In most video games, romance is not a major focus. Even in games where there is a canon romantic plot or the player can pick a love interest, these romances are subplots to the main gameplay rather than pivotal parts of the experience.
But in between the main action and entertainment of a game, there are sometimes intimate moments between characters that allow players to appreciate how well developed these relations have become in their respective narratives. As the characters connect, players will find it difficult not to tear up while watching some of these touching scenes.
Princess Peach Saves Mario (Super Princess Peach)
Since the '80s, Mario has been rescuing Princess Peach from Bowser and other enemies. Since she is kidnapped often, Peach usually gets a few minutes of screen-time because she only appears at the beginning and end of the game. But there have been exceptions to this tradition that show that Peach is also capable of rescuing the one she loves.
In Super Princess Peach, players control Peach as she travels to Vibe Island to defeat Bowser and rescue Mario and Luigi. After Peach defeats Bowser at the end of the game, a cutscene plays that shows Peach releasing Mario from his cage. As the two characters dance together, it is easy to see from their combined joy that they both truly love each other.
Sora Returns To Kairi (Kingdom Hearts II)
After the end of Kingdom Hearts I, Sora and Kairi have been literally worlds apart for a long time. Towards the end of the series' best game Kingdom Hearts II, Kairi is finally able to meet Sora again and they share a tender hug. But a fight with Xemnas leads to Sora and Riku getting trapped in the Realm of Darkness, and it seems like the pair are fated to be separated once again.
Their love, however, transcends this obstacle. Kairi's letter from the start of the game miraculously reaches Sora and creates a portal that sends Sora and Riku back to Destiny Islands. In the final cutscene, it is hard not to cry as Kairi welcomes Sora back home after the two characters were unable to meet for so long.
Sebastian Shares His Umbrella With The Farmer (Stardew Valley)
While there are multiple possible love interests in Stardew Valley and each one has a cute relationship with the player, the scene that is most heartwarming by itself is Sebastian's eight heart event. When the player first meets Sebastian, he seems more distant compared to the other townspeople, but he slowly opens up to the player.
At eight hearts, the player meets Sebastian at the beach while it is raining. He reveals to the player that he likes being with them even though he used to prefer being alone. After confessing, he opens an umbrella and invites the player to share it with him. This sweet scene demonstrates how much Sebastian has grown as a character with the player.
Fenris Kisses Hawke Before The Final Battle (Dragon Age 2)
Unlike other romantic companions in Dragon Age 2, Fenris' route doesn't lead to him staying at Hawke's estate and the romance becoming official sometime before the final battle. Instead, it can be easy for players to think that they failed his route since Fenris doesn't believe he can be in a relationship with Hawke and seemingly ends the relationship.
Later, however, he changes his mind and apologizes to Hawke. During the final conversations between Hawke and the remaining party members, Hawke and Fenris will finally share an intense kiss, if he is still in the group, that fully establishes the romance. Although this means the player will have to wait a little longer for Fenris, the passion of the kiss and the satisfying conclusion to Fenris' character arc make it completely worth it.
Ellie Spontaneously Kisses Riley (The Last of Us: Left Behind)
In the DLC The Last of Us: Left Behind, Ellie reminisces about her best friend, Riley, whom she secretly loved. These memories occurred before the events of The Last of Us. Riley, who ran away, returns to Ellie to reveal that she has joined a militia group and wants to spend one last day with Ellie.
But after they have fun in an abandoned mall, Ellie asks Riley to stay. When Riley agrees, Ellie kisses her in one of The Last of Us' iconic scenes, and the two wonder for a moment what to do next. Sadly, Ellie would never get to explore this new relationship because Riley is later killed. This one soft moment, however, stands out because these two characters were able to save one precious moment for themselves.
Byleth's Ending With Any Of The House Leaders (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)
While there are many romance options for both male and female Byleth in Fire Emblem: Three Houses, the house leaders are still the best options because Byleth gets the most narrative development with them. Unlike other romantic supports that only have the support scenes, Dimitri, Claude, Edelgard, and even Yuri from the DLCs have some extra development with Byleth from the general narrative.
After the final battle, Byleth has a short romantic cutscene with the person they chose that consists of the two characters professing their love against a beautiful sunrise. If one of the leaders was chosen, this scene becomes a fitting conclusion to the whole story.
Zelda Cries In Link's Arms (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild)
One of the memories Link can find in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is of Link and Zelda running through the forest in the rain shortly after Calamity Ganon killed King Rhoam and the Champions. Zelda trips on the muddied ground and reveals her guilt and grief to Link. As she cries, Link comforts her in his arms.
While this scene is sad, it is also heartwarming because it shows that Zelda trusted Link enough to reveal her vulnerabilities and seek comfort. Up until that point, Zelda had been trying to carry the weight of her duty on her own, but here she finally shows her fears and Link simply accepts her.
Achilles Finally Reunites With Patroclus (Hades)
Although Zagreus' possible love interests get the most attention, there are other significant romantic stories in Hades. One of the romantic subplots the player can help with is between the mythological characters Achilles and Patroclus. Because of a binding contract, Achilles is unable to meet Patroclus despite how much they love each other.
Zagreus can gain the ability to end this contract later in the game. When this happens and Achilles reunites with Patroclus in Elysium, the two can be found happily talking together during one of the runs. After so many years of pining and grief, they can finally patch things up and start again.
Nate and Elena Reconcile (Uncharted 4: A Thief's End)
In Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, Nate secretly begins treasure hunting again after retiring from it. While he keeps this a secret from Elena, she eventually finds out and is angry that he has once again lied to her. But, after the two characters escape from a net trap as explosions almost kill them, they start to reconcile.
Besides being the scene that leads to them fully getting back together, this cutscene is great because it is one of many that showcase how realistic they are. These characters are beloved because they have faults along with strengths, and they do not always act perfectly.
Cloud Meets Aerith (Final Fantasy VII Remake)
After many years, Final Fantasy VII Remake was finally released in 2020. While this game is only the first of multiple games that will remake the original 1997 game, it does help integrate players back into Midgar and introduces several major characters. One of these characters is Aerith, who Cloud quickly connects with during their short first meeting.
As Aerith banters with Cloud and gives him a flower for free, it is easy to see the warmth and connection these characters already have from the start. But this is also heartbreaking to see for players who know what happened to Aerith in the original game. With the introduction of new plot elements in this remake, however, Aerith and Cloud's relationship may still have a chance.