one such characterwho seems like the sweetest woman in existence… only to reveal an extremely dark side later on when the truth about her character is revealed. Fans must be glad that Phoenix managed to avoid being framed by this absolute lunatic.

Dahlia Hawthorne from Phoenix Wright

3Yennefer Of Vengeberg (The Witcher)

It’s a testament to Yennefer’s strong presence inThe Witcherseries coupled with some amazing writing that she managed to capture the hearts of fans despite only appearing in the third game of the trilogy. Her romance with Geralt was set in stone from the get-go, with most people agreeing that she’s the best romance option for Geralt despite their tumultuous past.

Rejecting her feels horribly wrong, even for fans of Triss who want to see the redhead end up with Geralt instead. This raven-haired sorceress happens to be one of the most powerful characters in the series as well, with the mere mention of lilac and gooseberries becoming synonymous with the allure of her persona.

yennefer in her alternate outfit

2Miranda Lawson (Mass Effect)

BioWare was at the very top of its game when it releasedMass Effect 2, which polished up the combat of the original and delivered an incredible story in the process. It also switched up Shepard’s squad to include some new faces.

Miranda Lawson is one of these fresh faceswho strives to be a professional Cerberus operative while trying to bury her tumultuous past. It’s only after Shepard gets to know this great character that he, along with the player, realize just what they’ve been missing out on.

Miranda Lawson in Mass Effect

1Morrigan (Dragon Age)

Speaking of BioWare games with strong female characters, it would be impossible to not mention the enigma that is Morrigan inDragon Age.This iconic sorceress made her appearance in the first gameand has been a mainstay of the series ever since.

Fans absolutely love the sassy and intellectual nature of this character. While Morrigan can seem a bit too cold at times, there are times when she shows that there’s a compassionate side to her character as well… although it takes a while to uncover this side.

dragon age inquisition morrigan