15 Best Female Heroes In BioWare Games, Ranked

Few companies have cemented their names in the history of RPG gaming like BioWare has, and they are responsible for some of the most iconic female characters in history. The developer's catalog of games reads as a must-play list for many gamers, with Mass Effect and Dragon Age coming out on top as their landmark releases. The original Mass Effect trilogy took players on a galaxy-spanning adventure as Commander Shepard with his/her crew fighting to save everyone from the Reapers.
Meanwhile, the fantasy series Dragon Age introduced players to the continent of Thedas, where religious zealotry, dark blood magic, and high adventure are everyday occurrences. BioWare has always included strong and complex female characters in its games, with a few becoming true icons for fans around the world.
Star Wars: Knights of The Old Republic is a landmark RPG set within the Star Wars Universe, 4,000 years before the formation of the Empire. In the game, players can create their characters and choose their path. They can go towards the light side or the dark side if they wish.
Throughout the game, players will meet different characters they can recruit as companions. One such character is Mission Vao. Mission is a young Twi’Lek who is discovered in the Undercity on the planet Taris and has high stats in Dexterity, Stealth, and Demolitions. Vao's rise to fame was meteoric, from living on the streets to being named one of the saviors of the galaxy by the Republic. She started the first part of her life surviving with her brother, who would teach her everything but eventually abandon her. These painful early experiences would not break her, though, as she would form a close bond with the Wookie Zaalbar.
Ashley Williams is a human companion in the Mass Effect series, who becomes a powerful ally for Commander Shepard. Players first meet Ashley on Eden Prime during a large-scale invasion of Geth. Shepard meets her at a particular low point, helping her after her entire unit is killed. Ashley decides to continue to fight with Shepard against Sarin and the Geth. She is a capable soldier and becomes a loyal friend to both Shepard and the crew of the Normandy.
She appears in all three Mass Effect games, as a companion in the first and third games, and as a cameo in the second. However, players can also choose to sacrifice her in the first game. The character is a voice of reason for Shepard and also a potential romance.
Aveline is a powerful warrior who becomes a close ally of Hawk throughout the story. Players will first meet Aveline when she and her husband are fleeing from Darkspawn in Lothering. Hawk will save Aveline, but it will be too late for her husband. She later becomes a member of the city guard, rising to the rank of captain.
Aveline lives by a strong moral code. She is powerful and confident in battle, yet a little socially awkward in her personal life. She is a likable character in the game, with some of the best humor coming from her side quests. In combat, she is a tank that can deal large amounts of damage.
Although she was emphasized in Mass Effect 2's marketing, Miranda Lawson largely exists in the shadow of many of Commander Shepard's female crew, particularly Liara and Tali. A Cereberus officer engineered to be perfect, Miranda initially comes across as detached, cold, and by-the-books, like she is there to ensure Shepard sticks to the game plan. However, that facade does not really last long, and she warms up surprisingly quickly once she starts to build a relationship with not only Shepard but also other crew members.
While her personal arc is not as powerful as, for example, Jack's, Miranda goes on a well-executed journey that is defined by her search for autonomy, agency, and identity. Her loyalty to Cereberus and her father partially stems from a desire to protect her sister, and she remains true to herself even as she breaks away from their shackles.
Leliana is one of the key returning characters in the Dragon Age series. She first appears in Dragon Age: Origins in the early game and can be recruited into the player’s group. Leliana is an Orlesian Bard, who is a skilled performer and deadly warrior. She is an expert with her duel blades and a master archer.
The character features throughout the Dragon Age series, making only a brief appearance at the end of the second game. However, it is only in Dragon Age: Origins that she is a playable character. In Dragon Age: Inquisition, she takes on the role of spymaster for the player, proving her talents in politics and subterfuge. Leliana is one of the central characters in the series and has become one of the most influential in the setting.
Released in 2005, Jade Empire was an action role-playing video game by BioWare based on ancient Chinese mythology and history. In the game, players control a character known as The Spirit Monk. This character can be either male or female, and players can choose between six different character archetypes for a playthrough.
In Jade Empire, the player will come across many different characters, some of whom can be recruited to become followers. Dawn Star is a potential follower and romantic interest for male characters in the game. She is a skilled fighter and can replenish the player’s Chi.
Liara is an Asari, a powerful galactic species that appears to be entirely female. Members of the Asari race are naturally powerful biotics who can manipulate dark energy at will. Liara is a leading scientific voice in the Mass Effect universe and an expert on the ancient race known as the Protheans.
Throughout the series, Liara is a romantic option for either male or female Commander Shepard and can be recruited as a party member in the first and third games. During Mass Effect 2, she becomes an influential information broker who helps Shepard in the quest to stop the collectors. In the DLC, Lair of The Shadow Broker, it is possible to help Liara further her influence and become the mysterious Shadow Broker herself.
First introduced in Dragon Age 2 to investigate the lead character, Cassandra is the Right Hand of the Divine. The Divine is the leader of the dominant religious order in Thedas. During the events of the third game, Cassandra joins the Inquisition and becomes an integral part of the story.
She is a powerful warrior who is dedicated to her mission and loyal to her friends. Cassandra is an extremely religious individual, with much of her morality coming from this fact. She is also a romantic option for players in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
Before Larian Studios took over the Baldur’s Gate franchise and created one of the most critically acclaimed RPGs in recent gaming history, BioWare created the original foundation. Baldur’s Gate 2 was released in 2000 and was once again set in the Dungeons and Dragons setting of The Forgotten Realms.
Available to recruit in chapter one of BG1 and chapter two of BG2, Viconia Devir is a neutral-evil Cleric who is a perfect anti-hero companion in the game. She is a Drow (or Dark Elf) who has strong magic resistance and high dexterity. She is a skilled warrior who can use several different melee weapons, and she can be a romantic option for certain males. She also appears in Baldur's Gate 3 in the Cloister of Sombre Embrace.
Flemeth is a powerful NPC character who appears in all three of the Dragon Age games. Within the lore of the setting, she is a long-lived character who has appeared in many ancient legends. She goes by many different names, including the Witch of the Wilds and Asha’bellanar by the Elves.
While never being an outright hero, she does give aid to the player, most notably in Dragon Age 2 by rescuing the protagonist at the start of the game. In Dragon Age: Origins, she is also a minor antagonist to her daughter, Morrigan. On top of that, she is one of the most powerful characters in the series. She is a shapeshifter and can take on the form of large creatures, including dragons.