Over the years we’ve often seen female video game characters not admired for their skills, bravery or awesomeness, but portrayed more for their sensuality, how they look and their need to be a damsel in distress – not cool. Thankfully, these days the industry seems to take a more balanced look at what gamers would like to see in their female heroines. So forget beauty and looks! We’re celebrating the best and most kickass female characters in video game history. _________________________________________________ 1. Lara Croft - Tomb Raider Where do we even start with Lara? The incredibly talented Tomb Raider has made her mark on the video games industry. She’s laughed in the face of danger, battling her way through all sorts of evil along the way.  Lara really is the epitome of an independent and confident woman. 2. Tifa Lockhart - Final Fantasy VII One of the main characters of Final Fantasy VII, Tifa Lockhart is an expert at knocking things into shape and taking no bull. An expert is hand-to-hand combat; she’s definitely one of our favourite Final Fantasy characters and could give her male counterparts a run for their money. Image: wall321  3. Chun-Li - Street Fighter Chun-Li is often regarded as being the forerunner and first lady of fighting games. She's our favourite choice for the game (apart from Ryu), and has a wealth of strength and skill to her name. Image: wallpapers55 4. Samus Aran - Metroid Probably one of the least sexualized female characters in video games (which made her all the more appealing), Samus Aran paved the way for kickass female protagonists, as well as casting aside gender stereotypes. Image: zerochan  5. Chell - Portal 2 We were going to pick GlaDoS here, but in the end it made sense to go for Chell. Why? Well one of her most defining characteristics is that she's an independent thinker, which was how she was able to outwit the formidable GlaDoS - and though she may not talk, her actions and decisions speak volumes. Image: gameranx  6. Jill Valentine - Resident Evil The tough Jill Valentine has seen her fair share of gore from killing zombies to tackling monsters but that hasn't stopped her from continuing on and beating up evil with gusto. We salute you! Image: linksaveszelda 7. The Boss - Metal Gear Solid The antagonist of Metal Gear Solid 3, The Boss is a legendary soldier who founded and leader of the Cobra unit in the stealth series. One of the strongest female characters in gaming, her sheer determination makes her a powerful woman that you shouldn't mess with ever. Image: arcadesushi  8. Ellie - The Last of Us Our youngest heroine on the list, Ellie has faced evil, both living and undead, and managed to come out on top, surviving in a post apocalyptic world. She's seen it all. Image: thelastofus wikia 9. Lightning - Final Fantasy XIII The protagonist of Final Fantasy XIII, Lightning is strong-willed and though intially she has a rather cold personality, she's completely dedicated to protecting her family and friends. Skilled in combat, Lightning's mysterious nature makes her a competent heroine. Image: wallnen 10. Sarah Kerrigan - Starcraft Not only is Sarah a psychic but she's a trained expert in espionage and assassination. An important character to the development of the Starcraft plotline, she becomes one of game's most powerful and unforgettable villains and has often been praised for her depth of personality. Image: starcraft wikia 11. Jade - Beyond Good & Evil Largely regarded as not being the typical video game hero, Jade is not only inquisitive and smart but she's exceptionally brave, as well as being incredibly down-to-earth. She's also the only person who could actually rock green lipstick. Image: webguyunlimited Lead image via chuckanimeshrine