When we are not limited, we all thrive
Women’s History Month celebrates the contributions of women around the world. While conventional notions of success and power are implicitly associated with culture or gender, we challenge these limiting biases and explore the many meaningful ways humans succeed, influence, and lead.
The influence of women can be felt in every aspect of society. Within the game and entertainment space, we want to recognize titles that uplift and recognize women and girls through interactive experiences and stories. Check out these titles curated by women at Microsoft.
Meanwhile, learn more about Microsoft’s support of Women.
GAMES
Life is Strange: True Colors
Alex Chen, the first Asian-American protagonist in the series, uses her psychic power of empathy to solve the mystery behind her brother’s death. The story explores the importance of balancing self-care with helping those around you. Life is Strange: True Colors also features same-gender relationship options. This game won Best Storytelling in the 2021 Golden Joystick Awards.
Celeste
Written, designed, and designed by Maddy Thorson, a Canadian trans woman, Celeste follows Madeline’s journey of self-discovery by climbing Celeste Mountain. The themes include mental health issues associated with accepting one’s identity.
Unpacking
Discover a characterâs story through the items that come with her to each new home in this meditative puzzle game created by Wren Brier, an Australian games artist. Unpacking also explores LGBTQI+ themes.
The Anacrusis
The Anacrusis is a four-player, cooperative, first-person shooter game designed by Dr. Kimberly Voll, co-founder of the Fair Play Alliance. Follow the story of four survivors in the battle to defend humanity from an alien menace.
There’s more where these gaming titles came from. You’ll find a mixture of options from women developers to protagonists to character creation options in this collection.
MOVIES and TV
DC Super Hero Girls
As students at Metropolis High School, six young women (i.e., Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Green Lantern, Bumblebee, and Zatanna) form a super league called the Super Hero Girls. This coming-of-age series isn’t only focused on the heroines bringing down the city’s super villains. They are still having to deal with the pangs of adolescence paired with managing their collective superhero status with their secret identities. Nicole Sullivan and Tara Strong lead the cast of voice actors.
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
Based on the biography On Her Own Ground by A’Lelia Bundles, the great-great granddaughter of Madam C.J. Walker, Self Made is a fictionalized account of the true, barrier-breaking story of Walker. At the turn of the century, the laundress turned haircare saleswoman self actualized her own successful beauty line despite the system being set against her. Constantly told to let her dream go as a Black woman, she pushed forward with a vision to be as “big as Carnegie, Ford, and Rockefeller put together,” becoming the first self-made woman millionaire in the United States. This Netflix limited series stars Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer, Tiffany Haddish, and Carmen Ejogo.
Encanto
Encanto is the tale of a Colombian teenager, Mirabel, who feels like the family’s outsider because of her lack of magical powers. However, when the magic of the family and their home is threatened, her inner strength, persistence, and love may be what’s needed to save the day. Will she have what it takes to save the magic, or will it be too late? Stephanie Beatriz and MarĂa Cecilia Botero star in this beautiful tale featuring original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Pose
Emmy-nominee Michaela JaĂŠ Rodriguez, Indya Moore, Dominique Jackson, and Emmy-winner Billy Porter star in this TV series set in the gritty backdrop of New York City in the late 1980s. Pose beautifully tells the story of ball culture within African American/Black and Hispanic/Latinx LGBTQI+ communities. Loosely based on the 1990 documentary, Paris Is Burning, the series explores the beginnings of the HIV/AIDS crisis and its devastating impact. However, the series gives an even deeper look at the trials and triumphs of finding love, self-acceptance, and family.
Beans
Her name is Tekehentahkhwa, but you can call her Beans.
Beans is a Canadian drama that retells the true story of an occupation of the Mohawk people in an ancient pine forest destined to be leveled for a neighboring town’s golf course. As her people fight to peacefully protect their ancestors’ burial ground within the forest, a 12-year-old girl nicknamed Beans begins to experience a sharp shift in perspective of her world during an eventual 78-day standoff. She befriends an older girl who teaches her to toughen up in the face of adversity. Directed by Tracey Deer (Mohawk), the film stars Kiawentiio in her feature film debut.
Interested in more movies and TV shows by women creators or content that features women leads, culture, and family? How about titles that are educational and historical in nature featuring women? Check out this Microsoft Movies & TV collection.