10. Snow Villiers and Serah Farron  – Final Fantasy XIII
Snow and Serah’s relationship is already established by the time we start Final Fantasy XIII as the couple is getting ready to get married. Unfortunately, one day Serah is branded as a l’Cie and is given a Focus she must complete. Desperate and distraught, she tries to break up with Snow, who refuses to let her and vows to help her with her Focus.
Over the course of the XIII trilogy, Snow and Serah’s relationship literally transcends time itself. Snow goes on a journey through parallel dimensions to find Serah again, and Serah continues to wear her engagement pendant the entire time. It may be a stereotypical romance, but the pair never falters in their journey to be together, and never forget the love they hold.
9. Zack Fair and Aerith Gainsborough – Final Fantasy VII/ Crisis Core
Aerith and Zack’s romance is definitely a tragic one, considering we know the fate of both characters. However, the budding relationship that was there for a short while is absolutely charming. As both characters are the outgoing, happy-go-lucky type, they had fun together.
The moment they met in Crisis Core started with Zack crashing through the roof of Aerith’s church, and he was immediately smitten. It took persistence from Zack to convince her to go on one date, and although they didn’t get to spend much time together, what is there is emotional. This is only compounded by the time when Zack realizes he’s been captive in Nibelhiem for years, and soon after finds out that Aerith has been trying to write to him the whole time. At least Advent Children shows us that the two ended up together eventually.
8. Delita Heiral and Ovelia Atkascha – Final Fantasy Tactics
Delita and Ovelia may be the most atypical romance in the entire series as their relationship doesn’t really even get a chance to start. Born a commoner and after suffering tragedy after tragedy, Delita kidnaps the princes, who is commonly used as a bargaining chip in the war between two royal families.
Delita promises to free the princess from her burdens of royalty and being used as a tool, which for a time he does. Because of this, Ovelia decides to marry the young warrior, despite his common birth. Sadly, after a while Ovelia begins to believe Delita is merely using her for his own gain. In a tragic twist, Ovelia stabs Delita, before he himself returns the action in surprise. Delita recalls his love for the princess in his final moments as she lies at his feet, making their stalemate an even more poignant one.
7. Cecil Harvey and Rosa Joanna Farrell – Final Fantasy IV
Cecil and Rosa were the very first official romance in the Final Fantasy series, and they’re certainly one to remember. The two were childhood friends, and they both harbored deep feelings for each other, although Cecil’s duty as a Dark Knight initially held him back from acting on those feelings.
Even after realizing the true intentions of Baron, Cecil is remiss to let Rosa follow him into danger. There’s an additional layer of complexity added onto their relationship when you factor in the love triangle with Cecil’s friend Kain, who’s also in love with Rosa.
The couple perseveres through thick and thin, saving the world in the process, and eventually getting married. Even better is the fact that we get to see them grow together in Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, which focuses on their son Ceodore.
6. Vincent Valentine and Lucrecia Crescent – Final Fantasy VII
Vincent and Lucrecia have a strange relationship wrought with tragedy, and a fate that neither of them asked for. A young Vincent, working for the Turks at the time, is sent on an assignment that acquaints him with Lucrecia, a beautiful young scientist with rather odd tastes in men.
She rejects Vincent after repeated attempts, in favor of the mad scientist Hojo. When Lucrecia is in danger, Vincent steps in and ends up losing his life because of it. It’s only through the talent and ingenuity of Lucrecia that Vincent is brought back to life through zombification, and is forever changed into the shape-shifting being we know. Lucrecia goes into hiding as her surrogate son, Sephiroth, grows up to become the poster boy of SOLDIER.
The couple is reunited in a way when Lucrecia’s body is enshrined in a crystal in a cave, which Vincent visits frequently. It’s one odd, tragic, and complex relationship that can’t help but tug at the heartstrings.
5. Squall Leonhart and Rinoa Heartilly – Final Fantasy VIII
One of Final Fantasy VIII’s big themes is romance, and you know Squall and Rinoa are meant to be together the moment they meet at a ball. Rinoa recruits Squall and his SeeD teammates to help kidnap the president of Galbadia, Vinzer Deling. Things soon take a turn for the worse, and Rinoa, Squall, and the others find themselves embroiled in a conflict involving time-controlling witches and the very fabric of reality itself.
As the story progresses, you learn quite a bit more about the pair, and how their lives are connected. Rinoa is the only one who can make the usually cool and uncaring Squall break out of his prickly shell. Slowly the two start to fall in love, and eventually Squall is determined to do whatever it takes to save Rinoa’s life. Even if that means floating through the emptiness of space to save her from certain death. You really can’t beat a romance that traverses the emptiness of outer space.
4. Cloud Strife and Tifa Lockhart – Final Fantasy VII
Cloud and Tifa have a bit of a strange relationship, as they’re childhood friends but steadily grew apart from each other as the years progressed. Cloud went off to join SOLDIER, and Tifa dedicated herself to her martial arts studies. The two finally see each other again when Cloud is hired on as a mercenary by the Avalanche group to help them attack Shinra.
Throughout their journey, Tifa is always by Cloud’s side, and she’s always the one to bring him back from the brink. When Cloud learns of his true past and the stolen memories of Zack’s he possesses, the hero’s mind completely snaps. It’s only because of Tifa that Cloud is nursed back to health and able to return to sanity once again. Although the couple never really shows their love upfront, it’s a subtle and more pronounced relationship. Even after extreme trauma, doubt, and tragedy, they’d both do anything for the other.
With the events of Advent Children, the two seem to achieve some semblance of happiness, raising Marlene and Denzel in the process. However, Cloud still has the ghosts of his past to deal with. Regardless, there’s deep level of caring and understanding between the two, even amidst their frustrations.
3. Locke Cole and Celes Chere- Final Fantasy VI
Locke and Celes have both had especially hard lives, with Celes essentially being a pawn to Gestahlian Empire and Locke tragically losing the love of his life, Rachel. Locke joins the Returners to try and avenge the death of his lover, and takes it upon himself to protect both Terra and Celes when he meets them.
It’s a rocky road as both characters have been through immense hardship in their lives, but piece by piece you can see their relationship grow. When the big twist of the game happens, the party ends up scattered with Celes and Cid alone on an island. Finding Locke’s bandanna gives her renewed hope and the motivation to keep going, making their reunion all the sweeter.
Although we never officially see Locke and Celes together, it’s heavily implied that the pair end up together. Additionally, they both play major roles in Final Fantasy VI’s story as two of the three main characters, with Terra being the third. Celes and Locke are truly an example of scarred people finding love once again.
2. Zidane Tribal and Garnet Til Alexandros- Final Fantasy IX
Zidane and Garnet’s relationship starts incredibly ironically, with Zidane coming to kidnap the princess and her wishing to be kidnapped. From the very start, they have a playful relationship, although Garnet considers him more of a baseless rogue than anything at the start.
The pair starts as awkward traveling companions put together through necessity, but they quickly grow closer. During Final Fantasy IX, they each go through some pretty severe trauma, and it’s up to the other to show support. More than any other relationship in the series, Zidane and Garnet show two people changing each other, and bringing out the best qualities in one another. Garnet learns to live a little more carefree and casts off a bit of the pomp and status of her royalty. Meanwhile, Zidane learns what it means to have a stake in something, and to live for more than just adventure. He also gives up trying to woo every woman he sees.
The pair’s reunion at the end of Final Fantasy IX is a truly touching moment, and their relationship is definitely one of the most unforgettable in all of video games.
1. Tidus and Yuna – Final Fantasy X
When Tidus’ city is attacked by the giant creature called Sin, he’s mysteriously transported to the world of Spira. There he meets a young girl named Yuna, a summoner with a grim task to fulfill. The two hit it off immediately, and Tidus’ infectiously goofy nature starts to rub off on Yuna.
Tidus becomes a part of Yuna’s guard, protecting her on her pilgrimage. Unfortunately, unlike the rest of the party, he doesn’t know the true reason behind the journey. He grows closer and closer to Yuna who, despite her duty, can’t help but become invested in the relationship as well. Things come to a head when Tidus learns the truth, and he naturally begins to question the purpose of everything.
One of Final Fantasy X’s most memorable scenes sees the pair spending a quiet moment in a gorgeous lake surrounded by Pyreflies, as Yuna tries to come to grips with the conflict between her duty and her love for Tidus. Even in the goofiest moments, like the infamous laughing scene, you can’t help but love the relationship these two characters build. There’s charm, love, despair, and a flood of other emotions, making it one of the most memorable romances in all of video games.
Published: Feb 14, 2017 12:08 pm