MD games with a female character lead

[A Black Falcon]

Phantasy Star and Phantasy Star IV. Zombies. Madou Monogatari I. Puyo Puyo and Puyo Puyo Tsuu. MUSHA.

Phantasy Star IV doesn't have a female lead, no. And PS1 isn't on the Genesis/MD in English. Nor is Madou Monogatari, and as RPGs that matters.

Devil Hunter Yoko.
Twinkle Star Sprites. EDIT >> Twinkle Tale {{ as I said below, busy elsewhere. }}

Both of those are fine suggestions, yes they are imports but no Japanese knowledge is required and the games are decent (and on cart).

>>>> sorry those are borderline useless for purchasing prospects.<<<<<
I would count Streets of Rage because Blaze is the best.
Alien 3.
Pirates of Darkwater.
Cutey Suzuki's Ringside Angel (don't give her this).
Saint Sword (very underrated game, ignore the local review).
I think Dangerous Seed's pilot is female.
Pocahontas is worth repeating---but Meeko is the real lead.
Both Battle Mania/Troubleshooters.
Phantasy Star II's true lead is Nei.

CD = Yumimi Mix, Urusei Yatsura, something else (folk are mentioning this CD stuff--there's one that's a very shabby brawler, forget it).

{{ Sorry man, I'm a bit busy elsewhere, that's all I can name for now }}.

Yumimi Mix isn't too useful if you don't know Japanese, and Urusei Yatsura's completely unplayable if you don't. For Japanese Sega CD RPGs/strategy games in Japanese only, though, there is at least one more with a female lead, Mahou no Shoujo: Silky Lip.

Am I the only one who plays Arrow Flash?

I find the game kind of boring...

[Assman]

Phantasy Star IV doesn't have a female lead, no.

What? Alys is there right from the beginning. Granted, she dies, but still.

[Sik]

In like 75% of the game you end up with a male lead though...

[goldenband]

Sword of Sodan! Heck, the female character is unequivocally more powerful than the guy in that game. Of course, the odds that your niece will like SoS are roughly 1000 to 1 against...

[A Black Falcon]

What? Alys is there right from the beginning. Granted, she dies, but still.

She's there, and sure she leads the group at first, but the perspective character -- and thus the lead -- is the guy from the beginning.

Also, as you say, she dies partway through the game. Of course a game can change main characters partway, it happens sometimes, but that wasn't what was going on there.

[Phexar]

Some more games with a gender choice that haven't been mentioned:

Rock 'N Roll Racing (Katarina Lyons)
Street Racer (Surf)
Tiny Toon Adventures: ACME All-Stars (make up your own teams outside of story mode/etc)
AAAHH!!! Real Monsters(Oblina, similar situation to Animaniacs where you control all three and can switch anytime)
Master of Monsters(Summoner, can be a tricky interface to handle and understand though)

RPG's where you create your own party members (though they can be a bit harder to learn/play):

Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday
Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun
Might and Magic: Gates to Another World

[retrospiel]

Girls love Bare Knuckle.

And I'd get Castle of Illusion, Quackshot, World of Illusion and Great Circus Mystery for her.

As for games with a female lead character: Alisia Dragoon is an excellent but rather challenging game that hasnt been mentioned yet.

[Sik]

Does it have to be a complete game? =P