When people fall in love with video games, one of the driving forces behind those feelings is the characters they meet. From Joel to Cloud, our favorite leading heroes have had a huge impact on gamer culture. So much so that we can become obsessed with them, making the cutest, angstiest, or thirstiest clip edits and fan arts in existence. So, in the year of our lord 2023, it’s our duty to look back on the video game men who have inspired us — despite all logistical obstacles — to want to marry them.
Nominations
Astarion from Baldur’s Gate 3
Clive from Final Fantasy XVI
Dave from Dave the Diver
Leon Kennedy from Resident Evil 4
Sidon from Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom
Honorable Mention: Turgle from Jedi Survivor
Winner and Why
The winner is… Astarion! Though Clive has that broody, sad boy charm, and Sidon has had people cheering for “fish husband” since 2017, no one has quite taken the swooning cake quite like this oh-so-troubled vampire. He’s handsome, he’s angsty, he’s witty, he’s self-involved, and if you take the time to help him, he has one of the most charming character arcs in Baldur’s Gate. And that character arc is exactly what makes Astarion stand out so much. He starts off the game self-involved and focused on survival. Over time, his relationship with your Tav opens him up to the possibility of not only caring for other people, but hope itself. Even if you’re not an Astarion simp it’s hard not to find that heartwarming. Between all the cosplays, fan edits, fanart, fanfiction, and memes galore… It’s hard not to name this effortlessly charming vampire as the Hottest Husbando of 2023.
…Also there’s that Dark Astarion scene 0_0. (If you know you know).
