Summary
Open-world gamesobviously offer oodles of options to players. This mindset informs the role-playing elements included in many such titles. These choices and challenges immerse fans in the setting, allowing them to truly live in their favorite fantasy realms. It’s no surprise that romance is among the most popular options.
Certain open-world titles includemarriage.Tying the knot in the virtual world requires more work than regular romance quests. Perhaps this is the player’s way of showing the necessary commitment. Whatever the reason, everyone should strive to be the marrying type. Not only do these specialized quests offer unique rewards and scenarios, but they go the extra mile toward making gamers part of the world.
Updated June 27, 2025, by Hamza Haq:While almost all modern open-world games with any hint of role playoffer romanceable charactersfor players to interact with, full-blown matrimony is something very few open-world games have the heart to tackle. That said, the world of gaming is vast, and hundreds of games come out every year, which increases the number of open-world games that allow players to marry NPCs. The list has been updated with two new titles, both featuring an in-depth relationship system that goes from friendship to dating to, eventually, marriage.
Great deeds on the high seas can have unexpected rewards.Sid Meier’s Piratesillustrates that at several points. One is a questline dedicated to marriage, and players can definitely aim high.
When they visit a port, they can establish a friendship with the governor and, by extension, his daughter. Said daughter can be plain, attractive, or beautiful. This status determines the rank that the player must attain in order to court the lady. For instance, an attractive daughter only goes for colonels. If she takes an interest, players can start the long process of matrimony. They’ll complete a minigame involving a ballroom dance, give the daughter expensive jewelry, duel her current fiancé, and rescue her from a villain.
These tasks will earn both her favor and her hand in marriage. In exchange, players receive intel on hidden treasure or enemy captains. How she has this information is anyone’s guess, butambitious piratesare probably grateful for such a valuable wedding gift.
Fans spend a long time getting to know their party inDragon Quest 11. However,marriage is only available after finishing the main story. At this point, players can set about rebuilding Cobblestone, the hero’s hometown. This involves scouring the world for four individuals and completing their respective tasks. Only then do they aid in the reconstruction. This process restores the player’s hearth and home, but that’s only the beginning of settling down.
The next challenge is Drustran’s Trials, namely the Disciple’s Trial. This culminates in fighting a superboss, usually with special conditions like winning in 25 moves or less. Upon achieving victory, an ethereal knight grants the hero a wish, asking whom he wants to spend the rest of his life with. Players can choose one of the party members, but this isn’t strictly marriage. The dialogue makes it clear that they’re simply living together. The only matrimonial option is Gemma, the hero’s childhood sweetheart. The ensuing matchmaking offers no gameplay benefits, but it does giveDragon Quest 11a much-deserved happy ending.
This fellow RPG series also has a conditional marriage.Dragon Age: Inquisitionis extremely open in terms of romance.Virtually anyone is ready and willing to pursue a relationship. These range from party members to occupants of the Inquisitor’s castle. While these sequences imply long-term companionship, the connection isn’t official.
Inquisitionreserves that honorfor Cullen and Sera. If the player romances one of these two, they will propose marriage. Later, theTrespasserDLC shows the wedding ceremony. It offers no gameplay bonuses, rather serving as a story epilogue. That’s another area where the game mirrorsDragon Quest.
Bethesda takes its open-endedElder Scrollsformat to space withStarfield. Part of this involves carrying over the marriage process. Certain crew members are optional for matrimony. Specifically, players can marry Sarah Morgan, Sam Coe, Barrett, or Andreja. These relationships are limited, yet they’re more nuanced thanSkyrim’soptions.
InStarfield, both partners must demonstrate their commitment. Players' decisions and dialogue should align with the characters' morals. Having them join the hero on quests can then raise their friendship status. Once that status is high enough, they respond to players' flirting and activatea unique questrelated to their past or a personal issue. It’s akin to the loyalty missions inMass Effect. After this, the two lovers can join hands. The style of the wedding even differs depending on the type of character the player chooses. Plus, the player’s spouse presents a gift as a token of affection. Granted, this is small potatoes compared to the player’s effort, but it’s still appreciated.
The Soulsborne games are rife with death, so one wouldn’t expect them to include a lifelong commitment.Elden Ringdoes just that, albeit only for a specific character. In the Church of Elleh, players meet a witch named Ranni. They can then find her again at Caria Manor. However, pursuing this relationship comes with some supernatural strings attached.
Ranni seems to confuse marriage with slavery. Players can elect to serve her and start her questline. In the process, they gain various powerful artifacts, like a Dark Moon Ring. The resulting scavenger hunt leads to a cavern near the Grand Cloister. Here, they find Ranni’s rotting corpse and discover that the aforementioned ring is actually a wedding band. Putting it on her finger frees her spirit and grants the player theDark Moon Greatsword. That’s a fitting reward in itself, but this also unlocks an extra ending. Upon finishingElden Ring, players can recall Ranni and spend eternity together. It’s not exactly “Happily Ever After,” but she takes her vows seriously.
3My Time At Portia
Multiple potential partners to choose from
Marriage inMy Time At Portiais a core feature of the game that is unlocked after players upgrade their accommodations to make space for a new person and then pop the question when the timing feels right.
Of course, this can only work if players have romanced one of the eligible bachelors or bachelorettes in town to the point where they achieve ‘lover’ status. Popping the question to any random stranger in the street will not work. The relationship status with an NPC first needs to reach ‘Friend’ (via gifting, completing tasks, talking) before they can be confessed to with a Heart Knot.My Time At Portiaoffers players the opportunity to keep things platonic, date, break up, marry, and even divorce NPCs, depending on the situation they find themselves in.
Considering the massive amount of activities and quests available in atypicalElder Scrollstitle,it figures thatSkyrimwould throw in marriage as well. This entry already experiments with social mechanics and companions, and marriage is just a long-term version of those. However, taking that next step requires a special item. No, not a wedding ring.
Rather, players must acquire an Amulet of Mara. They can buy these from most merchants or simply find one lying around the world. Once it’s in their inventory, they can set about finding a partner.
Fans can brooch the subject with countless NPCs, but the process comes with a few conditions. First, the person must know the player and have a favorable opinion of them. Second,certain speciesare incompatible. Players sadly can’t marry a Khajiit, for example. Finally, the chosen partner usually has a task or quest to complete before the wedding can happen. Once all is said and done, the couple can tie the knot and move into a house. Players can even take a share of their spouse’s money. Who knew marriage came with rent? Apparently, that’s how it works inSkyrim.
All current mainline titles in theFableSeries (Fable I, II, and III) allow players to marry any minor NPC who catches their fancy in an elaborate ceremony that culminates in the couple living together in a new home. Of course, players will first need to purchase a home for their prospective spouse.
Spouses provide in-game buffs and benefits, but they can divorce the Hero (main character) if they’re not well taken care of. Starting fromFable 2, players can even have children of their own if they so choose.Fable 3even allows the Hero to marry another player in-game if they’re playing co-op together, which comes with its own gameplay implications.
