According to data pulled by the non-profit organization Feminist Frequency, only around 8% of games showcased at E3 this year featured a female lead. (24% were led by male characters, while 50% allowed players to choose their gender.) Clearly, we’ve still got a long way to go when it comes to representation in video games.
Humble Bundle is spotlighting women in gaming. From badass, vulnerable and complicated women they’re celebrating all sorts in their Female Protagonist Sale. The games included in Humble’s sale are some of the best the medium has to offer, showcasing the enormous potential for female-led games. The titles span genres and styles, from AAA action games like Dishonored 2 to cult-favourite indies like Celeste and Crypt of the Necrodancer. There are lore-heavy epics and intimate, personal stories discounted by up to 90% this week.
Here are some of the best deals. Check out all the deals before it ends on October 8th.
Child Of Light – USD$5.09
https://youtu.be/q6Al6yNQDj4
Aurora, a young girl from 1895 Austria, awakens on the lost fairytale continent of Lemuria. To return home she must fight against the dark creatures of the Queen of the Night, who have stolen the sun, the moon and the stars. At stake is not only Lemuria but Aurora’s true destiny.
Fran Bow – USD$4.49
Fran Bow is a creepy adventure game that tells the story of Fran, a young girl struggling with a mental disorder and an unfair destiny. After witnessing the gruesome and mysterious loss of her parents, found dismembered at their home, Fran rushes into the woods, together with her only friend, Mr. Midnight, a black cat that Fran had previously received as a present from her parents. In the forest, Fran goes into shock over the loss of her parents and when she recovers, she’s at Oswald Asylum, an oppressive mental institution for children, and Mr. Midnight is nowhere to be found.
Gone Home – USD$5.99
You arrive home after a year abroad. You expect your family to greet you, but the house is empty. Something’s not right. Where is everyone? And what’s happened here? Unravel the mystery for yourself in Gone Home, a story exploration game from The Fullbright Company.
Gone Home is an interactive exploration simulator. Interrogate every detail of a seemingly normal house to discover the story of the people who live there. Open any drawer and door. Pick up objects and examine them to discover clues. Uncover the events of one family’s lives by investigating what they’ve left behind.
Her Story – USD$3.59
Her Story sits you in front of a mothballed desktop computer that’s logged into a police database of video footage. The footage covers seven interviews from 1994 in which a British woman is interviewed about her missing husband. Explore the database by typing search terms, watch the clips where she speaks those words and piece together her story. Unlike anything you’ve played before, Her Story is an involving and moving experience. A game that asks you to listen.
Skullgirls – USD$2.99
Skullgirls is a fast-paced 2-D fighting game that puts players in control of fierce warriors in an extraordinary Dark Deco world. Featuring all-new game systems which test the skills of veteran fighting game fans while also making the genre enjoyable and accessible to newcomers. Skullgirls is a modern take on classic arcade fighters with a hand-drawn high-definition twist. It’s a one-of-a-kind, action-packed competition complete with awesome combos and an intriguing backstory.
Tacoma – USD$8.99
Tacoma is a narrative adventure set aboard a high-tech space station in the year 2088. As you go about your mission, you’ll explore every detail of how the station’s crew lived and worked, finding the clues that add up to a gripping story of trust, fear and resolve in the face of disaster.
At the heart of Tacoma is the facility’s digital surveillance system, which has captured 3D recordings of pivotal moments in the crew’s life on the station. As you explore, echoes of these captured moments surround you. You’ll use your ability to rewind, fast-forward, and move through the physical space of these complex, interwoven scenes to examine events from every angle, reconstructing the multi-layered narrative as you explore.
The Flame In The Flood – USD$4.49
A rogue-lite river journey through the backwaters of a forgotten post-societal America. Forage, craft, evade predators. Travel by foot and by raft down a procedurally-generated river as you scrounge for resources, craft tools, remedy afflictions, evade the vicious wildlife, and most importantly, stay ahead of the coming rains.
Tomb Raider: GOTY Edition – USD$5.99
Armed with nothing but her survival instincts, Lara has found her way to the mysterious shores of Linux. Tomb Raider explores the intense and gritty origin story of Lara Croft and her ascent from a young woman to a hardened survivor. Armed only with raw instincts and the ability to push beyond the limits of human endurance, Lara must fight to unravel the dark history of a forgotten island to escape its relentless hold. Download the Turning Point trailer to see the beginning of Lara’s epic adventure.
