History FanPreferredCouple / VideoGames

** On a good number of sites for ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', fics and fanart for Terra/Celes rival those of the canon Locke/Celes; there's even at least one fangame that [[FusionFic rewrites the plot of the fourth game to feature the two]]. This is despite the fact that Terra and Celes [[ShipsThatPassInTheNight only interacted about twice canonically]], and are rarely together even outside of that except when the entire party is in unison (Terra vanishes not long after Celes joins the party, and returns just in time for Celes to leave again, and by the time they're both playable again, the cast size has hit double digits). Fans of the pairing tend to cite their strong parallels and contrasts, their status as dual protagonists, and their potential for intriguing interaction. (This may be paired with [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation seeing Locke as]] [[DieForOurShip a bit of a creep.]])

*** Shannan/Oifey has a small following, primarily as an alternative to the below-mentioned {{Squick}} of having them end up with girls half their age (or, in Shannan's case, his ''cousin''), and also because the idea of them essentially becoming Seliph's [[HasTwoMommies two dads]] is quite sweet.

* For ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', [[StraightManAndWiseGuy Link and Midna]] are the most popular pairing, and achieved special longevity in part because of the [[AbortedDeclarationofLove odd line Midna gives before she leaves]] in the English version. Notably, the [[Manga/TheLegendOfZeldaAkiraHimekawa official manga adaptation]] a decade later would go on to heavily push the pairing throughout its run, ending with [[spoiler:Midna and Link sharing a tearful LastKiss farewell]]. Despite this, the game itself is one of the few in the franchise where Link is already [[ImpliedLoveInterest all but stated]] to have a love interest (in [[PatientChildhoodLoveInterest childhood friend Ilia]]).
** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', Link/Prince Sidon is an ''explosively'' popular ship, with more art, fanfiction and posts in general being made about Link and the fishy prince hooking up than any other couple.

** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', [[StraightManAndWiseGuy Link and Midna]] are the most popular pairing, and achieved special longevity in part because of the [[AbortedDeclarationofLove odd line Midna gives before she leaves]] in the English version. Notably, the [[Manga/TheLegendOfZeldaAkiraHimekawa official manga adaptation]] a decade later would go on to heavily push the pairing throughout its run, ending with Midna and Link sharing a tearful LastKiss farewell. Despite this, the game itself is one of the few in the franchise where Link is already [[ImpliedLoveInterest all but stated]] to have a love interest (in [[PatientChildhoodLoveInterest childhood friend Ilia]]).

** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', [[StraightManAndWiseGuy Link and Midna]] are the most popular pairing, and achieved special longevity in part because of the [[AbortedDeclarationofLove odd line Midna gives before she leaves]] in the English version. This huge fan following is despite the fact that this is one of the few games where Link is already [[ImpliedLoveInterest all but stated]] to have a love interest (in [[PatientChildhoodLoveInterest childhood friend Ilia]]). However, the [[Manga/TheLegendOfZeldaAkiraHimekawa official manga adaptation]] would go on to end with Midna and Link sharing a tearful LastKiss farewell.

** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', [[StraightManAndWiseGuy Link and Midna]] are the most popular pairing, and achieved special longevity in part because of the [[AbortedDeclarationofLove odd line Midna gives before she leaves]] in the English version. This huge fan following is despite the fact that this is one of the few games where Link is already [[ImpliedLoveInterest all but stated]] to have a love interest (in childhood friend Ilia).

* ''Franchise/MetalGear'':

** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3'', most fans prefer to focus on the relationship between Snake and Ocelot than the one between him and EVA, and it certainly helps that EVA leaves Snake at the end while Ocelot goes out of his way to be with him again at the end, for inexplicable reasons.

* ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'': It's actually a bit difficult to find people who ship Jin with his [[TheLostLenore Lost Lenore]] Lora, as while they exist, a lot of people prefer to pair him with Malos instead. Aside from being the third most written-for ''[=XC2=]'' pairing on [=Ao3=] (after Brighid/Mòrag and Rex/Pyra), Jin/Malos' popularity has many roots, from their parallels to OfficialCouple Rex/Pyra, their general closeness, and their ultimate ending where [[spoiler:just before they die, they both realize how deep their connection to each other had become, with Jin having regained his will to live because of Malos and Malos' hatred for both the world and himself having worsened because of the tragedy of Jin's life, to the point where a good portion of the pre-FinalBoss cutscene is just Malos yelling about how Jin's story is a perfect example of why the world should burn]]. Even after ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2TornaTheGoldenCountry'' fleshed out Jin's relationship with Lora more, Jin/Malos was still the more popular pairing.

* VideoGame/Persona4: At least on [=AO3=], pairing the protagonist with [[HeterosexualLifePartners Yosuke]] is considerably more popular than any of his actual romance options.

** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage'': Alear is the only character with paired endings, so this applies to any pairing between the rest of the cast. A few are particularly popular:
*** Alcryst and Lapis get some mild ShipTease in their supports, and Lapis's A support with Citrinne confirms she has a crush on him. Their mutual {{Adorkable}} nature has led to a lot of people wishing they could end up together, and the pair had entire albums of fanart on pixiv shortly after the game's release.
*** Diamant and Ivy are another popular couple. Their mutual support and understanding even after Ivy played a hand in the death of Diamant’s father made fans ship them together. It also helps that they're both rebels against their nations' cultures- Diamant is a MartialPacifist in a warlike kingdom, while Ivy worships the Divine Dragon in a Fell Dragon-worshipping kingdom.
*** Another pairing that received quite a bit of attention is Goldmary and Etie, as to some, their support had rather heavy shades of LesYay, ''especially'' in the original Japanese dialogue.

*** Annette and Mercedes are commonly shipped together despite their inability to S support together due to their PseudoRomanticFriendship status in game and the fact that their ending implies that they settle down together. Their A support in JPN reading like an S-support definitely adds fuel to the fire.

%%This trope needs a canon couple to overshadow for it to count. The canon/ones with no canon couples to compete with are removed. The ones without mentioning them are hidden/rewritten. If you want to unhide one please add a canon couple or come to this thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=14860997890A40152400&page=1

* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', the Dragonborn and [[FriendlyNeighbourhoodVampire Serana]] from ''Dawnguard'' have been heavily shipped by the fandom, who praise her well-developed character and how much depth was given to her [[OddFriendship burgeoning relationship]] with the Dragonborn. Many were disappointed that she's not a romance option, as despite the ShipTease, she politely turns down your proposal, citing her [[HolyBurnsEvil dislike of temples]] and other personal issues.

%%* ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'': Joshua and Neku have an enormous following among the fanbase. Where to begin? In game, Joshua blatantly flirts with Neku more than once, and Shiki even implies she thinks they might be a thing at one point. Joshua's small role in the manga is also dedicated to his implied infatuation with Neku. While the game and its fanbase generally isn't focused much on romance, there is a staggering amount of fanart and fanfics on this pairing while not much else for other pairings exists.

* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'': Kairi has a decent amount of [[ImpliedLoveInterest possible romantic subtext]] with Sora, as they both share paopu fruit with each other. Among [[LGBTFanbase many queer fans]], however, the pairing of Sora with his [[HoYay/KingdomHearts best friend and rival]] Riku is vastly more popular; the duo's combined Keyblade ''does'' also have a paopu fruit as the keychain, after all. There are also many who take a third option and ship them together in an OT3.

* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'': Kairi is semi-officially paired with Sora (they both shared a Paopu fruit with each other, which is pretty much a mythical engagement-ring). Among [[YaoiFangirl many fangirls]], however, the pairing of Sora with his [[HoYay best friend and rival]] Riku is vastly more popular. There are also many who take a third option and ship them together in an OT3.

* [=PaRappa=] and Lammy from ''VideoGame/ParappaTheRapper'', despite the fact that both games focused on [=PaRappa=]'s love of Sunny. [[http://gameads.gamepressure.com/tv_game_commercial.asp?ID=13500 There was a Japanese commercial depicting PaRappa falling in love with Lammy, however.]]

** ''VideoGame/TalesOfLegendia'': Senel canonically gets engaged to Shirley during the events of the game. While the Japanese fandom is evenly split between Senel/Chloe and Senel/Shirley, the western fandom is overwhelmingly in favor of Senel/Chloe mostly due to the fact that [[AmericansHateTingle Shirley is despised by the western fanbase.]]

* ''VideoGame/TalesOfLegendia'': Senel canonically gets engaged to Shirley during the events of the game. While the Japanese fandom is evenly split between Senel/Chloe and Senel/Shirley, the western fandom is overwhelmingly in favor of Senel/Chloe mostly due to the fact that [[AmericansHateTingle Shirley is despised by the western fanbase.]]

** In actual writing, Lux has [[DependingOnTheWriter spotty]] ShipTease with Ezreal; skin lines like Battle Academia really go deep with their relationship, but in modern canon, she doesn't even know him that well or [[AllLoveIsUnrequited recognize his feelings for her]]. Starting around the point of the first Star Guardian event, Jinx/Lux (a.k.a. "Lightcannon") has taken off in popularity due their established bond in that universe. Continuing even further past the releases of ''Wild Rift'' (where they interact again) and ''WesternAnimation/{{Arcane}}'' (which builds on Jinx's backstory), a lot of fic writers have grown attached to their dynamic. Many argue that Lux/Ezreal lacks as compelling a dynamic or stable a foundation as other canon couples, while Lux/Jinx has more parallels that can be drawn between the girls (both being younger sisters to older champs, both having deeply rooted trauma from their nations' oppressive environments, channeling their inner selves through their abilities, etc.). Just for comparison, Lux/Jinx has about ''five times'' the number of works associated with it on Archive of Our Own than Lux/Ezreal.

* ''VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}}'': Played with in regards to Demitri/Morrigan. While it's teased quite a bit in the games, and actually ends up being canon for both the [[Anime/NightWarriorsDarkstalkersRevenge OVA]] and manga (possibly as a result of fans latching onto the ship), many other fans prefer the [[HoYay Les Yay]] vibes Morrigan has towards her "[[SplitAtBirth younger]] [[SoulJar sister]]" Lilith or even pair her up with [[DarkMessiah Jedah]]--the former being [[CoolBigSis a]] [[{{Twincest}} prominent]] [[ScrewYourself theme]] in their interactions ever since Lilith's debut and the latter ship seeing gaining some additional tractional due to the strange amount of concern Morrigan shows Jedah in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite''. Demitri/Morrigan still appears to be the more popular ship, but the others have been steadily growing in popularity. Morrigan being [[HornyDevils a succubus]] with AnythingThatMoves tendencies likely accounts for this.

*** Palla's a bit of an oddball:
*** For a while, the FanPreferredCouple for her was to get her with Abel, due to her unrequited crush and the common view that Abel was better off with her than with her sister Est, his official love interest - especially since the two along with several other characters inexplicably vanish into UncertainDoom in the epilogue (supposedly a SequelHook for [[WhatCouldHaveBeen a never-made third game]]).
*** With the release of the remakes and ''VideoGame/FireEmblemHeroes'', though, Palla/Minerva has taken off and distinctly surpassed it, due in part to distaste for AllLoveIsUnrequited and in part their rather strong supports in ''New Mystery'' that all but state that Palla was Minerva's closest partner among the Whitewings. It certainly doesn't hurt the pairing's popularity that while the games certainly ''imply'' Palla's crush is on Abel, her descriptions are vague enough that it could still be someone else, and Minerva conspicuously doesn't have any male partners.

*** Palla/Abel was considered this for some time, relative to the OfficialCouple of Abel/Est. Est's status as a TierInducedScrappy, and the DownerEnding the couple get were given as reasons why Palla/Abel is preferred. Strangely, it seems to be primarily driven by antipathy for Abel/Est and the desire for an alternative, which is likely why it was displaced by...

%%* ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'': Joshua and Neku have an enormous following among the fanbase. Where to begin? In game, Joshua blatantly flirts with Neku more than once, and Shiki even implies she thinks they might be a thing at one point. Joshua's small role in the manga is also dedicated to his implied infatuation with Neku. While the game and its fanbase generally isn't focused much on romance, there is a staggering amount of fanart and fanfics on this pairing while not much else for other pairings exists.
* In the ''VideoGame/YokaiWatch'' fandom, some fans prefer to ship the hero, Nate, with ''Yokai Watch 3'' heroine, Hailey, instead of the previous heroine Katie, whom he canonically marries in the TimeSkip series ''Anime/YokaiWatchShadowside.'' Part of this is because Hailey has Yokai friends like Nate does and they spend more time interacting in the series. Meanwhile, Katie is SchroedingersPlayerCharacter, and does not get to have Yokai friends in the same canon as Nate.

** From the ''VideoGame/TerraBattle'' crossover with ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'', Noctis/Sarah has a fanbase of it's own. Especially due to Sarah's actual shared chemistry with Noctis which is aided by the fact Sarah actually gets to interact with him alongside having an actual personality.

* ''VideoGame/HonkaiImpact3rd'': Kiana and Mei are the most teased pairing, but it seems like the fans prefer Kiana and Fu Hua's relationship. With a large amount of fanmaterial, particularly on the Chinese fanbase's end of things, dedicated to the pairing. It doesn't help that in 2019 almost every event had the two paired off with one another, and 2020 kicked off with an event where the first thing the player sees is a scene where Fu Hua is giving Kiana a LapPillow.