In recent years, Southeast Asian games have carved out a growing space within the global gaming community, showcasing unique narratives and gameplay shaped by their cultures. Yet, despite this growing recognition, one glaring issue remains: there is still a noticeable gap in the representation of male and female characters, reflecting how Southeast Asian women have often been sidelined, misrepresented, or omitted throughout history.
This zine aims to examine the portrayal of women in modern video games. More specifically, we investigate how three countries — the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand — choose to depict their women, critiquing portrayals that reinforce stereotypes while celebrating those that challenge and subvert them.
