Tabletop RPGs are a gateway to playing out many situations you don’t get to in everyday life. You can go to space, mow down zombies, or be Nicolas Cage. And yes, you can find love that conquers all. If you’re lucky enough to have found that special person already, a romance-focused TTRPG can still reignite that spark or give you a new way to get intimate.
Whatever your relationship status or preference may be, here are some of the best romance TTRPGs for flirting with fellow players, exploring emotional roller coasters, and feeling that unmatched thrill of a good meet cute.
Monsterhearts 2
If you’re into the supernatural teen angst Twilight kind of romance, you’ve probably already heard of Monsterhearts. The game uses the effective allegory of monstrous transformations as a form of puberty. With that comes the messy drama of high school love that makes for such great roleplay. Monsterhearts 2 also works well for queer themes, making it a popular system for livestreams and actual plays. Play this one if you want to explore romance as part of discovering yourself during one of life’s most tumultuous eras.
Thirsty Sword Lesbians
It’s all there in the name – if you want to be gay, have a sword, and hook up with the enemy, Thirsty Sword Lesbians delivers. This one is great for achieving the fantasy of being a swashbuckler who gives a suggestive wink as they jump into danger. As such, you’ll see equal parts adventure and romance in a Thirsty Sword Lesbain campaign. While the level of romance is really up to the GM and players, it’ll probably lean more towards suggestion with maybe a smooch at the end.
The Romance Trilogy
Should you want to dip your toe into romance RPGs, this bundle is a good starting point. There are three games included here that span common romance setups, with both digital and physical options available. First is Breaking the Ice, where you play to discover if a couple forms after three dates. In Shooting the Moon, two rivals vie for the hand of a Beloved, weaving a dramatic web. Finally, Under My Skin casts several players as a friend group who complicate everything when they start catching feelings. The current Romance Trilogy also offers several hacks for each game that change the genres and player counts.
Pendragon
Jumping right into a romantic TTRPG might be a hard sell for some tables, especially if you’re trying to pull them away from a more traditional fantasy romp like DnD. Pendragon, then, is a good middle ground for theme. The system is built with knightly quests in mind, particularly in the chivalric vein of King Arthur. Romance is not the main concern, but it does play a big role in your character’s progression. Temptation will challenge your code, while marrying allows you to play as your child later on in a long campaign. Pendragon offers a way to lightly introduce romance into the typical “dudes on a quest” dynamic.
Star Crossed
You should play Star Crossed if you are a sucker for games with some kind of physical gimmick. In this case, there’s a Jenga tower that represents tension (sexual, romantic, societal, etc.) in two player characters’ relationship. You two feel very strongly for one another, but something prevents you from riding off into the sunset together. To demonstrate this, you pull blocks from the tower as you play. Can you make it through even when things get shaky, or will your fictional love literally fall apart?
Pasion De Las Pasiones
Looking for something on the sillier side of romance? Pasion de las Pasiones brings all the craziness of telenovelas to your table. You’re encouraged to ham it up as one of several novela tropes such as the scheming villain or the lover who is loyal to a fault. Dramatic reveals are commonplace as are returns from the dead. (No diamonds needed!) Pasion de las Pasiones is quick to pick up, easy to run, and full of laughs – a perfect one-shot game for when you need a break from the usual dragon slaying antics.
Good Society
If you’re into romance, there’s a good chance you love Jane Austen novels. For that matter, your appreciation of regency romance could easily extend to TV adaptations like the Netflix Bridgerton. Good Society, featured on Dimension 20, places you in that highborne world of reputation, ballrooms, and flirtation via witty back-and forth. Its card system gives you relationships and desires to balance, capturing the fraught push-pull regency characters often face. It can be played online, but it’s also a blast as a tea party LARP.
Four Lovers
As plague ravages the realm, four nobles of Venice are isolated in their chambers. They desire love to ease their loneliness, but are only allowed to send messages through a servant. Thus begins a game of note-passing, sharing secrets, and flirting through private messages. Four Lovers is a silly one shot system that mixes romance roleplay with social deception elements seen in popular party games. It’s great for both online and in-person play and is a steal at $8 for the PDF.
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Sergio SolĂłrzano is the best Dungeon Master in the USA (according to a Wizards of the Coast competition, anyway). He loves minis and terrain but also goes all-in on improv!
