Highlights

  • Dragon's Dogma 2 falls short in the romance department compared to other RPG titles like Baldur's Gate 3.
  • The game's affinity system allows for bonding with NPCs but lacks satisfying romance options and cutscenes.

As one of the first major releases of the year, Dragon's Dogma 2 finally launched back in March. After the release of the game's viral character creator a few weeks ahead of its release, many were excited to see what Dragon's Dogma 2 had in store. Although the game has some great qualities, one of the most glaring issues revolves around the romance options.

A lot has changed in gaming since the first Dragon's Dogma was released. It's been 12 long years between Dragon's Dogma and Dragon's Dogma 2, and the world of RPGs has greatly evolved. Dragon's Dogma 2 offers plenty of exploration, but the overall romance options featured in the game just don't compare to the likes of other recent RPG titles.

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Related
Dragon's Dogma 2: All Patch Notes

This guide details a history of all Dragon's Dogma 2 patch notes, separated by date, and is regularly updated as new DD2 patches are released.

Dragon's Dogma 2's Romance Leaves A Lot To Be Desired

Dragon's Dogma 2 had a lot to live up to. Baldur's Gate 3 set a new standard for fantasy RPGs across the board, especially when it comes to romance systems. In Baldur's Gate 3, it seems like nearly every single character is available to court, but Dragon's Dogma 2 leaves much to be desired.

Dragon's Dogma 2's Affinity System

There are ways to create strong bonds with NPCs in Dragon's Dogma 2, but it doesn't take romancing nearly as far as Baldur's Gate 3. With the game's affinity system, players can build an NPC's affection towards the player, which leads them to have a sort of crush on you. Having a high affinity with an NPC can cause them to blush when they see the player character or leave gifts at one's door. Although this technically means that every NPC is romanceable in some way, there is no satisfying endgame when it comes to bonding with NPCs.

Bonding with NPCs doesn't lead to any special cutscenes or character-specific moments that make romance systems in fantasy RPGs so fun.

Only Two Main Romance Options

One of the most shocking parts about the romance options of Dragon's Dogma 2 is that there are only two character romances that are actually canon. Ulrika and Wilhelmina are the only characters whose romances lead to cutscenes. Not only does this take the fun out of trying to romance other characters, but it also doesn't add any variety.

Before the launch of Baldur's Gate 3, the game made some serious waves when it was revealed that druid Halsin could turn into a bear before getting intimate. Although this detail was a hilarious surprise for many players, it was also a great example of how the game made its romance system as diverse and fun as possible.

Not only can players not fully romance NPCs, but they also can't romance their Pawns.

Dragon's Dogma 2 Should Push The Envelope With Romance

Although Baldur's Gate 3 raised the bar with romance mechanics, it's not the only RPG to have diverse options over the years. There are some great aspects of Dragon's Dogma 2, but the romance system is definitely one of the weakest parts of the game. For such a long-awaited title, Capcom hasn't pushed the envelope with this feature the way it should have.

The affinity system in Dragon's Dogma 2 can create some close bonds with NPCs, but it simply isn't enough to compare to other titles in the genre. The fantasy RPG genre has evolved a lot, and many players expect some great immersion. Dragon's Dogma 2 can be immersive in its own right, but not with its romance, and that's a shame. In order to fully lose oneself in a game's world, bonding with other characters is important, and leaving only Wilhelmina and Ulrika as the NPCs with romance storylines is a major letdown.