The Indicative Representation of Women in Games test
The IRWiG Test was designed as part of an academic research project,
which was then accepted for publication with DiGRA, with the goal of identifying if an equivalent to the Bechdel Test would be applicable to video games.
It was academically researched and evaluated,
where success was measured with the correlation between whether someone subjectively believed a game to
have good portrayals or representation of women, and whether they think that same game passes or fails
the IRWiG test. To pass the test, a game needs a woman character (doesn't have to be the main character)
who meets all four of the following criteria:
> Does she undergo character development, or has struggles/obstacles she overcomes whthout wholly relying on another character?
> Is her outfit and physique practical for her role, and if not, is it justified narratively, thematically, or by her characterisation?
> Does she play an active role in the main story and isn’t hidden to only optional/side content?
> Does her characterisation/gameplay role extend beyond one or two widespread stereotypes?
The DiGRA 2024 journal is soon to be published, now that the conference has finished (at which I presented!); when it's out I'll be linking my paper here!
Below are all the games that have been tested so far!
Clicking on a game title will show more
information like vote distribution and game details.