Are you sitting comfortably? You've seen the dudes, so now it's time to meet the dudettes. Over the years, the video game industry has brought forth arguably some of the sexiest (and most shameless) vixens in fiction. So much so that it would be virtually impossible for us to make mention of them all.
However we've tried to narrow down a top five (in no particular order) who I find to be the most compelling. Perhaps its their fashion sense. Perhaps its their personalities. Perhaps its either or neither. Check them out.
Anne Bonny
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Anne is introduced as a flirtatious barmaid at a small tavern in the 'Pirate Republic' of Nassau, but is later revealed to have closer ties to the pirating lifestyle. As First Mate to Captain James Kidd, Anne is captured along with the rest of the crew by the Royal Navy and imprisoned. Although Captain Kidd (who is really Mary Read in disguise) dies in captivity, Anne is freed by pirate captain, and later Assassin, Edward Kenway. As recompense for this, Anne volunteers to become Kenway's second quartermaster when his former one leaves their ship, the Jackdaw, on a personal quest. Interestingly, Anne's maiden name is 'Cormac' although it is unknown whether or not she is related to Shay Cormac (of Assassin's Creed Rogue - the spiritual sequel to Black Flag), the Templar responsible for the downfall of the New World Assassin Order. Her physical strength is also something to shake several sticks at (able to hold her own in combat) as well as natural talent for free running as well as her advanced nautical knowledge. Anne rates highly on our scale of in-game sexiness for a combination of winning personality and charming good looks, carrying a sharp sense of British wit and sass wherever she travels (in her revealing attire, no doubt). Her confidence as a woman as well as her longing for the tomboyish nature of pirating culture makes her one of the more intriguing characters in the entire series. She stands out amongst the strong cast of characters prevalent throughout Black Flag, which is saying something!
Catwoman
The Batman: Arkham Series
Bringing a total contrast to the dark, gritty, grisly setting of Arkham City, Catwoman sticks it to the Dark Knight and pursues her own agenda within the city walls even after he goes out of his way to save her life when Two-Face threatens to bathe her in a pool of acid. Also a vigilante by nature but with no actual rulebook (unlike her bat-dressing counterpart), Catwoman's morality within the Batman mythology has always been ambiguous, and although she has tendencies to involve herself in some pretty high profile burglaries - somehow she remains a strong ally of Batman and his crime-frighting friends. Sometimes Catwoman is portrayed as a villain and sometimes she is portrayed as an anti-hero, but is actually both and - at the same time - neither, depending on her mood. In the events of this game, and regardless of what she might have been out in the streets of Gotham, within the confines of Arkham City this version of Catwoman makes easy work out of anyone who tries to get between her and her prize.
Personality-aside, maybe it's the twinkly-green eyes, the coy, sly smile, the collar or the revealing leather jumpsuit... In any case, we jumped for joy when the developers revealed that the character was returning in Batman: Arkham Knight, due out next month.
Special mention obviously goes to Arkham's infamous rendition of Harley Quinn, especially in that titillating nurse getup...
Cortana
The Halo Series
As with the advancement in graphical technology, Cortana gradually became sexier and sexier with each Halo installment (each game that is, not the actual death rings themselves...). It should come as no surprise to anyone that Cortana was well received right from the start since the player is tasked with protecting her in some capacity in each game she appears (although more so in the original). In the series she serves as the player's key to the universe's mythos, character backstory and gameplay information and also helps you to progress through the in-game world by unlocking important areas, and also helps to carry the narrative as both a plot device and a character. The A.I. which makes up Cortana was copied on a brain scan of one Dr. Catherine Halsey, who was responsible for developing the Spartan II project. Since many Spartans regard Halsey as a maternal figure, it is interesting that throughout the series there is a suggested romantic chemistry between Cortana and the Master Chief, which develops right until the end of Halo 4 as a result of their shared trauma and experiences during the events of the war with the Covenant. Really, when you think about it, it's a Freudian field day...
Regardless, because of her engaging voice acting and characterisation (as well as her sexy and let's face it - nearly nude - holographic facade), Cortana takes her rightful place here amongst the sexiest vixens in gaming.
Lara Croft
The Tomb Raider Series
But it was really Lara's very first incarnation, which was so overly sexualised at the time (despite the pixels and those insanely angular breasts), it led to the character becoming a true video game icon.
Miranda
The Mass Effect Series
Miranda Lawson oversees the resurrection of Commander Shepard who, having been killed in a Collector attack during the game's prologue, is tasked by the human-survivalist paramilitary group Cerberus to seek out his 9or her, depending on player choice) killers and stop them from unleashing further horrors on the galaxy. Miranda joins up as one of your first new crew members of the rebuilt Normandy vessel alongside the human biotic Jacob Taylor. Miranda also serves as right-hand accomplice to the Illusive Man, your 'employer' in Mass Effect 2 and later enemy in Mass Effect 3, and so her judgement regarding matters of galactic concern are a little questionable. She, like the Illusive Man, tends to put the needs of humanity above the needs of other species' in the galaxy. That said, she leaves all of the important decision-making up to you, as Commander Shepard. Miranda can be romanced, but only by a male Shepard and will turn return the advances if the Commander is female. You'll also have to sacrifice a friendship with ship convict Jack in order to pursue things romantically with Miranda, whose opinions on what to do are nearly always at odds with those of the rest of the crew. You'll also have to fulfil her loyalty mission, where you save her younger sister from her power-mad father on the Asari world of Illium.
Morrigan
The Dragon Age Series
Former companion to the Grey Warden who ended the Fifth Blight and, just over a decade later, adviser to the Inquisitor during the opening of the Fade rifts, Morrigan was born as a Witch of the Korcari Wilds to the legendary Flemeth. Morrigan's scantily-clad look, as well as her realist outlook on the events of the game and her sarcastic sense of humor, makes her one of the sexier characters in the series. Despite being a companion, throughout playing Origins and Inquisition you get the distinct impression that Morrigan is withholding important information from you for her own ends. This turns out to be true in both Origins and Inquisition, where it turns out that she intended to use the protagonist to gain immeasurable power. The first time by potentially creating a half-Demon God heir with the Grey Warden and the second time by absorbing the knowledge of the ancient Elves. Both times you have the option to deny her (which I did!)
Morrigan, like the majority of the main cast of Origins, can be romanced (although at the expense of the other characters' loyalty). Morrigan is voiced by Claudia Black in all of her appearances.
Boing.
Did we miss anyone?
Let us know in the comments below!