Yes, saving the world is hard. But many of us would be willing to face the forces of evil rather than deal with the inherent drama of a love triangle. These tug-of-war relationships heighten the tension of an already tough situation, and fans often develop very strong opinions about who should end up with whom.
There is no shortage of love triangle plots in video games, the most infamous of which have generated decades of controversy and pages of fan fiction. The Greeks had Helen of Troy, but the modern gamer has a complicated relationship.
By Matt Arnold on April 14, 2023 – With the release of Resident Evil 4 Remake, we see the dynamic between Leon, Ashley and Ada in a whole new light. Nothing really happens between them (which we know of) but we couldn’t resist adding them to this list. It’s been almost 20 years now. Will it or not, Capcom?
Spoilers ahead.
10 Abby / Mel / Owen (The Last of Us: Part 2)
The Last Of Us: Part 2 is a complex tale of moral subjectivity and the cycle of revenge. The interpersonal relationships at the heart of the game evoke heroism and hatred of everyone involved at the same time. One such relationship that follows most of Abby’s plotline and tragically converges with Ellie’s story is the love triangle between Abby, Mel and Owen.
At some point between the first two games, Abby and Owen were in a relationship, but by the beginning of Part 2 they had broken up and Owen is now with Mel, the group’s medic. In Abby’s first scene, Owen confides to her that Mel is pregnant by her. A few weeks later, Owen and Abby have sex in a moment of indiscretion. Owen immediately admits his affair to Mel, who never forgives Abby. Hours later, Owen and Mel are both killed by Ellie and Abby finds the body. Abby’s unresolved guilt over her encounter follows her into her confrontation with Ellie the next day.
9 Vincent/Catherine/Catherine
Many games feature love triangles as a major side plot, but Catherine puts one front and center. The entire game revolves around Vincent’s anxiety about meeting Catherine, a presence that threatens her long-standing relationship with her. Things take a strange turn when it is revealed that Katherine is a succubus from Hell and Vincent is caught up in a hellish power struggle whether he likes it or not.
At the end of the game, Vincent may end up with Katherine, Catherine, or both. Expansion if that’s not complex enough Catherine: full body Adds another romantic interest, Qatherine.
8 Shepard / Liara / Kaidan or Ashley (Mass Effect)
mass effect Although famous for having many romantic options for Shepard, the first game only offered a few. A male Shepard can pursue a relationship with Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams, while a female Shepard can hook up with Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko. Liara T’Soni, a member of the asexual but female asari species, can romance Shepard.
Regardless of Shepard’s gender, attempting to romance both Liara and her human companion eventually results in a confrontation in which she must choose a partner. Like most decisions in Mass Effect, this choice will affect the rest of the trilogy.
7 Unexpected Drama (Crusaders Kings 3)
Crusader Kings 3 is the kind of game where it’s entirely possible to create a love triangle (or a love dodecahedron if you’re keen). The game features an entire skill tree dedicated to romance and seduction. Of course, you can only control your own character’s actions, which can lead to some surprises when you take over from a new ruler.
When a character dies in CK3, they continue to play next in line to the throne, and their actions prior to that point still affect them. If your new character was a serial flirt before you played as them, you may have to contend with debilitating stressful events, angry spouses demanding satisfaction, and even wars.
6 Mario / Peach / Bowser (Super Mario)
This love triangle isn’t the norm, but many players have noticed over the years how fishy it is to have Princess Peach constantly “kidnapped” by Bowser.
Fans speculate that Peach and Bowser are in a committed relationship and that serial kidnapping is a convenient way to keep up appearances. After spending some time in Bowser’s castle, Peach “rescues” herself by Mario and the cycle begins anew.
5 Nate / Elena / Chloe (Uncharted 2)
unknown 2 It is arguably the best game in the series, and least of all thanks to the love triangle plot it contains.
At the start of the game, Nate and Elena take a break after getting together in the first game. Nate’s new playboy, Chloe Frazer, is a great adventurer in her own right, but things get awkward when the three team up to find Shambala’s legendary treasure.
4 Leon / Ashley / Ada (Resident Evil 4)
Romance isn’t a huge part of the Resident Evil series, but fans will always Certified himbo Leon Kennedy And the mysterious femme fatale, Ada Wong. ashley Graham, RE4′Even a girl in trouble notices… even if Leon himself doesn’t notice.
Ashley, in both the original and the remake, is fortunately toned down in the latest version of the game, but she clearly cares about Leon. Nonetheless, Ashley was still jealous of Ada when she first met her. It advances (comparatively) subtly towards her rescuer. Leon is perfectly professional with both women. He doesn’t realize when he’s being tempted.
three Billy / Jimmy / Marian (Double Dragon)
The iconic retro beat ’em up Double Dragon paved the way for an entire genre. Twin brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee fight their way through hordes of villains to rescue Billy’s girlfriend, Marian, who has been kidnapped by a gang of Black Warriors. When the game is completed in co-op mode, each player controls one of the twins, with an added twist after defeating the final boss.
with Marian still tied up, Billy and Jimmy continue to beat each other tar. Whoever wins gets the girl. It’s a moment that hasn’t aged well (to say the least), and it’s likely coming from a conversation about the classic Double Dragon.
2 Monica / The Player / The Girls (Doki Doki Literature Club)
Doki Doki Literature Club is one of the most shocking games ever created. Disguised as a cute dating sim, the game quickly turns into a horror show that will leave a mark on all who play.
Monica, the only character not presented with a romance option, discovers that she is only a character in a video game and begins messing with the program’s code to drive the competition for the player’s affections to suicide. It’s a dark and upsetting story that turns a feel-good genre into a disgusting obsession.
One Cloud/Tifa/Aerith (Final Fantasy 7)
For many gamers, the word “love triangle” immediately brings to mind images of heroes from Final Fantasy VII. For about a third of the game, Cloud’s actions will determine who will accompany the Gold Saucer on his romantic journey.
Tifa and Aerith are the two main companions, but if the player does everything right, they can also date Yuffie or Barret. Whether it’s Team Cloti, Team Clerith, or Team Aerti, Final Fantasy 7 features one of the most infamous love triangles in gaming.