The 10 List: 10 Great Love Stories in Gaming
By: Jeff Rivera
Love stories haven't always been gaming's strong point, but there's no lack of characters falling in love in video games. And while there are plenty of good love stories, I've narrowed down ten of them that I've particularly enjoyed. Spanning the RPG, action, adventure, platformer, and even maze genres, these love stories are easy enough to experience regardless of the types of games you enjoy playing. Valentine's Day aside, if you're looking for some sappy or thoughtful romance, check out my selections below.
Final Fantasy X
The Final Fantasy series is littered with love stories, some of which range from hopelessly cheesy to genuinely touching. Tidus and Yuna from Final Fantasy have a love story that is a mix of both, but it's undeniably an interesting one to see through to its conclusion.
Super Mario 64
It all starts off with an inivtation to come to the castle for some cake, but soon Mario finds out that Bowser has kidnapped the Mushroom Kingdom's fair princess once more. Mario goes through all kinds of danger and peril to rescue the woman he adores.
Heavy Rain
Heavy Rain's love story can play out differently depending on how you handle situations, but Ethan and Madison come together in a way that it's not hard to push the actions to lead them into a relationship. At its conclusion, Heavy Rain feels most satisfying if Ethan and Madison end up together.
Uncharted 2
In Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, we get a classic love triangle with a satisfying resolution that doesn't get mired down in overdramatic moments. Uncharted 2 delivers a nice love story nested in a great gaming experience.
Shadow of the Colossus
Anybody who is willing to slay multiple beings the size of the colossi is either crazy in love, or simply crazy. With barely a word spoken, the love story in Shadow of the Colossus ends up being more powerful than just about any other tale in video game history.
Ms. Pac-Man
It's the all-American love story. Pie shaped man meets pie shaped girl. They fall in love and have a pie shaped baby. What's not to love? Oh, and the moment when Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man meet is one of the most iconic cutscenes in gaming history.
Red Dead Redemption
John Marston is a man with a rough history and a violent present. He goes to great lengths to provide for his wife and son, while always remaining faithful to both of them. To say that John sacrifices much for the woman he loves is a vast understatement by the time the story reaches its conclusion.
Metal Gear Solid 3
Metal Gear Solid 3 has its fair share of romance, but its the tragic tale between Snake and The Boss that really carries the majority of the game's emotional weight. The final encounter between Naked Snake and The Boss is a moment in gaming that stands among the greatest of all time.
StarCraft 2
Ah, we've seen this story time and time again. The rough outsider finds out that he does indeed have a soft spot and allows himself to fall in love with a woman who eventually manages to get absorbed into the hive mind of a muderous alien species. In StarCraft 2, Jim Raynor does everything he can to try and save Kerrigan, and the resolution of that quest sets up for a great story going forward.
Catherine
Not your typical romantic tale, this horribly twisted love triangle situation is one of the more unique stories we've ever had in video games. You get to choose how the story resolves in Catherine, which makes this an interesting tale to play through multiple times. My wife found herself wrapped up in the story just as much as I did, which is quite rare in our home.
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