Romance in Video Games | The Witcher 3 As a Prime Example

Let’s be honest, nothing beats a healthy relationship in the real world. But there’s just something about the romantic play between Geralt and Yennefer that reminds us about the romance in Fire Emblem Engage. It’s subtle in the sense that you won’t even notice there are romance options for Geralt to pick from. Our review covers romance in video games, including its limitations, benefits, and the best examples of romance in video games. 

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Perks of Romance in Video Games

Brilliance happens when expert developers get bored with their video games. They start toying with the gameplay, dialogue, animations, and voilà! Multiple romance options are born. Here are the benefits of romance in video games:

• Take a break from the violence and action-packed campaigns and missions of a video game. 
• It adds human depth to the realm of video games. 
• Opens up more missions and rewards. 
• You can bask in the undeniable, though subdued feeling of victory when your affections aren’t rejected.

Limitations of Romance in Video Games

Welcome back to reality! Romance in video games offers only audio-visual sensations. So, take a look at some of its limitations.

• It’s still a video game, so you can’t touch the character, which would be weird, isn’t it?
• Humans are more complex than video games can replicate. Not without powerful AI coding alongside the developers to shorten the development time. A long development time will stretch the budget. 

7 Best Video Game Romances

We’re at the precipice of the article, showcasing the seven best examples of video game romance. Not all of them are action-packed. So, you may be surprised by the games you’ll discover on the list below. Enjoy.

#1: Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect takes first place because of the overwhelming romantic paths you can explore. From aliens to humans, you’re Commander Shepherd, a handsome man or woman, depending on your choice. You can also opt for same-sex romance via a moderator. But what takes the cake is that Mass Effect 2 is a video game from 2010, more than a decade ago.

Some amazing romantic paths in the game are:

• Miranda Lawson is an ice queen that Commander Shepard has to melt. 
• Jack’s past is super dark, but dating her is wild and rewarding.
• Tali’Zorah Vas Neema is the most beautiful on this list. But dating her is poetic since she can’t show her face or else risk being poisoned by the air.

#2: The Sims 4

The list wouldn’t be complete without adding a Sims game. Our choice is The Sims 4, which is unlike the usual action-packed games out there. Instead, The Sims 4 doesn’t allow players to cheat by going on missions with characters that they’ll eventually date. Instead, you have to woo your target from scratch, giving you a chance to test your dating skills in a simulated world.

In The Sims 4, you can also create your avatar, so everything from your skin colour and tone to your hairstyle and build can be customised. So, you have creative choices over your looks and even your romantic interests. 

#3: Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley belongs to the 2D genre, and ever since its release in 2016, it has continued to impress. It’s a literal haven for single people in their 20s and 30s. But the highlight is that this game is a farming simulator. So, while managing your farm and executing orders, you have the option to romance and even marry any of your romantic interests. Heck, players can even marry their girlfriends if they play with their partners.

#4: Dragon Age: Origins

BioWare is also the studio behind Mass Effect 2, so you can expect all the usual bells and whistles. There are four romantic interests for players to choose from, and all of them are available for both genders. The memorable romantic partners are Morrigan and Leliana, who are rivals for your love. Where the developers played God to the amusement of players is that the two love interests will even exchange sharp retorts if you romance both of them together.

#5: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

GTA: San Andreas remains a classic that deserves a remaster. Besides the usual fun missions and side quests, players can also have girlfriends who they take out on dates with and run favours for before they can improve the relationship. You can’t marry them, but this is GTA: San Andreas, so even dating is well-polished to immerse players.

#6: Divinity: Original Sin 2

Divinity: Original Sin 2 was released in 2017 to huge critical acclaim and positive player reviews. Its dating elements are the best because of the sheer number of dialogues players can choose from. So, each dialogue option can make or break your romantic relationship. The bulk of your romantic options is fantasy-based. So, the only sin that the sequel commits is the lack of more human romance interest. However, elves come close because of their enchanting beauty. 

#7: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt doesn’t offer many romantic interests for Geralt to pursue. Instead, you only have two options, Yennefer and Triss, two sexy sorceresses. But unlike the romance in other games on our list, dating these characters feels well-paced, deep, and intimate. While players will eventually love the two women for different reasons, they can only choose one in the end.

Our Final Say

We hope it wasn’t too apparent that we’re excited about the future of romance in video games. Especially now that VR and console hardware are catching up to their counterparts. So, developers have fewer limitations than they had when they developed all the games on the list. For one, who knows how The Witcher 4 romance will play out? The Sims 5 is being developed already, so players, keep your expectations high. Our developers are up to the challenge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Is the Best Person to Romance in The Witcher 3?

Yennefer remains the best romance option for Geralt in The Witcher 3. Besides the fact that she won’t try to assassinate Geralt if she ever catches him cheating, she has been through thick and thin with the protagonist. Also, she’s a mother figure to Ciri, so creating a family won’t be that difficult to accomplish.

Which Video Games Have the Best Romance Option?

There are many games with great romance options for players to try out. At a glance, the best titles are:

• Mass Effect 2. 
• Fallout 4. 
• The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim.
• Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey. 
• Dragon Age: Origins. 
• Stardew Valley.
• Star Wars: The Old Republic. 
• The Sims 4. 
• Potionomics
• Grand Theft Auto 5: San Andreas.
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. 

Which Game Is Known for the Word Love?

While there are many games that include the word “Love”, they’re developed by American Indie studio, Fred Wood. The only other game known for the word “Love”, is tennis, where it means a count of zero. It has been in use since the late 1800s.