Baldur’s Gate 3 is my absolute favorite game of all time. While I enjoy playing tabletop Dungeons & Dragons, there’s something truly magical about seeing its characters and world brought to life digitally in Larian Studios’ latest creation. From mystical myconids to voracious vampires, the world of DnD is home to all sorts of fantastical creatures. It also offers a range of romantic possibilities, whether you desire cosmic space encounters or a Twilight-inspired love story.
In all of my countless Baldur’s Gate 3 playthroughs, there has only been one companion who has captured my heart: Astarion, my dearest companion. I adore Astarion. I would do anything for him, even sacrificing the lives of my characters in the game. He embodies my deepest desires, tracing back to my childhood fascination with movies like Fright Night, Interview with the Vampire, and The Lost Boys. If a book, film, or game features a vampire, count me in.
However, this has left me longing for a fresh romantic connection in the subsequent playthroughs after my initial encounter with Astarion. I always choose Astarion, and I always go through the same dialogue with him. The cutscenes are stunning, just like him, but I yearn for at least one of my characters to experience the touch of someone else. Anyone, except for the other romance options available in Baldur’s Gate 3.
There are two other characters who caught my attention, apart from Orin, of course: the Drow twins. Yes, Nym and Sorn Orlith, the Seldarine Drow twins you encounter in the city’s brothel. Sure, you can have a wild night with them and even involve your companions in a ménage à trois if that’s what you desire. However, I long for something more than a transactional relationship.
In the short time I spent with Nym and Sorn, I sensed hidden depths within them. They mention escaping the Underdark to work in Baldur’s Gate due to mistreatment from the matriarchy. Both of them find satisfaction in their new lives as sex workers, with Nym viewing it as a therapeutic choice and Sorn finding excitement in it. In other words, Sorn is open to more unconventional experiences.
In fact, Sorn’s preferences go beyond what is considered normal within the Drow society of the Underdark. In a way, he reminds me of Astarion – a man seeking freedom and willing to explore his wild side. I was immediately drawn to him and his sister, and it was disappointing to discover that developing a romance with either of them is not an option.
Perhaps our characters could learn about the twins while exploring the Underdark or have a chance encounter with them at the Elfsong Tavern or the Blushing Mermaid. Countless scenarios play out in my mind with the Orlith twins, highlighting the exceptionally well-written nature of the entire game. Once you spend even a brief moment with a character, you may find yourself falling head over heels for them.
In my own imagination, my Lolth-Sworn Drow is whisked away by Sorn’s untamed spirit or finds solace in Nym’s serene embrace. We all desire a connection like Dame Aylin and Isobel Thorm, and it’s disappointing that we can experience a greater fraction of it with the Emperor, a literal mind flayer, than we can with remarkable characters like Nym or Sorn Orlith.
So, yes, players of Baldur’s Gate 3 are eager for romantic connections. Some may say that they are too eager. However, no one can deny that their thirst can be easily quenched if given the opportunity to spend time with the Drow twins. Nym describes Sharess’ Caress as an “oasis of calm.” Please, Larian, allow me to be their new oasis of calm within the chaotic world of the Forgotten Realms.