Girls Who Game: How Women Are Changing the Video Game Industry
With National Video Game Day approaching on July 8, it’s the perfect time to celebrate both the games we love and the visionaries who have shaped the industry from its earliest days. This year, we’re spotlighting the groundbreaking contributions of women in gaming—from Mabel Addis, the first video game writer, to today’s leading women like Kim Swift and Shannon Loftis—while also reflecting on how far the industry has come and the work we still need to do to make gaming truly inclusive.
Mabel Addis, a writer and fourth-grade teacher, made history by writing The Sumerian Game in 1964. This feat made her the first video game writer, as well as the first ever woman to design a game! But The Sumerian Game was more than just a milestone for gender representation—it was both the first text-based video game and the first digital strategy game, making it the blueprint for future titles like Civilization and Starcraft.
Addis’s groundbreaking work paved the way for other incredible women in gaming. Throughout the 1970s, programmers like Carol Shaw and Dona Bailey pushed the boundaries of game design with games like River Raid and Centipede, respectively, creating cultural phenomena that took gaming to the next level.
Fast forward to modern times, and women are still making waves. Kim Swift, the creative genius behind Portal, made Forbes Magazine’s list of “30 under 30” most influential figures in the video game industry. Shannon Loftis, an ex-Microsoft employee, worked her way up from a role as an IT project manager to become the VP of Xbox Game Studios. These women, and countless others like them, continue to shape the industry with their talent and vision, serving as an inspiration for all.
But, here’s the problem: despite all this progress, women still hold only about 25% of game industry jobs. The question is, what can we do about it?
Here’s How We Change the Game
If we want to see more women in gaming, it’s going to take some collaboration. Gamers, developers, educators, and industry leaders will need to work together to bring about the change we need. Here’s how:
Make Games That Represent Everyone
Here’s a stat that might surprise you: In 2024, roughly half of all gamers in the U.S. were women. Yet, most of these games are still designed by men.
This creates a problem. When the people making games don’t reflect the people playing them, the end result is stories, characters, and experiences that only speak to part of the gaming community. And, when young people don’t see themselves represented in the games they play, they’re less likely to imagine themselves as game designers, writers, and programmers.
The solution is pretty straightforward—current game designers and game studios need to create diverse characters that resonate with all backgrounds. Characters like Ellie from The Last of Us and Parvati from The Outer Worlds are great examples—while different in age, background, and personality, they’re both strong, inspirational women that break the mold and inspire players around the world.
When young women can see themselves in a game, they’re more likely to think, “Hey, maybe I could make something like this too.”
Give Young Women the Tools They Need to Succeed
While generating an early interest in gaming is key, we also need to build a framework that supports young women in exploring their new passions. At Girls Who Code, we believe that the best way to create change is by giving our students the support they need to explore their interests, develop their skills, and find their path in the industry.
We built our programs to counter the boys’ club in the gaming industry, giving all of our students access to game design courses and curriculum. We aim to give young people the opportunity to follow their passions and get a head start on their path to a career in game development.
Our Summer Immersion Program is a great example, giving students of all skill levels opportunities to learn and grow through numerous game design courses:
Course 1: Intro to p5.js + Game Design
In this course, students learn about the structure of games, the basics of p5.js, and the game design process while creating an interactive avatar that best represents them.
Sample Project:
Course 2: Intro to CYOA Games
This course gives students the opportunity to explore a 2D game engine library called p5play. Students use the library to create their own choose-your-own-adventure game, all while learning fundamental programming skills.
Sample Project:
Course 4: Game Jam
Building on the experience from the previous courses, Game Jam gives students an opportunity to prototype a game around a specific prompt. Individuals can practice giving and receiving feedback as they work on their designs.
Sample Project:
Empower Women and Foster Diversity
Finally, we need to support the women who are currently working in the gaming industry, ensuring that leadership roles are within their reach. Empowering women through equitable workplaces is a fundamental step in making lasting change in the industry. Plus, it’s not just women that stand to benefit—companies with greater diversity actually see higher levels of innovation and better economic results. It’s a win-win for both diversity and business.
As gamers and consumers, we have the power to help make this happen. By choosing to support game companies that value diversity and ethical practices, we can encourage women and other underrepresented groups to find their voice.
There are companies that are on our side. For example, Humble Bundle donates a percentage of proceeds from game sales to charities and nonprofits. Over the last 15 years, they’ve contributed over $268,000,000 to organizations that support women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and more. More specifically, this past year Humble Bundle donated over $300k to our Clubs programming, helping 5,750 girls discover community and sisterhood through coding. When we back companies like Humble Bundle, we’re voting with our wallets, taking an active role in shaping the future of the gaming industry.
—
Over the last 60 years, women have helped propel the gaming industry to new heights. From Mabel Addis to Kim Swift, these individuals have proved that gaming isn’t just for boys—it’s a space where women belong, create, and lead.
It’s our job to continue the work of these powerful women. By building games with diverse characters, we can inspire the next generation of gamers and game developers. By providing educational resources, we can give young people the tools they need to succeed in the industry. And, by building and supporting diverse workplaces, we can create lasting change for women everywhere.
Looking for something new to play? Check out Humble Bundle’s June Tunes Bundle—a portion of the proceeds go directly to Girls Who Code’s Clubs program!
