With Valentine's Day approaching, there is no shortage of romantic video game character options to choose from in 2023, be it Garrus in Mass Effect, V in Cyberpunk 2077, or several others. Less of an official genre than a gameplay mechanic, the most gratifying video game romances tend to come from narrative-rich, single-player RPGs that offer players a sense of solace and companionship while plaything through the storyline. As the gameplay options have become more popular, developers have begun fleshing out several romantic video game characters with three-dimensional romances that require as much time and effort to grow and protect as main missions and important side quests.
For instance, inCyberpunk 2077, V has a complex romance requiring the character to share several traits with another character before entering a romance, such as their body and vocal tone. Other games feature much different romantic gameplay mechanics but often prioritize the courtship process as a focused objective to explore. Some video games leave romantic character options in the back seat, but the most memorable ones give great agency to the characters and allow them to follow their heart and find true romance.
10 Abigail - Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is an open-ended simulation RPG that focuses on farming and town building. One of the gameplay mechanics also includes socializing with the townsfolk, which consists of the ability to get married and have children. A splendid place for singles to court others, each character has different romantic options, marriage gifts, and personality quirks that make them compatible.
Abigail is a Gothic gamer girl who leads the player character on adventures and quests in Stardew Valley. While shy at first, the brave and independent Abigail slowly lets her guard down the more one gets to know her and starts to open her heart, share her vulnerabilities, and express how much she cares for her romantic partner along the way. For instance, Abigail shares her insecurities about her mother Caroline misunderstanding her. Later, she vows to protect her romantic match by slaying monsters for them, proving how willing she is to sacrifice for love. Abigail also gives the best marriage gifts in town, including crab cakes, bombs, solar essence, and other helpful items.
9 Alex - Life Is Strange: True Colors
The Life is Strange franchise includes a series of episode video games that allow the player to determine their own narrative through choices made throughout. In Life is Strange: True Colors, Alex Chen is a newcomer to Haven Springs who must adjust to her new town and meet people, including two romance options. Alex can choose to date either her missing brother's best friend, Steph, or park ranger Ryan.
Both of Alex's romantic character options are extremely complex and entail a lengthy courtship process to advance their mutual bond. To romance Steph, for instance, Alex must give her a rose, kiss her on the rooftop during a festival, and even end up using Alex's psychic powers to read her emotions and gauge when to make the right move and take their romance to the next level. To romance Ryan, Alex must first convince him to find forgiveness for her brother's death, which leads to a truly intimate bond and a different story narrative.
8 Garrus - Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect is popular sci-fi action RPG franchise known for its ability to sustain romantic character options from game to game. In Mass Effect 2, there are six romantic gameplay options that allow the character of Shepard to court their squadmates, none more fulfilling than romancing Garrus, an alien humanoid belonging to a race called Turians.
In order to romance Garrus in the game, the female version of Shepard must first complete Garrus' Loyalty Mission, which entails reuniting him with a lost friend. Shepard progresses through the story and bolsters her romance with Garrus by talking to him one-on-one three times, which includes expressing such intimate topics as helping each other alleviate stress, and remaining monogamous. If done right, a cutscene will prove why Garrus is such a great romantic option by seeing Shepard's awkward first date that makes the courtship process payoff.
7 The Inquisitor - Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Age: Inquisition is an action RPG that follows The Inquisitor and his companions on a quest to rescue Thedas from demons descending from the sky. With nearly twice the romance options of Dragon Age II, Inquisition allows characters to court advisors as well as companions. The Inquisitor can flirt with any romanceable character and lock in monogamous courtships once a match is found.
As The Inquisitor prompts flirt dialog boxes, he will eventually find a suitor of his choosing. Once satisfied, an official relationship will be initiated, meaning The Inquisitor cannot look elsewhere for love unless officially ending the relationship. Characters Cullen and Sera can marry The Inquisitor in an ornate wedding ceremony cutscene in the acclaimed action role-playing game's Trespasser DLC, giving the character full autonomy to choose his own romantic path in the game. With 4-6 romance options for each type of Inquisitor, Dragon Age makes romantic gameplay a vital priority.
6 CJ - Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The bestselling PS2 game of all time (via Retro Dodo), Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is an action-adventure game that follows Carl "CJ" Anderson, a criminal who climbs the ranks of the Grove Street Families street gang. During the game, CJ can date as many as six women in a surprisingly advanced romance mechanic for 2004, all of which help flesh out CJ's various storylines.
Whether dating Michelle and being rewarded with access to her garage full of fast cars, wooing Helena to earn a cache of rare weapons, or courting Katie to enjoy the full health benefits of her position as an ER nurse, CJ's romance of every girlfriend requires traveling the massive map, tend to his dates, take them out and complete various missions, and engage in quests and minigames to ensure each relationship blooms and stays as healthy as possible while keeping CJ on track with his main objectives.
5 The Joker Persona 5
Persona 5 is a mega-popular JRPG that follows The Joker, a student who attends a new Tokyo high school after a false accusation and begins interacting with vigilantes called Phantom Thieves of Hearts. The Joker can engage in countless optional romantic dalliances with multiple classmates, witch each evolving over a 10-stage confidant arc that allows for genuine feelings to be forged.
What's so lifelike about the Persona 5 simulation romance options is that not all of Joker's matches are suitable or built for long-term bliss. Aside from the racy inappropriate nature of charming his homeroom instructor and local doctor, Joker's terrible connections with Ichiko and Chihiya help him find better connections with Ann, Hifume, and Makato, confidant with much lovelier and more compatible qualities. The depth of the romance mechanic is matched by the endless courtship options in Persona 5.
4 Geralt - The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt continues the epic adventures of the magical monster hunter Geralt of Rivia, giving the sterile Witcher plenty of options to find love as he slays beasts across the land. While Geralt can strike up secondary romances with Keira, Sasha, Shani, and others by completing various tasks like playing Gwent, his primary romances with Yennefer and Triss are much deeper.
Romancing Yennefer requires Geralt to complete a 4-step process that includes reaching the main quest in Level 16, finding the proper Skellige attire for a date, filling a room with gas by eliminating the Earth Elemental, and enjoying a romantic kiss. Romancing Priss requires completing main quests and timed flirtations that lead to shared kisses, allowing Geralt to fulfill his amorous desires despite being able to procreate.
3 Paladin Dance - Fallout 4
Fallout 4 is an action RPG that follows The Sole Survivor during the post-apocalypse. Of the 12 companions the Sole Survivor has, seven of them can be romanced, all of which must be human. However, all seven can be courted regardless of gender, allowing for several potential pairings. The more time spent with a romantic option in Fallout 4, the more about them is learned, and more reward perks are granted.
The best part of Fallout 4's romance optional mechanics is that not all relationships are created equally. Dating the non-companion Gilda, for example, is shallow, redundant, and only leads to a marginal Lover's Embrace perk. On the other hand, the best romance option for the Sole Survivor is Paladin Dance, as it forces the Sole Survivor to choose between their love for him and his loyalty to The Brotherhood of Steele, a rival faction that complicates the romantic storyline dramatically.
2 Byleth - Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a highly acclaimed, mega-popular tactical role-playing game that prioritizes an advanced romance system. Built for sustained connections that grow over a massive story arc, the main character Byleth can romance their training students after a 5-year time jump takes place, with several options that shape the outcome of the relationship.
Romantic options for Byleth in the game are determined by which gender is chosen and which of the Three Houses they join, providing countless potential romantic partners that even include same-sex unions. At the end of the game, Byleth has the option of marrying their match and living happily ever after. Once choosing a partner, the character will be given the S--Support status which triggers a bonus cutscene and ending portion, making Fire Emblem: Three Houses' romance options more comprehensive than its rivals.
1 V - Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is a popular action RPG set in Night City, a massive open world in which a hacker named V (male or female) must solve a conspiracy relating to a cybernetic implant affecting their memories. V is able to make romantic connections and share intimate encounters so long as their bodies and voices match, an original romantic gameplay mechanic.
What makes the Cyberpunk 2077 romance system special is the way in which four of the 10 romantic pairings directly impact the outcome of the game. By romancing Judy, Kerry, Panam and River under the right circumstances, each game ending will be slightly altered. Depending on which path is chosen, the four characters can end their romance with V and further affect the outcome. V can even romance two characters at once, which complicates her story arc and leads to different endings, making her romantic decisions as important as anything else.
Source:gamerant.com