Video games combine narrative, artistic, goal-oriented and interactive elements to weave an immersive experience for players. Over the last several decades, they have become increasingly more sophisticated, introducing elements of romance and love. While in-game relationships are often experienced in unrealistic settings, game creators strive to incorporate real-life issues and interpersonal behaviors. Two titles released within the last five years, Dragon Age: Inquisition and Dream Daddy, give their fans a deeper view of romantic relationships that somewhat mirrors their real-world counterparts. 

Cullen Rutherford: A Study in Trauma and Recovery

In BioWare’s popular fantasy genre Dragon Age games, players recruit companions and interact with nonplayable characters in the fictional realm of Thedas. One example is Cullen Rutherford, a warrior who joins the Templar order as a youth to stop dangerous magic and protect innocents. Throughout the series’ first two installments, Cullen endures horrible ordeals that leave him suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder. His calling as a Templar also requires him to imbibe lyrium, an addictive substance that enhances Templars’ abilities but eventually destroys their minds.

The series’ third game, Dragon Age: Inquisition, permits anyone playing a female human or elf Inquisitor to enter a romance with Cullen. During one relationship side quest, she learns that Cullen is attempting to stop his lyrium addiction. Later, she finds Cullen experiencing withdrawal symptoms and deliberating whether to resume taking it. While Cullen feels compelled by a sense of duty and a perceived compromised ability to lead the Inquisition’s armies, the Inquisitor can persuade him to continue his recovery.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration emphasizes that recovering addicts need their families, loved ones and other support networks. Without these, the individual may be far more likely to slip into addiction. As SAMHSA states that family and friends can become “champions of their loved one’s recovery,” Dragon Age: Inquisition lets the Inquisitor to do the same for Cullen. If the player encourages him to keep going, he breaks his addiction and begins to heal from his trauma. Moreover, he will ask the Inquisitor to marry him during the “Trespasser” downloadable episode. Conversely, an addicted Cullen will abandon his relationship with the Inquisitor.

Bad Choices and Hard Lessons in Dream Daddy**** 

Game creators Leighton Gray and Vernon Shaw brought Dream Daddy, a dating simulator, to the Steam platform in July 2017. Players can customize a dad persona to meet and romance other nonplayable dad characters. The Guardian revealed that the game has received overwhelming acclaim for its story, interface and positive images of queer and transgender men. At the same time, it also permits users to follow storylines with negative consequences. A recent Kotaku article features an interview in which the developers explained why attempts to romance the married dad Joseph do not lead to a happy ending. Throughout gameplay, users pursuing Joseph will see his backstory while learning more about his wife Mary. Gray disclosed that their goal in constructing this storyline “was to get people to analyze why they’d villainize her when, in reality, if you’re dating Joseph, you’re not exactly doing so hot yourself—and how her potentially cheating justifies you doing things with Joseph.” Gray added that Joseph remains wed to Mary regardless of what the player does, an outcome that often parallels real-life extra-marital affairs.

Does Art Imitate Life?

While love affairs in the real world can prove to be more complex, game developers have imported some of their characteristics into their creations. Users can offer emotional support, as in the case of Dragon Age’s Cullen, or enter a potentially harmful relationship, such as with Dream Daddy’s Joseph. With long-term love and marriage possible in the video game universe, gaming companies must continue to cultivate intelligent, well-written stories that are realistic while facilitating the healthy escapism that gamers seek.