The idea of playing out one's character in a video game is something that intrigues and captivates fans to no end. After all, the real world is a boring one, and the idea of roaming through a fictional landscape full to the brim with action, drama, and everything else along the same lines while getting into the shoes of a character is an experience that is quite a blast indeed.
RELATED: 10 Video Games That Do Romance Right
Of course, the element of romance is something that should always be discussed when it comes to the idea of getting immersed in a video game. There are various ways in which most video games tend to integrate this mechanic... although there are others that could easily run riot with romance systems but end up leaving them out of the title regardless. Here are ten such titles that could've definitely benefited from a romance aspect.
10 Red Dead Redemption 2
A masterpiece of this generation that deserves all the plaudits it has received and then some, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a title that any fan of great open-world games should definitely try out.
There's already a ton of mechanics integrated into this title, but one can't deny that having a proper romance system or something along the same lines could've made this title all the more memorable regardless.
9 The Last Of Us
A story-driven action title with a gut-wrenching plot that will leave players reaching for their tissues during some extremely touching moments, The Last of Us was the game that truly established Naughty Dog as a tour de force in the land of video gaming.
One can't deny that including a romantic interest for Joel in The Last of Us could've allowed for the game to tug at the emotional heartstrings of players even more... although perhaps the impending sense of doom and loss could've been too much for the average gamer to bear.
8 Batman: Arkham Knight
The final chapter of the Arkham series was a game that divided people upon launch but has generally managed to discard most of these reactionary takes to establish itself as a brilliant conclusion to this legendary series.
RELATED: Every Batman Arkham Game, Ranked From Worst To Best (According To Metacritic)
That being said, one can't deny that there was definitely room for improvement in Batman: Arkham Knight, and perhaps the resonance of the player with Batman's plight could've been increased even further with the inclusion of a romantic interest.
7 Chrono Trigger
One of the most legendary JRPGs of all time, the cast of Chrono Trigger play an amazing role as a cast of endearing adventurers who embark on a journey through time itself in order to eliminate a massive threat called Lavos and protect the world from its destruction.
It's really hard to recommend anything to improve a game that is nearly perfect, but one can't deny that having the ability to romance characters in the world of Chrono Trigger could've allowed for some amazing moments in an already stellar title.
6 Psychonauts
One of the oddest yet most charming games of all time, Psychonauts is a criminally underrated title that deserves more attention due to the truly bizarre yet captivating nature of the title's setting and gameplay.
With the eclectic cast of memorable characters featured in this title, perhaps the act of roaming around Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp could've become more interesting and goal-oriented with the inclusion of a romance system or something along the same lines.
5 Deus Ex
Deus Ex is considered by many to be one of the greatest video games of all time, and it's easy to see why this is the case... especially when one looks at the fact that the game was released more than two decades ago! The emergent gameplay and impressive systems present in this title make for a unique experience that will certainly entertain fans to no end.
That being said, one has to admit that the plot can go over people's heads at times, and it certainly doesn't help that most of the characters in the game feel somewhat lifeless at times. Perhaps the emotions of the characters in this game could've been harnessed in a better manner with the inclusion of a romance mechanic, that could've allowed JC Denton to show a side of him that is rarely shown throughout this title.
4 God Of War
The reboot of God of War is an absolute worldbeater, with Santa Monica Studios truly giving it their all in a bid to revitalize the franchise and introduce a whole swath of gamers to this brilliant game.
With Kratos becoming a single father who has to take care of his son, it's certainly rather interesting to think about the various ways in which a romance mechanic could've been integrated into this title. Perhaps the next title in this series can play around with this idea and allow gamers to witness a side of Kratos that hadn't ever been seen before.
3 Middle-Earth: Shadow Of War
Shadow of Mordor opens up in a rather grim fashion, with Talion's wife and child being put to the sword in front of the ranger's eyes. So, it would've obviously been somewhat tasteless to add a romance mechanic to this title... but the sequel didn't need to be bogged down by this either.
RELATED: Middle-Earth Shadow Of War: The 10 Best Skills In The Game, Ranked
While it would've been somewhat hard to make a half-dead ranger develop feelings for anyone, there's no denying the fact that Shadow of War could've benefited from such a personal mechanic — especially since the game itself is generally considered to be inferior to Shadow of Mordor by many.
2 Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
Disco Elysium is easily one of the best-written games of all time, so it goes without saying that The Final Cut — an enhanced edition that added voice acting for every scene and included a bunch of new content as well, among other things — was bound to be a massive improvement in every way since it was technically just sharpening the edges of what was already a near-perfect title.
While it might be in poor taste to add romance options for a character who was still finding it hard to move on from his ex-wife, one could've definitely trusted ZA/UM to pull this off with their impeccable touch, as well.
1 BioShock
The first BioShock is an incredible game in every sense of the word, featuring an oppressive atmosphere coupled with a brilliant story that would keep fans hooked up until the very end.
The only flaw that one can point out regarding this title is the fact that Jack — the protagonist — is an absolutely lifeless character. It's a problem that could've possibly been mitigated with the inclusion of a romance aspect.