Palentine’s Day: Our Favourite Video Game Companions

As the player, of course, you’re the main character. The MVP. The one who makes all the real decisions.

But for some games—particularly RPGs—the experience would never be the same without your ride or die. Your companions. The ones who pick you up, encourage you, or come in clutch and save you from a devastating death with a well-timed attack or buff. Let’s be honest: the right companion can make a game for you. So, let’s give them the love they deserve.

For this Valentine’s Day, let’s shine the spotlight on the real heroes of video games and talk about our favourite companions.

Astarian (Baldur’s Gate 3) – Lauren Skinner

Alright, here me out. He’s not just our favourite bisexual vampire twink. Once you get to know him and break down his walls, Astarian won’t let you down.

You begin Baldur’s Gate 3 unsure about Astarian. He tries to double-cross you the very first time you meet. Then, with the backdrop of a crackling fire in camp, where you’re sure you’re safe from monsters and enemies and your only worry is a psychic tadpole burrowing into your mind, you’re woken to Astarian ready to claim you as his midnight snack. We all know blood play’s only acceptable after the third date!

If you’re trying to play morally, then he’s difficult to take on quests. He disapproves of all your good intentions, and until you build up his relationship bar, he’s rude and closed-off. He may be witty, charming, stealthy, and an absolutely necessary party member to take with you to pick locks or disarm traps, but he’s hard to handle at first.

But he offers one of the most compelling narrative arcs in the game that kept me fully invested in his journey. His sharp tongue and sardonic humour are endlessly entertaining, offering moments of levity amidst the darker themes of the game. Yet we eventually learn this bravado is a coping mechanism. His vulnerable side slowly emerges as you build trust with him, and he reveals—spoilers—how traumatised he is from his enslavement under Cazador, his cruel vampire master. His evolving vulnerability and emotional depth also help create a compelling love story, making me desperate to help him separate from Cazador and learn to heal away from the past that still haunts him. I can change him!

Ultimately, the rocky start to your relationship with Astarian is absolutely necessary to facilitate the masterpiece that is your journey together.

Whether you prefer emotional redemption arcs or chaotic mischief, Astarian is one of the best companions in gaming.

Garrus (Mass Effect) – Sophie Jones

When it comes to the best pals in video games, one name stands above the rest: Garrus Vakarian. If you’ve played the Mass Effect trilogy, this rifle-wielding Turian is no stranger. Joining your crew in Mass Effect 1, Garrus sticks with you for the entire series, delivering some of the most memorable quest lines and a character arc that evolves beautifully based on your choices, making every interaction with him feel meaningful.

One thing’s for sure: Garrus always has your back. Whether you’re saving the galaxy or shooting someone in the face, his loyalty and support are unwavering. My favourite moment? The shooting contest on the Citadel in Mass Effect 3. This carefree scene highlights the deep bond forged between the characters, showing just how brilliant Garrus truly is, and offering a rare moment of peace in a galaxy full of chaos.

Then there’s his famous ‘calibrations’ in Mass Effect 2, which become a running gag that he hilariously references in Mass Effect 3. From banter about chicken to his romance with Tali and his constant struggle between justice and doing what’s right, Garrus is not just a great companion, he’s a fully realised, relatable friend. And let’s not forget the sheer anxiety when he took a rocket to the face. That moment had me on edge for sure!

While you can romance Garrus, keeping him as a friend feels even more rewarding. His bromance with Shepard feels authentic, and his loyalty shines brighter than ever. Honestly, I never leave the ship without him. Garrus Vakarian isn’t just a companion; he’s the companion: steady, hilarious, and utterly unforgettable.

Ryuji (Persona 5 Royal) – Jacob Rear

The members of the Phantom Thieves in Persona 5 are all fantastic characters in their own ways, but the one I have to pick as my Palentine is Ryuji. He is the first member you are properly introduced to, and soon proves himself to be so much more than the troublemaker that other characters see him as. With your status as the transfer student on probation, he is similarly a bit of an outcast at Shujin Academy, and he quickly bonds with you over this.

Throughout Persona 5, Ryuji is often portrayed as loud and impulsive, but he cares for his friends and he has a strong sense of justice as one of the founders of the group. I found his social links to be some of the best in the game and they really helped understand him more. His rebellious attitude comes from his regrets in his confrontation with Kamoshida and the impact this had on his reputation and on his mother. I think Ryuji is a brilliant character, and every time I’ve played a Persona game featuring him, I've always found him to be one of the most entertaining and well-rounded.

He also is a solid party member, focusing on powerful physical and electric skills. He’s one of the earliest members you get in and he rarely leaves my main line-up all the way up to the ending. Plus, I love the design of his Persona, Captain Kidd; what is not to love about a skull-faced pirate riding his ship like a surfboard?

Yoshi Kid (Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door) – Jay Davies

When we were asked to come up with our favourite sidekick character in video gaming, I immediately started to think about my favourite titles, and if they featured them.

Resident Evil 4 is one of my favourite games of all time, but to say Ashley is a terrible sidekick would be an understatement, so I ruled that one out straight away.

I considered the Elder Scrolls and Fallout games, but to be honest I tend to play the majority of them without a companion aside from Dogmeat, and there isn’t an awful lot to say about him.

Mass Effect was next on my list, but someone else had already chosen a companion from that (I’d have gone for Urdnot Wrex personally) so I went back to the drawing board and then it hit me… I’d been playing a lot of Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door and that’s full of sidekicks!

But who did I choose? The accident-prone Koops? The Plucky Goombella? Perhaps the quite frankly obscene Madame Flurrie?

Well no, I opted for ‘Mohawk’. Or ‘Red’… or whatever you personally opted to call him, but more generically known as ‘Yoshi Kid’.

Mario first “meets” Yoshi Kid outside the Glitz-Pit, a wrestling themed area of the game that instantly appealed to me due to my love of all things WWE. I say meets in inverted commas as when Mario first happens upon him, he’s still an egg.

Once hatched, Yoshi Kid joins the team and, unlike the rest of the characters in the game (and in every other Paper Mario game, for that matter), players can actually name him. As Yoshi are famed for being multicoloured, Yoshi Kid can also be one of 7 different colours depending on how quickly you are able to hatch him after initially finding his egg.

With the right badges attached. Yoshi Kid can be a formidable force, and he is actually required to beat one of the mini bosses (something else that makes him completely unique in the Paper Mario series) but the reason I really love having him in my team is because of how customisable he is as a character.

Plus he looks pretty cool with his varying hairstyles!

The Boys (Final Fantasy XV) – Lauren Skinner

The friends that Noctis travels with in Final Fantasy XV are more than just allies—they are the heart and soul of Noctis’ journey. And that’s why I can’t choose just one of them. Their hilarious banter, unique personalities, and indispensable roles in both the story and combat help Noctis through his darkest times, and even now, years later, I wish I were a part of their emo boyband stag do across Eros.

Gladiolus, the group’s shield and protector, means that you never feel alone. Despite his towering form, rippling muscles, and tough guy personality, he cares deeply, and he’s not afraid to have fun and let loose. As the King’s Shield, however, he takes his duty to Noctis seriously, often pushing him to become a better leader. He stands up for any injustices he sees, even if he has to call out his friends with tough love. In battle, he’s a powerhouse, wielding a massive greatsword and protecting his comrades as the essential frontline fighter.

Ignis, the strategist and caretaker, is the team’s intellectual core. His composed demeanour and unwavering devotion to Noctis make him a grounding force. His quick wit and dry humour provide some of the game’s best dialogue, while his skill as a cook strengthens the group’s bond through delicious stat-boosting meals—and he loves it when you find him a new recipehh. No spoilers here, but his unwavering sacrifice for Noctis and the kingdom is heartbreaking.

And then there’s Prompto, the team’s photographer, sharpshooter, and resident clown. His lighthearted nature and relentless optimism provide balance to the game’s darker moments—but when his twist comes around, and I learnt more about him and his insecurity, I appreciated him even more. His personal journey is just as compelling as the others’, especially as—as Noctis’ childhood friend—he is the one who doesn’t need to be here. He chooses to.

It's not just the individual characters that bring such warmth and authenticity to the journey. Some of my fondest memories involved making camp, taking time together to talk by the light of the fire, eating Ignis’ delicious meals, and strengthening their bonds. I’m not sure such genuine, deep connections have ever existed for me in a video game before, and this emotional core is what brings me back to FFXV time and time again.

But it’s all tragically short-lived. By the end of the game, they have all grown, but at great cost. I cared most about the fact that your friends were waiting for you, loyal, unwavering, and yet, nothing can ever be the same, not ever again. I mourned the lost time as much as Noctis mourned the people of Lucia, and the life he was forced to give up. Tragedy binds us all, and hardly anyone can say that with more conviction than these friends.

Gallica (Metaphor Re:Fantazio) – Jacob Rear

Going from one Atlus RPG to another, my alternate pick for Palentine’s Day would be Gallica, the fairy from Metaphor Re:Fantazio. She is with the protagonist from the very start of the game and acts as your navigator. In the early sections, she massively helps the protagonist and steers them towards completing their mission. Gallica is kind and can also be quite sassy towards the protagonist and other characters you meet along the way.

Gallica is hugely supportive throughout the game and is the in-universe explanation for a number of gameplay mechanics. These include the standard features you would expect from an Atlus RPG, like analysing enemies and giving you a special sight to see the strength of enemies and important parts of the environment. My absolute favourite part of all the music in the game (including that fantastic battle theme) is Gallica’s special spell to motivate the protagonist. She literally canonically gives the whole game its soundtrack!

As a fairy, Gallica is tiny compared to the rest of the cast and she doesn’t fight alongside you. She’s often flying alongside the protagonist or sitting on their shoulder, which is a fun little touch. Despite not taking part in combat, she also gets a little helmet and sword which is sweet! I could have happily picked any of the party in Metaphor for this feature, but Gallica being your constant companion right from the opening makes her incredibly important and I love how she can be quick-witted in some of the more light-hearted parts of the game.

Varl (Horizon Forbidden West) – Lauren Skinner

Who else was a little sad that Varl wasn’t Aloy’s love interest? Unless the developers are going down the WLW line—the best line for Aloy, IMO—then he’d be exactly what Aloy needs.

Regardless, Varl is fantastic. His greatest strengths are his unwavering loyalty and emotional insight. From the beginning, Varl recognises that Aloy needs a companion, despite her insistence that she needs to handle her gruelling journey alone. He knows that, to succeed, she needs to lean on someone, and that people are stronger together, both physically and emotionally. So, he travels for 6 months to catch up with Aloy, convinces her to give him a Focus, and slowly convinces her to fill him in on the plan.

This choice is instrumental for Aloy and her mission’s success. When Aloy wavers, he’s there. He convinces others, to back her up. He helps her set up the Base, and acts as the emotional core of the group, listening to Aloy, encouraging others, forming friendships, and—crucially—forming a loyal group of friends that are there for Aloy whenever she needs them.

Under Varl’s firm yet sympathetic hand, Aloy learns to open up to them. She no longer pushes them away, but becomes more empathetic, more willing to lean on others, and realises that she doesn’t have to take on all her burdens alone. Varl moulds Aloy, compassionately and earnestly, into the strong and empathetic woman she becomes. He is instrumental in her story, and his impact on the game as a whole is undeniable.

His singing may sound like a dying Longleg, but Varl is a fundamental reason why the world is saved. And, for Aloy, she finally, happily, and wholeheartedly, has a true friend.

Wrap up

Who would you take along with you on your quest…to Five Guys? Hopefully these pals know exactly what you’re talking about…though if my fixation on the boys from Final Fantasy XV is anything to go by, maybe going to see five guys isn’t too bad after all.

Whoever’s your fave, we Zatu video gamers wish you all a very lovely Valentine’s - tell us your favourite companion by heading over to our Instagram!