It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
avatar
J Lo: Valentine's day is coming up and this year I am dateless.
avatar
WinterSnowfall: Oh, wow, I am so dateless I ever forgot about Valentine's day :P.
avatar
J Lo: Instead of sobbing on the floor [...]
avatar
WinterSnowfall: I realize you're probably not (100%) serious, but let me just say there's really no reason to sob at all. As with all things in life, romance comes with ups and downs. It can lift you and it can pull you down, but in the end you are you with or without it. Let that sink in a bit and learn to appreciate yourself outside of your relationship with others - only then will you see things more clearly when the time comes to play your cards.

Except this exquisite piece of unwarranted advice, I'm afraid I'm totally useless. I can't remember ever playing a game where romance was the main theme.
It was mostly a joke, but I still appreciate the advice. Thanks!
avatar
DiffuseReflection: If you plan on getting something from Big Fish, note that there are currently at least two active coupon codes, each of which allows you to get any single game from them for free. Apply the codes during the checkout process.
FREEGAME865035
FREEGAME449269
One or both of these older codes might also still work:
FREEGAME864089
FREEGAME546711

Note: during checkout, Big Fish promotes a game club membership which has a monthly fee; only the first trial month is free. You can untick the checkbox if you do not wish to join the club.
Free is my favourite price. I appreciate the codes. Thank you!
avatar
Breja: I guess one could argue Transistor is build around a love story.
A love triangle is central to Call of Juarez Bound in Blood.
The Deponia games... sort of have a love story? It's more of a mcguffin really, at least untill the third and fourth game.
You can have a romance in Tales from the Borderlands, though it's not in any way vital to the game.
Grim Fandango definitely is a romance story.

Of course there are the Leisure Suit Larry games...
I'm surprised Call of Juarez and Grim Fandango have romance heavy themes. They're on my to do list. I appreciate the suggestions, thanks!
Post edited February 04, 2021 by J Lo
Divinity: Original Sin
Tales of Zestiria
Yuppie Psycho
else Heart.Break()
Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Gabriel Knight 1
Planescape: Torment

honorable mention: Opus Magnum has amazing writing but, being a Zachtronics game, there's like a paragraph of text per day of puzzle-solving.
Post edited February 04, 2021 by Starmaker
avatar
DiffuseReflection: Several games feature a duo of protagonists with romantic tension between them. For example, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (Indy and Sophia Hapgood), the Broken Sword series (George Stobbart and Nicole Collard; 5-game series).
I didn't think an Indy title would have romance as a major part of the plot. Maybe I'm not familiar enough with the character. It's been ages since I watched the films. I appreciate the suggestions, thank you!
Runaway series.
Available DRM-free direct from the maker, but there's this gay *aherm* "romance" game called Coming Out on Top that's pretty good. You know. (It's a renpy-engine visual novel, but fun writing and jokes, and tons of paths and "endings".) But you're a bad person who doesn't think a visual novel can be a game.

A major element of Stardew Valley is picking a marriage candidate or dating more than one...) Of course, this involves giving them the right gifts (and sometimes at the right times), but it's a fun and loved part of the game for many. Fights start over "who's the better husband/wife".
Post edited February 06, 2021 by mqstout
My Ex-boyfriend the Space Tyrant, or Dream Daddy. Haven't played either.
Still waiting for release of
Boyfriend Dungeon
Romance your swords! Capture the hearts of weapons to level them up in this “shack-and-slash” dungeon crawling adventure.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/674930/Boyfriend_Dungeon
https://www.gog.com/wishlist/games/boyfriend_dungeon
I liked HuniePop. It's a match three, which I enjoyed. Of course the hentai women are pretty/cute too.
If don't mind JRPGs, The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky comes to mind, particularly the first game.
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
avatar
J Lo: Hello!

Edit: thanks for the replies!

Valentine's day is coming up and this year I am dateless. This is clearly the fault of covid, and uh, nothing else...*erhem*. This year I'm going to change it up a little. Instead of sobbing on the floor, I should play something where romance is the main theme. Visual novels, dating sims, and hentai games don't count. Games with optional romantic side plots also don't count. I would post something myself, but I'm afraid I can't think of anything. I will end with a quote from the most romantic poem ever told: take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door.
I think people are misinterpreting what you're after. People are thinking you want romance options, not romance theme. Romance options would either be a side-plot or one of the genres you mention, hence the issues. To this regard, though, I'd point out that most games are not going to make romance a central theme, but a non-optional side plot: Final Fantasy IX is a classic example from the 90s or 00s, when romance theme without romance option was pretty popular. There is a love triangle, but the main theme of the game is obviously mortality. The main character of the game isn't even the main protagonist (but to point that out and discuss would be major spoilers which i don't want to post here since it is one of those underappreciated gems).

Unfortunately, games, anymore, have focused a bit more on giving the players more options of their own to choose. I think this is a good thing, but it means that more traditional topics are hard to push into a game where choice is fundamental. You're likely to have to abandon gog for RPGs as a genre.

However, Stardew Valley might be what you're looking for, even though romance is optional, because by virtue of interacting to any significant amount with any of the "bachelor(ette)s" will inevitably result in romance being pushed on you.

Though, I have to ask, why are you torturing yourself? Why not use this to better find out how to not be so alone? Getting meaningful relationships these days is hard, but getting with someone to not feel alone actually seems pretty easy. The latter seems like a pretty good first step, just try not to allow yourself to be too emotional towards early experiments. Tends to make it harder for you to attatch to decent people later on.
avatar
kohlrak: Though, I have to ask, why are you torturing yourself? Why not use this to better find out how to not be so alone? Getting meaningful relationships these days is hard, but getting with someone to not feel alone actually seems pretty easy. The latter seems like a pretty good first step, just try not to allow yourself to be too emotional towards early experiments. Tends to make it harder for you to attatch to decent people later on.
I appreciate the advice! It was more of a joke, TBH. Dating was something I wanted to do at one point, but now I actually prefer to be single. This is going to sound weird, but after I stopped caring I found I was more comfortable socializing. I stopped caring what people think, but at the same time I try to be polite. Apologies if I'm not making sense right now. I'm currently sleep deprived and I'm on my way to bed.
avatar
kohlrak: Though, I have to ask, why are you torturing yourself? Why not use this to better find out how to not be so alone? Getting meaningful relationships these days is hard, but getting with someone to not feel alone actually seems pretty easy. The latter seems like a pretty good first step, just try not to allow yourself to be too emotional towards early experiments. Tends to make it harder for you to attatch to decent people later on.
avatar
J Lo: I appreciate the advice! It was more of a joke, TBH. Dating was something I wanted to do at one point, but now I actually prefer to be single. This is going to sound weird, but after I stopped caring I found I was more comfortable socializing. I stopped caring what people think, but at the same time I try to be polite. Apologies if I'm not making sense right now. I'm currently sleep deprived and I'm on my way to bed.
I got cheated on alot. Finally found one who doesn't cheat after i stopped caring, so i get what you're saying. Stop giving a fuck is usually the first bit of advice i give lonely guys. Seems to make you alot sexier if you aren't all that interested.