Josh Sawyer had high praise for CD Projekt RED’s (CDPR) game, which already has a sequel in development.
When we think of Cyberpunk 2077, romance may not be the first feature that springs to mind. Yet according to Josh Sawyer—the mind behind Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity, and Pentiment—it might just feature the best RPG romances ever crafted. In an interview with PCGamer, the Obsidian designer noted that Cyberpunk’s romances stand apart from the rest of the game in a way that most other RPGs don’t manage, where such moments typically unfold in crowded team camps surrounded by other characters.
“The reason is because those relationships—whether you like the characters or not, which I think is beside the point from a design standpoint—don’t happen in a party context. In most RPGs, you’ve got six people grouped up, and you’re having these intimate conversations in front of everyone, which feels kind of weird. In Cyberpunk 2077, you might hang out with Judy, have a moment, and then chat briefly before she says, ‘I’ve got stuff to do. Bye.’ And she’s gone. You won’t hear from her again until enough time has passed, or you’ve advanced the critical path.”
Cyberpunk’s approach integrates built-in pacing that allows the emotional core of the relationship to develop through exclusive, personalized content. “It’s like there’s content just for you and Judy. River doesn’t show up at all. I’m not saying it’s flawless, but I really enjoy that approach. If I were to write romance into a game, I’d probably take this direction.”
As for the execution, Sawyer credits part of it to production value. “Obsidian isn’t exactly known for big cutscenes. Larian handles this superbly. So does CDPR. And of course, BioWare has always done well with romance, too.”
Ultimately, what sets Cyberpunk 2077 apart is that each romantic storyline feels more personal, and the game doesn’t lean on a traditional party-based structure like, say, Baldur’s Gate 3.
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