BEST HEROINE
Previous Winners
2016: Neptune (Megadimension Neptunia VII)
2017: Futaba (Persona 5)
2018: Jade (Dragon Quest XI)
As always, there were plenty of heroines to love among last year’s various game releases. There were so many that it made it especially hard to pick our top faves this year. This is a best heroine award though, not merely the best girl, so only the most heroic and exceptional females make it to the top of this list. Some might seem more heroic than others, but all heroines are worthy of recognition and these are merely the most beloved and appreciated among the oprainfall staff. So without further ado, here our top three best heroines of 2019.
Reisalin Stout (Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout)
NA Release Date: October 29th, 2019
Platform(s): PS4, Nintendo Switch, Steam
Review
Reisalin Stout, or Ryza as everyone calls her, could be seen as an underrated heroine. Many love her more for her curvy figure than her character. But if you’ve taken the chance to play Atelier Ryza you’d know that she is most definitely a heroine worthy of recognition in her own right. Ryza is a very positive and upbeat character who doesn’t enjoy living within the confines of the rules and restrictions set by those in charge on the island she lives on. She prefers to go out and find adventure with her friends, but she doesn’t shy away from helping out those in need either. Well, as long as it doesn’t require doing household chores, at least.
Jade (Dragon Quest XI S)
NA Release Date: September 27th, 2019
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Review
Once again Jade has made it on our list of nominees for best heroine. This time though, she’s representing the Nintendo Switch port of the game which came included with quite a good chunk of extra content. There isn’t much more about Jade that I can say which I haven’t already said last year when she first won our hearts. What I didn’t say last year is that I believe she is one of the true heroes of Dragon Quest XI. Sure, ultimately the world wouldn’t be saved without the Luminary. But once you’ve seen DQXI‘s story in full, you may come to realize that the Luminary would’ve never survived and even gotten the chance to defeat evil without his friends. Jade specifically has saved his life on multiple occasions. She’s strong, intelligent and does what has to be done. Even when she was separated from the Luminary at one point and had no clue he survived, she kept on going and did what she had to do.
Byleth (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)
NA Release Date: July 26th, 2019
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Review
Byleth is somewhat of a moral compass on whichever path you choose to take in Three Houses. She teaches her students not only skills for battle but also how to do what’s right. She protects those she’s sided with and is the glue that holds everyone together. Had Byleth and her father, Jeralt, never crossed paths with the Officers Academy’s newest house leaders and gone to Garreg Mach, all of Fódlan very well could’ve soon fallen into ruin and never seen peace again. Because Byleth fights for those she’s become a mentor to and does what’s right. You do not want to end up her enemy.
And this year’s best heroine is…
Reisalin Stout!
This year Ryza has won our hearts here at oprainfall. Once she learns of alchemy and becomes skilled at it, Ryza works hard to better the lives of her friends and neighbors. She might not like all of the town’s stuffy laws and whatnot, but that doesn’t change the fact that she wants to help her neighbors when she can and also earn their respect. In the end, Ryza works hard to be free and independent, but with some help from her friends, also protects their ordinary lives and keeps those she cares about safe. So, for being the cheerful and good-hearted heroine that she is, Reisalin Stout is our pick for 2019’s best heroine.
