Gamertell

While all of the Final Fantasy games are generally about saving the world, or many of the people in it, another common theme is love. Whether it’s an entry like Final Fantasy VIII, where the love story is a prominent part of the story of Final Fantasy VI, where it’s only slightly touched about, the games frequently focus on the development of relationships between characters.

With Valentines Day drawing near, it seems only appropriate to highlight some of the more romantic entries in the Final Fantasy series. So to help you get in the romantic mood and possibly find some holiday gaming material, Gamertell has gathered together five of the most romantic Final Fantasy games and looked at what exactly makes them so memorable.

5. Final Fantasy VI (SNES, PS1, GBA)

FFVI has the distinction of being the least romantic game on the list, but it is known for having one of the more memorable Final Fantasy romantic pairings. Starting from when Locke rescues Celes in South Figaro, a romance gradually grows in the background. Players don’t get to see it, but it’s acknowledged at the beginning of the World of Ruin portion of the game. When Celes is alone on the deserted island, Locke is one of the first people she asks about and after she recognizes the cloth brought by a seagull as Locke’s bandanna, the knowledge that he’s alive helps give her the strength to go on

4. Final Fantasy X (PS2)

FFX, and for that matter FFX-2, feature the relationship between Yuna and Tidus as a subplot. The romance is more of a secondary plot in FFX, where Yuna and Tidus fall in love as she gathers summons and prepares to battle against and destroy Sin. In FFX-2, it’s more pronounced as Yuna and her friends Riku and Paine hunt for spheres and hope to find a way for Yuna and Tidus to reunite.

3. Final Fantasy VIII (PS1)

FFVIII is similar to FFX as it’s about a growing relationship between two characters, where in the final two entries on this list feature characters already in an established relationship. Squall is a stoic soldier who’s somewhat cold, and begins to open up after meeting with, and being assigned to help resistance leader Rinoa, who’s a more open and friendly girl. Initially he seems to almost consider her a bother, but throughout the story he warms up to, and falls in love, with her. The two, of course, end up together in the end.

2. Final Fantasy XIII (PS3, Xbox 360)

True, FFXIII hasn’t been released outside of Japan yet, but the fact that Snow Villiers and Serah Farron are a couple. After all, the two are engaged in the earliest moments of the game and every character description for Serah describes her as Lightning’s sister and Snow’s fiance. Serah is among the first to become a l’Cie, and immediately after finding out Snow devotes himself to helping her and doing everything he can to become her hero. That’s definitely love.

1. Final Fantasy IV (SNES, WonderSwan Color, PS1, GBA, DS)

One of the main plot points in FFIV is the Cecil, Rosa and Kain love triangle. Cecil and Rosa are in a relationship from the very beginning of the game, and are constantly rushing to each other’s aid and fighting by one another’s side. When Cecil is effectively banished from Baron, Rosa leaves to reunite with him. When Kain is about to possibly kill Cecil, Rosa steps in to protect him. When Rosa is captured, Cecil does makes saving her his goal. After that, Cecil and Rosa fight together, and eventually marry at the end of the game.