Stylish combat, stunning characters, and eye-catching designs that actually deliver gameplay.
Let’s be honest. Sometimes, the way the characters look in a game makes you want to play it right away. You’ve come to the right place if you like games with strong, confident, and beautifully designed female characters that don’t ruin the gameplay.
It’s not just for something lovely. The best games please fans, let them have fun, tell great stories, and look good. Here are the top 10 games, ranked from best to worst, that have both interesting character designs and fun gameplay.
10. Maiden Cops
Developers: Pippin Games, East Asiasoft Limited
Publishers: Pippin Games, East Asiasoft Limited
The first game on the list is Maiden Cops, a loud, flashy side-scrolling beat ’em up that wears its over-the-top style with pride.
You play as three tough cops who have to clean up a city that has been taken over by a gang called the Liberators. The basic idea is easy to understand: punch, kick, combo, repeat.
There are three playable characters, each with their own attitude and fighting style. The beginner with a lot of energy, the veteran with a cool head, and the big, strong softie who is the team’s muscle. Switching between them makes battles interesting and encourages players to try new things.
Yes, this is fan service. The poses and designs of the characters are over the top, and there is no room for subtlety in the talk. But the game doesn’t act like it’s not true. It goes for the flashy anime-cop vibe in a way that doesn’t feel weird, but rather self-aware and fun.
There’s good action gameplay underneath all that style. If you want to play something fun and fast-paced with other people, this is the right game for you.
9. Dragon’s Crown
Developers: Vanillaware, Atlus
Publishers: Atlus, Nippon Ichi Software, NIS America, Atlus West, SEGA of America
With a fantasy twist, Dragon’s Crown is a modern love letter to old-school pinball beat-em-ups.
You can play as one of six different characters, such as a huge dwarf with an axe, a quick elf archer, or a strong sorceress, and go into beautifully drawn caves.
The game’s hand-drawn 2D art is beautiful. The over-the-top fantasy designs give the game its own style, and each background looks like a moving painting.
There is fan service, especially in the way the Amazon and Sorceress are drawn. They’re meant to be over-the-top and unrealistic to fit the game’s dramatic dream style. Some players love it, others roll their eyes at it, but it’s an undeniable part of the game.
There’s more to the game than just pressing buttons. To make it through the harder stages, you’ll need to use combos, magic, dodging, and teamwork. In co-op, it’s crazy, but once you get the hang of how the battles work, it’s really fun.
8. Bloody Spell
Developer: 艺龙游戏
Publisher: 艺龙游戏
In a fantasy world influenced by Wuxia, Bloody Spell combines stylish action fighting with character skins that can be changed.
You take on the role of Yin, a fighter who needs to save his sister in a world full of magic and martial arts.
One of the more controversial parts of the game is its extensive DLC skin system, which includes a wide range of female skins, from classy to revealing. Not a gender swap, but more of a cosmetic change that makes the character look and sound totally different.
The fighting is the real highlight, not the graphics. Hack-and-slash action that moves quickly, like in high-speed action games. It’s fun to play because there are many guns, combos, and game modes like Bloody Arena. If you want stylish fighting and bold cosmetic choices, Bloody Spell has them both.
7. The Killing Antidote
Developer: MetalStar Studio
Publisher: MetalStar Studio
In The Killing Antidote, you play as Jodi, a brave reporter who must navigate a world after the end of the world, controlled by a mutating germ.
What is her job? Find the cure that everyone talks about and the truth. There are elements of shooting, close fighting, stealth, and light puzzle-solving in the game. The steady pace and smooth graphics keep you interested.
Players can change Jodie’s hairdo, makeup, and clothes to suit their tastes. Her stylish look and customization options are what make the game fun for fans, but they’re not the only things that matter. The range of games you can play is what makes it great. With guns, bows, sneak kills, and exploring the world, it feels more full than it might suggest at first.
6. Catherine: Full Body
Developers: Studio Zero, Atlus
Publishers: Atlus, SEGA of America, Sega, Atlus West
Catherine: Full Body takes a more mental approach.
You play as Vincent, a man who is in a tough spot because he loves both his longtime girlfriend, Katherine, and the mysterious Catherine. There is less overt fan service here, but it can still be seen, especially in Catherine’s bold and flirty design. It never feels too much or cheap, though. The art style that looks like anime has grown and become stylish.
The puzzle parts are what the game is really about. Vincent has to move blocks carefully while racing against time to reach the nightmare towers that are crumbling. It’s hard, smart, and very rewarding when you get good at it.
With multiple ends and story paths that can be taken in different ways, this game is more emotional and thoughtful than most on this list.
5. Scarlet Nexus
Developers: BANDAI NAMCO Studios, Tose
Publishers: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment, Namco Bandai Games America Inc., BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe
Scarlet Nexus mixes psychic-powered battles with bright cartoon style.
You can pick either Yuito or Kasane. Both are members of the Other Suppression Force and are in charge of fighting horrible monsters that eat brains.
The most important part is the combat. You can use telekinesis to throw things from the surroundings at enemies, like cars and broken glass. It feels strong and alive. The characters in the game look good, but they’re not overly fan-service-y. It leans more toward a cool, sharp look than overt excess.
Scarlet Nexus has a good mix of action and drama, with two different storylines and many plot twists. It’s a colorful and lively experience.
4. Tales of Berseria
Developer: BANDAI NAMCO Studios Inc.
Publisher: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment
Tales of Berseria turns the usual RPG hero formula on its head by letting you play as Velvet, a character who is angry and hurt and wants to get payback.
You can chain moves, use special arts, and switch characters in the middle of a fight because the combat is fast and fluid. It’s full of excitement, but it’s also strategic enough to keep you interested.
Velvet is styled boldly, but her personality and mental journey are much more important. She’s not only beautiful to look at; she’s also complex and interesting.
There are deep themes of morality, revenge, and humanity in the story, which give the game surprising emotional depth for an anime.
3. Lollipop Chainsaw
Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture
Publishers: DRAGAMI GAMES, LTD., Warner Bros. Games, Kadokawa Corporation, Kadokawa Shoten
Lollipop Chainsaw is one of the few games that isn’t afraid to cater to its fans.
As Juliet, a cheerleader, you use a chainsaw to fight waves of zombies. It’s clearly flashy thanks to the camera settings, unlockable clothes, and over-the-top presentation. It’s silly, crazy, and very self-aware.
But under all the neon and glitter is good hack-and-slash gaming. There are mini-games, crazy boss fights, combo chaining, and flashy finishes that keep things fun from beginning to end. In the best way, it’s silly. It’s a fan classic, and the crazy design is part of its appeal.
2. Stellar Blade
Developer: SHIFT UP Corporation
Publisher: PlayStation Publishing LLC
Stellar Blade is a stylish third-person action game about Eve, a strong warrior who is trying to take Earth back from aliens.
Combat is fast, quick, and based on skill. Instead of pressing the buttons all the time, you’ll have to carefully parry, dodge, and time your charges. A lot of people talked about Eve’s character creation. It’s impossible to miss her sleek suit, but the game never just makes her a sight to behold. She is still a strong and interesting major character.
Stellar Blade shows that style and substance can coexist, with its beautiful environments, responsive controls, and well-executed combat.
NieR: Automata
Developer: Square Enix, PlatinumGames Inc.
Publishers: Square Enix
NieR: Automata is currently in first place. The iconic shape of 2B looks great at first glance.
On the other hand, it’s one of the most emotionally complex action games of its time. As you play as android soldiers in a mysterious war, you slowly learn about existential questions like who you are, what you’re aware of, and your purpose in life.
The combat smoothly shifts between hack-and-slash and shooter-style sections, keeping the game interesting. When you play the game more than once, you find deeper levels of the story.
Yes, 2B’s outfit does stand out. But the real reason this game is number one is that it has a story that you’ll never forget, gameplay that mixes genres, beautiful music, and deep themes. It also looks great. Artistry takes fan service to a whole new level.
Finally..
Fan service can get people interested, but good games and memorable stories are what keep them playing. The best games on this list aren’t just pretty to look at. They combine strong character design with tight gameplay, moving stories, and a stylish look.
If you want games that are both visually appealing and have real-world content, these ten show that you can have both.
Thanks for reading. If you like lists, also check the other list articles below:
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