Video games, like all entertainment media, are always attempting to accurately portray that ever-illusive concept: genuine human emotion. Whether living in the uncanny valley or a handful of low-res polygons, games can often fumble in the pursuit of pathos. From anger, to regret, to fear, emotions are a central part of the gaming experience.
Some games, however, really stick the landing when it comes to romance. Giving players input in their romantic endeavors provides a sense of agency that can often seem hard to achieve in real life. For anyone looking to experience a good love story, these are the games to play.
10 Mass Effect
The original Mass Effect trilogy implemented a surprisingly deep (if somewhat flawed) romance system in the game. Players could romance a large variety of characters throughout the epic saga, culminating in some very emotional moments during the third game.
While all the romance options have their pros and cons, the storyline of a female-identifying Shepard falling in love with Garrus (one of the OG squadmates) is full of all the soapy drama that fans of Bioware have come to love.
9 Disco Elysium
At first glance, Disco Elysium seems anything but romantic. The world is cruel and miserable, with the main character Harry Du Bois constantly pining for someone he cannot quite remember.
Though it would be a stretch to call the way in which Harry deals with the love he still feels “romantic,” the presentation of the story is so rapturously detailed that it’s hard not to feel the heat. Harry’s passion is so overwhelming that it can be emotionally draining, but that is part of what makes the eventual conclusions so dang rewarding.
8 Dream Daddy
Underneath the silliness of its concept, Dream Daddy is surprisingly earnest when it comes to the way it portrays love. Players move to a new town with their teenage daughter, and have their choice of seven different other fathers in the neighborhood to woo.
Aside from being dreamy, the titular dads are also genuinely well-written characters. They have hopes and fears, they make mistakes, and they all are looking for connection. No matter who the player ends up choosing, each story is worth the time.
7 Florence
Florence is the only mobile title on this list, but it definitely should not be looked down on because of that. Using simple touchscreen inputs, players are taken on a short but incredibly moving journey through the major beats of a relationship.
Florence is a tale of love and loss, one that doesn’t shy away from the messy parts of being love. Even more impressive, though, is that it does all of this without any dialogue. This one is a must-play for anyone looking to have a good cry.
6 Dragon Age: Inquisition
Oh, Bioware. You had so many great romances across the whole Dragon Age trilogy. Though it may be hard to pick a favorite, a true standout in the third game is Dorian. Dorian is a Tevinter mage, and the tensions surrounding the Tevinter Imperium within the game world also serve to supplement Dorian’s own struggle as a gay man.
On top of being a useful party member, Dorian brings a lot of heart to the narrative. One of the more tender and sweet romance threads in the game, each step toward falling in love with this fantastic character is rewarding.
5 The Last of Us Part II
Yes, The Last of Us Part II is violent, disturbing, and heartbreaking. But nestled within the gut-wrenching reveals and twists are some genuinely beautiful romantic moments.
Perhaps the happiest moment in the whole game is one of the many entirely optional moments, this one in an abandoned music store. Ellie grabs a guitar and plays an acoustic version of Take On Me for Dina. It’s silly, sweet, and searingly sincere. the tumultuous love story between these two young women is absolutely worth experiencing.
4 The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
There are so many great things about the Zelda series, but usually the character development is not one of them.
When The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword released in 2011, it showed a surprising amount of depth in its portrayal of Zelda and the relationship between her and Link. They seem to genuinely care about each other, and have the only overtly-romantic relationship between the pairing in the entire series.
3 Marvel’s Spider-Man
The versions of Peter Parker and Mary-Jane Watson that are usually shown in media are teenagers, so their portrayals in Insomniac’s Spider-Man are refreshingly mature.
They have had their ups and downs, and had real adult moments in their relationship. MJ in particular is a very interesting take on the character, and has much more agency than she often does in other Spider-Man media. That doesn’t excuse her annoying stealth sections, though!
2 Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
The developers at Naughty Dog are absolute masters of endearing dialogue and stunningly real performance capture. Nate and Elena’s life at the beginning of Uncharted 4 is picture-perfect (mostly), and throughout the story, there are so many little moments that make their marriage feel “lived in.”
The game doesn’t shy away from showing the difficult moments either. A tense conversation about the state of their relationship toward the end of the game is incredibly poignant, and betrays the hidden depth of this otherwise swashbuckling adventure.
1 Stardew Valley
It is difficult to overstate the relative success of Stardew Valley. An indie game almost entirely made by one person, it is at its forefront a farming simulator. But the unfamiliar may not know that there is also a robust romance system in the game.
There are many different potential NPCs to choose from, and if players play their cards right they may even eventually have a wedding with their chosen spouse. Allowing for many different types of romantic connections, Stardew Valley will definitely cause smiles galore.
