Best RPGs With Relationship Mechanics, But No Romance

Roleplaying games are, at their core, about characters. Whether they’re text heavy, classic RPGs or slick action shooters, a roleplaying game needs characters that the player can relate to and identify with, and it needs a protagonist that players can shape to be their own in some way. To this end, many RPGs use a relationship mechanic of some kind as a gauge for players to see how well – or poorly – they’re doing at getting along with a character.

Some games, such as Dragon Age 2, take this mechanic in interesting directions, where a rivalry is almost as beneficial as a strong friendship. Most games, in more recent years at least, give players the option to take these budding relationships to a romantic place. Now, this is a zero judgement website, what players do with their video game characters is between them and their god, but for players who want to explore deepening relationships without the expectation or obligation for romance to come up, these games all have great relationship mechanics – but no romance attached to them.

7 Morrowind

Character Disposition Impacts Many Things In This Game

Every named NPC in Morrowind can have an explicit and specific level of affection towards the player, based on a whole variety of metrics. Faction alliance, dialogue choices, attributes, and even innate things like the race of the protagonist can impact how they’re perceived by every NPC.

While few characters in the game are as fleshed out as the fantastic villain, every character has some degree of nuance based on how they see the player character, and this can be influenced through bribes and magic.

6 Pillars Of Eternity

Players Can Shape Companions With Personal Quests

Companions are an integral part of the Pillars of Eternity experience, and with Avowed set to release next year, players looking to get familiar with Eora before the game’s debut would have a great time exploring this land with their companions in both games.

Companions in Pillars of Eternity can still develop stronger (platonic) feelings towards the player mostly through how their personal quests are solved, with many endings to the quest that can change how they behave.

5 Wasteland 3

Every Companion Has Preferences To Keep Track Of

Wasteland 3 is an opus among roleplaying games with heavy, visceral combat and an engaging story that doesn’t pull any punches with either its difficulty or its plot beats. This is a great game for any RPG fan, and the companions are as in-depth as the story.

The companions also have their own thoughts and feelings about the various actions the Rangers take – in short, they have their own agendas. Even characters who can be guided and shaped by the Ranger have certain lines they won’t cross, and will immediately leave the party if the Rangers force their hand.

4 Fallout: New Vegas

Companions Have Their Own History With The Wasteland

The companions in New Vegas are as witty and nuanced as the entire setting for the game, and it shows in every unique line of dialogue they have. While there’s no romance to pursue in this title, players can still form long-lasting bonds with every companion.

While navigating the politics of the wasteland, players’ choices will be appraised by their companions, who will have something to say. Impress them, and they become more useful, and have personal quests that are long and enjoyable. Disappoint them (in short – join the Legion) and they will quickly leave your side.

3 Shadowrun: Dragonfall

Players Can Develop Lasting Bonds With Companions

For games of this style, the isometric CRPG genre, there aren’t many companions in Shadowrun: Dragonfall, but that only brings the focus more intimately on all of them, and they are each incredibly well-written characters.

Their conversations with the player during and between missions will shape how the see the protagonist, and how loyal they are to the protagonist overall, and while romance isn’t on the table, the game does an excellent job at showcasing the palpable closeness between companions and players who are of a same mind.

2 Outer Worlds

Classic Obsidian Writing Makes These Companions Three-Dimensional

Players would be hard-pressed to find companions quite like the ones in The Outer Worlds. They’re each so individual, each so perfectly imperfect, it’s easy to forget they’re characters altogether and not people you know.

Each companion has approval and disapproval of you, as in most RPG with companions. The personal quests for every companion are all incredible, and each tell a unique story that showcases the character in a certain way, and lets the player shape their overall fate in the story.

Atlus’ Iconic Focus On Relationships Is Still Here In Full Swing

In a bold move from Atlus, Metaphor: ReFantazio focuses on the development of relationships – but in a completely different paradigm to the romance that players have come to expect from series such as Persona.

This is a great move to showcase Atlus’ versatility as writers, keeping the focus on companion affection and bonding but in a completely different light to their other titles, and it’s also a great way to differentiate Metaphor from their other larger series like the aforementioned Persona.