Romance can be a popular feature in games, particularly narrative-driven RPGs where players can forge meaningful and lasting relationships with characters that help to shape the plot of the game. Sometimes romance options can be silly, fleeting, or pretty inconsequential, but those can be fun too. Sometimes games can get it really, really wrong, and they become notorious examples of awkward courtship and cringe-worthy encounters, like with the titular blue-haired hero and Princess Elise in Sonic the Hedgehog. But sometimes, like in the previous entry in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, games can get it right.
The third mainline Witcher installment was a hit for several reasons, and one of them was due to the brilliance of its writing. This translated seamlessly into the romantic relationships that players could pursue throughout the game and The Witcher 3's romances quickly became well-known as the gold standard among RPGs. With the next Witcher title in development, fans are hoping that the developer looks to The Witcher 3 for inspiration when it comes to romance options, rather than its other games like Cyberpunk 2077.
Cyberpunk 2077's Romance Options
In the crime-ridden and neon-lit streets of Night City, human connection is incredibly important. However, the most important relationships that the player's V has throughout Cyberpunk 2077 are arguably the short-lived but no less touching friendship with Jackie and the tumultuous connection with Johnny Silverhand. Players can of course choose to romance several characters, like the fan-favorite Braindance technician Judy Alvarez, the nomadic Panam Palmer, and the former NCPD detective River Ward. However, not a lot of these relationships have that much importance or screen time.
For the most part, Cyberpunk 2077's romances feel like enjoyable distractions rather than integral parts of V's story or character development. They integrate themselves into the main narrative to some extent and can have a role to play in the ending depending on the player's choices, but Cyberpunk 2077's overall plot wouldn't be too different if they were taken out of the equation. Players can pursue some more casual hook-ups as well, and while the romance options in Cyberpunk 2077 aren't necessarily bad, they're definitely not the best example of what's out there.
Why The Next Game Should Use The Witcher 3 For Inspiration
One example of a game that really nails its romance is The Witcher 3. In general, the game's storytelling and characterization are on point, and this goes a long way in helping to bring the romances to life, particularly the ones with Triss and Yennefer. The last mainline game in The Witcher franchise provides a great blueprint in general for its successor, but one of the features the next title should take note of as it moves into the new saga are the romantic relationships Geralt can have.
While they had their ups and downs, their heartfelt and occasionally awkward moments, they were always well-written and perfectly integrated into the plot. Unlike other games like Cyberpunk 2077, the romantic relationship didn't feel tacked on just to give gamers the option to date NPCs – they had narrative weight and emotional significance. Even the casual dalliances that players could pursue felt true to character and presented interesting entanglements for the stoic Geralt, but the true brilliance of The Witcher 3's romance was the choice between Triss and Yennefer.
Because of the history of these characters and the knowledge the players might be bringing to the game, both women already had a familiarity with gamers as well as with Geralt. Encountering his former lovers again made their place in the plot much more layered and the possible romantic reunion even more significant. In contrast, Cyberpunk 2077's relationships felt largely shallow, even if gamers warmed to characters like Judy and Panam. The next Witcher title would do much better to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, rather than look to Cyberpunk 2077 for inspiration when it comes to how it handles its romances.
A new Witcher game is currently in development.