Most well-written game romance?

[Casual Shinji]

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time.

Simple but well told and with sympathetic characters. It's not great, but I'd say that's the best in the gaming industry as far as romance goes. Frankly everything else I tend to think is rubbish!

It also has the best love scene gameplay, that thing in the bath house. I'll take that over stilted sex scenes any day.

Bioware romances while entertaining are pretty shallow and pandering.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

The original Knights of the Old Republic love between Bastila Shan and the main character. The love drama is absolutely brilliant.

Read with caution major plot points revealed

Spoiler

Bastila goes after the evil Darth Lord Ravan (which is you, but you don't know it yet) and duels with him until Ravans apprentice betrays him putting Raven near death. The Jedi choose to suppress Ravans memories and give him a new chance at life. Bastila is put in charge of keeping an eye on him as he (you) go on a adventure. Soon Ravan and Bastila fall in love (if you choose the right options). Towards the end Bastila falls to the dark side and Ravan is left with a choice. Kill his love, join his love, or try turning her back to the light side.

 

[Danzavare]

It's hard to answer but I remember looking very fondly on the relationship between Jansen and the Queen in Lost Odyssey. I'll have to replay it someday soon because I barely remember any details about the game.

 

[Scrustle]

Jackie Estacado and Jenny Romano from the Darkness.
It manages to be heartwarming, realistic and bittersweet, all in the space of the 1-2 hours in which we get to know them. And when she dies it gives the perfect motivation to play through to the end because we want to avenge her as much as Jackie does.

So much this. Never seen a game that even comes close, even ones that are respected for their writing.

Captcha: sweety pie

 

[Janus Vesta]

If you don't mind my asking, just how are they terrible?

The problem with Bioware romances is that they're very artificial and in your face. Characters never develop a rapport. It's like 5 conversations and you're ry humping in the middle of the camp (Dragon Age Origins). Plus they make way too much of a big deal out of it, like "Hey guys, you can totally romance all these people, see how interesting our stories and characters are?"

YEs Bioware, I see it, that doesn't mean I want to fuck it.

Well what would your alternative be then if not the way they do things currently?

Have it be a small subtle thing. Treat it as a natural development in your relationship with the character, don't just have romance specific sections where you gain +5 invisible romance points. If you do something that pisses a character off you can't go to them later and try to hook up, they should behave like human beings, not puppets that have distinct modes.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Oh no

You...

You don't know about the Sunbros?

Spoiler: Oh dear

 

[DaWaffledude]

The original Knights of the Old Republic love between Bastila Shan and the main character. The love drama is absolutely brilliant.

Read with caution major plot points revealed

Spoiler

Bastila goes after the evil Darth Lord Raven (which is you, but you don't know it yet) and duels with him until Ravens apprentice betrays him putting Raven near death. The Jedi choose to suppress Ravens memories and give him a new chance at life. Bastila is put in charge of keeping an eye on him as he (you) go on a adventure. Soon Raven and Bastila fall in love (if you choose the right options). Towards the end Bastila falls to the dark side and Raven is left with a choice. Kill his love, join his love, or try turning her back to the light side.

It's Revan. Not "Raven". Sorry. Stuff like that just gets to me.

 

[DRes82]

Geralt of Rivia and Triss Merigold.

I was going to say Geralt and Yennefer, myself.

I keep thinking about the Bioware romances...most of them were pretty awkward. I feel like the one between the hero of ferelden and morrigan was the best of them.

 

[SpaceBat]

1. Well Written
2. Game
3. Romance

Pick two.

Jackie Estacado and Jenny Romano (If you've never played The Darkness, do it now)
Ico and Yorda (no attraction, but romance nonetheless)
Wander and Girl (Don't need to explain)
Rin Tezuka and Hisao (By far the only excellent one, really)
Prince of Persia and Farah (surprisingly well done)

Even though they shove it into nearly ever game they make, Bioware can't make a good romance. Bastilla romance was terribly done and most ME and DA romances are terribly artificial as well.

There are also lots of awesome bromances.

You don't know about the Sunbros?

During my first playthrough...

Spoiler

My sunbro died because sidequests are retarded in this game and I automatically ruined it when I apparently beat a specific boss too soon(You MUST kill the headcrabs before battling the demon's ruins caterpillar boss, or he'll die because...uhm...BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HE DOES

But, the sunbros could not be kept apart for long, because I replayed it just to make thing right and end the game with Jolly Cooperation.

 

[RejjeN]

The original Knights of the Old Republic love between Bastila Shan and the main character. The love drama is absolutely brilliant.

Read with caution major plot points revealed

Spoiler

Bastila goes after the evil Darth Lord Raven (which is you, but you don't know it yet) and duels with him until Ravens apprentice betrays him putting Raven near death. The Jedi choose to suppress Ravens memories and give him a new chance at life. Bastila is put in charge of keeping an eye on him as he (you) go on a adventure. Soon Raven and Bastila fall in love (if you choose the right options). Towards the end Bastila falls to the dark side and Raven is left with a choice. Kill his love, join his love, or try turning her back to the light side.

It's Revan. Not "Raven". Sorry. Stuff like that just gets to me.

Hilarious coincidence (for me anyhow) was that I named my first character in KotOR Raven

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

The original Knights of the Old Republic love between Bastila Shan and the main character. The love drama is absolutely brilliant.

Read with caution major plot points revealed

Spoiler

Bastila goes after the evil Darth Lord Raven (which is you, but you don't know it yet) and duels with him until Ravens apprentice betrays him putting Raven near death. The Jedi choose to suppress Ravens memories and give him a new chance at life. Bastila is put in charge of keeping an eye on him as he (you) go on a adventure. Soon Raven and Bastila fall in love (if you choose the right options). Towards the end Bastila falls to the dark side and Raven is left with a choice. Kill his love, join his love, or try turning her back to the light side.

It's Revan. Not "Raven". Sorry. Stuff like that just gets to me.

Thats what I get for not playing in 10 years...
its fixed, just for you

 

[Mr Companion]

Oh no

You...

You don't know about the Sunbros?

Spoiler: Oh dear

Well of course I know about the sunbros covenant, but where did all this crazy awesomeness about it online start?

 

[solidmetal]

i think Wander and Mono in Shadow of The Colossus is one of the best

 

[Baron_Rouge]

Cole and Trish from Infamous were really good. Not to spoil anything for anyone who hasn't played it, but when it comes to the pivotal choice you have to make regarding Trish, I had such a difficult time deciding what to do...in the end, I picked the morally good option, with my teeth clenched, and felt genuinely sad afterwards...

However, my vote has to go with Vincent and Katherine from Catherine...really, really believable characters. Amazing game.

 

[solidmetal]

However, my vote has to go with Vincent and Katherine from Catherine...really, really believable characters. Amazing game.

I like the girl with the C she hot )

 

[Spectral Dragon]

I really liked Morrigan in Dragon Age: Origins. Besides the system of throwing things people like at them, the conversations with her were awesome - her sharp wit and cruel jokes she used since she was a bit insecure, then you got closer, and when you show you really care about her, something she's not experienced before, you can really see how it affects her emotionally. It's a really interesting and deep character. Bioware do make... As good romances as they can, given how their games work out.

Other than that... I can't think of more I've played, except the wordless ones, they're usually good.