By Zach Schanzenbach

The stereotype is simple yet pervasive: the realm of videogames is a guy’s world. That’s the stereotype I grew up with, anyways, and it seems I’m not the only one who thinks that way.

Of course, I know fully well that this is not completely true. The truth is, there are a number of video games that have what I call a pro-woman disposition. I could write a list, but I’ve only got so much room on this paper. So here are four pro-woman video games:

1. “Xenoblade Chronicles”: This might seem like an odd choice to anyone who knows this game, but let me explain. One of the main female characters, Fiora, is, according to the Xenoblade Wiki, “a very kind and caring person who wants to help everyone.” A few sentences later, it says that she “is also incredibly protective of Shulk [the game’s male protagonist].” I don’t know about you, but I’m used to the guy being extremely protective of the girl, so seeing this role get flipped around is refreshing.

2. “Pokemon”: Another seemingly odd choice, but hang with me. When “Pokemon” kicked off in 1996, players were only given the option to play as a boy. But with the release of “Pokemon Crystal” in 2000, players were now given the option to play as either a boy or a girl (and thus an infamous meme spawned from this, making fun of “Pokemon” professors for asking about your gender). Also, special mention must be given to the fourth generation of games, “Pokemon Diamond”, “Pearl” and “Platinum”, for being the first games in the series to feature a female champion.

3. “Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U”: No, I’m not trolling you, I promise. The “Super Smash Bros” games have always had considerably more male fighter options than female fighter options. While the latest installment is no different, the undeniable fact is that the female-to-male ratio is stronger in this game than ever before. 13 out of 49, about 27 percent, of the options are female, compared to one, eight percent, in the first installment (not counting Jigglypuff, as genders in “Pokemon” weren’t defined back then). Also, with the new Mii Fighter option, you can create even more female fighters and increase that percentage even more. It might seem like a guy’s world here, but the female presence is not to be neglected.

4. “Metroid”: Well, we all knew this would be on the list. Naturally, Nintendo is the best at everything, even making female protagonists. But what makes protagonist Samus Aran really stand out is how she was introduced. In the instruction manual for her debut game, she was continuously referred to as a “he.” Players dove into the game playing as this mysterious, masked bounty hunter, and then, when all was said and done, came the shock: it was a girl the whole time! There’s a very good reason why this is often cited as one of the greatest plot twists in video games. It’s definitely a shocker, but I will gladly take it over finding out that the princess is in another castle.