Over the decades, there have been lots of different ways to find romance in games. Of course there is also a Mario model. Save the day, save the maiden, and get the kiss. There are also marriages like those in Phantasy Star 3 or those that are locked into romantic stories like Tidus and Yuna in Final Fantasy X. But perhaps no romance in a game inspires fan enthusiasm more than the romance of well-suited companions. Morrigan from Dragon Age: Origins, Judy from Cyberpunk 2077, characters from Baldur's Gate 3 such as Harusin and Astarion. Romance has grown to be a big part of his RPGs. We currently have a BG3 romance guide, a guide on how to romance Tifa and other popular video game characters. An entire companion quest is dedicated to companions suitable for his RPG romance.
Judy, River, or Kelly as V in Cyberpunk 2077, Panam's romance, or romance, adds even more depth to Night City role-playing. Consider the new date that CD Projekt Red introduced with his 2.0 patch that came with his Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty. Some studios, such as Bioware, specialize in RPG romance. Dragon Age romances are always highly anticipated before a title's release, and the Mass Effect trilogy gave Commander Shepard a choice of romances ranging from humans to aliens. Queer romance options also reflect societal advances in video games, with queer romance-friendly companions becoming increasingly common. Video game love stories can be incredibly emotionally affecting.
Stardew Valley, Baldur's Gate 3, etc. RPG romance has a long and winding history, starting with early games like Baldur's Gate 2. IGN's Alyssa Mora sat down with two of her experts to explore the history and evolution of romanceable characters in games. Sarah Bilas, lead writer at Larian, and David Gayder, creative director at Summerfall Studios, who previously served as head writer on BioWare's Dragon Age series.
Together, the two will help answer the eternal question. What is it about romantic companionship that brings people back again and again?
