Romance With Haven
Video games have had a complicated relationship with romantic…relationships.
But what about *insert game with romance options here* ? Most games treat relationships as an act of lust. Rewarding players through building a bond with a relationship, often solidified by a kiss or sex scene, simplifies their complicated nature. This official label is also often associated with player benefits, reinforcing this notion that they’re a status symbol. Haven is different. You’re already in a relationship so there’s nothing to chase after, yet Yu and Kay interact so lovingly and with such genuine affection. The relationship isn’t the end-point. It’s the focal point from which a huge host of systems are derived. In reappropriating romance’s role, it provides moments of introspection.
