For as long as humans have told stories, they've told love stories. As sometimes narrative-centered pieces of media, video games are no exception. Throughout gaming history, players have met their fair share of character couples and seen them endure trials and tribulations. Gamers have often rooted for a confession of feelings or a kiss with the same enthusiasm as the most devoted moviegoers.
Just like real-life relationships, not all relationships between video game characters are ideal. Some digital paramours treat each other just as poorly as real-world relationships. However, others show their love in ways representing healthy communication and attachment onscreen.
10 Geralt And Yennefer: A Special Connection
Though Geralt of Rivia, the lead of The Witcher saga, has had many romantic interests, his relationship with Yennefer stands out in its heartfelt wholesomeness. Their parental relationships with Ciri forged a bond of love and family that even time, distance, and other relations could never break.
Regardless of whether or not the player pursues a relationship with Yennefer in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, she and Geralt still care for each other very deeply. Though they may see others, they will never stop loving each other.
9 Johnny And River: Love That Cannot Be Forgotten
The RPG Maker masterpiece To The Moon follows two doctors who can create false memories as they seek to grant a dying man's last wish. The game itself is an odyssey through Johnny's life and memories. The doctors eventually discover that Johnny wants to go to the moon due to a conversation he had with his future wife, River, when they first met as children.
Due to a horrific tragedy, Johnny can't remember their agreement to meet on the moon if they ever forgot to return to each other or got lost. Though the doctors must erase all memories of River to enable Johnny's trip to the moon, she reappears in his life, proving that their love was always meant to be.
8 Kafei And Anju: Fidelity At The End Of The World
As the apocalypse looms in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Link can spend the remaining three days on a quest to reunite two lovers. Anju and Kafei promised to marry each other when they were young, swearing to exchange celestial-themed masks at the Carnival of Time.
When Skull Kid uses Majora's Mask to trap Kafei in the form of a child, Kafei's wedding mask gets stolen as he tries to get help from the Great Fairy. Kafei still looks like a child when they come back together, but Anju knows him immediately. With the moon growing ever closer, they exchange masks and marry just before the fourth day dawns.
7 Sasha and Milla: A Quiet Devotion
Sasha Nein and Milla Vodello from the Psychonauts franchise like to keep their relationship on the down-low. Though some dialogue from Psychonauts 2 hints at them doing "lunchtime yoga" together, their relationship is otherwise primarily expressed through actions instead of words.
Milla maintains a constant psychic connection with Sasha, and the two do their best work as a team. Despite their clear preference to keep their attachment quiet for now, their chemistry and care for each other are visible in every interaction they have.
6 Elena And Nathan: The Right One Is Worth Fighting For
Nathan Drake and Elena Fisher didn't always have the most commendable relationship. Throughout the Uncharted series, their rapport grew and developed as they did. They tested the strength of their union multiple times with omissions of truth, arguments, and outright lies.
Through communication, adventure, and a few near-death experiences, they are able to work things out and stay together. Fans love this couple for their comfortable humor, a strong sense of teamwork, and commitment to each other. Nathan and Elena truly earned their happy ending in the epilogue of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End.
5 Link And Zelda: An Unbreakable Bond
Throughout the Legend of Zelda franchise, Link and Zelda have been through a lot together. Though not every iteration of this pairing is romantic, their devotion to each other is unwavering. In every reincarnation cycle, they return to one another, regardless of the circumstances.
No matter what evil Link and Zelda must conquer, they consistently look after each other and ensure the other's safety. They have lived dozens of lives together and will likely face many more, but they know they need not worry about facing the world alone.
4 Ellie And Riley: The Importance Of Young Love
Not every great relationship lasts forever, but that doesn't mean that the experience wasn't worth it. In The Last of Us, the Left Behind DLC, and the American Dreams comic miniseries, fans see Ellie in her first relationship.
Though Ellie and Riley couldn't last for various reasons, they are a perfect representation of young love. They are silly together, but they are also deeply passionate about their feelings and make space for each other to try and survive the apocalyptic world outside in their own ways.
3 Snorpy And Chandlo: Genuinely Doing Their Best
Often the healthiest representations of relationships aren't the ones where everything is perfect, but instead where two people work through their issues together. Though Bugsnax may seem like a basic exploration and puzzle-solving game on the surface, each mission is really about helping the residents of Snaxburg overcome their fears to be a better community.
Snorpy and Chandlo cling to problematic behaviors out of a desire to protect the other. During the game, the missions the player goes on with the characters help them realize that communication and genuine expression are the best ways to protect the person they love.
2 Alphys And Undyne: The Challenge To Be Better
In Undertale, Alphys and Undyne's early interactions are stilted at best. Alphys is head-over-heels for the head of the Royal Guard but believes herself unworthy of Undyne's affections. Undyne shares Alphys' crush but is afraid to show weakness. It is only by coming together and discussing these feelings that they can foster a healthy relationship.
To complete a True Pacifist Run of the game, the player must bring these two together for that exact conversation. Through their connection, Undyne challenges herself to embrace vulnerability, and Alphys strives to build up her self-worth. They are two people who challenge each other to be the best they can be.
1 Cody And May: Working Together
It Takes Two is a game centered around healthy relationship communication. The journey that Cody and May, a couple on the brink of divorce, go on is practically a stand-in for couples' therapy. This brilliant co-op game and the quests that its protagonists undertake help them to meet each other anew and reforge their relationship.
They learn to work as a team again and communicate their needs and strengths effectively because they have to so they can make it back to their everyday lives. By the end, they've fostered an understanding and found a new perspective on their bond.