With Valentine’s Day coming up it is hard not to feel swept up in the romantic spirit. Plus with Kingdom Hearts III out, it is impossible to not think about the best love stories in video games. That being said, here are the top five video game couples:
Sora and Kairi from the Kingdom Hearts series
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Sora and Kairi were my first ship or according to Urban Dictionary, short for romantic relationship, popularized in fanfiction circles.” Within the games’ plots, it is explained, albeit convolutedly, that Kairi’s heart is part of Sora’s, connecting them in a special way. While the two have still never officially kissed, they hardly have a platonic connection as they are often holding hands and SPOILERS the end of Kingdom Hearts III sees them sharing a beloved Papou fruit thus officially joining their fates together.
Elena and Nathan Drake from the Uncharted series
The Uncharted series is known for its cinematography, story, and incredibly good writing. It’s mainstay couple, Elena and Nathan are no different. The two are known for their bickering and off the wall chemistry which is best demonstrated by some fantastic dialogue. With the final entry in the series, the Drakes hit a few bumps in the road with their relationship but were able to work through Nate’s treasure hunting desires enough to settle down and have a daughter. The Drakes have become the quintessential married couple in video games with their love now spanning four games and over a decade.
Link and Zelda from The Legend of Zelda series
These Nintendo created darlings have been gracing game consoles since in 1986 and have been featured in 19 titles. The two have a magnetic connection that is established despite Link’s silent nature. Through the Triforce, the combined spirit of the three goddesses who created the land of Hyrule, each “third” of the Triforce representing their qualities of power, wisdom, and courage, Link and Zelda are uniquely connected. In some games, Link and Zelda even share a telepathic connection through the Triforce. The most recent entry in the series, Legend of Zelda: The Breath of the Wild, puts more focus on their romance than any game previously.
Geralt and Yennefer from The Witcher series
Sorry, Triss fans but I am making a definitive decision here and Geralt and Yennefer are one of the best video game couples of all time. Unlike in the previous entries,Yennefer is one of the main characters of The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt. At the start of the game, the two are separated but clearly thinking about each other. While it is possible to play the game without romancing Yennefer, it is not possible to ignore their history. During the game, must summon a djinn to remove Geralt’s last wish, which bound the two forever. She wanted to see if they truly loved each other or if they are together because of the magical bond. Following the removal of the magic between her and Geralt, Yennefer confesses to Geralt that she still has feelings for him signifying their love was real all along.
Shepard and (insert choice) from the Mass Effect series
When speaking about romance in video games, Mass Effect is almost always a game that comes up. Unlike any other entry on this list, including The Witcher, Mass Effect offers diverse romance options. In the game, you can romance just about anyone you encounter in the game. The ability of the games to offer multiple romances with fleshed out storylines and even balancing out these serious relationships with side romances offers some of the first of its kind. Now, like in real life, each character in the game has their own sexual preferences, likes, dislikes, and you need to work to woo them, they’re not just gonna fall for you on the first flirt. The Mass Effect series offers some of the most immersive romances and this science fiction RPG has inspired many romances after it.
Video games are a unique medium that immerses players in the story and creates connections with characters that aren’t seen as frequently in other mediums, this makes this love connections feel that much stronger. What games are you playing for Valentine’s Day and is there a video game couples that knocks out one of these? Let us know in the comments below.
