When it comes to role-playing games (RPGs), many players expect deep and meaningful relationships between their characters and companions, often including the possibility of romance. With titles like The Witcher 3, Dragon Age, and Mass Effect setting the bar for intricate love stories, fans of Obsidian Entertainment’s Avowed may wonder: Is romance an option in the game?
The short answer is: not really—at least not in the traditional RPG sense.
Are Romances Available in Avowed?
Romance, as we typically understand it in RPGs, will not play a major role in Avowed. While you won’t be romancing your companions in an intricate, heartfelt way like in The Witcher or Dragon Age, the game does offer a more minimalistic form of emotional connection through a relationship with one of your traveling companions—Kai. But don’t expect a fully developed, immersive romance storyline. The romance in Avowed is decidedly basic compared to many RPGs, and players seeking deep, narrative-driven love stories may feel a bit disappointed.
How to Engage with Kai in Avowed
While romance isn’t the main focus of Avowed, the game does allow you to build a connection with Kai, a companion who joins you on your journey. However, before you can even think about confessing your feelings, there are a few conditions to meet.
Complete Kai's Quest: First and foremost, you need to finish Kai's quest line. This requires you to explore, make choices, and engage in the game’s plotline. If you skip this, the chance to build a relationship with Kai won't be available.
Frequent Interaction: Make sure to talk to Kai regularly during your travels. As you progress through the game, he will ask you questions about your decisions and the way you handle various challenges. Engaging with him during these moments is key to unlocking the opportunity for deeper connection.
The Confession Moment
Once you have met these two criteria—completing Kai’s quest and having regular interactions with him—you will eventually have the chance to confess your feelings to him during a campfire conversation. In this dialogue, you’ll be presented with an option to let Kai know that you care about him in a romantic sense. If you've played your cards right, Kai will express that he feels the same way.
But here’s the catch: that’s where the romance ends. While the confession moment is heartfelt, the story doesn’t evolve into a traditional romantic relationship. In fact, Kai will tell you that he needs to focus on the greater challenges ahead, leaving the potential for deeper love at a standstill.
The Epilogue: A Quiet Resolution
As the game draws to a close, you’ll encounter an epilogue scene that briefly touches on the aftermath of your relationship with Kai. It’s confirmed that he and the Emissary have become a couple. However, there’s no grand celebration or extended scene to flesh out the relationship further.
For those expecting a grand love story with multiple stages of romantic progression, this will likely feel like a letdown. Romance in Avowed is more of a “what could’ve been” rather than a central plot point.
Why Did Obsidian Choose This Route?
At first glance, this lack of traditional romance might come as a surprise, especially for RPG fans accustomed to emotionally rich relationships in their games. However, it’s not all that strange when you look at Obsidian Entertainment's track record.
For instance, their previous title, The Outer Worlds, took a similar approach to relationships. While The Outer Worlds did feature companion loyalty and affection, romance wasn’t a central part of the story, and the emotional connections between characters were not explored as deeply as in other RPGs. Instead, the focus was on the larger narrative, player choices, and the overarching plot.
Obsidian seems to prioritize storytelling and player agency over intricate romance systems, and it looks like Avowed will follow in those footsteps. This could be a deliberate choice by the developers, steering the game away from the potentially distracting drama of romance to keep the player’s attention squarely on the world-building, plot development, and epic challenges at hand.
What About The Outer Worlds 2?
With The Outer Worlds 2 already confirmed for a 2025 release, many are speculating whether it will feature a more traditional romance system. Given that The Outer Worlds was also light on romance, it’s possible that the sequel will follow a similar path. Of course, we’ll have to wait until more details emerge—perhaps even this year as Obsidian drops more info about the game.
Final Thoughts: A Shift in RPG Romance Expectations?
If you were hoping for a sprawling romance narrative in Avowed, it might be time to adjust your expectations. Romance in Avowed is more of a subtle, background element than a main plot driver. While the opportunity to confess your feelings to Kai adds a layer of emotional depth, it’s not going to deliver the complex, evolving love story that some RPG players crave.
Instead, Avowed focuses on creating a rich, immersive world with meaningful choices, where relationships are built through actions and shared experiences rather than flirtation and romance. Whether or not this approach will satisfy players looking for romance remains to be seen, but for those who appreciate Obsidian’s style of storytelling, it may very well work in the context of the game.
In the end, romance in Avowed isn’t about fireworks and candlelit dinners—it's about connection, fleeting though it may be, in a world full of danger, mystery, and adventure. And that, perhaps, is more than enough.
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Explore Avowed with These Helpful Guides
In Avowed, staying alive in a dangerous world is essential, and learning how to deal with poison can make a huge difference. Be sure to check out the Avowed Poison Guide: Curing Poison and Staying Alive, which provides you with the necessary steps to handle poison and keep your character safe in the game.
Additionally, if you're on the hunt for treasure in Avowed, don’t miss the Avowed: Painter's Regret Treasure - Painter's Brush Location Guide. This guide will lead you to the Painter's Brush, helping you unlock more rewards on your journey.
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