rpg

BioWare popularized romanceable companions; debate continues over necessity

PC Gamer's Dungeon Master column examines whether RPGs need romanceable companions and finds the feature influential but not essential. BioWare codified companion romances starting with Baldur's Gate 2 and used them in Dragon Age and Mass Effect to shape story and character development. The piece notes that the prominence of romances has made their absence in modern games more noticeable and has pushed even non-RPG titles to address romantic options.

• BioWare popularized romanceable companions beginning with Baldur's Gate 2, setting a template many RPGs followed.
• Dragon Age uses a potential relationship between the Grey Warden and Morrigan to affect the series' overarching story and to reveal Morrigan's closed-off character.
• Mass Effect's romance with Liara begins as awkward due to asari biology but develops across the series, showing how companion relationships can evolve.
• The expectation of romance in games has grown so much that even non-RPGs, such as Star Wars: Zero Company, confront whether players can pursue in-game relationships.