First videogame with a "hand-holding" mechanic

The first videogame to implement a mechanic whereby the player can hold hands with a friendly NPC (non-player-character) was Ico (2001). Team Ico's first game centred on a young boy named Ico guiding the Princess Yorda out of a castle full of platforming, puzzles and enemies made of shadow. It has inspired many games since, such as Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and blockbusters such as the Halo and Uncharted series. Director Fumito Ueda would later refer to the game's unique style as "design by subtraction".

For the purposes of this record, "hand holding" is qualified as a button used solely to hold hands with an NPC. Videogames in which two characters hold hands in a cutscene or "start-to-finish" animation are not included, as the action should always be in complete control of the player.