For some players, romance is an integral part of any RPG experience. In the midst of saving the world, grinding out enemies, chasing down better gear, and leveling up, some players feel the need to find that special someone for their characters. For many, it's an important part of roleplaying within the world of the game.
Many of the more modern RPGs have embraced romance and given players a number of NPCs for their characters to woo. Here are some RPGs that have the most options when it comes to courtship, marriage, or just casual flings.
Updated June 24, 2022 by Nikole Brinkman: RPGs have explored romance for years, allowing players to not only enjoy the world of the game, but to enhance the experience by allowing players to romance NPCs. Whether players are enjoying the company of companions by their side as they finish missions and adventures, or by speaking to the people in the towns and villages, players are slowly given more and more options when it comes to romance.
And better yet, game developers have started to create an inclusive and diverse cast that not only welcomes female gamers, but allows players to romance any option they choose without the restraints of same-gender relationships. There are even some games that have characters preference in mind, as in some female characters prefer a female player, allowing more depth to the game and the character background itself. Thankfully, more and more RPGs are growing their romance options. While there is still much progress that needs to be done with character creation and romance options, it's nice to see some progress being made for inclusion and representation.
20 Baldur's Gate 3 - 6
Even though Baldur's Gate 3 only has six romance options, it's still a well-diverse, great list of characters that can be romanced. Like most of the RPGs listed, all characters has a specific list or needs that need to be met in order to gain a relationship.
And like more of the recent releases of RPGs, these characters are all romance options, so matter which gender the player is.
19 The Witcher 3 - 7
The Witcher 3 might be surprising to see on this list due to there only being two well-known romance options, however, there are five minor characters that Geralt can romance that has no effect on the choice of either picking Triss Merigold, or rekindling the love with Yennifer Vengeberg.
Granted, players can even choose an eight option if Geralt ventures into the Brothels to enjoy some added company along his journey. However, whether players want to enjoy their time with several ladies, or just stay loyal to the one, it's completely up to them.
18 Divinity Original Sin 2 - 7
Divinity Original Sin 2 is a top-selling RPG game on Steam with several diverse romance options for players to choose from. While there is an option for players to experience the journey on their own, it's always nice to have someone besides them as they traverse the world.
Players who wish to romance these characters will need to focus on their storyline and try to grow a friendship and relationship with them, so it's best to see what is required to romance them.
17 Dragon Age: Inquisition – 8
Dragon Age: Inquisition had the most romantic options out of the series with eight possible candidates over multiple playthroughs. Many of these individuals have race and gender preferences the player needs to meet if they wish to romance them. A female Elf has far more options than a human male for instance.
Each option is a fully fleshed out character with backstories and motivations related to the story. From a Qunari mercenary to the Hero of Orlais the player has some interesting choices in the game.
16 Mass Effect 2 – 9
Another Bioware game to offer a number of romantic options is Mass Effect 2. In this game players can romance up to nine characters across playthroughs. Three options prefer the player character to be male, three prefer female, and three have no preference one way or the other.
From the nomadic Quarian to the purple skinned Asari the player has some intriguing options. Female players have stranger choices with the Turian C-Sec officer Garrus and the Drell assassin Thane.
15 Fallout 4 – 9
Fallout 4 introduces nine romantic partners the player can swoon over during their playthroughs. Unlike other games the player’s preferred playstyle and actions can have consequences on these characters perception of them. As a result, players should be on their best, or worst, behavior to seduce these individuals.
Options include the robot Gilda Broscoe, ghoul John Hanco*ck, and robot turned synth Curie. Most of these romanceable partners can also serve as companions to help in missions and combat. It’s also interesting to see how each of the characters react to different encounters because of their unique personalities and perspectives.
14 Mass Effect: Andromeda – 10
Mass Effect: Andromeda has the most romance options out of the series with 10 possible partners. Once again they have preferred genders with male player characters having more options than female player characters.
The options include a number of humans such as the criminal kingpin Reyes, Asaris, and the new Angara aliens. Interestingly some of the options, like Avela, are merely flings while others are more developed characters that impact the story.
13 Persona 5 – 10
Joker in Persona 5 has the option of courting 10 girlfriends throughout the story. It’s also unique in that the player can seriously date more than one, though it has some obvious consequences. There’s also the special events that can occur when dating a particular individual that nets unique items.
This game has perhaps the most realistic, ignoring the alter egos, romanceable characters. There are no aliens, other species, or robots. Just 10 girls going about their lives looking for someone special. It’s also unique that this is the only game to feature romance options that are exclusively of the opposite sex.
12 Stardew Valley - 12
Stardew Valley has created a well-thought-out list of romance options for the new farmer to the town. And thankfully, depending on the player, they can choose whoever they want to romance out of the bachelors and bachelorettes. Whether they want to choose a male or female is completely up to them.
Romancing the character might be a slow process, but it is easy! Each one has their own, strong personality, so make sure that the romance option chosen is someone they don't mind having in their home at the end of the day. There is a thirteenth option that is considered a choice for those who are asexual, which is the creature that lives in the sewers, Krobus. While he is not an actual romance choice, and there is nothing that references asexuality, it's a great option and he is still an amazing person to have live with.
11 Rune Factory 5 - 12
Like Stardew Valley, Rune Factory 5 is a great game for players to have the option to pick and choose who they want to romance, no matter the gender. However, romancing these characters will take a little more work than previous games. While raising friendship levels is important, there is more to it than just giving gifts.
And while romance in RPGs are optional, Rune Factory 5 allows players to have children, like Stardew Valley, after being married to the character for a while.
10 Mass Effect 3 – 15
Mass Effect 3 has the most possible romantic partners out of the series with 15 options. What’s interesting about this title is there are no human males reserved for the female player character. It also featured the only romanceable Prothean in the entire series.
Most notable about the romantic options in this game is that they have an impact on the story. Without spoiling anything the player will be thinking of their loved one when the game comes to an end. Romance options from previous games can also carry over.
9 Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey – 15
The 15 romantic options in Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey can be colorful and at times bizarre but are among the most realistically portrayed, with exceptions. Some are meant to be genuine love interests that benefit and improve the character like Kyra. A few characters have lives outside of their relationships and will leave the player like Alkibiades.
Then there are those clearly meant to be played off as a joke. The entire interaction with the love struck Kosta and his family is an example of this. It’s also unique in that the player can flirt and interact with the villains of the story.
8 Star Wars: The Old Republic – 31
Bioware has a thing for adding romantic options to their game and their biggest one is Star Wars: The Old Republic with 31 possibilities. In addition to some gender restrictions many of these individuals are only attracted to certain class-types.
For instance, Kira Carsen is attracted to male Jedi Knights and Torian Cadera has a thing for female Bounty Hunters. The more criminal-minded classes, like Smuggler, were different in that they offered more than one choice, leading to some interesting love triangles depending on the player’s choices.
7 Fire Emblem: Three Houses – 41
Fire Emblem: Three Houses ranks high on this list by offering 41 different romantic characters for the player to woo. It’s a near even split between female and male Byleth with a few attracted to either gender.
A simpler list would be to identify which characters aren’t romanceable in this game. Everyone from the head of the Black Eagles Edelgard, fellow students like Mercedes, the goddess Sothis, and faculty members like Hanneman are romanceable. Each provides different endings and tweaks the story in their own way.
The RPG with the most romance options is The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim with 62 NPCs capable of falling for the player character. The character is free to court any character regardless of race, gender, or alignment. For some players it’s a dating utopia and others it’s not very realistic.
Still it offers a tremendous level of customization, especially when coupled with home building mechanics like those introduced in Hearthfire. Some of the characters are more fleshed out than others, but there’s someone for everyone in this game.
In the RPG , players are tasked with conquering the realm on behalf of their ruler or establishing their own kingdom. The entire game is a sandbox of medieval warfare, politics, and treachery.
One of the more important ways to expand influence and gain favor is through marriage. Players can court and woo any NPC that isn’t already tied down to someone else. There are 26 ladies and 52 suitors that players can become romantically involved with in pursuit of love and power.
4 Mount & Blade: Warband – 148
Mount & Blade: Warband was the precursor to Bannerlord, and gave players a taste of kingdom creation and management. Starting out as commoners, players could slowly work towards become vassals and even rulers over might nations.
Once again, marriage is key to gaining favor with the other nobles and forging important alliances. Any male or female NPC that wasn’t already married was available for courting. The exact number does vary slightly, as NPCs can marry other NPCs in the game. However, the player could usually expect to have 74 suitors and 74 ladies to choose from when starting a new game.
3 Fable – Infinite
In Fable, players had the option of courting any female NPC in the game. To gain their affections, players would have to raise their disposition by offering gifts and using expressions. Once they gained their favor the player could propose and then marry them.
The player could court any single female NPC, as well as the unique Lady Gray character. If a female NPC is ever killed by the player’s hand or accidentally, the game will spawn a new randomized female NPC to take their place. This gives the player a limitless supply of potential heartthrobs as they can slaughter their way to true love.
2 Fable 2 – Infinite
Romance in Fable 2 is similar to Fable in many ways. Players can court any single NPC in the game, and can propose after impressing them with gifts and expressions. The difference is that marriage now comes with more benefits, such as Sleeping Bonuses, and players must now consider the NPCs likes and dislikes when courting them.
Like the previous game, the number of options is infinite. When an NPC dies, the game will replace them with a new randomized NPC. Players that don’t like the current options can turn serial killer, wait a few days, and then have a new batch of prospects to impress.
1 Fable 3 – Infinite
Once again the Fable series provides an infinite supply of romantic options in Fable 3. The game will replace deceased single NPCs with newer, fresher faces, allowing the player to court, marry, divorce, and kill in an endless cycle of love and death.
Fable 3 does shake things up a bit by allowing the player to marry another player in co-op. All assets are split evenly and are forced to match any donations made to the treasury. Players can also have a lavish wedding costing five thousand gold — or save some coin by having a muddy wedding for 100 gold.
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