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Polygons, Pixels and Polyamory, Oh My! The 40-Year Evolution of Video Game Romances

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There have been lots of different ways to find romance in games over the decades. There’s the Mario model, of course. Save the day, rescue the damsel, get the kiss. There’s also marriages in the vein of Phantasy Star 3 or locked in romantic arcs like that of Tidus and Yuna in Final Fantasy X. But perhaps no gaming romance inspires more fan fervor than that of the romanceable companion. Morrigan in Dragon Age: Origins, Judy in Cyberpunk 2077, Baldur’s Gate 3 characters like Halsin and Astarion. Romance has grown to become a huge part of RPGs. There are now BG3 romance guides, or guides on how to romance Tifa or other popular video game characters. Entire companion quests are dedicated to romanceable companions in RPGs. 

As V in Cyberpunk 2077, Panam’s romance or romancing Judy, River, or Kerry add more depth to roleplaying in Night City. Take the new dates CD Projekt Red introduced with the 2.0 patch that arrived with Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty. Some studios are even credited with specializing in RPG romance, including Bioware. Dragon Age romances are always highly anticipated before the release of a title and the Mass Effect trilogy gave Commander Shepard romance options that ranged from human to alien. Queer romance options also reflect social progress in video games, queer romanceable companions becoming more and more common. Video game love stories can be incredibly emotionally effecting.

From Stardew Valley, Baldur’s Gate 3, and many more, RPG romances have a long and winding history, starting with early games like Baldur’s Gate 2. IGN’s Alyssa Mora sat down with two experts to examine the history and evolution of romanceable characters in gaming, Larian principal writer Sarah Baylus and Summerfall Studios Creative Director David Gaider, who previously acted as head writer of Bioware’s Dragon Age series. 

Together, the two help us answer a lasting question: What is it about romanceable companions that keep people coming back for more?

#IGN
Category
Gaming
Tags
IGN, romance, romanceable characters
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