5 Best Video Game Romances of 2021/2022

It takes a lot more than two butterfly hearts and an enchanting forest backdrop to convince us that a love interest is genuine. It takes hours of commitment—days, weeks even—to make us believe that a relationship between two characters is far more than a half-hearted cosmetic. But achieving such a thing, however, is far easier said than done, and we've definitely seen our fair share of pointless romances over the years.

Fortunately, the last twelve months have seen their fair share of heartwarming tales, few of which have featured genuinely interesting love connections between characters. As for the most inspiring, well, that's another question. Though, from our point of view, it would have to be these five. Or, ten love birds that have caught our eye over the last four months.

5. Life is Strange: True Colors

Square Enix sure know how to develop a love story. After all, the team has managed to pull off some of the most convincing arcs to date—and we're not just talking about Final Fantasy, either. Life is Strange: True Colors is no different, nor was it ever subject to receiving the hand-me-down treatment. And after the first two games, which struggled to ignite a major spark between protagonists—it was well needed.

Of course, something we love more than a quality love story is deciding exactly how said story plays out, as well as the recipients involved in the tellings of the tale. And that's pretty much how Alex's story in the mountain retreat of Haven Springs plays out. As a newcomer to the town, and with nowhere to turn to outside of her brother's grasp, it's down to the player to develop life-long relationships, be it with local park ranger Ryan, or DJ Stephanie. Whoever the heart lies with, a strong connection blossoms between the two, which only becomes sturdier after a rollercoaster of tragedies transpire.

4. It Takes Two

Technically, we are cheating with this one, as it came out just over twelve months ago. But given the fact it explored the trials and tribulations that tie in with marriage, as opposed to the bog-standard fluff story between two teens, it did leave a deeper impression. It was different, but in a surprisingly enlightening way. And what better way to thrash our a struggling couples' differences than to endure a series of obstacle courses together as ragdolls? Right?

It Takes Two is less about the blossoming of a love interest, and more about trying to hold on to what's already on the decline. With a marriage on the rocks and a child desperate to see the sparks rekindled, it becomes a case of working together to see past their faults and rebuild from the ground up. And as hilarious as the game itself is, it is still a pretty heartwarming concept—even in ragdoll form.

3. Twelve Minutes

It's a funny one, Twelve Minutes, because it isn't your run-of-the-mill love story as such, but more a specific moment, running in a constant loop. But it's what happens between those twelve minutes that makes us engage with the couple in front of us. And weirdly, after replaying the same scene thirty times over, we're left to feel more entwined with their past than we would have done if witnessing the whole thing unfold from scratch.

What starts off as a romantic evening alone with your wife winds up being a night of unthinkable verses. A knock on the door changes everything, and, after getting to know your significant other during the endless loop, you soon become overly protective, to the point of wanting to do anything it takes to defend her from meeting her maker. And yeah, that all happens in twelve minutes. Like, twenty-five lots of twelve.

2. Arcadia Fallen

Arcadia Fallen is a visual novel that incorporates a great deal of choice-based gameplay, in which you course the story and relationships that play out on screen. Playing as an alchemist's apprentice, you find yourself latched to a spirit, who then presents you with the opportunity to banish an evil force that looms over the peaceful town. However, to remove the threat, you're made to form a close-knit collective. Therein lies a thread of opportunities to build countless relationships.

Through a series of dialogue options and actions, you can watch as new friends become love interests, and potential partners become the muse that helps you fight to keep Arcadia from succumbing to the evil that surrounds it. Pretty deep stuff, for sure, but worth looking at if you enjoy a lengthy visual novel.

1. Alan Wake Remastered

When it comes to Alan Wake, it's easy to get mixed up in all the horrors that tie in with the Stephen King-inspired world. So much, that we actually forget that, at its core, it's a love story between a writer and his dearly beloved. Between action sequences and lengthy monologues, this is reflected through snippets of hearty conversations between the two, which eventually captures a complete picture.

Alan Wake is indeed a horror game, sure. But it is also a love story in its own right, and does lend its resources to building a compelling subplot. It becomes a little overshadowed at times, and yet, it still manages to unravel on the back-burner somewhere, ready to piece together a final portrait as the curtain draws nearer. An award-winning plot it is not—but it is convincing enough to see through to the end.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Are there any video game romances we should know about? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.

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