We're living in a golden age for romance games. No matter your orientation, taste or capacity for all out weirdness, there's a title out there to suit your needs. But love can often sneak up on you when you're not looking for it, and video games are no different. Sometimes, the best romantic stories aren't even the main focus of a game.

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But it's not always a hit, either. Unsurprisingly for a medium that started off using romance as an excuse to shoot bad guys, some video games just don't reach the mark when it comes to crafting love stories in the background. The industry is bigger than ever, and there's room for everything: some are amazing, some are awful, and some are downright baffling.

10 Good - Shepard And Garrus, Mass Effect Series

Mass Effect 2 Garrus Vakarian Femshep Shepard Screenshot

The Mass Effect series is full of stunning love stories, but they don't get much better than Garrus Vakarian. Whilst the Turian sniper is a ride-or-die best friend to a male Shepard, Femshep can go a step further with one of the most genuine and heartwarming romantic arcs in the series. Garrus is a multifaceted character, and his romance storyline shows it best.

Starting out as a lost, angry soldier, Shepard's love can transform Garrus into a confident and loyal partner. Through scars and tragedy, thick and thin, Shepard and Garrus' romance only gets stronger and more complex as the series go on. He's wonderfully nervous starting out, and even has some helpful tips about human-alien relations when you're, ahem, calibrating.

9 Bad - Shepard And Jacob, Mass Effect Series

Jacob Taylor Mass Effect 2

Bioware is notorious for putting romance in just about every game, and often to great effect. Then, there's Jacob. First introduced in Mass Effect 2, this milquetoast mercenary not only has a boring romance subplot and a terrible personality, he actively sabotages the player's efforts.

Despite him just being in it for the prize in Mass Effect 2, you can stay loyal to Jacob throughout your trials against the Collectors — only to have him cheat on Shepard whilst they're gone for just six months. His excuse? He couldn't wait around forever. Boring character, bland subplot, and an absolutely terrible pay off. Even Morinth is better than this.

8 Good - The Sole Survivor And Companions, Fallout 4

Fallout 4 Piper Screenshot Sole Survivor Diamond City

Whilst the nuclear wastes of Massachusetts might not seem the place for love to bloom, Fallout 4 begs to differ. Many of your companions are romanceable, but it's not as simple as just picking the right dialogue options. You've got to take it slow, and really let the romance bloom. That is, as long as it's not Strong, Deacon, Codsworth, X6-88 or (criminally) Nick Valentine.

Fallout 4's companions react to how you act at all times. Prove your compatibility in the world, and they'll grow closer to you. There's multiple in-game opportunities to talk and understand the person underneath, and to top it all off, a quest to help change their life. Fallout 4 makes you really earn it, and no matter who you choose, there's a great subplot waiting in there.

7 Bad - Far Cry 3

Citra Screenshot Far Cry 3

Can love bloom on the battlefield? Metal Gear Solid says yes, and Far Cry 3 agrees. But unlike the MGS series, Far Cry 3 doesn't take nearly enough time with its melodrama. Around two-thirds through the 2012 shooter, players are introduced to tribal leader Citra, who wants you to help kill her psychotic brother. Oh, and also you need to be with her and abandon your friends or she'll murder you.

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This romance subplot comes in far too late in the game for it to be fully developed, and there's barely enough time to get to know her. It's arguable that the relationship is meant to represent the choice between civilized society and freedom, but as far as narrative vehicles go, this one's a lemon. At least you get a cool ritual knife out of it.

6 Good - Triss/Yennifer/Geralt, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Triss Yennifer Geralt Ciri Witcher 3 Screenshot

Geralt of Rivia has no shortage of beautiful partners to wile away his time. But The Witcher 3 puts two leading ladies at the forefront, both with hugely divergent personalities and relationships to the gruff monster hunter. Depth is the name of the game here, and it works wonders.

Both the feisty Triss and mysterious Yennefer play off Geralt wonderfully, and have individual depth of character that begs to be explored. It's a genuinely hard choice, as the game gives you plenty of reasons why both are good and bad prospects. Their romances are twisting, personal and surprising, full of the high drama you'd expect from a magical world. Plus, play your cards right, and you can get a unicorn involved.

5 Bad - The Dragonborn And Anybody, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Dragonborn Marriage Skyrim Lydia Maramal

It's hard to meet people at work, especially when your job is saving Tamriel from a world-eating wyvern. But Bethesda had an easy workaround for their 2011 entry to the Elder Scrolls series: just make it all by-the-numbers as hell. You can romance and marry multiple NPC's in Skyrim, but it ends up less subplot and more substandard.

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Got your eye on a special someone? Just give them 20 grapes, or chop wood for a couple hours. If that sounds too hard, you can just wear a special necklace and get propositioned by the first random person you meet. It's hard to suck all of the romance out of a love subplot, but Bethesda managed to do it. All things considered, you're probably better off just focusing on your dragon slaying career with this one.

4 Good - Nate And Elena, Uncharted Franchise

Uncharted 4 Nathan Drake Elena Screenshot

Good things come to those who wait, and the Uncharted series proves it. Nathan and Elena's romance generally takes a backseat to high-style Hollywood heists and action, but those who love more personal stories certainly won't be disappointed by this subplot. Whilst it's not exactly smooth sailing from A to B, by the end of the series Nate and Elena are thick as thieves.

A satisfyingly realistic love subplot, Nate and Elena's path to romance is by no means simple. There's frustration, strain and even brief estrangement. The characters really work to make this arc work, as one might expect a real couple to do. Even though Nate and Elena are ultimately each other's perfect partner, and just like in real life it doesn't come without real effort. The journey just makes their love all the sweeter.

3 Bad - Ethan And Madison, Heavy Rain

Ethan Madison Screenshot Heavy Rain

2010's Heavy Rain is a cinematic experience full of drama, twists and sorrow. Unfortunately, some unintended anguish gets squeezed from the out-of-place and frankly weird romantic subplot between protagonist Ethan and journalist Madison Paige. At best it's awkward, and at worst it's bewildering.

Ethan and Paige get together when Ethan is desperately looking for his missing son, which lends an odd tone to the two's physical encounters. What better way to find your son than getting down in a filthy motel? Throw in a shocking lack of chemistry, heaps of narrative dissonance and the possibility of a completely baffling ending based on who survives the story, and you've got... whatever this is. At least we got good memes out of the game.

Link Princess Zelda Breath of the Wild Screenshot

One of gaming's most notable couples, Link and Zelda's relationship has been everything from platonic near-strangers to fated lovers. Breath of the Wild leans towards the latter, but takes it in a direction hitherto unseen in the series. In a medium that's known for a lack of subtlety, Breath of the Wild is a breath of fresh air. Well, as long as you don't prefer Mipha.

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The arc of their relationship is dynamic, and its development can be seen throughout the game's many flashback sequences. Link and Zelda's love struggles against responsibility, frustration and even jealousy, but ultimately they are each other's greatest strength.  This subplot's a story of devotion which shows this relationship in a light players haven't seen previously in the franchise. It really warms the heart containers.

1 Bad - Mario And Peach, Mario Franchise

Mario Peach Screenshot Mario Kart Rainbow Road

The de-facto first couple of gaming, you'd think Mario and Peach would have a romantic subplot for the ages. But of the many things the Mario games do well, their relationship isn't one of them. From the NES to Switch era, Mario and Peach's love story is boring, linear and — occasionally — not even there at all.

Despite being the supposed driving force behind many of the franchise's games, Mario and Peach barely seem to be in each other's lives outside kidnappings and trying to beat the hell out of each other at kart racing. The Mario games are platforming extravaganzas, but those who are looking for any depth in its romantic subplot are going to be sorely disappointed.

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