From the outside looking in, romance is always alittlecringe. Even if you’re not full-blown calling your partner ‘pookie bear’ in public, everyone knows the embarrassment that comes with having a crush and trying your best to hide it.
That’s why most people aren’t self-proclaimed hopeless romantics. Dreams of being swept off your feet are typically something you keep to yourself. While these video game characters might not always show their romantic side, I can justfeelthat they have a touch of the romantic in them.
7Miles Edgeworth
Ace Attorney
Edgeworth is a classic tsundere, and if you don’t know what that is, good for you. Ever since he uttered the phrase, “Thanks to you, I am saddled with unnecessary… feelings,” to Phoenix in the firstAce Attorneygame, everyone has seen through his facade to the gentler man underneath.
What are those feelings you speak of Edgeworth? Do you want to share them with the class? Perhaps write a poem about them and then never show it to anyone? We can see the romantic in you; you don’t need to hide it anymore.
6Taion
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
InXenoblade Chronicles 3, Taion first comes across as aloof and reserved when he meets the other party members, but as they journey together more, he opens up to them, especially Eunie.He offers her tea to help her calm down, and it’s this small, kind act that hints that Taion secretly harbors a romantic side.
He’s definitely an acts-of-service kind of guy, quietly doing things for his partner to show off his love for them in his own way. He may not shout it from the rooftops, but Taion would be romantic in all the small and best ways.
5Tom Nook
Animal Crossing
Tom Nook gets a bad rap, but it’s all baseless lies, I tell you. His loans don’t even have any interest! He lets you pay him back whenever, or never! He’s simply not the evil loan shark he’s made out to be.
In fact, he took in Timmy and Tommy as his nephews when he found them as orphans. He opened his heart and gave them a home. This level of kindness makes me think he’d be the same for a partner, as well. He’d always make sure they had a fresh bouquet of red roses, watered and taken care of.
4Shoka Sakurane
NEO: The World Ends With You
InNEO: The World Ends With You, Shoka is asnarky and sarcastic Reaper, but, as the game progresses, you start to see a different side of her. Through her close friendship with Ayano, you see how much she cares for those she’s close to.
While she hides it all under her cool girl demeanour, Shoka almost definitely has a soft side that would swoon at classic romance like teddy bears and roses. She may act like she wants to be doted on hand and foot, but she’d likely enjoy offering the same romantic gestures back to her partner as well.
3Toad
Super Mario
Hear me out on this one.Mario is always out there saving Princess Peachfrom god knows what, and you know who’s there to see this happen? Toad. Maybe he wants a slice of the romantic pie for once. Perhaps all of Mario’s selfless antics have inspired Toad to be a romantic in his own life.
Sure, he’s no prince or hero, but he’s funny. And have you heard his song covers? He’s certainly got… a unique voice to serenade his special someone with. Toad has the heart; he just needs someone to give him a chance.
Doesn’t he look dapper in that bowtie too?
2Riku
Kingdom Hearts
Riku has somewhat of a cool-guy persona that’s left over from his days dealing with his own darkness throughout the first half of theKingdom Heartsseries. But, byKingdom Hearts 3, he’s come out of the other side as a new person.
From his conversations with Mickey in the Realm of Darkness, and the questions he has to answer inside Sora’s heart at the end of Dream Drop Distance, it’s clear he has one goal in mind: to protect what (and who) matters to him. Riku is 100 percent a protective partner who would do anything for the one he loves.
1Princess Zelda
The Legend Of Zelda
Princess Zelda has somewhat of a different personalityin all the Zelda games, but it’s inTears of the Kingdomwhere you’re able to see her romantic side the most. If you head to the house in Hateno Village that Link previously bought in Breath of the Wild, you can find Zelda’s diaries, where she mentions her secret study below the house.
Here, there’s a chest with Link’s hairband inside. What other reason would she keep this than for sentimental value? And in her secret study no less? I see you, Zelda — you keep those precious mementoes like the rest of us romantics.
