Quest for Love: The 10 Best Romances in Video Games

pcmag.com:

It’s February, the month of love. And what better time to examine romance in video games? Ever since Pac-Man met his Ms. in 1982, the quest for a soulmate has been a motivating factor for players in all sorts of digital worlds. While many of those romances have been pretty unsatisfying, a few get it right. Here’s a dive through gaming history to spotlight 10 games with romances that really stood out.

CD Projekt RED’s Witcher game series is all about setting the player down in the middle of an absurdly rich world with tons of stuff to do, so it’s not surprising that romance is on the menu. The first Witcher game was a little sus when it came to romance, offering Geralt trading cards for bedding women. But by the third sequel, we had a full-fledged love triangle: Our hero must choose between sorceresses Triss and Yennefer. Each offers a rich and rewarding storyline, but if we had to pick one path for you to play through, it would probably be Yen's.

Available on PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

All the Life is Strange games have their share of romantic intrigue—how could a series about high schoolers not? The one that lands the best, though, is Before The Storm(Opens in a new window), the prequel that put Chloe in the protagonist role and examined how the original games events started. When Chloe meets fellow student Rachel, their relationship can grow from troublemaking friends to something deeper, if you let it, and the entire process feels natural and realistic. The core of romance is how two people interact with each other, and Before The Storm captures the awkwardness, mystery, and charm expertly.

Available on PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS,