International Women’s Day 2026 – Women in Games

“We need to reclaim the word ‘feminism’. We need the word ‘feminism’ back real bad. When statistics come in saying that only 29% of American women would describe themselves as feminist – and only 42% of British women – I used to think, What do you think feminism IS, ladies? What part of ‘liberation for women’ is not for you? Is it freedom to vote? The right not to be owned by the man you marry? The campaign for equal pay? ‘Vogue’ by Madonna? Jeans? Did all that good shit GET ON YOUR NERVES? Or were you just DRUNK AT THE TIME OF THE SURVEY?” – Caitlin Moran

Introduction

For International Women’s Day, we have compiled a list of fifteen games that we have reviewed over the last (nearly) seven years that are great examples of women in games. Whether that be talented female developers or well-written female protagonists, there is a plethora of indie games out there in which women truly shine!

What is International Women’s Day?

International Women’s Day was first celebrated in 1911, and every year since on 8th March. This year (2026), marks the 115th anniversary of the event, which aims to bring recognition to the many social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, as well as acting as a call for action in terms of advancing gender equality.

Women in Games – Games by Female Developers

Duck Detective

Created by Happy Broccoli Games, a female-led development team, Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is a delightful mystery game in which players take on the role of the titular duck, Eugene McQuacklin, and take on an office-based investigation! It is a fine example of women in games working together to create a great gaming experience.

Overall, it is a brilliant little puzzle game. It is fairly short and will only take around 3 hours to complete, but is offered at a reasonable price for the amount of entertainment provided. The game boasts a curious and amusing narrative, interesting characters, engaging gameplay and a wonderfully fitting detective noir aesthetic. I had a lot of fun completing this lunch-based investigation and highly recommend this game to fans of casual puzzle games and shorter, standalone experiences.

Full Review available HERE.

Curtain

Curtain was created by Dreamfeel, an Irish games Studio founded by Llaura McGee with a core team comprised mainly of female developers. It is a short, free, narrative experience about Kaci & Ally, two queer women in a Glasgow punk band. It dives into their home life and explores the subtleties of an unhealthy relationship. The game is an award-winning piece of interactive fiction and features a garish and psychedelic pixel art style that feels as uncomfortable as the subject matter.

This powerful game is a short but piercing experience that delves into the intricacies and subtle nature of abuse within a romantic relationship. It mixes tried and tested narrative techniques and interactive storytelling with difficult themes and an experimental art style. This, in turn, creates a fusion of physical and emotional uneasiness that gives the overall experience an extra layer of depth and poignancy.

Full Review available HERE.

Full Playthrough available HERE.

Witchhazel Woods

Witchhazel Woods is a charmingly eerie point-and-click game in which players must adventure through the titular forest in order to rescue their dog from a lonely ghost. It is also a labour of love by first-time solo indie developer Rachel Wigell.

It will take around an hour to play and has some replayability in the form of secrets and achievements. Both the visual and audio elements fit the game perfectly and really help bring the game world and its characters to life. The writing is of a high standard and a very enjoyable aspect of the game, with the twisting storyline and eclectic characters. Overall, this game is a fantastic example of a short point-and-click game, and I highly recommend it.

Full Review available HERE.

Full Playthrough available HERE.

Birth

Birth is a surreal and gruesome point-and-click puzzle game about a lonely protagonist who scours the city in search of body parts with which to build a companion. The game was created by solo developer Madison Karrh, creator of Landlord of the Woods and Whimsy.

Birth is a brilliant example of a point-and-click puzzle game and of what women in games can do! It will take around 1-2 hours to complete and has a lot to offer with its unique, cute and creepy aesthetic, charming yet entirely disturbing narrative, highly enjoyable and rewarding gameplay and overall accessibility. The consistent juxtaposition across all aspects of the experience is the highlight amongst an array of quality game elements and really makes this title stand out. Overall, this is another gem from Madison Karrh, and I highly recommend it.

Full Review available HERE.

Sticky Business

Sticky Business, another game created by a female-led development team, is a casual business management sim in which players run their own sticker company, taking care of everything from designing the stickers to shipping them out to customers.

Overall, it is a great game; it is simple and relaxing, but very engaging and hard to step away from. It offers fun, stress-free business management mechanics and allows players to exercise their creativity as well as enjoy narrative elements in a way that doesn’t dominate the experience. The audio and visual aspects are delightful and really suit the style of the game and add to the whimsical, upbeat feel of the gameplay. Sticky Business will easily entertain a player for several hours due to the combination of objective-based and sandbox-style gameplay. This is a charming and thoroughly enjoyable game, and I highly recommend it (and the DLC) to anyone looking for an upbeat game to chill out with and lose themselves in.

Full Review available HERE.

Beyond Your Window

Created by some very talented women in games, Team SolEtude, Beyond Your Window is a short visual novel divided into four very different, yet slightly intertwined, stories, each with multiple endings. The protagonist is stuck, searching for inspiration, leading the player to explore the lives of their neighbours safely from their own apartment, in a narrative experience reminiscent of Hitchcock’s Rear Window!

This game, though short, is a thoughtful and emotive experience with a series of personal stories and perfectly matched audio and visual elements. It will take around 30 minutes to 1 hour to play and offers replayability in the form of multiple endings, making it easy to recommend, especially given the price tag!

Full Review available HERE.

A Year of Springs

A YEAR OF SPRINGS is a remastered trilogy compilation of three interconnected, brief visual novels (One Night; Hot Springs, Last Day of Spring, Spring Leaves No Flowers). The stories chronicle the lives of three Japanese friends who try to navigate the mazes of friendships, feelings, love, and fitting in with society at large. The compilation includes a couple of features that are not present in the original free versions of the games, including an epilogue, music player, CG gallery, and other extras.

This brilliant game succinctly shines a light on the difficulties facing LGBT people, of legal challenges and a society that’s slow and resistant to change. The game even manages to show how hard it is for well-intentioned people to not be insensitive or to approach their friends without tact, thanks to how it uses choices and multiple endings. As a visual novel and social commentary, it does a spectacular job, and I wholeheartedly recommend checking it out.

Full Review available HERE.

Women in Games – Female Protagonists

I Don’t Want to Be a Good Woman

I Don’t Want To Be A Good Woman is an interactive, museum-like experience that immerses the player in the real lives of women living in Iran under Islamic law. Players can connect with stories heard by, gathered by, or experienced directly by the developers, who wish to remain anonymous for safety reasons, simply going by ‘We Remember’ and maintaining no online presence. More than just a game, this has been designed as a space to witness and understand oppression, and stand in solidarity with an ongoing struggle for autonomy and freedom.

This game belies its simplistic appearance and, in fact, sits amongst some of the most powerful indie games out there. It is informative, moving, and inspirational. It raises awareness of the level of repressive discrimination inflicted on women in Iran. Discrimination that allows marital rape, considers a woman on a bicycle indecent, that allows the enforcement of religious laws without restriction, and that segregates all aspects of society from weddings to beaches, and even schools. Discrimination that led to female football fan, Sahar Khodayari, committing suicide by self-immolation in 2019 after she was arrested and faced a six-month prison sentence for attempting to gain entry to a football match at a male-only stadium in protest against laws forbidding women to attend sporting events. All masked by manipulative oppression tactics that censor media and internet content to the point that most people feel the need to use a VPN, which shuts off internet access for days at a time.

The information provided by the game is disturbing and upsetting, and probably quite incomprehensible to those not living under such despotism. The extreme nature of many of the stories highlights not only the bravery of those sharing their experiences and the developers producing the game, but also how important it is for those with the freedom to have an unimpeded voice and speak out without the risk of persecution to do so – loudly!

Full Review Available HERE.

Dead Pets: A Punk Rock Slice of Life Sim

Dead Pets follows a punk rock band of the same name, who have been in the music scene for a decade. Set in the world of Ether, the game’s female protagonist Gordy and the band live in New Void City. An entirely new world, the planet is inhabited by different species of demons. Players will decide if Gordy, the band’s lead singer, will follow her big plans to get the band’s big break or decide to put away childish things after turning 30. While the game does deal with some heavy topics, Dead Pets runs players through several fun slice-of-life mini-games, lets them listen to a real punk rock EP played live during the game, and engage in Gordy’s daily schedule to determine the future of the band.

Dead Pets touches on some difficult subject matter, containing a major storyline that relates to sexual assault and harassment. This is handled sensitively and with tact, and despite the incident being represented quite minimally, there is a content warning on the game’s storepage as well as in the game itself, and players can choose to skip the specific scene if they prefer. The exploration of this storyline focuses mostly on the aftermath of the primary event and the effect it has on Gordy and different aspects of the life. The game also contains a lot of feminist themes and imagery and depicts several other issues faced by women, such as a lack of respect and being patronised in the workplace, periods, dating, female reproductive health, sexuality, societal pressures, and expectations. It is a great example of women in games, following a complicated and well-written female protagonist and not shying away from important issues that women face on a daily basis.

Dead Pets: A Punk Rock Slice of Life Sim is a fantastic game. Casual but impactful, it will take around 8 hours to complete. It offers players a meaningful narrative experience, choices that matter, a fun, vibrant art style, eclectic characters, enjoyable and varied minigames, and an outstanding, original punk rock soundtrack. Gordy is a complex and interesting character; stepping into her shoes is compelling, thought-provoking, and above all, entertaining. Dead Pets handles challenging subject matter in a mindful way and explores the challenges women face without isolating the game’s male audience. It is a cleverly constructed, providing an experience that is both relaxing and provocative, not to mention very enjoyable.

I have personally been looking forward to playing Dead Pets since I was lucky enough to play a concept demo in 2021, having previously fallen in love with Welcome to Elk, and it was worth the wait. I highly recommend this game, and without caveats, it will appeal to fans of a range of genres and play styles and will not disappoint.

Full Review available HERE.

Demo: Episode One Playthrough available HERE.

Celeste

Celeste is a 2D platformer by Maddy-Makes-Games (developer of Towerfall) and a reimagined version of the original PICO-8 game of the same name, centred around climbing the mysterious Celeste Mountain. Taking control of Madeline (whom you can rename), you help her overcome the various dangers of the Mountain. The journey to the summit is far from straightforward, however. Not only does Madeline have to overcome the physical dangers, but she also must conquer her depression, panic attacks, and fear, all of which the Mountain uses against her without mercy.

Celeste is one hell of a journey, a challenging yet heartbreaking one. In a sense, it is like scaling an actual mountain. It is widely considered a powerful allegory for the trans experience, with the climb representing, at times, what can be an isolating process of transitioning. Whilst this is not explicitly stated within the game, clues such as medication, trans flag, themes of perseverance, and the challenging nature of the gameplay itself were interpreted as trans coded by fans before it was officially confirmed by the developer. As such, it has earned itself a place as a beloved piece of LGBTQI+ media.

Full Review available HERE.

Without a Dawn

Without a Dawn is a new game from solo developer Jesse Makkonen, creator of Distraint 1 & 2, Heal, and Afterdream. It is a uniquely stylised visual novel and a potent exploration of its young female protagonist’s psyche that manifests in an engrossing and unsettling experience.

The game begins with the female protagonist lying in bed, worried, unable to sleep, and unsure if she should get up to check if there is somebody outside the window. A faceless voice talks to her, encouraging her but also reinforcing her anxiety and paranoia, especially as she experiences broken sleep and starts to have a series of unsettling dreams that eventually seep into reality, blurring her understanding of what is real.

It is a phenomenal example of a visual novel; it does all the key things right, whilst maintaining originality and some unique elements. The narrative dives deeply into the protagonist’s mental health with a strong sense of understanding, and the horror aspects are a perfect blend of psychological and situational. The aesthetics, both audio and visual, are immersive and emotive, emphasising the emotive nature of the experience. I challenge anyone to play this game and not feel tangibly affected by doing so. It is thought-provoking and has the power to instil a nervous energy in those who engage with the experience. This is the best visual novel I have played in a long time; I thoroughly enjoyed Without a Dawn and highly recommend it.

Full Review available HERE.

Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer

Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer is the long-awaited sequel to the 2016 game Kathy Rain. The titular detective and sassy female protagonist return with a sinister serial murder case to solve. Can she find the killer in time, and does this sequel live up to its predecessor? Kathy is a fabulous example of women in games; she is a strong, determined, but complex and flawed character, who overcomes her troubled past to successfully uncover the truth behind a series of strange goings on.

It is a fantastic sequel and an excellent example of a point-and-click detective adventure. It will take around 10-14 hours to play, and it really lives up to the first game. Subtle improvements are well implemented without being detrimental to the original tone and style of the series. As with the earlier instalment, Kathy’s character, her sceptical nature, wit, and energy give the game a modern noir feel and a distinct personality that make it stand out amongst similar titles. Additionally, the game boasts stunningly detailed pixel art, immersive sound design, stellar voice acting, varied and satisfying gameplay, and a twisting narrative that will have players intrigued and engaged from the very beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed returning to the Kathy Rain series, and I would highly recommend both games to fans of both point-and-click titles and detective games.

Full Review available HERE.

Behind the Frame

Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery sees players take control of the paintbrush in order to solve a variety of puzzles and help an aspiring artist create their masterpiece. As the paintings start to come together, an emotional tale of chance and artistry is slowly revealed.

The game plays out over six chapters and focuses on the budding artist and an old man who lives next door to her. As the player guides the protagonist through her everyday tasks, the art that surrounds her begins to tell an unexpected story.

Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery is a unique and relaxing game that mixes painting and puzzles to great effect. The styling and gameplay blend seamlessly, and the narrative is engaging with an unexpected twist. If you are looking for an immersive and emotive interactive fiction with a ton of artistic flair, I highly recommend this title.

Full Review available HERE.

This Bed We Made

This Bed We Made is an intriguing mystery game that follows an inquisitive maid around a 1950s Hotel as she peruses the guests’ belongings. Players must find out what links the various characters, put the pieces of the puzzle together, and uncover a dramatic overarching story of love and betrayal.

The game’s story is a satisfying slow burner. It follows Sophie Roy, a curious maid working at the Clarington Hotel in the late 1950s. Through her meticulous snooping, she uncovers details about the lives of the hotel’s guests, including some of their deepest, darkest secrets. The narrative focuses on LGBT themes as well as mental health, family, and societal stigma and pressures. It touches on some heavy subject matter in a sensitive way whilst staying true to the often outdated sensibilities of the era. 

A single but thorough playthrough of This Bed We Made will take a little over five hours; however, there is a good amount of replayability afforded by all the different decisions that are made throughout the game, as well as the numerous achievements available. The experience offers a highly intriguing narrative, complete with rich character development, red herrings and suspense. The overall aesthetic is beautifully suited to the style of the game and the story, effectively representing the 1950s setting with realistic visuals, clever sound design and atmospheric lighting. The gameplay is minimal but very gratifying, also suiting the storyline and setting very well. All of this amalgamates into a unique and captivating experience that really adds to the concept of a walking simulator without deviating too much from the genre’s constraints. I thoroughly enjoyed this game; it was a lot of fun, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good, satisfying mystery with a lot of depth.

Full Review available HERE.

Indika

Indika is a unique story-driven game set in an alternative Russia. It focuses on its titular character, an ostracised nun who is tasked with delivering an important letter and must traverse the game’s harsh and surreal environments.

It is an impressive and original game that blends genres and mechanics to create an unusual experience. It will take around 4-5 hours to complete and boasts diverse and satisfying gameplay, a strong and emotive narrative featuring a complex female protagonist, stark and realistic visuals paired with intricate pixel art, and immersive and atmospheric sound design that creates an interesting juxtaposition between various elements of the game. Indika definitely offers something different, and I thoroughly enjoyed this unique experience. I’d highly recommend it and believe it is a title that would be enjoyed by a wide range of players.

Full Review available HERE.

Summary

As evidenced here, despite perhaps not being as prominent (or at least not as visibly prominent) in the games industry, women in games bring a lot of talent to the table. Female solo developers and female-led development teams have created some wonderful and highly varied games that can be enjoyed by a wide array of gamers, regardless of gender. There is also a host of games featuring interesting, skilled, and sometimes complicated female protagonists. Even those examples that explore women’s issues within the game rarely do so in a way that would isolate its male audience, seeking merely to highlight the nature of the problems faced to those who do not experience them, and to help those who do, feel seen. The list above is a showcase of women in games, but they are fundamentally just games created by talented developers for gamers, so why not check some of them out!

If you enjoyed reading this, you may also like some of our other listicles:
10 Indie Games That Will Make You Cry! – 10 More Uplifting Games for Self-Care and Mental Wellbeing – 8 Photography Games – Snap, Shoot, Record, Reminisce