Who Lands On Top?
All the Couples in ‘The Hunger Games’ Universe, Ranked
[Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for The Hunger Games, Sunrise on the Reaping, and A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.]
In the world of The Hunger Games, romance isn’t just a sweet escape—it’s a survival tactic. Between the deadly arenas, the Capitol’s control, and the fight for freedom, the characters’ love lives often become as complicated and intense as the Games themselves. Whether it’s forbidden love, strategic alliances, or full-blown star-crossed connections, the relationships in Suzanne Collins’ universe pack more punch than a muttation.
From the undeniable chemistry of Katniss and Peeta to the fiery yet doomed bond of Snow and Lucy Gray, there’s no shortage of tangled hearts. So, grab your arrow, your mockingjay pin, and your best defense mechanism—because we’re about to dive into all the couples in The Hunger Games universe, ranked from the most heart-stopping to the most heartbreaking.
Who is your favorite The Hunger Games couple? Let us know in the comments!
6. Coriolanus Snow & Lucy Gray Baird
When Suzanne Collins announced she was finally returning to The Hunger Games universe with a new book, fans were surprised, to say the least. Instead of focusing on a fan-favorite like Haymitch or Finnick, the story revolved around none other than Coriolanus Snow—the future dictator we loved to hate. In The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, he’s a young adult struggling with his own internal battles and complicated emotions.
Lucy Gray Baird enters the picture as a captivating and unpredictable force, and her relationship with Snow is anything but simple. Snow serves as her mentor during the 10th Hunger Games, helping her survive and maneuver through the brutal competition. But outside the arena, things take a darker turn. Lucy Gray is a symbol of freedom and rebellion, while Snow is drawn to her with a mixture of fascination and disgust.
Their dynamic begins as a compelling power struggle—Lucy’s charm and unpredictability are offset by Snow’s increasing obsession with controlling her. This relationship is complicated and fluctuates between manipulation and genuine attraction. But as with most relationships in The Hunger Games world, it’s destined for disaster. Snow’s need for power and control ultimately leads to his betrayal, and Lucy Gray becomes yet another casualty in his relentless pursuit of dominance.
Their romance may have been short-lived, but it clearly left an indelible mark on Snow’s psyche. His feelings for Lucy Gray seem to fuel his growing animosity toward Katniss in the future, and he often reflects on their past in his interactions with others, including Haymitch. It’s a twisted, tragic love story that ultimately reinforces Snow’s obsession with power.
5. Katniss Everdeen & Gale Hawthorne
The bond between Katniss and Gale is undeniably powerful. These two have been through it all—hunting together in the woods, surviving the harsh conditions of District 12, and navigating the annual terror of the Hunger Games. Their relationship is built on shared trauma, loyalty, and mutual survival. But as with many relationships forged in the fire of war, things quickly become messy.
Gale and Katniss start as best friends, with Gale promising to take care of her family while she’s in the arena. Their connection is undeniable, and their moments together are filled with camaraderie and understanding. When Katniss returns home from the 74th Hunger Games, Gale is steadfast in his support. But as time passes and the weight of the war bears down on them, their bond begins to shift.
The turning point in their relationship happens when Gale’s jealousy over Katniss’ connection with Peeta grows too strong. Despite her insistence that their romance is a strategic act for survival, Gale cannot reconcile his feelings with her actions. And while they share one kiss in Catching Fire, it only highlights the confusion and unresolved tension between the love triangle.
But the real breaking point comes in Mockingjay, when Gale’s involvement in the design of the bombs that kill Katniss’ younger sister, Prim, shatters their relationship beyond repair. Gale’s thirst for vengeance and his willingness to use violence as a means to an end ultimately alienates Katniss. She can never forgive him, and as the war ends, she finds solace in Peeta instead.
Gale’s journey is marked by his increasingly brutal tactics and his failure to understand the true cost of war. On the other hand, Katniss’ journey is about healing and finding peace—a peace she can’t share with him. Their love, once strong, becomes a casualty of their differences and the trauma they both endured.
Burdock Everdeen & Asterid March
We don’t get to see much of Katniss’ parents in The Hunger Games, as her father passed away when she was young. However, through Sunrise on the Reaping, we get a glimpse of their past, including the burgeoning romance between Burdock Everdeen and Asterid March. While we know little about their relationship beyond Haymitch’s perspective, it’s clear that they shared a deep connection.
Burdock Everdeen, a quiet, kind-hearted man, had a soft spot for Asterid, who worked in the local apothecary. Despite his initial lack of success in courting her, Burdock persisted, eventually winning her over.
This also contributes to the underlying question of Katniss’ Covey ties, as Burdock refers to Lenore Dove as “cuz,” suggesting he is distantly related to the Covey clan as well.
They seem to have connected while Haymitch is away, and they both try to help him following the trauma of the Games and the loss of Lenore and his family. They only stopped coming over when Haymitch threw a rock at Asterid, which was the final straw for Burdock.
Sadly, their romance came to an abrupt end when Burdock died in the District 12 mines. His passing left Asterid grief-stricken, and Katniss remembers her mother as a shell of her former self. It’s heartbreaking to see how much Asterid’s love for Burdock impacts her. She struggles to find her footing without him. Katniss, determined not to fall apart in the same way, makes it her mission to stay strong for her younger sister, Prim. Burdock and Asterid’s love may have been cut short, but it left a lasting legacy in the form of their daughters—both fighters in their own right.
3. Haymitch Abernathy & Lenore Dove
We knew very little about Haymitch’s past before Sunrise on the Reaping, which focuses entirely on the 50th Hunger Games. His presence in the Games is because he stepped in to protect his girlfriend, Lenore Dove. By jumping in front of her and the Peacekeepers, he is taken to replace a dead tribute. They refuse to give the cameras a tragic goodbye, but she runs after the train in the rain—talk about dramatic.
While Lenore doesn’t participate in the Games, she remains Haymitch’s motivation throughout the story. He carries a gift from her—a flint striker that helps him survive—and it’s clear from the start that she holds a significant place in his heart.
Sadly, like so many romances in these books, their love story comes to a tragic early end. Haymitch feeds Lenore two gumdrops, something he regularly gifts her, before realizing that they were poisoned by Snow. He holds her as she dies, and with her dies all his reason to carry on.
The epilogue of Sunrise on the Reaping shows that Haymitch slowly begins to heal after telling Katniss and Peeta the story of his love for Lenore. Through their shared grief, Katniss and Peeta help Haymitch find solace in the form of geese—Lenore’s favorite animals. While their romance was brief, it shaped Haymitch’s entire outlook on life, leaving him scarred and vulnerable,but also deeply human.
3. Finnick Odair & Annie Cresta
Finnick and Annie’s love is one of the most tragic and beautiful relationships in The Hunger Games universe. Finnick, a charismatic and brave victor from District 4, falls in love with Annie Cresta, a fellow victor who is haunted by the trauma of her own Hunger Games experience.
Their love story isn’t easy—Annie deals with mental issues after witnessing the beheading of her district partner during the 70th Hunger Games. But Finnick’s love for her is unwavering, and despite the horrors of the arena, he remains dedicated to her.
Despite the forces against them, their bond is pure and steadfast. Finnick’s devotion to her keeps him going through the darkest moments of his life, and even when he’s thrust back into the arena during the 75th Hunger Games, she is always on his mind. Tragically, Finnick’s life is cut short during the rebellion, leaving Annie to mourn the love of her life.
Annie’s love for Finnick is just as deep, and she never fully recovers from his death. Finnick and Annie’s love proves that even in the most dystopian of worlds, love can survive the worst of it—and it makes everything else worth fighting for.
1. Katniss Everdeen & Peeta Mallark
Katniss and Peeta are the beating heart of the entire Hunger Games series. Their love is built on a foundation of trauma, survival, and, eventually, genuine connection. What begins as a survival tactic—one that starts as a “fake” romance to fool the Capitol—quickly becomes something real and profound. They’re a classic case of “he fell first, she fell harder,” and we can never resist a fake dating trope that turns real.
Peeta’s unwavering love for Katniss is clear from the very beginning, whether it’s him risking his life to save her or his dedication to protecting her. And while Katniss takes time to realize her feelings for him, the slow burn of their relationship is one of the most rewarding aspects of the series.
In the arena, protecting Katniss is always his priority. He teams up with the Careers to direct them away from her and takes a near-fatal hit from Cato to protect her. In the Quarter Quell, he makes Haymitch and the team swear to save Katniss over him and gives her a locket with photos of Primrose and her mom to remind her who she is fighting for and to make her keep going in the face of his death.
Peeta is tortured by the Capitol to the extent that he tries to kill Katniss, but he works through it. Together, they sort through the lies and manipulation he endured at the hands of the Capitol. “You love me. Real or not real?”
After all the fighting is done, they return to a quiet life, where he plants primroses in honor of her fallen sister. Peeta’s love for Katniss isn’t just about grand gestures—it’s about loyalty, selflessness, and always putting her well-being before his own.
