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Thanks to the Starfield romance system, those of you more interested in finding love than loot in the Settled Systems are in luck. Like in many of Bethesda’s modern RPGs, such as Skyrim or Fallout, you’ll have the opportunity to snag yourself a spouse – after all, what Bethesda game would be complete without it? This time, however, each option is far more developed than they have been in other games.
If you need help with questing, our Starfield Into the Unknown and Starfield Echoes of the Past cache guides will have you covered. And if you’re looking to get into outpost building, you’ll need to stock up on some Starfield adaptive frames. As for gear upgrades, make sure to check out the Starfield best weapons and Starfield best armor. For now, we’re going to go through Starfield romance, who you can romance, and how to do it.
Does Starfield have romance?
Yes, like in Bethesda’s previous games, there is a romance system in Starfield where you can develop relationships with certain NPCs. Unlike older titles, though, Bethesda have made a point of developing some of these relationships beyond the more simplistic relationships and dialogue options available in those previous games.
There are a number of potential partners and that four specific companions have a deeper, and more complex romantic relationship than the others. There will also be many more ways to interact with them, with the available lines of dialogue being more expansive than those in previous Bethesda games.
Director Todd Howard talks up these interactions, describing these relationships as “more complex relationships than we’ve had in terms of not just some state, like they like you or they don’t like you, but they can be in love with you and dislike something you did and be pissed at you temporarily, and then come back to loving you.”
How many romance options are there in Starfield?
There are four romance options in Starfield: Sam Coe, Sarah Morgan, Barrett, and Andreja. While there are a number of other NPCs we met during our time with the game, who you can make your Starfield companions, they are not necessarily romanceable, and simply serve to join you while exploring.
Romancing Sam Coe
- Recruitment mission: The Empty Nest
- Skills: Piloting 4, Rifle Certification 3, Payloads 2, and Geology 1
Sam Coe is a Constellation faction member and former space explorer from Akila City on the planet Akila. He is one of the recruitable Constellation companions and crew members, and is a highly-ranked pilot while also being handy with a gun, too.
You can raise your affinity with Sam by performing good actions, and avoiding bad actions, such as murdering civilians and stealing. Eventually, you’ll have the chance to take on the Matters of the Hart quest. Select the [ROMANCE] dialogue option at the end of the quest. Later on, raise your affinity further until you gain the [COMMITMENT] option, and complete the Commitment: Sam Coe quest to marry him.
Romancing Sarah Morgan
- Recruitment mission: The Old Neighborhood
- Skills: Astrodynamics 4, Lasers 3, Leadership 2, and Botany 1
Sarah Morgan is the leader of the Constellation faction. She can be recruited as a one of the many Starfield companions and crew members, and will also tag along with the player during certain quests. Formerly a soldier and adventurer, she’s knowledgeable about astrodynamics, and is very capable with laser weapons.
You can raise Sarah’s affinity by performing good deeds, avoiding bad ones, and by showing a passion for Constellation and the work they do. Prioritise dialogue options that express your interest in science and exploring space. Eventually, you can complete the In Memoriam quest, at the end of which you must select the [ROMANCE] option. Continue raising your affinity, until you gain the [COMMITMENT] option. Complete the Commitment: Sarah quest to marry her. Our how to romance Sarah Morgan goes more in-depth with this process.
Romancing Barrett
- Recruitment mission: Back to Vectera
- Skills: Starship Engineering 4, Particle Beam Weapon Systems 3, Robotics 2, Gastronomy 1
You meet Barret fairly early on in the campaign. But he won’t become your companion until you clear the Back to Vectera quest. To raise Barrett’s affinity, like the others, avoid bad actions and pursue good actions. Barrett also enjoys a bit of banter, so make jokes here and there when the situation calls for it. Once you complete the Breach of Contract quest, select the [ROMANCE] option. Later, select the [COMMITMENT] option, and complete the Commitment: Barrett quest to marry him.
Romancing Andreja
- Recruitment mission: Into the Unknown
- Skills: Stealth 4, Particle Beams 3, Energy Weapon Systems 2, and Theft 1
She’s one of the final Starfield companions who teams up with you as you search for the Artifacts. Andreja gives you a bit more leeway when it comes to stealing and killing, but avoid killing innocent people at all costs. Be supportive of her when it comes to her past, and eventually you will reach the Divided Loyalties quest, where you can select the [ROMANCE] option. Once you select the [COMMITMENT] option, complete the Commitment: Andreja quest to marry her.
These are the only four romanceable characters in the game, and while there are a few more NPCs that would have made great candidates for potential romances, this is it for the moment. Noel and Matteo are both members of Constellation, and would be likely romance options in the future, if more are added.
Unfortunately, despite his popularity, Vasco is not a potential romance option. Lead Artists Istvan Pely said of him that “Even early in the process, before we have the full suite of characters, people in the studio started gravitating toward Vasco. He’s your buddy, but he’s a robot. But all of the sudden everyone on the team decided ‘I want a relationship with Vasco. He’s so cool. He’s so much fun.’ He became a breakout character, and we were just getting started.”
How do you romance NPCs in Starfield?
The romance system in Starfield is fairly similar to previous Bethesda titles in The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series. For a start, spending time with a companion with improve your relationship with them as well as actions that align with their beliefs and values. The right dialogue choices can also influence their opinions of you. While you’ll have to try and tailor your dialogue choices to the character you want to romance, be sure to choose the [FLIRT] option whenever you see it.
Alex’s Advice
If you’re planning on doing something evil like killing or stealing, dismiss your companion beforehand. If they didn’t see it, you won’t lose any affinity with them.
Eventually, you will have the opportunity to complete a Companion quest, which is a quest specifically centred around the NPC you’re trying to romance. Completing this will give you a [ROMANCE] dialogue option. Continue to gain affinity with them, and you’ll eventually gain the [COMMITMENT] option, and have one more quest to do with them before you can get married.
In Starfield, the things you say and the way you talk with them will also have an impact. It goes without saying, but being nice to your prospective spouse will probably help quite a lot. They also react to your actions differently, so if you’re trying to romance someone who values law and order, you should probably stay away from things like murder and thieving. Sam Coe won’t be happy with choices that go against the values of the Starfield Freestar Collective faction, for instance.
Marriage in Starfield
You can also marry your lover in Starfield. By building a close relationship with one of Starfield’s companions. Once you reach a certain level in your relationship, you will be prompted to make a commitment to one another. During this, you will receive a special side quest that is different for each character, in which you finally marry them.
Can you romance multiple companions in Starfield?
Yes, you can romance multiple companions at one in Starfield, but you cannot commit to multiple partners at the same time. Once you have made a commitment with a particular partner, you can continue to flirt with, and romance other companions (which your partner probably will not appreciate), but you will not be able to commit to them as well.
If you’ve decided you’ve had enough of your current partner, you can select to divorce them by talking to them and asking how they feel your relationship is going. Once you’ve broken up with your partner, you can then pursue your relationship with the other companion until you get the option to do their commitment quest, too.
Do your romances continue in Starfield new game plus?
No, your romances do not carry over into your new game plus in Starfield. While we won’t detail exactly why this is so as not to spoil anything, your new game plus will reset your relationships with each of the four companions, meaning you will have to start all over again. This is perfect for anyone wanting to romance a new character without having to divorce your old partner.
Does Starfield have sex?
There are no on-screen depictions of sex in Starfield, but it’s very heavily implied that it takes place off-screen. When you are Committed to someone, sleeping in any bed while they are your companion will result in some pretty suggestive dialogue, and you getting an extra XP boost, so you can probably fill in the blanks yourself.
That’s it for the Starfield romance system. If you’ve started your playthrough, check out our Starfield tips and tricks, the best Starfield spacesuits, our Alternating Currents, Sabotage, Entangled, Absolute Power, Operation Starseed, and Delivering Devils quest walkthroughs. And if it’s ships you’re after, get to know all the Starfield ship manufacturers, the Starfield best ships, Starfield best ship parts, and the Starfield best reactors to make sure you get all the power you need.
Alex played Starfield on PC and has clocked in over 50 hours so far.
Starfield Romance FAQs
Does Starfield have romance?
Yes, like in Bethesda’s previous games, there is a romance system which lets you develop relationships with certain NPCs.
How many romance options are there in Starfield?
There are four romance options in Starfield: Sarah Morgan, Sam Coe, Andreja, and Barrett.
