By April Prince @LyricAiLove
When it comes to Black female video game characters, we’ve been blessed with some truly iconic figures. These women raise the bar with their fighting skills, smarts, and undeniable presence. They give the fellas a run for their money and give Black girls, both young and old, someone amazing to look up to.
So, let’s celebrate the melanated beauties who dominate the digital world. Here are some of the best Black women in gaming.
Dr. Lisa Hamilton is a straight-up queen in the Dead or Alive series. Agile and powerful, she’s one of only two Black characters (the other being Zack) and the sole Black woman. This former DOATEC scientist is known for her work on Project Alpha and Project Epsilon, proving she’s got brains and brawn.
But wait, there’s more! Lisa Hamilton is also a celebrated Luchadora named La Mariposa. Tina Armstrong, her childhood bestie, convinced her to embrace the wrestling world. She uses the Baji Quan fighting style, and her moves are as flashy as her signature Lucha costumes.
Lisa may be low-key in the overall storyline, but she stands out. She’s always working in the background. For Black girls who love Dead or Alive, Lisa is pure magic.
When you think of Black women in video games, Jade has GOT to come to mind. She’s not just an icon in the Black gamer community; she’s a gaming icon, period.
First appearing as a secret character in Mortal Kombat II, Jade has left an incredible mark. She’s an amazing fighter, a strong woman, the general of the Edenian Royal Army, AND the best friend of the legendary Princess Kitana. Their friendship goes way back, and for Edenians, who can live for thousands of years, that’s saying something.
Protecting her bestie is a huge motivator for Jade. Loyalty is her thing. She even rocked Kitana’s steel fans in her MK II debut. But later, she switched it up to her magical steel bōstaff, which she uses to spear and subdue her opponents, and her bladed boomerangs, aka razorangs.
Outside of the game, Jade is a cosplay favorite around Halloween and at conventions. She even repped Mortal Kombat in G4’s Video Game Vixens, a special focused on the sexiest characters in video games. Considering the Mortal Kombat roster, that’s major. Jade means so much to Black girls who play Mortal Kombat. She’s a fantastic representation for dark-skinned women. That’s why her return in Mortal Kombat II was met with such hype when the trailer dropped!
Ever wonder what it’s like to grow up during a zombie apocalypse? Then you HAVE to play The Walking Dead game series. In Season 1, Episode 1, we meet Clementine. She’s the character who’s there throughout the entire series.
Clementine starts as an innocent 8-year-old that the player has to protect through the main character of Season 1, Lee. By the end, Lee and the player have created a deep bond with Clementine. Let’s just say, when Clementine faces the last choice of the season, it’s a tearjerker for everyone involved.
Throughout the rest of the seasons, we see Clementine at different stages of her life. From a strong but naive 9- to 11-year-old in Season 2 to a hardened but still loving young woman at the end of her teenage years in Season 4.
Seeing Clementine’s journey, it’s no wonder fans of the series have such a soft spot for her.
Even though the Naruto fighting games feature characters from the anime, we still gotta show love to these characters as they appear in the games. So, shout out to Karui, a dark-skinned woman from Kumogakure, the Village Hidden in the Clouds.
Karui can be a little hot-headed. Remember that scene where she punches Naruto repeatedly until someone drags her away? Yeah, fans definitely remember that. She’s also known as the woman who stole the heart of Choji Akimichi, which is a feat in itself. Choji is one of the purest souls in the series.
Karui made her video game debut in Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, bringing her great sword skills (Kenjutsu) with her. She’s highly skilled, trained by the Raikage himself, Killer Bee. She also uses lightning release, making her a formidable fighter.
Gameplay-wise, Karui is quick with her sword, making for fast attacks and slashes. If you like a faster playstyle, give Karui a try!
