Gaming’s Greatest Couples

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Game Rant takes a look at the greatest couples in video game history, from Aerith and Cloud to Mario and Princess Peach.

Over the last few decades, video games have featured arguably some of the most compelling romantic relationships in fictional media. These couples are known for their chemistry, their commitment to one another, and how their relationship has resonated with the gaming community at large.

As the medium has matured, countless video games have featured romantic relationships between characters. However, the 10 featured here stick out in our minds as the most iconic couples in video game history. Join us as we examine what made their relationships so memorable, and be warned that there is potential for spoiler territory here.

Aerith Gainsborough and Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy 7)

The tragic story of Aerith and Cloud in Final Fantasy 7 is so powerful because we never really see the two really act on their emotions. We see the beginnings of their relationship, flirting, and obvious affection, but before Aerith and Cloud are able to really make a move for one another, Sephiroth puts an end to it by stabbing Aerith through the back. This stands as one of the most heartbreaking scenes in all of gaming, and it will be interesting to see if Square Enix allows Aerith to live in the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

Dominic and Maria Santiago (Gears of War)

Speaking of tragic love stories, few are as heartbreaking and disturbing as the story of Dominic and Maria Santiago in Gears of War. Ripped apart due to the brutal war between humans and the Locusts, Dom winds up finding his wife as a horrific shadow of her former self. What he does next is something that no husband should ever have to do. Though we only actually see Maria briefly in the Gears of War series, Dom’s relationship with her permeates throughout the entire franchise, and is one of the defining elements of his character arc.

Elena Fisher and Nathan Drake (Uncharted)

Thanks to a combination of great motion capture work and brilliant voice acting, Elena Fisher and Nathan Drake from the Uncharted series are very believable characters, and so their relationship feels genuine as well. Nathan’s tendency to get himself into dangerous, globe-trotting adventures results in the two often being at odds, but hopefully their story has a happy ending, and Nathan Drake doesn’t die in Uncharted 4 as rumored.

Jackie and Jenny (The Darkness)

Jackie and Jenny’s love in The Darkness has been called “the most authentic instance of romance ever conveyed in a video game”, and it’s hard to argue with that point. The developers do a fantastic job of making players care about Jenny, allowing them to simply sit on the couch and watch To Kill A Mockingbird with her if they so wish. Their relationship is built so well that when Jenny is ripped away from Jackie in the beginning of the game, it feels like a punch to the gut, and leaves both Jackie and the player thirsty for revenge.