Uncharted Franchise
The rugged action hero always needs a love interest, right? And what if it happens to be a beautiful, ass-kicking journalist? Then we say the Uncharted franchise is a major paragon of romance in video games. Add in that this epic tale of love and separation spans every game in the series, and it shows no sign of stopping for A Thief’s End..
Better yet, the Uncharted series teaches us that a romantic game can be true to reality. As Yami so aptly puts it, “Nathan Drake and Elena Fisher teach us that you CAN be with someone you’re completely incompatible with and hate… So long as you’re constantly fearing for your life and they’re the only person around.”
Persona 4
Persona 4 might not have the traditional hallmarks of a romantic game. It doesn’t feature the intrepid hero and his partner… it features a hero and his potentials. But Persona 4 tricks gamers into some pretty excellent dating sim gameplay in between its dungeon romping.
Meeting up and hanging out with the many characters of Persona 4 is one of the series’ greatest joys. Leveling up social links with the main character’s friends sometimes leads to something more than friendship. And those moments are actually pretty sweet. What’s more, it gives gamers the option to pick and choose who their pride and joy will end up with. And while it might be rife with tropey high school-isms, it’s done so well you won’t even notice over your own squealing.
Final Fantasy X
Now, this is a game with a pretty incredible story. Even as far as Final Fantasy titles go, Final Fantasy X spun a yarn of romance halfway around the world and back. And while many have had their complaints about Tidus, it cannot be denied that FFX‘s romantic subplot is one of the best examples out there.
Romantic games don’t always have to be epic; however, a healthy dose of the supernatural never hurt anyone (except maybe Tidus). Final Fantasy X mixes great ingredients together for a healthy dose of love: the powerful and kind Yuna, excellent supporting characters, and just enough humor and sap to keep it real.
Odin Sphere
Don’t count Odin Sphere out before giving it a chance. As far as romantic games go, this is one hell of a doozy. It doesn’t look like it will be, either. But romance is a major part of this hand-drawn masterpiece from Vanillaware.
The major players of the romance are all player characters. Odin Sphere is something of a masterpiece of storytelling, weaving five different plots together across a huge expanse of time. Epic in scale and deep in tragedy and love, this game will definitely surprise you if you give it a chance.
The Last Story
Romantic games don’t always have to approach the art of love from a new and exciting place to be good. The Last Story is an ideal example of the classics done right. It’s a typical boy-meets-girl story. Within minutes of the game starting, the protagonist Zael runs into the beautiful and mystical Calistal. Within a few more seconds, they’re fleeing from the city guard. It only gets more recognizable from there.
But The Last Story overall is anything but traditional. Calista is a powerful mage and nothing like a princess waiting to be swept off her feet. Her and Zael’s budding love takes the course of the game to be realized, and the journey is nothing short of fantastic. And if that weren’t enough, the other characters aren’t just sitting on their hands idly; instead, they’re having an affair that might even outshine the main course.
Valkyria Chronicles
Love and settings of war often go hand in hand. As a romantic game, Valkyria Chronicles fits that bill perfectly. Another type of boy-meets-girl, or technically girl-arrest-boy-and-throws-him-in-prison, this PS3 classic and recent PC port prides itself on its narrative experience. Need a romantic game set in WWII? Look no further.
Literally presented to the player as a book written by a news reported, Valkyria Chronicles covers the adventures of Squad 7 and their involvement in a war against the Empire. The major actors on the stage, Alicia and Welkin, are so adorable it hurts. Add in the usual theatrical elements and this love story begs to be played.
