Outriders is packed full with features that players are absolutely loving. From the crossplay capabilities in Outriders to the ability to manipulate world level to make the game easier or harder, it seems hand tailored to be an enjoyable experience for all players. Alongside this, the world is well developed, and it is brimming with unique characters, each with interesting back stories and personalities. As players and the Outrider get to know these characters, a thought no doubt crosses their mind: Is there romance in the game? Unfortunately, the short answer to that question is a hard no, as players can't get romantically involved with any of the characters.
Romance in RPGs like Outriders has become more and more commonplace over time. From iconic games like Mass Effect that let players romance a ton of characters to others like Assassin's Creed that sprinkle romance options with characters in throughout the game, it's something that a lot of players look forward to.
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For many players, romance is the last thing on their mind as they play through the opening portions of Outriders, but that just might change after players complete one of the early side quests. After heading deep into Hounds territory to avenge Mr. Chang, the Outrider finds Eva López, another merchant that promises the player discounts on her inventory. When shopping at this vendor, the Outrider and Eva lean in close, and the romantic tension between the two is palpable. The scene has already caused many to take notice.
The lack of romance options was actually common knowledge even before the full game released. In an interview with GameRant, People Can Fly's Bartosz Kmita (Game Director) and Szymon Barchan (Senior Narrative Designer) shared information about the crew in Outriders and how players would be able to interact with them. When asked about whether or not there would be romance options, they had this to say: "We are not creating a game about love stories. Our world is a little bit different, more brutal and gritty, and they have different problems. Survival is the issue, not romance right now." This stance is made very clear by certain characters in the game like Jakub and Shira, both of whom remind the Outrider frequently that they are barely scraping by.
While players may find themselves disappointed at the lack of romance options within Outriders, there is something to be gained for being invested in each character's story and growing close with them. Using the above example, if players never rescue Eva, they wouldn't have access to her unique, discounted shop. Other characters in the game also have questlines that offer great rewards, so players are encouraged to interact with these characters.
Outriders is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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