Not all love stories are grand and mushy like you see in the movies—some are hidden in the margins of treasure hunts, dystopian worlds, or wild west sagas: the last place you'd look for them.
For single players, that may be the best kind of romance: stories you can be a part and parcel of, without needing a co-op partner in real life.
Here are seven action games that have a romantic flavour hidden beneath the combat, which stays with you long after Valentine’s Day:
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Geralt of Rivia's romantic triangle may be complicated and chaotic, but no one can deny that the passion within is why it is one of the RPG genre's most talked-about love arcs.
The crucial personal conflict between two deep, fully realised relationships—with the quick-witted sorceress Yennefer or the firebrand Triss—influences not only the ending, but also various emotional beats throughout the story.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Amid treasure hunts around the world and narratives that could put some films to shame, the Nathan Drake-Elena Fisher relationship adds a surprising realism that feels familiar, in a good way.
Their dynamic—from honeymoon to rekindled trust—anchors much of the narrative, and critics have praised how well the game balances adventure with genuine moments of connection between the two.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Beneath the sprawling wild west world of Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption 2 lies a kind of love that couldn't quite find its footing: the romance of Arthur Morgan and Mary Linton.
Through moments that are both heartbreaking and nostalgic, the game also reveals how circumstances and timing could pull true hearts apart. Still, critics have praised how Linton is not just some memory, but actually adds to Morgan's story arc in meaningful ways.
Bioshock Infinite
An AI companion in a floating steampunk city set in the 1910s might not seem like the greatest person to love, or even a 'person' at all.
Yet, despite not being human, Elizabeth adds a great deal of value to the game by not just being important to Booker, but also caring for the players in a way that makes them feel comforted, making it one of the more unusual and non-typical love stories in gaming.
God of War
Despite Kratos's wife Laufey's death early on in the game, their love that brought forth Atreus is a great example of love in absentia.
This is because even unseen, Laufey has a distinct emotional presence throughout the plot, and shapes Kratos's bond with their son, Atreus, making God of War more than just gods and monsters.
Halo 4
Master Chief's growing relationship with Cortana is the definition of subtle, yet poignant, going on to become one of the most emotionally resonant story arcs in the Halo saga.
In fact, the vulnerability she brought to Halo 4 resonated with players so much that many attacked the writers online for bringing her back as a villain in the later games.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Beyond the epic stealth missions, fantastic voice acting, and a Cold War narrative scripted to perfection by Hideo Kojima and his team, Snake Eater also has one of the most tragic love stories in gaming.
Naked Snake and his mentor, The Boss, are two characters so shaped by their circumstances that they end up sharing a love they cannot define, but is yet powerful enough to make them two sides of the same person.