Even for the most action-heavy games, having a romantic subplot is a good way to get players to invest in the well-being of supporting characters and even the main character. Be it first love, friends for lovers, enemies for lovers or even lovers for enemies, the trials and tribulations that come with romance can deliver the most beautiful and iconic stories in modern gaming.
It’s hard to talk about the Halo series without mentioning the relationship between Master Chief and Cortana, and the relationship between Dom and Maria is a major plot point in Gears of War 2. Whether these couples live happily ever after or their love ends in tragedy, there are many iconic couples in various Xbox series.
10 Kaim & Sarah – Lost Odyssey
A forgotten JRPG gem from the Xbox 360 era, Lost Odyssey focuses on the journey of Kaim, an immortal man who has lost all his memories. On his journey, he is joined by characters who have a connection to his past and whose fate is intertwined with his own. One of those characters is Sarah, another immortal, who is Kaim’s wife.
It is a story of loss, memories and the burden of immortality. But despite all the pain and heartache that Kaim and Sarah have experienced, and even the fact that they lost their memories of each other, the game shows that their love is also immortal.
9 Gregg & Angus – Night in the Woods
Night in the forest focuses on Mae Borowski as she returns to her small hometown and reveals a dark secret, but there are a ton of other characters that get some attention depending on who the player decides to hang out with. Two of those characters are Gregg, Mae’s best friend, and his friend Angus. Gregg and Angus have had a difficult childhood and each believes that the other saved them through their relationship.
They dream of leaving Possum Springs together when they’ve saved enough money, and Mae’s return puts their relationship in jeopardy, while Angus worries that Mae’s influence could jeopardize their dream of leaving town. Gregg, in turn, fears that he may accidentally ruin his relationship with Angus. Despite the problems the two have, it turns out that they love and care about each other very much.
8 Gordon & Alyx – Half-Life 2
Gordon Freeman meets Alyx Vance in Half-life 2 when she defends him against the Combine. Alyx quickly becomes a big help to Gordon and the two develop a close relationship. The relationship between Alyx and Gordon grows throughout the series, and Alyx’s father Eli teases her about it in both Half-life 2 and Half-Like 2: Episode Two.
Alyx worries about Gordon when they have to break up, and she is affectionate with him in various ways, such as flirting with him and cuddling him. And while Gordon is a silent protagonist, his actions suggest that he also cares deeply about Alyx, as he has his life intertwined with hers through a ritual to save her life.
7 Chloe & Max/Chloe & Rachel – Life Is Strange Series
The events of life is strange and Life is strange: before the storm has put some fans at odds when it comes to sending Chloe and Max or Chloe and Rachel, but both ships are iconic in their own right. Depending on the choices made in life is strangeMax’s friendship with Chloe can grow and romance blossom between them as they discover the truth behind Rachel Amber and Max’s disturbing premonitions of the destruction of Arcadia Bay.
It is implied that Chloe had romantic feelings for Rachel in both games, but whether Rachel reciprocated it or not is up for debate. But Rachel was there for Chloe in her time of need and the two were good friends.
6 Geralt & Yennefer/Geralt & Triss – The Witcher Series
Geralt can romance many women in the witcher series. But when it comes to who he can have a long-term romantic relationship with, there are only two women who fit into that category: Yennefer and Triss. There is debate among fans as to which ship is better, but there’s no denying that Geralt can have a deep and meaningful relationship with both sorceress.
Yennefer and Geralt have both good and bad histories together, and while it’s clear how much they care about each other, they have a hard time trusting each other. Triss and Geralt are good friends and Triss helps him during the first two games. She also has a relationship with him before restoring his memories with Yennefer.
5 John Marston & Abigail – Red Dead Redemption Series
John Marston and Abigail from the Red Dead Redemption series did not have a perfect romance and eventually ended in tragedy. Still, it’s a great example of how some relationships can stand the test of time.
They didn’t have a fairytale start to their relationship and John wasn’t always the best for Abigail or their son. But in the end he chooses them over the gang. Despite his flaws, John was a good man at heart, who loved his wife and wanted to do good for her and their son.
4 Pavarti & Junlei – The Outer Worlds
The romance between the player’s character and the companions they can have in The outer worlds is not possible, but romance is possible between companions and NPCs, as in the case of Pavarti and Junlei. During the quest where Pavarti can be recruited, the player introduces her Junlei Tennyson.
Selecting the right dialogue choices will lead to the two women getting along very well and a mutual infatuation will develop between them. Not only is the budding romance between Pavarti and Junlei very sweet, but it also provides the necessary representation for asexuality and romance.
3 Dom & Maria – Gears Of War 2
Many relationships have a great deal of heartbreak, but Dom and Maria in Gears of War 2 have a love story that rivals any Shakespearean tragedy. Despite not appearing much in the series, Maria plays a key role in Dom’s development and his actions throughout the game.
The tragedy of what happened to their family, and what eventually happened to Maria, evokes the kind of emotional response that connects the player to the characters in the game.
2 Master Chief & Cortana – Halo Series
Halo is one of the most iconic game series of all time. Even those who don’t play Halo have heard of the name Master Chief and know a little bit about the relationship between him and Cortana. Throughout the series, Master Chief and Cortana are partners in that she advises and helps him infiltrate computer systems.
But their partnership seems to be evolving into something more. Cortana appears to be very fond of Master Chief, and although Master Chief is a stoic character, it is clear that Cortana is just as important to him as he is to her. It is especially evident during the events of halo 4 and Halo: Infinity.
1 Commander Shepard & Liara T’ Soni – Mass Effect Series
In the Mass effect series, there are several love interests that can romanticize both female and male Commander Shepard. Some of these options have been picked exclusively for Shepard’s gender, but Liara T’Soni can be romanticized by either of them. Liara is one of the longest lasting romances, as she can be romanticized in all three games.
She and Shepard meet in the first game where Shepard rescues her on a dig in Therum. The relationship between Shepard and Liara is considered by many to be one of the best romances in the game. Many fans are even speculating (and hoping) that it will be possible to continue a romance with Liara T’Soni in the next installment of the series, as she is believed to be the Asari shown in the trailer of Mass effect 4.
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