THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH!
PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
The world of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is charming in many ways, breathing more excitement into Cloud’s adventures. There’s plenty to do and see in this expanded sequel, including going on a date with one of his companions – an iconic moment from the original Final Fantasy VII.
Making a return here as Bonds of Friendship, the romance system sets aside some one-on-one time for players to spend at the Gold Saucer in Chapters 8 and 12. Like the 1997 classic, the spiky-haired warrior will have a selection of dating prospects, from the all-too-popular Tifa to the bromance-set Barret.
This time, though, there are other factors to consider. Choosing the right dialogue option is just the beginning, with side quest completion and the execution of synergy skills and abilities contributing to the outcome.
Here’s how to romance each available character in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
Basic Mechanics
To unlock intimate scenes with a character, their affinity points with Cloud need to be higher than the others and above a certain score. Having conversations is the easiest way to increase affinity level, with each response earning one, two, or three stars (the higher, the better). These can be easily missed, so it’s always good to check in on your companions whenever possible, especially if there’s a speech bubble present.
As for parts of the main story, completing hidden prerequisites will improve the bond between Cloud and his companion. Do note this only determines who becomes your Gold Saucer date, and won’t affect the overall narrative in any way. Scoring at least a light blue emoji leads to an intimate cutscene for the Skywheel Date; otherwise, the standard cutscene triggers.
Should the first date prove unsatisfactory, or if curiosity for the other routes strikes, completing Final Fantasy VII Rebirth at least once unlocks the option of manually choosing the player’s companion for both Gold Saucer dates and their nature (Intimate or Standard).
1) Tifa Lockhart
The childhood friend of Cloud and resident brawler, Tifa’s feisty-yet-shy personality and kind-heartedness makes her an all-time popular pick. The complete guide is as follows:
Dialogue options
| Dialogue prompt | Best response |
| “This tank remind you of anything?” (Chapter 2) | “The place I made that promise to you.” |
| “Do you remember a guy named Emilio?” (Chapter 4) | “Only person I remember from the village is you.” |
| “Feels like it’s been ages since Seventh Heaven.” (Chapter 6) | “Lot’s happened since then.” |
| “What sorta thing would you go for?” (Chapter 9) | “Gonna go with pot roast.” |
| “Did I sound as awkward as I felt?” (Chapter 10) | “You did good.” |
| “It was taking a toll… Then you turned up.” (Chapter 11) | “Have I helped you get through it at all?” |
Side quests
- A Rare Card Lost (Grasslands)
- Dreaming of Blue Skies (Junon)
- Calling All Frogs (Junon)
- Gold Cup or Bust (Corel)
- Bodybuilders in a Bind (Corel)
- My White-Haired Angel (Nibel)
Synergy skills and abilities
- Slip and Slide (skill)
- Soaring Flurry (skill)
- Heavenly Ascent (skill)
- Relentless Rush (ability)
- Synchro Cyclone (ability)
Main story segments
- Inauguration Parade (Chapter 4): Obtain a higher score than the opposing team in all three formations.
- Same Taste in Beach Wear (Chapter 6): Tifa’s outfit must match Cloud’s, Aerith’s, or both.
- Beach Fight Partner (Chapter 6): Choose the party setup with Tifa and Red XIII.
- Loveless (Chapter 12): Get a high score.
2) Aerith Gainsborough
The flower girl of the team, Aerith’s playful, spirited, and chaotic energy acts as an interesting foil to Cloud’s stoic character. The complete guide is as follows:
Dialogue options
| Dialogue prompt | Best response |
| “Wanna climb the clock tower together?” (Chapter 2) | “Sure. Let’s.” |
| “Do you remember the first time we met?” (Chapter 4) | “You shoved a flower at my face.” |
| “I start thinking things so dark and ugly it scares me.” (Chapter 6) | “They’re just thoughts.” |
| “Pretty selfish, huh? Waltzing in there, stirring up memories…” (Chapter 9) | “They didn’t seem to mind.” |
| “So what – we sit here and ‘theorize’?”(Chapter 10) | “No, we fight.” |
| “We gotta do something, right?” (Chapter 11) | “Hell yeah you’re right. Screw them.” |
Side quests
- Flowers from the Hill (Grasslands)
- Stuck in a Rut (Junon)
- Beneath Still Waters (Junon)
- Rendezvous in Costa del Sol (Corel)
- The Spice of Life (Gongaga)
- Woodland Virgil (Gongaga)
- Absence of a Sign (Cosmo Canyon)
Synergy skills and abilities
- Combat Saviour (skill)
- Bodyguard (skill)
- Spellbound Blast (skill)
- Firework Blade (ability)
- United Refocus (ability)
Main story segments
- Inauguration Parade (Chapter 4): Obtain a higher score than the opposing team in all three formations.
- Same Taste in Beach Wear (Chapter 6): Tifa’s outfit must match Cloud’s, Aerith’s, or both.
- Beach Fight Partner (Chapter 6): Choose the party setup with Aerith and Barret.
- Loveless (Chapter 12): Get a high score.
3) Barret Wallace
The metal-armed mercenary has proven himself a loyal comrade, coming a long way from his rocky beginnings with Cloud. A fun fact – in the original game, going on a Gold Saucer date with Barret unlocks the ‘Bromance’ trophy. The complete guide is as follows:
Dialogue options
| Dialogue prompt | Best response |
| “Not gonna have a drop till Seventh Heaven’s back up and running” (Chapter 2) | “First one’s on me.” |
| “What do you think Yuffie wants with us?” (Chapter 4) | “Your autograph.” |
| “I couldn’t do a damn thing for those poor bastards.” (Chapter 6) | “You tried. That’s all that matters.” |
| “Wonder what kinda stuff we’d end up growin’.” (Chapter 9) | “Mushrooms.” |
| What would you do? (Chapter 10) | Encourage her. |
| “You never came up here hopin’ she’d wave?” (Chapter 11) | “Sounds like something I’d do.” |
Side quests
- Lifeline in Peril (Grasslands)
- Hustle and Grind (Grasslands)
- When Words Won’t Do (Junon)
- Missing: Mr Birdie (Corel)
- The Pursuit of Perfection (Gongaga)
- Escape from Endless Writer’s Block (Gongaga)
- Lament of the Damned (Nibel)
Synergy skills and abilities
- Mad Dash (skill)
- Iron Defence (skill)
- Partners in Pain (ability)
Main story segments
- Beach Fight Partner (Chapter 6): Choose the party setup with Aerith and Barret.
- Corel Minecart Route (Chapter 7): Leave the minecart track as it is (facing left).
- Corel Prison Shootout (Chapter 7): Complete the Anuran Suppressor boss fight, where players take control of Barret from the back of a truck. Happens automatically.
- Loveless (Chapter 12): Get a high score.
4) Red XIII
An honourable, wolf-like beast, Red XIII lends a sense of calm and maturity to the group’s ragtag dynamics. The complete guide is as follows:
Dialogue options
| Dialogue prompt | Best response |
| “One can never be too careful with Shinra.” (Chapter 2) | “I knew I could count on you.” |
| “I doubt I’ll smell Shinra till it’s too late.” (Chapter 4) | “We’ll manage.” |
| “I know I should strive to maintain my composure around him, but…” (Chapter 6) | “Don’t sweat it.” |
| Select the Patch you believe to be Gongaga Mushrooms. (Chapter 9) | – |
| “Just forgot I said anything.” (Chapter 10) | “I’ll lend an ear.” |
| “No one wants to hear people badmouth their hometown.” (Chapter 11) | “This isn’t my hometown.” |
Side quests
- Lifestock’s Bane (Grasslands)
- The Hardest Sell (Junon)
- Of Robed Men and Ransoms (Corel)
- O Chicken, Where Art Thou (Gongaga)
- From Whence the Life Flows (Gongaga)
- Promises to Keep (Cosmo Canyon)
Synergy skills and abilities
- Phantom Fang (skill)
- Wild Charge (skill)
- Savage Assault (ability)
Main story segments
- Shinra-8 Queen’s Blood Tournament (Chapter 5): Win the card game tournament.
- Beach Fight Partner (Chapter 6): Choose the party setup with Tifa and Red XIII.
- Welcome Brawl with Dio (Chapter 8): Finish the 3D Brawler tutorial match. Happens automatically.
- Gold Saucer Queen’s Blood Rematch (Chapter 12): Emerge victorious against Red XIII.
- Loveless (Chapter 12): Get a high score.
5) Bonus: Cid, Vincent, and Cait Sith (Others)
Coasting through the whole game without fulfilling any of the demands will lead to a date night with Cid Highwind, Vincent Valentine, and Cait Sith. What could go wrong, you ask? Well, let’s just say having two anti-social individuals in an enclosed space certainly won’t help matters.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is out now on the PS5.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
