Whether a fan of romance or not, we can’t deny that it’s all around us. Even video games are full of couples that have inspired players to seek out love. With so many fantastic couples in gaming, though, it can be hard to stand out. Even still, there are some iconic couples that most gamers can name off without blinking an eye.
These couples have long been hailed as an ideal romance, and many fans have hot debates around their relationship. In celebration of love, we have made a list of the ten most iconic couples in video games. Fron Nintendo series to JRPGs, these couples come from all walks of life to show that love can overcome just about anything.
As long as the series presents them as a pair, a couple doesn’t have to be officially together to be considered for this article.
10 Link & Zelda
Depending on which game in the series is being considered, Link and Princess Zelda show different levels of affection. From the more romantic Skyward Sword to the heavily implied feelings in Ocarina of Time, it’s sad we’ve never been able to see this couple spend more time together. Even in Spirit Tracks, the two were so focused on their adventure that they didn’t have much time for ideal conversation.
Hopefully, Breath of the Wild II will show more of the relationship of the couple. Many fans are just fine debating about the couple’s dates.
9 Mario & Peach
Since the beginning of Nintendo’s Mario franchise, Mario and Peach have been an iconic couple. Mario has been on an adventure to rescue a Princess since the days of the NES. The two have traveled together across multiple genres, including RPGs and racing games. The couple has even taken vacations together to exotic lands like the Delfino Islands, where Peach, of course, ended up getting kidnapped
Sadly, we have seen very little of the couple’s romantic relationship, outside of subtle hints like Peach baking Mario a cake or always relying on the plumber.
8 Geralt & Yennefer
On the newer end of things, there is Geralt and Yennefer, who only debuted in gaming a few years ago when The Witcher 3 was released. The couple has been a long-standing favorite for fantasy readers, so it was no surprise that they took the video game world by storm. With the release of the franchise’s hit TV show, the games have once again skyrocketed in popularity, and new fans are learning the duo’s backstory for the first time.
While there is still a wide fanbase that prefers Trish over Yennefer, this is the couple most gamers know and love.
7 Master Cheif & Cortana
It’s a tale as old as time, a man and woman are forced to work together only to end up slowly falling in love. The only difference is Master Cheif is a spartan soldier and Cortana, an advanced AI. Even still, this pair is shown to care for each other, even with their very apparent differences. Even more compelling, at the end of Halo 4, Cortana goes rogue making a noticeable rift between the couple.
While we do want to see the couple reconcile in the next game, Master Chief and Cortana have very low chances of not becoming a tragic love story.
6 Sora & Kairi
From the very start of Kingdom Hearts, when Square Enix’s pair share a paopu fruit, it is obvious that Sora and Kairi are destined to be together. Sora even goes on a strange and long adventure to find and save Kairi. While the couple doesn’t get to spend to much free time together, the scenes where they do finally get to speak are often sweet, be it the ending scene of the first game or Sora saving Kairi’s life in the newest entree in the franchise.
With the writers of other Square Enix game series behind the franchise, it’s only a matter of time before these two make their relationship official.
5 Noctis & Luna
Like Yennefer and Geralt, Luna and Noctis are a newer couple that debuted only a few years ago. Noctis is the main character of Final Fantasy XV and Luna, his betrothed. To save his love, Noctis fights all manner of enemies and proves that the two are actually meant to be together. Even with an arranged marriage, the couple develops a genuine attraction that makes fans of romance giddy.
While the two don’t throw their romance in the player’s face, they do have more moments than the previous entries on this list.
4 Tidus & Yuna
Many people joke about how Final Fantasy X is nothing more than a love story, and they are partially right. Tidus and Yuna are one of the most well-known couples in JRPG history, despite Tidus’s horrible laugh. The pair don’t just start off in love either; their romance naturally blooms as Tidus escorts Yuna on her pilgrimage in hopes of being able to get home.
Even the scene where the pair finally kiss is often seen floating around the internet and is one of the most referenced scenes of romance in video games.
3 Nathan & Elena
Nathan and Elena are a couple that developed over the Uncharted series and seeing them living together in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End was incredibly sweet. In fact, they even get to play Crash Bandicoot on their original Playstation, which was an adorable moment. The two have had a bit of a complicated relationship as they did get married after the second game only to break before the third started.
Even with their brief separation, Elena continues to wear her ring, and they eventually find there way back into each other’s lives.
2 Nero & Kyrie
Nero is a young boy with a secret; he has a demonic arm. During church service one day, he witnesses his girlfriend Kyrie being kidnapped. Despite his lack of experience fighting demons, Nero confidently embarks on a journey to save the love of his life. After Devil May Cry 4, the couple even moves in together. The prequel book also reveals that they run an orphanage to help children in need.
As the series goes on, we will likely learn more about the two, but they certainly have an interesting relationship compared to the rest of the characters in the series
1 Yuri & Alice
Yuri and Alice are a couple that comes from a more niche title named Shadow Hearts. Still, the duo’s love was powerful enough to gain them the respect of the gaming community. Sadly, this couple has a sad tale, as Alice takes on the curse of the four masks to save Yuri’s life. This happens while the couple is traveling back home to finally start their lives together, and Alice is killed by the curse.
Out of all the couples on this list, this is the only one with such a tragic end. We can only hope that one day Yuri and Alice can finally be reunited.
