Kena Scars of Kosmora looks amazing, but it's reignited an old character design debate

It seems a game with a female character can't be announced without it causing the same old debates. From some gamers' disappointment that Lara Croft looks like a real woman to the argument that Overwatch's female characters all look the same, the designs seem to always come in for dissection more than those of men.

At the PlayStation State of Play showcase this week, along with the new John Wick game, we were presented with the trailer for Kena Scars of Kosmora. This is the sequel to Ember Lab's 2021 game Kena: Bridge of Spirits. It continues rock its own unique art stylised art, but it seems some people want all games to look the same.

Kena: Scars of Kosmora - Announce Trailer | PS5 Games - YouTube

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Kena Scars of Kosmora looks amazing. Kena is now older and renowned as a Spirit Guide. The game will see her head to the mysterious island of Kosmora to seek a cure for a lifelong illness.

Like with the original, the Pixar-meets-Zelda art style is a reminder that Ember Lab were previously an animation company. The sequel looks set to retain Bridge of Spirits' whimsical charm while taking it in a darker, more mature direction.

Alas, a debate has resurfaced about whether a female character needs to be “sexy“ in order to sell a game. Using an AI-generated caricature as an illustration, one person writes on X: “I think the Kena franchise would’ve been far more popular if it had featured an older, sexier main protagonist.”

Add bigger bosses for the win... pic.twitter.com/ZS8mabaQdFFebruary 13, 2026

Plenty of people seem to agree, with some suggesting a design like Eve in Stellar Blade would have more appeal. But others have provided voices of reason, noting that a character would be completely out of place in Kena's world and story (and in an all-ages action adventure).

“I love sexy female characters, but not every female character needs to look like this,” one person replied. “Kena is cute and capable. Her design matches the atmosphere that the developers have established. Looking forward to this sequel and will finally unbox the first game next week and begin exploring this gem of a title.

They add: “It's a gimmick if it's not your initial design for a character. If your ideas, storytelling, and gameplay alone can't draw a crowd, leaning into the sexy isn't going to save it either. I don't want developers or artists to betray their vision just to appease either crowd. People who honestly love your work will gravitate to it.”

"I am all for having attractive characters in video games, but it doesn't need to be shoved in just cause. It's basically the same problem just on the other extreme,” another person wrote.

"That is why the First Descendants is doing soooo well. And Code Violet became a huge success. We got to the point where a fine looking character is not enough, because she is not half naked and with tits out," someone else complains.

The anti-wokism in gaming is getting a bit ridiculous. Games don't all need to appeal to the lowest common denominator, and forcing in certain designs that don't fit a game or the character would quickly make everything terribly boring. Fortunately, Kena seems to have a strong-enough loyal audience to do just fine.

Joe is a regular freelance journalist and editor at Creative Bloq. He writes news, features and buying guides and keeps track of the best equipment and software for creatives, from video editing programs to monitors and accessories. A veteran news writer and photographer, he now works as a project manager at the London and Buenos Aires-based design, production and branding agency Hermana Creatives. There he manages a team of designers, photographers and video editors who specialise in producing visual content and design assets for the hospitality sector. He also dances Argentine tango.

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