Romance in gamesisn’t anything new and reaches as far back as the classic tale of Mario saving the princess. You see all types of love, whether it be coming together under the strangest circumstances and finding your feeling amid danger, or someone you have to rescue and end up falling for. Typical stuff of course.
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Something a little less explored, and the debatably more interesting and higher payoff, is watching a pair of enemies at each other’s throats slowly evolve into something softer and romantic. They might not work out in the end, but it’s fun to watch the journey.
8Zagreus And Megara - Hades
Though not typically considered ‘enemies’ in the traditional sense,Meg has been tasked to stop Zagreus from escaping, whether it cost him his life or not. Their being former lovers didn’t help matters much, as there was clear animosity after their break up, though we never learn exactly what caused it.
As Zag and Meg face each other over and over again, they both start to open up to each other about how they feel, and things that have happened in the past to stop their relationship in its tracks. Talk it out enough, and Meg will approach you about rekindling the romance, an idea that Zagreus is into. Does it stop the fighting between you two? No, and they both seem to prefer it that way.
7Hawke And Fenris - Dragon Age 2
Fenris inDragon Age 2was an elf who had a lot taken from him while only receiving pain and servitude in return. He didn’t have anyone to show him what love was, so all he had to push him to continue to endure his treatment was spite and a taste for freedom. It all but makes sense that in his interactions with you, he is extremely guarded, to the point of being hostile.
If you happen to be a mage or support mages in general, he’ll dislike you at first, and challenge your beliefs during conversations. Over time, Fenris begins to soften up toward you, provided you don’t return him to those that are looking for him. Then, you’ll have a powerful enemy for life on your tail.
6Joker And Makoto - Persona 5
Makoto Niijima ofPersona 5takes more after her prosecutor sister than she’d ever admit to anyone. She is perceptive enough to catch on that Joker and the party are the ones who are stealing hearts, and immediately uses that to blackmail you into doing what she wants. That’s not even bringing up the straight stalking Joker by following him all around town.
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This is all temporary of course, as both Joker’s and Makoto’s motivations are made clear, they join forces with similar goals, and she eventually apologizes for the way she handled everything. You can’t blame her though - Makoto felt like she had to do everything alone, even jobs that were better suited for the adults in her life to handle.
5Ada Wong And Leon Kennedy - Resident Evil Series
The relationship between Ada Wong and Leon is technically nonexistent. She works for various nefarious corporations for reasons ‘unknown’ to you, and he is a man who has had the worst first day on the job in the history of employment, followed by several other attacksinvolving zombies and bioweapons of war. There’s no time for romance to bloom.
In between times when they have to point their guns at each other, Leon and Ada will exchange flirtatious quips and stolen kisses back and forth while exchanging information or helping each other survive. Both have risked their lives for each other, but that doesn’t stop Ada from looking out for herself in the end. They aren’t meant to be, but they can still have fun with each other.
4Lady And Dante - Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening
In the search for her father, Lady is not in the mood forboasting protagonists with a chip on his shoulder, even if he feels that he saved her life. Dante catches her out of midair as she falls from the top of the demon tower, and what does she do as thanks? Shoot him of course. Twice.
This continues every time their paths cross, with their final combative confrontation cumulating into a boss fight where Dante faces off against her unique rocket launcher. She loses but finally places her trust in you, symbolized by her giving you her custom-made weapon. Once the dust settles and the bad guys are defeated, Dante and Lady are left. Their relationship is ambiguous, but they do infer that she sticks around for a while.
3Dorian And Iron Bull - DragonAge: Inquisition
One of the mostwholesome relationships in the seriesis very missable if you happen to romance either one of the pair, which would be a huge shame. The Iron Bull is Qunari, who treat their mages in equal parts reverence and fear under heavy chains. Dorian hails from Tevinter, a land ruled by mages, slavery, and unofficially blood magic. Their two countries have been at war for hundreds of years.
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Normally, that would mean that the two of them would most likely fight immediately on sight - instead, they choose to get to know each other on a personal level, and find that they are more than their country. Dorian carries the hope to change his country, and Iron Bull supports him from afar.
2Cody And May - It Takes Two
InIt Takes Two, the once happy and loving couple Cody And May are going through a rough patch.Both feel there’s no love between them, and the sooner they go their separate ways, the better. Telling their daughter sets off a chain reaction of events.
For starters, you are forced to work with your soon-to-be former partner to figure out how to progress to return to your bodies. Along the way, there are obstacles placed in your way to help you remember your love, instead of becoming further enemies.
1Darth Revan And Bastila - Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
A romance built on lies, even with the best interests at heart, is bound to end in tragedy. Even more so when you just happen to be the former Sith Lord with a nonexistent memory. Darth Reven and Bastila come from opposite sides of the force and have crossed paths more than once before the current events of the games.
They’ve even switched sides at one point. Her wavering faith in the Jedi led her to the dark side, just as Reven chose to find his way back to the side of the light when he first lost his memories. Through it all, and provided you make the right dialogue decisions when it counts, you’ll be able to pull Bastila back over to the light side before it’s too late, saving your love as she saved you.
