What Games Choose Women? A Survey of the Most Popular and Influential Games Among Female Gamers

Gaming is no longer just a predominantly male hobby, as female gamers are increasingly becoming a larger proportion of gamers around the world. Although female gamers have diverse preferences and tastes when it comes to selecting their favorite games, survey data shows some trends and patterns. In this article, we will explore some of the most popular and influential games among female gamers in 2020, based on different genres, platforms, and criteria, such as The Sims 4 and Minecraft. We will also discuss some of the factors that make these games appealing to women, as well as some of the challenges and opportunities that female gamers face in the gaming industry. It is worth noting that certain trends are also emerging in the online casino industry, with the growth of same day payout casinos, which are becoming increasingly popular among both male and female players.

The Sims 4: A Life Simulator with Endless Possibilities

One of the most popular games among female gamers in 2020 was The Sims 4, a life simulation game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. The Sims 4 allows players to create and control virtual characters, called Sims, and customize every aspect of their lives, from their appearance, personality, relationships, careers, hobbies, to their homes, neighborhoods and worlds. The game offers a variety of expansion packs, game packs and stuff packs that add new features, content and themes to the base game.

The Sims 4 is appealing to female gamers for many reasons. First of all, it gives them a high degree of creative freedom and expression, as they can design their own characters and stories according to their preferences and imagination. Second, it provides them with a safe and fun environment to experiment with different scenarios and outcomes, such as romance, family, career, travel, etc. Third, it allows them to socialize with other players online through multiplayer modes, sharing their creations and experiences with the community.

The Sims 4 was also one of the most influential games among female gamers in 2020, as it inspired many women to pursue careers in game development, design, art and music. Some examples of female creators who worked on The Sims 4 are Lyndsay Pearson (executive producer), Rachel Franklin (general manager), Sarah Holding (senior producer), SimGuruNinja (game designer), SimGuruFrost (community manager), Laura Miele (chief studios officer at EA) and many more.

Minecraft: A Sandbox Game with Infinite Potential

Another popular game among female gamers in 2020 was Minecraft, a sandbox game developed by Mojang Studios and published by Xbox Game Studios. Minecraft is a game where players can build anything they can imagine using blocks in a procedurally generated 3D world. The game has two main modes: survival mode, where players have to gather resources, craft items and fight enemies; and creative mode, where players have unlimited resources and can create anything they want without any restrictions.

Minecraft is appealing to female gamers for similar reasons as The Sims 4: it offers them a lot of creative freedom and expression, as well as a chance to explore different worlds and possibilities. Moreover, Minecraft is also a game that fosters collaboration and communication among players, as they can join servers and play together online, or create their own servers and invite others to join. Minecraft also has a large and active community of modders, map makers, content creators and educators who use the game as a platform for learning, teaching and sharing.

Minecraft was also one of the most influential games among female gamers in 2020, as it encouraged many women to learn coding, programming and game design skills. Some examples of female creators who worked on Minecraft are Helen Chiang (studio head at Mojang Studios), Agnes Larsson (lead developer), Lydia Winters (chief storyteller), Jen Bergensten (game designer), Maria Lemón (game developer), Marsh Davies (creative communications manager) and many more.

Other Popular Games Among Female Gamers in 2020

Besides The Sims 4 and Minecraft, there were many other games that were popular among female gamers in 2020. Here are some of them:

• Horizon Zero Dawn: A post-apocalyptic action-adventure game developed by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The game features a strong female protagonist named Aloy who explores a world overrun by robotic creatures called machines.
• Overwatch: A team-based multiplayer first-person shooter game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. The game features a diverse cast of heroes with different abilities and roles, many of whom are female.
• Fortnite: A free-to-play online game developed by Epic Games. The game has three main modes: Battle Royale, where 100 players compete to be the last one standing; Save the World, where players cooperate to fight off zombie-like creatures; and Creative, where players can create their own maps and games.
• Call of Duty: A series of first-person shooter games developed by various studios and published by Activision. The series covers different historical and fictional settings, such as World War II, modern warfare, futuristic warfare, etc. The series also features some female characters and modes.
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons: A social simulation game developed and published by Nintendo. The game allows players to create and customize their own island, interact with animal villagers, collect items, craft furniture, etc. The game also supports online multiplayer and cross-play.
• Among Us: A multiplayer social deduction game developed and published by Innersloth. The game involves a group of crewmates who have to work together to complete tasks on a spaceship, while one or more impostors try to sabotage and kill them.

Factors that Influence Female Gamers’ Choices

Female gamers have different preferences and tastes when it comes to choosing their favorite games, but some factors that may influence their choices are:

• Genre: Female gamers tend to prefer games that are more casual, social, creative and narrative-driven, such as simulation, adventure, puzzle, role-playing and strategy games. They also enjoy games that have diverse and inclusive representation of characters, especially female characters.
• Platform: Female gamers tend to prefer games that are more accessible, convenient and affordable, such as mobile games, browser games and free-to-play games such as solitaire. They also enjoy games that have cross-platform compatibility and online multiplayer features.
• Community: Female gamers tend to prefer games that have friendly, supportive and respectful communities, where they can interact with other players, share their creations and experiences, and learn from each other. They also appreciate games that have active and responsive developers who listen to feedback and suggestions.

Challenges and Opportunities for Female Gamers

Female gamers face many challenges in the gaming industry, such as:

• Stereotypes: Female gamers are often stereotyped as being less skilled, less knowledgeable and less interested in gaming than male gamers. They are also often assumed to play only certain types of games or genres that are considered “girly” or “casual”.
• Harassment: Female gamers are often harassed online by other players who use sexist, racist or homophobic language, threats or insults. They are also often targeted by trolls who try to ruin their gaming experience or expose their personal information.
• Discrimination: Female gamers are often discriminated against in the gaming industry by employers, colleagues or customers who doubt their abilities, qualifications or credibility. They are also often underrepresented or misrepresented in the gaming media, culture or events.

However, female gamers also have many opportunities in the gaming industry, such as:

• Empowerment: Female gamers can use gaming as a way to express themselves, explore their identities, challenge themselves, learn new skills and have fun. They can also use gaming as a way to connect with other people who share their interests, passions or values.
• Influence: Female gamers can use their voice and platform to influence the gaming industry and society in positive ways. They can advocate for more diversity and inclusion in gaming content, representation and participation. They can also inspire and support other female gamers who want to pursue their gaming goals or careers.
• Innovation: Female gamers can use their creativity and talent to create new games or content that reflect their perspectives, experiences and needs. They can also use their knowledge and expertise to improve existing games or content that benefit the gaming community and industry.