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However, in this modern age of acceptance where people feel more comfortable about their preferences, the “standard” romance choices may not be enough to accommodate audiences. After all, gaming fandoms are made up of various individuals, each with their own unique preferences. It only makes sense to offer that same kind of inclusivity in a role-playing game. By further personalizing the experience, these players will be more immersed in the adventure. Thankfully, several titles allow gamers to do just that.
Updated June 16, 2022 by Ritwik Mitra: It’s Pride Month, and there’s no better time to check out some inclusive games that allow players to do everything from flirt to marry people of all genders and orientations.
Gaming has the benefit of adhering to player choice in a manner unlike anything seen in other entertainment mediums, and the following games do a great job of giving players a ton of freedom when it comes to their romances instead of having to stick to one option.
20 The Last Of Us
The Last of Us is a game that everyone is familiar with at this point. The title features some of the best gameplay around, with its story being held in high regard as well.
The series also let players experiment around with LGBTQ+ relationships, with the DLC Left Behind revealing Ellie’s sexuality as well. This is further expanded on in the second game and plays a major role in the story as well.
19 Night In The Woods
Night in the Woods is one of the better adventure games around that has a solid focus on the narrative. While there aren’t any romantic options per se, the game does a great job of representing LGBTQ+ relations.
For starters, the main character Mae is a pansexual. Her friends include a trans woman and a gay couple who are some really engaging characters as well!
18 Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas is considered by many to be one of the greatest video games ever made. The writing is in a class of its own, with the various companions the player can interact with being pretty riveting in their own right.
Arcade Gannon, Rose of Sharon Cassidy, and Veronica Santangelo all don’t conform to traditional norms of sexuality. Player who roleplay as a female with high Charisma can even flirt with NCR Corporal Betty, although there aren’t any proper romances for the player to mess around with.
17 Saints Row
From the second game onwards, Saints Row has accepted its bizarre nature and given players a wealth of options across all aspects of gameplay. This includes romances as well, with absolutely no boundaries stopping the player from getting what they want.
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It helps that the Saints Row character creator allows players to choose from a myriad of gender identities and orientations. The player can dress and act exactly how they want regardless of their biological sex.
16 Undertale
Undertale is a game full of quirky characters that don’t conform to the usual boundaries of sexuality. It’s a great game where characters have additional depth due to their well-written motivations and personalities.
Undertale’s charming writing and great gameplay are one of the many reasons why it’s considered to be a masterpiece by many. Fans of this indie title will have an absolute gem of a time with Undertale.
15 Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator
A dad dating simulator where players take on the role of a father themselves is the perfect pick for this list. The unique premise of Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator is what drew so many eyes to it.
Of course, it helped that the game itself was a blast to play through, with quirky characters and great writing. Fans of romance-heavy visual novels would have a great time going through this absolute gem of a title.
14 Life Is Strange
Life is Strange has transformed into one of the most popular adventure games around, in no small part due to the massive impact of the first game. The time-bending story present in this title was easily its biggest highlight, with Max playing a central role in this narrative.
Of course, it helped that Life is Strange also featured some rather compelling characters in their own right. One such character who deserves all these plaudits is Chloe, who is a brilliant character that Max can initiate a romantic relationship with.
13 Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes Of An Elusive Age
While Dragon Quest 11 only has one canon romance in the form of Gemma, that’s not the route that players necessarily need to take in the game’s enhanced release. The sheer number of options present in Dragon Quest 11 S is pretty impressive.
In fact, the player can choose from any member of the main party to spend the rest of their life with… with the obvious exclusion being his own grandpa. It’s a neat inclusion… although Dragon Quest 11 S does pull back on the male romances a bit by implying a ‘bromance’ of sorts, as opposed to a proper romantic relationship, which is pretty disappointing.
12 Hades
Hades is one of the most popular hack-and-slash indie titles to come out in quite some time. Given Supergiant Games’ immense pedigree as a video game studio, it’s great to see them getting the mainstream credit they deserve.
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In Hades, Zagreus can become entwined romantically with three characters in the game. One of them is Thanatos, who is Death Incarnate himself and one of the most interesting romance options in the game.
11 Monster Prom
Monster Prom is another romantic visual novel that is absolutely brimming with personality. The fact that the story of this game is slightly random makes repeated playthroughs quite exciting in their own right.
Players who want to try out a progressing dating sim that is full of great characters and funny dialogue should look no further than Monster Prom. It’s easily one of the most overlooked games on this list.
10 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Gamers the world over have spent hundreds of hours in Skyrim. To many, it’s like a second life of sorts, so why not seal the deal with marriage? It’s a fairly simple process. Wearing the Amulet of Mara enables players can have romantic dialogues with numerous NPCs, regardless of gender or race.
The NPCs in question can be from any of Tamriel’s numerous races: Nords, Imperials, High Elves, Dark Elves, Orcs, Argonians, and more. Physical differences don’t come into play during the courtship. Granted, the whole affair is a little impersonal, but it’s also open to dozens of couple variations.
9 Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Social standing informs many a decision in this tactical title. Because of this, the player character Byleth has countless romance options at his/her disposal. The game offers more freedom in this area than any other in recent memory.
Unlike most of its peers, though, Fire Emblem’s romances don’t simply depend on gender. Rather, they also hinge on houses. For example, certain characters won’t take a female player from the Black Eagles. Thankfully, whatever players pick, they won’t be strapped for choices in any path.
8 Dragon Age
Although BioWare’s medieval fantasy series is mostly merciless in its lore and laws, the denizens of Dragon Age don’t seem to care who sleeps with whom. A few strategic dialogue choices and a handful of gifts will win over practically any party member, regardless of gender or race.
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Some characters, like Dorian, will offhandedly flirt with the Inquisitor during conversations. In the end, though, most companions are open to either serious or casual relationships if the player selects the appropriate dialogue choice.
7 The Outer Worlds
Despite appearances, The Outer Worlds isn’t the type of RPG that allows romance options for the player. That’s not to say that romance has no place in this space adventure. Some side quests see gamers engage in some matchmaking, as a few quests involve delivering messages between two people with crushes.
The most memorable aside involves crewmember Parvati, who pursues a romance with Groundbreaker leader Junlei. Players are heavily involved in this from the beginning, as the quest involves decorative materials, beauty products, and even suggestions for what Parvati should say. Finally, there’s ADA, the ship’s AI that expresses concern whenever players leave the ship. When asked about this, she’ll approximate this behavior as an expression of love.
6 Mass Effect
Throughout the Mass Effect series, Commander Shepard recruits several misfits from across the galaxy to his/her crew. Players can romance most of these characters, male or female, human or alien. Getting to know them through conversations and Loyalty Missions shows that their leader cares for them as people.
Some of them will even get close to each other over the course of their journey. These pairings can be as simple as Garrus and Tali or as unexpected as EDI and Joker. The heart (or AI core) wants what the heart wants.
5 GreedFall
GreedFall is the methodical role-playing experience akin to BioWare’s golden days. To capture that feeling, developer Spiders lets DeSardet romance four of their companions. Kurt and Aphra are only interested in heterosexual relationships, but Siora and Vasco are open to both.
As expected, players unlock these avenues through questlines. They have three Loyalty Missions instead of one; following these mini-stories through to the end will gradually increase DeSardet’s standing with the companion in question. Said companion then agrees to a relationship when prompted.
4 Star Wars: The Old Republic
Following suit from the Knights of the Old Republic titles, this Star Wars MMO lets players craft their own heroes, villains, and rogues in a galaxy far, far away. Technically, Jedi aren’t supposed to fall in love, but this element has always been present in the franchise’s RPGs.
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The expansions to The Old Republic introduced same-sex romance options for all character classes. This comes with all the steps of the base game’s romances. As players speak to their companions, they can embark on character-centric missions akin to Loyalty Missions in other BioWare properties. The budding attraction can eventually lead to marriage, albeit only if the character is open enough to the player.
3 Assassin’s Creed
As the Assassin’s Creed series moved into RPG territory, romantic side quests were an obvious inclusion for the open-world adventures. That’s why Odyssey and Valhalla let the male or female protagonist romance one of the countless historical figures they met.
Granted, this option is only available during or after certain quests, such as finding the Comb of Champions for Bil. That said, various characters are still willing to accept the male or female Assassin. However, they only acknowledge each one uniquely in Odyssey. NPCs in Valhalla treat both the male and female versions of Eivor exactly the same.
2 Cyberpunk 2077
Night City is populated with characters from all walks of life (and all types of augments). The colorful characters of Cyberpunk 2077 all have their own romantic subplots. These are advanced not simply through quests, but also through casual conversations. Protagonist V can even call them up anytime to chat via a built-in communicator.
Judy Alvarez, for instance, only sees the male V as a friend but will be a romance option for the female variant. The same goes for River Ward. Kerry Eurodyne is romanceable by players with a male voice and body type, providing the game with another same-sex romance option. No matter which side of the LGBTQ spectrum players falls on, their romantic choices have a profound impact on the overall experience.
1 Stardew Valley
This pixelated adventure provides players with an entire village to interact with. Once again, gamers can romance a man or woman; it doesn’t matter which. Six men and six women make for an even split of twelve choices, equally inclusive to all players. Gamers need only consider how to court them.
Namely, it must be with someone marked as “single.” After earning ten hearts of friendship, gamers can begin their marriage preparations. This is costly, so make sure to have some money on hand. It involves purchasing a bouquet, upgrading the farmhouse, and outfitting participants with a Mermaid’s Pendant.
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