Summary

  • RPGs like Star Wars: The Old Republic offer diverse romance options, including interspecies relationships that enhance the narrative.
  • Games like Fallout 4 and Dragon Age: Inquisition push boundaries by introducing non-human romance options, enriching player experiences.
  • Baldur's Gate 3 and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous provide unique romance options like Halsin's Wild Shape form and mongrels, adding depth.

RPGs often offer diverse experiences for players, and it's a genre that is quite versatile, and capable of blending with others to create unique experiences. Many RPGs even provide players with the option to develop a romance between characters, allowing the story to gain new depth.

While many RPGs offer traditional relationship options, limiting available characters to humans, some games in the genre go further, leveraging the setting and atmosphere to create something unique. This approach allows players to form romantic bonds with characters of different races or even magical creatures, enriching the narrative and expanding the possibilities for immersion in the game.

Honorable Mention: Baldur's Gate 3's Wild Shape Halsin Can Spice Up Relationships

Baldur's Gate 3 Player Discovers Secret Passageway
Baldur's Gate 3
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Released
August 3, 2023
Developer(s)
Larian Studios

Baldur's Gate 3, despite having a great story and giving players a lot of freedom, doesn't offer much variety in the races chosen for each companion. However, Larian found space to offer some more peculiar romances. In addition to Lae'Zel, who is considered an 'alien' in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, players can also romance Halsin.

Despite his appearance as a buff elf, Halsin offers a unique romance interaction. His character gives players the opportunity to see him use his druid powers during certain moments, leading to one of the most talked-about scenes in the entire game.

9 Star Wars The Old Republic

Interspecies Romances In An Epic MMORPG

Ashara Zavros interespecie romance in Star Wars The Old Republic
Star Wars: The Old Republic
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Released
December 20, 2011
Developer(s)
BioWare
Platform(s)
PC

Despite the similarity of names, Star Wars The Old Republic is an MMORPG that allows players to develop romances while exploring the game's rich story. Set in a distant galaxy, the game offers various romance options with characters of different races and classes, providing an engaging and personalized experience.

With a wide variety of romantic options, Star Wars The Old Republic stands out in the MMORPG genre by allowing interspecies relationships. This diversity not only enriches the narrative but also allows players to customize their journeys according to their preferences, making romances an integral and captivating part of the gaming experience.

8 Fallout 4

An RPG With Non-Human Romances Even In The Post-Apocalypse

Curie in Fallout 4
Fallout 4 Curie
Fallout 4
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Released
November 10, 2015
Developer(s)
Bethesda

Despite not being a unanimous choice among fans, Fallout 4 shines in the universe of post-apocalyptic RPGs. Set in a world devastated by nuclear war, the game introduces various races beyond humans, such as ghouls, synths, and robots, each with their own unique stories and characteristics.

Beyond traditional romance options, Fallout 4 allows players to develop relationships with non-human characters. John Hancock, for example, is a ghoul character whom players can have as a companion and also romance. There's also Curie, who starts the game as a Miss Nanny robot but can become a synth capable of feelings as the game progresses.

7 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

Love With Scales And Everything

Shahvee From The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim
Shahvee
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
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Released
November 11, 2011
Developer(s)
Bethesda Game Studios

In Skyrim, players have the opportunity to form romances with characters of various races, including the intriguing Argonians, who even have a peculiar book about them within the game. Although the romantic options are not as deep as in other RPGs, the inclusion of relationships adds new mechanics that players can explore.

While the romances in Skyrim do not offer an extremely complex narrative, it is possible to marry these characters and enjoy some benefits, such as earning a bit of gold and food that temporarily improves stats. This flexibility allows players to customize their journey as they wish, enriching the immersion in the vast world of Tamriel.

6 Divinity: Original Sin 2

Larian Went Further With Non-Human Romances In This RPG

Fane as a Cleric
Divinity: Original Sin 2
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Released
September 14, 2017
Developer(s)
Larian Studios
Platform(s)
Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC

Despite not having the same popularity as Baldur's Gate 3, Divinity: Original Sin 2 is another masterpiece produced by Larian, considered one of the best isometric RPGs ever made. The freedom given to players, along with complex combat, makes the game a great option for all fans of the genre.

best-dark-fantasy-nintendo-switch-games
10 of the Best Dark Fantasy Games on Nintendo Switch

Though Nintendo’s titles are generally lighter in terms of narrative and setting, the Switch hosts some significant dark fantasy games. These titles offer grim settings, accompanied by sinister narratives where hope has long been abandoned by the characters, creating an intense and immersive atmosphere for players.

Unfortunately, the game doesn't feature very complex romances, and few scenes throughout the story are truly romantic. However, Larian didn't set restrictions on which companions could be romance options. Thus, the romances in this RPG can vary from elves to Red Prince or Fane, who are a lizard and a skeleton, respectively.

5 Dragon Age: Inquisition

An RPG Offering Non-Human Romance Options

Iron Bull in Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Age: Inquisition
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Released
November 18, 2014
Developer(s)
BioWare
Platform(s)
PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC

In Dragon Age: Inquisition, players have the opportunity to develop deep romances with a variety of characters from different races, such as elves, dwarves, and Qunari. This diversity in romantic relationships enriches the RPG experience, providing more complex and engaging narratives for players.

Moreover, despite some romance choices being quite standard for the franchise, BioWare dared to innovate in Dragon Age: Inquisition by creating Iron Bull. The character offers a unique dynamic, allowing players to explore new aspects of the universe's lore and highlighting romances in RPGs, which is a specialty of the developer.

4 Mass Effect Franchise

Interspecies Romances In The Mass Effect Series

Mass Effect 3 Garrus and James Vega On the Moon
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
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Released
May 14, 2021
Developer(s)
BioWare
Platform(s)
PC, PS4, Xbox One

The Mass Effect franchise is known for allowing players to form romantic relationships with a variety of alien species. Throughout the series, it's possible to develop bonds with characters like Liara T'Soni, an asari, or Garrus Vakarian, a turian, adding emotional depth to the epic space journey.

These interspecies romances not only enrich the narrative but also explore themes of diversity and cultural understanding, allowing Shepard to learn more about each character's heritage. Additionally, the player's romantic choices can make the adventure even more immersive, making personal relationships an integral part of the plot. This highlights the complexity and richness of the Mass Effect universe.

3 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

BioWare Already Had RPGs With Non-Human Romances Before Mass Effect

Juhani Face In Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
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Released
July 15, 2003
Developer(s)
BioWare
Platform(s)
Xbox (Original), iOS, Android, Switch, PC, macOS

BioWare was one of the companies that helped popularize romance in RPG games, making it an important mechanic in many of the titles produced by the developer. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, for example, also allowed players to have relationships outside the conventional.

Juhani, a Cathar Jedi who joins the group during the story, was a romance option in the RPG who, besides being an alien, was also LGBTQ+, available only for those who played as a female Revan. Even with the limited technology of the time, BioWare managed to incorporate these romances into the game naturally, bringing depth through how they relate to the main plot.

2 Persona 3 Reload

Robots Can Fall In Love Too

persona 3 reload aeon 10
Persona 3 Reload
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Released
February 2, 2024
Developer(s)
P-Studio

Among Eastern RPG franchises, perhaps Persona is the most unique, providing players with time management mechanics where they need to divide their time between relating to characters and completing various missions to save the world. In Persona 3 Reload, for example, players can have various relationships.

Persona-3-Every-Possible-Romance,-Ranked
Persona 3: Every Possible Romance, Ranked

There are several romance options available for players to pursue in Persona 3; here are all of them, ranked from worst to best.

1

One of these romance options in the RPG is Aigis. While part of her appearance is quite humanized, it's worth remembering that she is essentially a robot. This adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, exploring themes of identity and emotion in artificial beings.

1 Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous

An RPG With Peculiar Romance Options

Wenduag (Mongrel Ranger)
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
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Released
September 2, 2021
Developer(s)
Owlcat Games

The Pathfinder game series is Paizo's venture into bringing their own tabletop RPG system to video games, delivering some incredible CRPGs based on the adventure paths they've published. Although the first game, Kingmaker, offered some more standard romance options, with a more varied secret relationship, the second game was more peculiar.

In Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, the RPG's romances allow players to explore some new and non-human options. Besides Arueshalae, who has entire development centered around her being a succubus, it's also possible to pursue a romance with Wenduag and Lann, two mongrels, people who have monstrous appearances.

Best RPG Protagonists With Set Backstories
10 Best RPG Protagonists With Set Backstories

Although the freedom to create a unique protagonist is the draw of many successful RPGs, these games prove that set backstories work just as well.