What’s the point of forming relationships with video game characters? After all, they’re not real, and everything is only happening inside the confines of the virtual world of the game. Well… that’s not entirely true: video games offer guidance and rehearsal spaces for how we interact with people in the real world — without risking judgment from other people in the process.

The above theory was offered during the Decades of Digital Love panel at PAX West 2025, courtesy of moderators Jennasis and Virvada, hosts of the weekly Two Girls One Ship podcast. After guiding their audience through the occasionally rocky history of video game romance and relationship play for the past 40 years, they wanted to talk about the way those games influence the people who play them.

“When you romance in a video game, unlike in real life, it's attractive,” argued Virvada. “There's no rejection. They want to be with you. There's no useless dates, putting yourself out there, risking death or violence. It's a completely safe way to experience love -- now, not back in the 90s or 80s, maybe. It's role playing, more than just your avatar, but also relationship choices, types and situations. There are people who discover their sexuality through video game romance.”

Jennasis picked up on that thread: “In-game romance plays an important role in your in real life relationships as well — notably with how you can experiment with sexuality. How many people question their sexuality when they first met [Mass Effect’s] Liara or [Mortal Kombat’s] Zebron, or taste-tested what it was like to kiss someone of the same gender? Video games offer a safe way to test the waters or role play out different types of relationships. If that was too much or not enough, you made the wrong choice, you can always save scum.”

This isn’t just a theory advanced by the panel’s hosts: there are multiple medical studies that back up that gaming changes the way you interact with the world. So just think of it this way: when you’re exploring the romantic opportunities in your favorite games, you’re exploring what you might want outside of that game, as well, away from the prying eyes of those around you. Be responsible — or, you know, don't be responsible, if that’s what you’re looking to explore.

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