History Main / MatchMakerQuest

The PlayerCharacter has overcome incredible odds, defeated mighty enemies, righted wrongs and punished the wicked, and even {{fetch|Quest}}ed the [[RainbowSpeak [Blue Book]]] from the top shelf! But none prepared [[FeaturelessProtagonist him/her]] for... the Match Maker Quest!

** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'' has the quest ''The Book of Love'' where the player helps out 3 couples, including [[spoiler: a pair of dead lovers]], get together.

An {{NPC}} ([[LoveTriangle or three]]) are down on their luck in the love department, and can't seem to get that [[LoveInterest special someone]] to [[ObliviousToLove notice them.]] They're so desperate and mopey and (a)pathetically resigned to their doomed loveless future that they will spill their guts about these troubles to the first stranger to cross their paths [-([[CaptainObvious That means you]]).-] Rather than find a solution themselves, they will ask you to do something for them, usually involving a FetchQuest for some engagement gift, ImpossibleTask, or plain old bling to impress their potential partner. Other times, it suffices for you to use your prodigious dialogue screen channeled charisma to convince their intended to love them back. Occasionally, the match is already made and the quest centers on solving some other difficulty, like getting the parents to let them marry, gathering wedding materials, a dowry[[labelnote:*]]which will hopefully ''not'' consist of TwentyBearAsses[[/labelnote]], or helping them set up a life for themselves.

* This happens a few times in ''{{Xenoblade}}''. One of the more memorable ones is also one of the earliest: there's a love triangle, and the protagonist has to decide which pairing to support by finding a love potion (or equivalent) and giving it to the right person. Problem is, the main character has the ability to see the future, and both options [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption end badly.]] There's no way to TakeAThirdOption, either - unless you simply ignore the quest. Oh well, it's good XP...

* ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' has an asari and a krogan in a relationship, but she's having doubts now that he's starting to take it seriously. You can convince her to continue the relationship or break it off.
** If you convince her to continue the relationship, you encounter the couple again on Tuchanka, the krogan homeworld. You overhear the krogan trying to explain to his asari girlfriend why living on a barren, barely habitable krogan wasteland is ''so much better'' than living on an ultra-modern asari-ruled planet...
*** And then, in the third game, [[spoiler: [[ShootTheShaggyDog he dies on a mission for the Krogans.]] But they have a kid together, apparently...]]
*** Also in the third game, there's an option to encourage Joker and [[spoiler:EDI]] to get together. Or, alternately, discourage it.

* [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] in ''Mother 3'': While there ''are'' two {{NPC}}s who are secretly in love but too shy to talk to each other, you are never actually tasked to hook them up. [[spoiler:They still get together AfterTheEnd.]]

** ''SkywardSword'' has one too. It's played with though: firstly, you have two possible options, you can either give Cawlin's love letter to the object of his affection, or you can end up giving it to [[MythologyGag the hand in the toilet.]] Secondly, [[spoiler: it turns out the NPC he likes actually has feeling for ''another'' NPC, and he returns them. Giving her the letter results in ''them'' getting togeather and Cawlin being left in tears.]] Both paths give you the same reward, so you don't need to worry about LostForever.

* This is pretty much your main goal in [[VideoGame/HamtaroHamHamHeartbreak Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Heartbreak]].

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker,'' you have to help two painfully shy [=NPCs=] (who are too shy to even say hello to each other, even though they see each other every day) get together. This involves [[FirstPersonSnapshooter taking and showing them pictures]] of each other.

** SkywardSword has one too. It's played with though: firstly, you have two possible options, you can either give Cawlin's love letter to the object of his affection, or you can end up giving it to [[MythologyGag the hand in the toilet.]] Secondly, [[spoiler: it turns out the NPC he likes actually has feeling for ''another'' NPC, and he returns them. Giving her the letter results in ''them'' getting togeather and Cawlin being left in tears.]] Both paths give you the same reward, so you don't need to worry about LostForever.

An {{NPC}} ([[LoveTriangle or three]]) are down on their luck in the love department, and can't seem to get that [[LoveInterest special someone]] to [[ObliviousToLove notice them.]] They're so desperate and mopey and (a)pathetically resigned to their doomed loveless future that they will spill their guts about these troubles to the first stranger to cross their paths [-([[CaptainObvious That means you]]).-] Rather than find a solution themselves, they will ask you to do something for them, usually involving a FetchQuest for some engagement gift, ImpossibleTask, or plain old bling to impress their potential partner. Other times, it suffices for you to use your prodigious dialogue screen channeled charisma to convince their intended to love them back. Occasionally, the match is already made and the quest centers on solving some other difficulty, like getting the parents to let them marry, gathering wedding materials, a dowry[[hottip:*: which will hopefully ''not'' consist of TwentyBearAsses]], or helping them set up a life for themselves.

* In NeverwinterNights Hordes of the Underdark, you meet an angel who managed to learn where he would meet his [[StrangledByTheRedString one true love]], without learning her name. You have the option of asking the Knower of Names for the name of the angel's one true love, it is randomly selected between Aribeth, Nathyrra, and the player (if female).

* In the game ''VideoGame/DragonAge,'' the player has the option to complete the quest "Cammen's Lament" where they must help a young Dalish elf named Cammen woo his love, Gheyna, who refuses to marry him because he is yet to become a full-fledged hunter.

** ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' has a sidequest near the middle of the storyline where you can match up a pair of generals [[CapuletCounterpart on the opposite sides of a war]] (naturally, the quest can't be completed until ''after'' you stop said war). [[spoiler:[[YankTheDogsChain Then one of them suffers a]] PlotlineDeath [[YankTheDogsChain soon afterwards]]]]

* There are several of these in ''{{Morrowind}}.'' The first involves a woman who has fallen for the bandit who robbed her, and wants help tracking him down. Surprisingly, it turns out well. Another in the Tribunal expansion involves helping a woman who is far too busy with her work to meet men find a husband.
** ''{{Skyrim}}'' has the quest ''The Book of Love'' where the player helps out 3 couples, including [[spoiler: a pair of dead lovers]], get together.

The PlayerCharacter has overcome incredible odds, defeated mighty enemies, righted wrongs and punished the wicked, and even {{fetch|Quest}}ed the [[RainbowSpeak [Blue Book]]] from the top shelf! But none prepared [[FeaturelessProtagonist him/her]] for... the Match Maker Quest!

Depending on the game, you may find yourself in this situation so often you practically become TheMatchmaker and end up fixing everyone's love life. If you're lucky, the game developers won't forget to give the PlayerCharacter his/her own RomanceSidequest. Of course, some developers like to [[PlayingWithATrope play with this trope]] and include options for you to [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential sabotage]] this burgeoning love or outright ''steal'' them from the quest giver.

** May not be entirely an example since you're helping out a party member instead of an NPC this time, but in his character quest, Oghren asks for the PC's help in getting an old flame of his interested in him again.

* A somewhat roundabout one in ''DragonQuestVIII'' winds up a ''subversion''. In order to be properly recognized as a man and marry Princess Medea, {{Prince Charmles|s}} needs to obtain an Argon Heart. He's finally talked into getting it when his father describes Medea's... charms, but needs your help. He spends the entire mission bumbling around, talking down to your party, making unreasonable demands, trying to ride the pretty horse that is actually Medea under a BalefulPolymorph {{Curse}}, and winds up [[spoiler:buying a (presumably fake) Argon Heart from a merchant anyway. And because Medea saw all of this firsthand, she ''refuses'' to marry him later.]]

* Many a ''HarvestMoon'' fan have done this, due to the fact that the games have multiple [[TheRival romance rivals]].

----

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker,'' you have to help two painfully shy [=NPCs=] (who are too shy to even say hello to each other, even though they see each other every day) get together. This involves showing them [[FirstPersonSnapshooter pictures]] of each other.

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker,'' you have to help two painfully shy [=NPCs=] (who are too shy to even say hello to each other, even though they see each other every day) get together. This involves showing them [[AmateurPhotographer pictures]] of each other.

* In ''QuestForGloryIV'', one of the quests is to get a feuding married couple back together by making them realize how much they miss each other.

** SkywardSword has one too. It's played with though: firstly, you have two possible options, you can either give Calvin's love letter to the object of his affection, or you can end up giving it to [[MythologyGag the hand in the toilet.]] Secondly, [[spoiler: it turns out the NPC he likes actually has feeling for ''another'' NPC, and he returns them. Giving her the letter results in ''them'' getting togeather and Calvin being left in tears.]] Both paths give you the same reward, so you don't need to worry about LostForever.

The PlayerCharacter has overcome incredible odds, defeated mighty enemies, righted wrongs and punished the wicked, and even [[FetchQuest fetched]] the [[RainbowSpeak [Blue Book]]] from the top shelf! But none prepared [[{{AFGNCAAP}} him/her]] for... the Match Maker Quest!

An {{NPC}} ([[LoveTriangle or three]]) are down on their luck in the love department, and can't seem to get that [[LoveInterest special someone]] to [[LoveIsOblivious notice them.]] They're so desperate and mopey and (a)pathetically resigned to their doomed loveless future that they will spill their guts about these troubles to the first stranger to cross their paths [-([[CaptainObvious That means you]]).-] Rather than find a solution themselves, they will ask you to do something for them, usually involving a FetchQuest for some engagement gift, ImpossibleTask, or plain old bling to impress their potential partner. Other times, it suffices for you to use your prodigious dialogue screen channeled charisma to convince their intended to love them back. Occasionally, the match is already made and the quest centers on solving some other difficulty, like getting the parents to let them marry, gathering wedding materials, a dowry[[hottip:*: which will hopefully ''not'' consist of TwentyBearAsses]], or helping them set up a life for themselves.

* In ''TheLegendOfZelda: TheWindWaker,'' you have to help two painfully shy [=NPCs=] (who are too shy to even say hello to each other, even though they see each other every day) get together. This involves showing them [[AmateurPhotographer pictures]] of each other.
** ''[[TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks Spirit Tracks]]'' has one that has become quite infamous due to what happens after said quest. [[spoiler:Namely, a pretty depressed village that has been left without a chief since he eloped.]]
** ''[[TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]]'' has the ''very'' long Kafei and Anju quest, where it appears that Kafei has gone missing just before his marriage with Anju. It's not as simple as it looks, and you can't even do this quest until very deep into the main game.

* In the game ''DragonAge,'' the player has the option to complete the quest "Cammen's Lament" where they must help a young Dalish elf named Cammen woo his love, Gheyna, who refuses to marry him because he is yet to become a full-fledged hunter.

** In ''DragonAgeII'', Aveline's sidequest involves her attempting to court a fellow member of the city guards. Depending on whether you like plots like this, it's either [[CrowningMomentOfFunny absolutely hilarious]] or excruciatingly painful to observe. Or anything in-between.

* In ''{{Fable}},'' you can bring together a boy and a girl who previously met at a party, by bringing his love letter to her(or claim that the letter is yours, and get the girl.)
** In ''Fable II'', the player can find a date for a farmer's son. The farmer would like you to set him up with a nice girl, but he would prefer a nice boy.

* In ''{{Fallout 3}}'', Angela Staley wants to catch the eye of Diego. However, he's an acolyte and doesn't really have the option of wooing her AND staying in the church. There are three options here:

*** Force the issue by giving Angela ant queen pheromones to seduce him into quitting the church and marrying her. If you sit through the wedding, [[FlatWhat you get positive karma]].

* ''FalloutNewVegas'' has Jack and Janet. Jack lives inside the Boomer's air force base and is afraid to leave but looks out with binoculars, Janet lives outside the compound and often looks in with binoculars but cannot enter because the Boomers attack anyone who approaches with artillery out of paranoia. To finish the quest you need to convince the Boomer Elder to allow her to enter the base and join the Boomers, then talk to Janet's boss and get her out of her contract with the Crimson Caravan Company (preferably without giving up her pay). If you want, you can lie to Janet that she's clear to go without clearing things with the Boomers, upon which [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential she'll be obliterated by artillery shelling]].
* In ''KnightsOfTheOldRepublic,'' there is a Romeo and Juliet plot on Dantooine, that the player character can turn into a massacre, or a happy ending.
* In ''TalesOfPhantasia,'' if you do one of these quests near the beginning, you can meet the one of couple's descendants [[TimeTravel in the future]].
** ''TalesOfTheAbyss'' has a sidequest near the middle of the storyline where you can match up a pair of generals [[CapuletCounterpart on the opposite sides of a war]] (naturally, the quest can't be completed until ''after'' you stop said war). [[spoiler:[[YankTheDogsChain Then one of them suffers a]] PlotlineDeath [[YankTheDogsChain soon afterwards]]]]

* ''MassEffect 2'' has an asari and a krogan in a relationship, but she's having doubts now that he's starting to take it seriously. You can convince her to continue the relationship or break it off.