Prior to its release,Dragon Age: The Veilguarddrew comparisons to fellow RPGBaldur’s Gate 3due to both games featuring a large cast of romanceable companions who can be paired with any player character regardless of race, class, or gender identity. There are definitely some similarities, particularly when it comes to the fact that bothDragon Age: The VeilguardandBaldur’s Gate 3often require the player character to make crucial, life-changing choices for their partner. However, the romances are also very different in terms of their timing, structure, and focus on intimacy.
Both Games Ask Players To Make Big Choices For Their Partner
BothDragon Age: The VeilguardandBaldur’s Gate 3,as vast RPGs with multiple paths and endings, focus heavily on choices - and romance is no exception. Both games feature romances that end with a major choice for the character being romanced, that ultimately affect how things end up for the pair. While the companions do not need to be romanced to make these choices, they often have unique consequences that only appear on a romance path. Some examples are:
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Romances Have A Larger Focus On Physical Intimacy
InDragon Age: The Veilguard,players do notconsummate their relationshipwith their love interest of choice until the very end of the game, shortly before the final battle. These scenes are primarily implied and very little is shown - the game has a “nudity” filter, but players have noticed that it has little effect regardless of which setting is chosen.
Baldur’s Gate 3,on the other hand, puts a greater focus on physical intimacy. Players can become intimate with some partners - such as Lae’zel and Astarion - multiple times, and can seek intimacy outside of relationships by visiting Sharess’s Caress or hooking up with the devil Mizora or incubusHaarlep. These scenes are also much more visually detailed compared to theirDragon Agecounterparts.
Both Games (Mostly) Require A Single Commitment
The greatest similarity between the two games is in how the path of the romances is structured. You can start out by flirting with multiple companions early in your journey but, at some point, will be asked to commit to a single partner. (The sole exception isBaldur’s Gate 3’sHalsin, who is polyamorous and will happily share the player with Astarion or Shadowheart.)
From there, another major divergence point occurs. InBaldur’s Gate 3,non-romanced companions may flirt with one another, but no companion-companion romances occur. This disappointed some fans who enjoy the interactions between Karlach and Wyll or Lae’zel and Shadowheart, or feel that it is out of character for Halsin not to pursue anyone if not chosen. InThe Veilguard,those who are not paired up may seek to pursue one another instead. Neve can end up with Lucanis, Taash withHarding, and Emmrich with Strife, an NPC from the Veil Jumper faction. Ultimately, this is probably the biggest difference between how romance is handled in the two games.
