10 Best Romance Games for Fans of Fantasy Romance Books

If there's one thing about me that transcends all the media I consume, it's my love of a good fantasy romance. Whether it's a tragically misunderstood vampire in a video game, a revenge-seeking pirate turned hero in a TV show, or a familiar face in dragon skins in a book, I'm here for them all.

That said, while books are certainly the easiest and most abundant place to find these stories, the same cannot be said for many other mediums. Some of the best movies and TV shows that fall into this category are based on books, and games often try to appeal to such a broad audience that the romance tends to take a bit of a backseat to everything else.

That said, I've managed to put together a list of some games that will blow your mind if you're looking for a new way to enjoy an interesting romance, so I hope you'll find one to dig into!

10

Stardew Valley

While most of Stardew Valley is pretty mundane on the surface, this magical little world is much more than the farming simulator it appears to be on the surface, with plenty of romantic relationships to care about. Of all the options on this list, this is the one that easily stirs up the most drama, and what would a good romance story be without drama?

There are 12 partners to choose from and all are available regardless of gender. Taking things a step further than most of the games on this list, you'll be able to not only love your chosen partner, but also marry and move in with them. Unfortunately, as you can imagine, the spice is a bit limited, but several husbands mention how to have a little fun when you're alone in the evening.

9

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

While some would argue that Star Wars is technically science fiction, the two genres can go hand in hand, and Star Wars is about as close to High Fantasy as science fiction can get. The Star Wars Jedi games allow you to explore several planets, each with its own ecosystem, all while developing your relationship with one of your companions, Merrin.

Your relationship with Merrin is a bit of an enemies-to-lovers story, which is why it starts out a bit rocky, but naturally develops over the course of Fallen Order and Survivor. That said, we don't have the third and final part of this story yet, so there's no telling how this story will end, but what we have is probably one of the best and probably the healthiest relationships in all of Star Wars.

8

Persona 5 Royal

While Persona 5 Royal or any of the Persona games aren't necessarily high fantasy, they still have fantasy elements as well as plenty of romance options to choose from. While juggling school work and saving the world as the Joker, you can pursue a romantic relationship with up to ten different partners, and no, you don't have to choose just one, at least not at first.

Ultimately, you're forced to settle for just one romantic partner at the end of the game, but until then you can explore your relationship with each of them and watch them change over the course of the story. All ten romantic partner options are female, but each has a unique story and personality, so no two relationships will feel the same.

7

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Hear me out. While there's no real romantic development here, Link and Zelda are a ship going back decades, despite all the relationships Link has otherwise had, and you can definitely see that in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. There are several story moments in both games that continue to build on the idea that Zelda has strong feelings for Link.

That said, Mipha also shows interest in Link in Breath of the Wild and it seems to be reciprocated, so it's up to you to decide whether you believe Link shares Zelda's feelings or not. Most would say yes, but regardless, the relationship between the two, whatever it is, makes the ending of TOTK that much more emotional.

6

Hades

If there's one thing you can say about romance books, it's that almost every character is undeniably insanely attractive. No, we don't see them and I don't make the rules, but in your heart you know it's true. So what could be more in tune with this energy than a game about the Greek gods?

You can't convince me that everyone in this game wasn't designed to be as hot as possible, and if you don't believe me, just look at their redesigns in Hades 2, where a few of them somehow got even hotter. That said, unfortunately, the romance is more of a mainstay here, but it's still present and well-written enough that it felt necessary to include this title.

Zagreus has two true romance paths in Hades: Megaera and Thanatos, and luckily you won't even have to choose, as you can enjoy both romances in any order without consequence. And if you're up for it, Hades 2 has a different protagonist with even more romance options than Zagreus.

5

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

While the fantasy element of Fire Emblem: Three Houses needs no explanation, there is a unique reason why this game is on this list, and it's not just because you have so many potential romances to pursue in the game. In addition to building your own romantic relationship in Fire Emblem: Three Houses, you can also pair other characters with each other.

This means, unfortunately, you won't see many of these romances come to fruition until the end of the game. So while you can spend a lot of time in the game considering the S-Support options in the game, depending on your route, the main reward is seeing things neatly tied up in a bow at the end, as opposed to enjoying romance while playing like you do in others on this list.

4

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Romance in Dragon Age: Inquisition is similar in intent to Baldur's Gate 3, but with a few more limitations. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's worse, just different. Unlike BG3 where your race and gender have no bearing on who you can romance, the same cannot be said for Dragon Age: Inquisition where characters have their own preferences.

While this may be a drawback for some, it can make it feel a little more authentic. For example, Shadowheart in BG3 openly despises Githyanki at the beginning of the game, but making love to her in this race requires no additional hoops to jump through. Whereas Solas in DAI will only pursue relationships with elven women, as you'd expect given his overall goals, which adds a layer of realism.

With that said, race and gender will limit your romantic options, but there will always be a great option worth pursuing no matter what you choose. Of course, you should take “big” lightly, as these romances range from sweet courtships to devastating betrayals, but like I said before, what's a great romance without some relationship drama?

3

Final Fantasy 7 Remake

If you've ever heard of Final Fantasy 7, then I'm sure I don't need to introduce Tifa or Aerith, but if you don't, those are the two primary romantic partners you can follow as Cloud in FF7. There are​​​​​​other types of relationships you can work on in the games, but none of them quite compare to these two when it comes to romance.

As you slowly develop your relationships with Tifa and Aerith, you'll eventually be forced to choose which one you'd like to pursue a little more romantically. As a romance reader, I think we can all agree that we've had our share of frustrations with love triangles, but the best part is that you get to choose the outcome! Of course, this does not prevent passionate debates about which option is canonical.

2

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

This is probably one of the most authentic romance games on this list in terms of vibes, but the only reason it didn't make the top spot is because of the romance limitations. Since you're playing as Geralt and not a character of your own creation, you'll only have two romance options, and both will be female, and the same goes for any one-off encounters you might have.

This means you can still enjoy plenty of unique romantic encounters throughout The Witcher 3, including hired courtesans, seemingly traditional dates, and deep, meaningful relationships. While one-offs won't have any negative impact on your relationships, the same cannot be said for two romantic partners.

Triss and Yennefer are both equally great romantic partners, so no matter who you choose, you should be happy with the outcome. But if you try to have both, you'll be met with what I can only describe as the most hilarious rejection result I've ever seen in a game.

1

Baldur's Gate 3

Look, I know. We've all heard of Baldur's Gate 3, but there's no way it's not making this list. Not only is the high fantasy world remarkable and vast, but relationships are a key point in the game that ultimately plays a major role in the ending you get.

You can choose any of the available partners regardless of your gender and either help them see brighter days ahead or join them in the darkness. Both of these paths will offer unique interactions and outcomes. And you can also fully commit to one partner, commit to flings, or take advantage of some of the polyamory options, all without mods.

Romances naturally grow in each act, and you'll see what looks like the most authentic natural progression of a romance in a video game. And of course, if you're into spice, you won't be disappointed. One romance option literally makes you want to fight them and get excited by the interaction, and if that isn't a scene from every romance book I've ever read, I don't know what is.

I won't spoil any specific story lines here, but know that no matter how you play this game, you'll be more than satisfied with the possibilities and outcome of your desired romance.