Ah, love. It’s complicated, intense, and it makes people do crazy things. Sometimes it can be a beautiful joy, sometimes it can absolutely heart-wrenching. And sometimes it can be just plain weird, both in real life and in fiction. This is probably why fans often root for and “ship” the strangest couples.
The concept of “shipping” has become rather popular thing for fans of TV shows, movies, and video games. Fans will take fictional characters and imagine them in a romantic relationship, regardless of whether the couple is canon or not. As a result, there have been a lot of interesting fan pairings throughout the years. Whether the two characters are of different species, genders, or even sizes, there probably is someone who supports that romance. These couples often have fanart and fanfiction dedicated to their relationship. It may be strange to some, but it also gives fans a chance to show off their creativity, and if drawing two characters in a relationship makes you happy, who am I to judge?
Even Nintendo has seen its fair share of fan pairings. While many Nintendo games don’t necessarily focus much on the romance, fans will still feel the love in the air. From sweet to incredibly strange, there have been so many Nintendo couples that many fans have supported over the years. So here are 20 rather strange Nintendo fan pairings that you probably never thought of.
Do you think we missed a particularly bizarre Nintendo fan pairing? Be sure to let us know!
20 Rivalry Has Never Been So Romantic
While Sonic isn’t actually from Nintendo, this couple was too interesting to not talk about. Mario and Sonic have known to be rivals for years. They practically personified the rivalry between Nintendo and Sega. So, it’s not that surprising that fans would think there’s something else going on between these two. When it comes to their personalities, you could probably see this relationship potentially working out. Both are pretty driven, but can also be chill when they need to be.
The part that I don’t get is the fanart that shows Sonic pregnant (like the piece above). How does that even work? I mean, really it doesn’t make any sense. Last I checked, the two were male, so the concept of even one of them being pregnant shouldn’t work. Maybe it’s that video game logic at work.
19 They Can Both Kick Your Butt
This couple kind of came out of nowhere and rose in popularity in recent years. They aren’t even from the same games. But you have to admit that a boxer and a space bounty hunter make a pretty awesome couple. And while they’re both rather different, they do have some things in common. Both are excellent fighters and both are incredibly brave.
What I rather like about this couple is the fact that Little Mac isn’t intimidated by Samus, who can be pretty intimidating to be honest. She’s a tough bounty hunter who has gone up against some of the most terrifying aliens. Granted, Little Mac is a talented boxer, so he can definitely hold his own. These two heroes seem like they could be a fantastic power couple. I’ll be rooting for them!
18 These Two Are Just Too Adorable
To be honest, I hadn’t pictured these two together at all. One is an adorable Pokémon that sings, the other is an adorable… puffball (?) that eats people (seriously, do we know what Kirby actually is? I don’t think it’s ever been addressed). I don’t really quite see why people ship them, other than they do look a lot alike. Both are cute pink puffballs that are surprisingly strong and deceptively tough.
I guess what appeals a lot of people to this couple is because they’re just too cute. Kirby and Jigglypuff are both incredibly adorable on their own, so putting them together would obviously make them even more adorable. While I don’t really see it, I can understand why fans like these two as a couple.
17 A Racer And A Bounty Hunter
And we’ve got another power couple here! Fans do like to ship people with Samus. And Captain Falcon is no exception. This is another couple I could actually see working out. Captain Falcon is an F-Zero racer, who is both brave and a bit reckless. Samus is a fearless bounty hunter who’s taken on some of the most dangerous and horrifying aliens and criminals.
I actually rather like this couple. I could picture Captain Falcon taking Samus for a ride in his car, Samus showing off her artillery, and the two racing their ships. It would be pretty fun to see these two bonding and doing cool things together. Though their couple’s spats could be pretty terrifying. Imagine Falcon’s epic punch going up against Samus’ missiles.
16 The Prince Loves The Hero
Breath of the Wild introduced us to an awesome character: Prince Sidon, the heartthrob prince of the Zora kingdom. He’s an incredibly brave warrior who ends up helping Link to free Van Ruta the Divine Beast from Calamity Ganon’s grasp. He’s also quite handsome and very popular with the Zora women.
But many fans believe that Sidon’s interests lie in a certain Hylian warrior. Yes, they believe Sidon and Link should be together. There’s been a ton of fan art and fanfiction devoted to these two warriors, and I have to admit, they would make a pretty cute couple. Prince Sidon is genuinely very likable as a character, and we all love Link. And there does seem to be a bit of chemistry between the two.
15 Big And Bad To The Bone
This is definitely the definition of an odd couple. And yet many fans do like the idea that there is something going on between the Koopa King and the King of the Jungle. Yep, we’re talking about Donkey Kong and Bowser becoming lovers.
I’ll have to admit, I do find this couple to be a bit strange. We’ve got a giant monkey that loves bananas and carries a coconut gun, and a huge Koopa that breathes fire and has plans to take over a kingdom. But on the other hand, they do have some things in common. They’re both big, bad, tough guys who don’t take crap from people. And they were both villains in their own games. Maybe they got together over commiserating over Mario stealing their women.
14 He’s Not Just His Trainer
Ash and Pikachu are an iconic duo that are probably the most well-known characters in the Pokémon series. Their relationship started out pretty rough, but these two quickly became the best of friends. It’s through their friendship that they were able take on other Pokémon and fight off Team Rocket. But some are convinced that these two are more than friends.
Okay, this is one ship that I don’t really get. I mean not only are we looking at quite the difference in species, we’re also seeing a big difference in size. Nothing about these two as a couple would really seem to work. But I suppose if they were in love, they would be able to work things out. To each his own, I guess.
13 Mortal Enemies, Or Something More?
At first glance, Ganondorf and Link wouldn’t seem like a good couple. For one thing, they’re considered mortal enemies, they’ve tried to kill each other multiple times, and they both stand in the way of each other’s goals. Also, considering how brutal Ganondorf often is to Link, there doesn’t seem to be much chemistry there. You probably couldn’t even consider these two as friends.
But many fans like the idea of something more going on between these two. After all, sometimes the worst of enemies can make the best lovers. The fact that Ganondorf and Link have been fighting all these years probably lends more fuel to the fire. Admittedly there’s a bit of an age difference, since Ganondorf is often portrayed is much older than Link, but that’s not a problem for many fans.
12 Someone Loves This Koopa
Apparently, fans like to ship heroes with their respective villains. I suppose there’s something about the idea of good and evil hooking up. It’s like the whole opposites attract motif, but on steroids. And according to many fans, Mario and Bowser are an example of two people that are much more than enemies.
Apparently, it wasn’t Peach that Mario was going after all these years, it was Bowser. And Bowser only kidnapped Peach to get Mario’s attention. All of those years of fighting were just the two hiding their true feelings for each other. That’s why they were both devoted to either kidnapping or rescuing Peach; she was just something for them to focus on to avoid how they really felt. Granted, I’m not sure how a relationship between a Koopa and a human would work, but hey, as long as they’re happy.
11 A Rather Deadly Love
People do like to ship Link with some interesting people. In this particular case, it’s the personification of a demonic sword that is Link’s newest “partner.” Yep, we’re talking about Ghirahim, the sword of Demise, and one of the main villains of Skyward Sword.
Admittedly this ship is not as crazy as we may initially think. True, it’s another case of good and evil falling in love, which is often improbable. But we do already get some interesting chemistry between the two. The first time that Ghirahim introduces himself to Link, he gets a little… handsy. While it’s known that he has no concept of personal space, Ghirahim seems to take a personal interest in Link. Granted, he’s trying to kill Link half the time, but fans do believe there is something there.
10 These “Kidnappings” Are Very Suspicious
Since the beginning, the scenario for many Super Mario games is a similar story. Bowser would kidnap Princess Peach and try to take over the Mushroom Kingdom, only to be foiled by Mario. This kidnapping happens over and over again. If you think about it, it’s a little weird that it keeps happening. Either Bowser doesn’t know when to quit or Peach’s security is terrible. But there is another possibility, which is that there’s something more happening behind these kidnappings.
It’s true, fans like the idea that Bowser and Peach are actually hooking up whenever he kidnaps her. You have to admit, it would explain why Peach seems to get kidnapped all the time. It also would explain why Bowser seems to have such a fixation on her. I wonder if Mario knows that Peach is two-timing him with his mortal enemy?
9 A Truly Odd Couple
Princess Zelda is known for being a powerful, classy, and beautiful princess who has helped take down Ganondorf, the King of Evil multiple times. She’s the holder of the Triforce of Wisdom, and she’s a popular character for many fans, especially in the Super Smash Bros. series. So, who could possibly be the object of Zelda’s affection? According to some fans, King Dedede!
This is definitely one of the odder ships I’ve come across. Apparently, it become popular after Super Smash Bros. Brawl, where King Dedede shows up. Many fans thought that there may be something going on between our princess of Hyrule and the self-proclaimed king of Dreamland. They are both royalty (well, sort of, in King Dedede’s case), so they have at least that in common. Plus, King Dedede does look pretty huggable.
8 A Love Between Two Swords
When it comes to shipping, nothing is really off limits. People have shipped people, animals, and even inanimate objects. In Skyward Sword, one of the popular ships happens to be between two swords. In this case, we’re talking about Ghirahim and Fi. Fi is the personification of the Skyward Sword, while Ghirahim is the personification of the sword of Demise.
At first glance, you wouldn’t think these two would work as a couple. After all, they’re mortal enemies, on complete opposite sides in the fight between good and evil. But these two actually do have some things in common. For one thing, they’re both personifications of powerful swords. They’re both incredibly powerful beings that are dedicated to assisting their masters. Fi’s matter-of-fact personality would also complement Ghirahim’s vain personality rather well. I could see them being a very interesting couple.
7 The Power Of Two Princesses
Similar to Samus, fans often like to ship Zelda with various characters. There’s something about a strong, powerful, yet classy lady that draws people to her. And apparently, it’s not just the guys who are interested, but some girls as well. Many fans ship Zelda with a certain other princess from the Mushroom Kingdom.
Yes, Princess Peach and Zelda have become a popular couple for fans, and I can see why. Both are beautiful, classy princesses who are constantly having to battle against evil for their kingdoms. They also have access to magic and magical items. I could see that being something they bond over. I just wonder what Mario and Link will think when they find out the women they like are now involved with each other.
6 The Love Of Two Swordsmen
Roy and Marth both come from the Fire Emblem series. These two originally weren’t very well known in the U.S. since their games were only released in Japan. It wasn’t until the two swordsmen were included in the fighting roster for Super Smash Bros. Melee that they started to get more recognition. I think it was after this game that fans started shipping the two together.
I could see the reasoning behind this ship. Both are accomplished swordsmen who aren’t afraid to take on evil. Both are idealistic and want to return peace to the land. I could see the two becoming a great power couple that fight to protect others. Plus, many fans agree that the two just look so good together. Go Marth and Roy!
5 Kirby’s Mysterious Lover
Now, we don’t really know if Kirby has ever been interested in anybody romantically (I think he’s only interested in food, to be honest). But that hasn’t stopped fans from shipping him with other characters. One interesting ship that has gotten popular is Meta Knight and Kirby as a couple. And in some ways, I could see it work.
The two would certainly make an interesting couple. Meta Knight is often shrouded in mystery with his intentions and his appearance. All we know is that he does look quite a bit like Kirby, and he is a knight of honor. The relationship between Meta Knight and Kirby can range between bitter rivals and trusted allies, depending on the situation. I could see this turning into something more romantic.
4 They Put The Power In Power Couple
People have often shipped various different Pokémon throughout the years. Whether the Pokémon were the same species or not, it didn’t particularly matter to fans. One particular shipping that caught my eye was between two rather powerful Pokémon: Lucario and Mewtwo.
To be honest, I don’t know if this couple would ever actually work. Mewtwo is practically a sociopath that hates humanity, while Lucario has an idea of justice and is extremely loyal to his trainer. He also was willing to sacrifice himself to save the Tree of the Beginning. They do say that opposites attract, but this seems a bit extreme. Although since Mewtwo has proven to be willing to change, I could see Lucario’s sense of justice rubbing off on him.
3 The Princess And The Mercenary
Apparently, fans like to ship Peach with everybody other than Mario. It seems to them that Peach’s interests just lie elsewhere. In this case, Peach has turned her eyes to someone within the Fire Emblem series. This particular ship involves our beloved princess of the Mushroom Kingdom and the leader of a band of mercenaries: Ike.
To be honest, I could see why Peach would have a thing for Ike. He’s got that roguish charm that’s pretty irresistible. He’s down-to-earth, yet kind and compassionate. Not to mention the fact that he’s a very accomplished warrior. Granted, he does have a love for fighting and testing his strength, but he also doesn’t really take pleasure in bloodshed. I do believe that these two would definitely make a cute couple.
2 He’s Not Looking For The Princess
For many of the Super Mario games, it’s been a very similar situation. Bowser kidnapped Peach and it’s up to Mario to go find her and defeat Bowser. Throughout the games, Mario travels to different castles, but in each castle, he is greeted by Toad, who tells him that his Princess is in another castle. But fans have speculated what would happen if it was actually Toad that Mario was searching for?
Yep there’s a fanbase that ships Mario with Princess Peach’s lovable, if rather annoying, attendant. This ship isn’t actually quite as crazy as you may think. After all, Mario is a big fan of mushrooms and uses them to grow larger or gain extra lives; perhaps being interested in a mushroom person romantically may not be all that outlandish.
1 This Odd Couple Could Actually Work
This particular ship is unexpected, but could potentially work. We’re all familiar with Waluigi being Wario’s buddy that often shows up whenever the gang gets together to go go-karting, play tennis, or a go for a round of golf. But we also notice that he often gets the short end of the stick when it comes to romance. The Mario brothers have their respective girlfriends, and even Wario has someone. I think that’s why fans started shipping Waluigi with Rosalina.
I’ll admit that this couple is actually kind of cute, though they are pretty different. Despite Waluigi’s roguish appearance, he’s not really a bad guy; in fact, he’s pretty mild compared to the other guys. On the other hand, Rosalina is a very powerful character whose job is to watch over and protect the cosmos. Having someone powerful like Rosalina fall in love with someone who’s pretty normal is kind of sweet.
