Post Script
A clockwork heart can’t beat faster
Romance is a strange thing in games. In Cyberpunk 2077, if you want to begin a romantic relationship with Pan Am, you need to choose the right lines of dialogue at key points during her respective side missions. Astarion, in Baldur’s Gate 3, can only be successfully seduced if you finish his companion quest and – again – make certain decisions at certain moments. Even the most standoffish of Stardew Valley’s singletons is yours once you’ve worked out what gift they might appreciate. Go back further. You can only pair up with Fallout 4’s Piper if you consistently perform particular in-game behaviours in front of her. To win the hearts of the various girlfriend characters in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, you have to make sure that your CJ has the right haircut, right car and right body type, and then choose the correct location for a date. The best way to get married in The Sims is to invite your prospective spouse to your home and spam ‘compliment’ and ‘gift’ until their fondness meter reaches the 100 mark.