3) Jade
First Appearance: Beyond Good & Evil (GameCube, 2003)
Jade wears many hats in Beyond Good & Evil. Besides working as a photojournalist, a position she uses to expose corruption and fight injustice, as well as make a living, Jade is also the matriarch to orphaned children whom she takes care of in her lighthouse home. Aided by her friend Pey’j, Jade also literally fights, staff in hand, against the malevolent DomZ. Jade is portrayed as very grounded and relatable, as though she was someone that anyone might call friend. She’s easy to root for, but also sort of inspirational, in a way. Jade is an atypical leading lady, and all the better for it.