The healthiest romance options in Dragon Age

Sure, Dragon Age is a dark series. But do you know what it also is? Sweet and precious. Romance has been part of the games since the beginning, and there has been an equal chance for quiet encounters with your loved ones and heartbreaking betrayals. Oh, young love.

But between the racial drama and unfortunate revelations that are for some reason largely exclusive to magicians, there are moments of true happiness you can find with some truly adorable love interests. But who provide the warm fuzzies throughout the series in the best way?

9 Sebastian

When you dance, leave enough space for the creator

Yes, it's Sebastian. This church boy is a bit unfortunate in some ways even outside of his introduction in Dragon Age 2, although it's fun to drive him away from Kirkwall during a war table mission in the following game. You also face him by taking revenge on his family's killer. You know, typical Dragon Age fare. But this isn't about that, it's about healthy stuff.

Sebastian is extremely devoted to the Chantry, and along with a lifetime of guilt and self-loathing from that sheltered upbringing, it also comes with some admittedly sweet concepts of romance. His path in this regard is chaste, completely focused on being together with Hawke and supporting each other. It's tame, but adorable, revenge nonetheless.

8 Alistair

His flirting technique is Snark and Panic

You know how Sebastian never deviates from his Chantry teachings? Alistair isn't quite as afraid of “licking a lamp post in winter”, so to speak. Despite his own Chantry upbringing, he is a bit more adventurous when it comes to romance. Granted, by the time you meet him in Dragon Age: Origins, Alistair has done very little to deviate from his duty as a rookie Gray Warden.

So it's understandable that he's delightfully overwhelmed when you start flirting with him, to the point where his usual banter is replaced by chaotic stuttering. Just watching him develop is such a pure experience. But he's also incredibly romantic, to the point where he sacrifices himself at the end of the game to save your life in one of Dragon Age's most heartbreaking moments (if you bring him to the final battle). It's not the healthy part, to be fair.

7 Cassandra

She would love to take you out

Cassandra is the loyal warrior who starts the titular organization in Dragon Age: Inquisition. She spent the last game interrogating fan favorite Varric. She is also a hopeless romantic who wants nothing more than to fall in love and read poetry together in the moonlight.

After dozens of hours of fighting at Cassandra's side and witnessing her tireless determination, assuming you've been flirting with her the entire time (your villain), you get the chance to romance her. But all she wants is for you to do it in the sweetest way possible, with a search for flowers and romantic poems to see her with. Sure, it was her idea, but that crack in her steadfast exterior is arguably one of the most precious moments in the game.

6 Josephine

Who doesn't start their relationship with a duel?

Josephine is arguably more for the traditional idea of ​​romance than Cassandra. But since this is still Dragon Age, there's always a little more to it. If you want to be her lover, you must meet her family arranged suitor and duel him. It is a story as old as time.

But family drama aside, her whole romance is just so healthy. If you ever saw those steamy romance book covers as a kid, this is probably what you imagined them to be about before you discovered the word “scum.” The kisses are sweet, the cuddling is iconic, and it's even a great asexual romance option for those looking.

5 Merrill

She's on Eluvian with you

Sweetness and wholesomeness can coexist with chaos and blood magic. That's where Merrill shines. In Dragon Age 2, she starts out as this awkward and arguably neurodivergent mage who helps you along the way. By the end, she's an awkward and neurodivergent mage who may or may not have caused the death of her entire clan through forbidden research.

But just focusing on her romance, she's just one of the sweetest people you could ever meet. It's easy to fall in love with her, and the way she just blurts out “I love you!” after your first night together is so incredibly clean. That wholesome nature is present even if you don't love her, but the sweetness of her character rises tenfold with the power of loving eyes.

4 Cullen

If nothing else, that coat would make a nice pillow

You might not expect the commander of the Inquisition's forces to be particularly sweet and gentle. But given Cullen's history, it's more like it's exactly what he needs from a relationship. He's been traumatized more times than someone in charge of an entire army probably should, but luckily you're there for him.

If you play an inquisitor as a human or an elf, you can start a romance with Cullen. There are tons of cute scenes, but the fact that he takes you somewhere romantic and gives you his lucky coin is probably the most cinnamon roll-like thing possible, like a kitten giving you his favorite stuff.

3 Sera

You are her rock, she is your many, many arrows

It might be a little controversial to claim that Sera is healthy, but as one of the most unfairly hated party members in an RPG, she is unfortunately used to being misunderstood. Many players were put off by Sera's eccentricities, but those who were charmed and chose to romance her (provided they were playing as a female character) found some of the sweetest content in the entire series.

First, Sera writes about the Inquisitor in her journal during a romance, and you can tell how smitten she is. But beyond that, she often lets her insecurities show, expressing how her beloved Inky is her rock that keeps her from spiraling. Many neurodivergent players will likely recognize these mannerisms and mindsets, although Sera is never confirmed as such. Although her endless pranks are decidedly less so.

2 Dorian

No distance is too far for a love this fancy

Perhaps one of the most wonderful hidden secrets in Dragon Age: Inquisition is the relationship between Dorian and The Iron Bull, whose budding romance is revealed entirely through party banter. But if you can ignore that absolutely “Adoribull” pairing, you might be in for some whirlwind cuteness.

Dorian's romance is genuinely heartfelt for any male inquisitor who thinks enough of him to do so. It's a little dramatic at times, dealing with his father trying to “cure” his homosexuality through blood magic and later discovering that Dorian must return to Tevinter. But he shows that he really cares and wants nothing more than to stay with you, no matter the distance.

1 Leliana

Like love poetry written in blood (don't worry, it's not hers)

Forget the sneaky, assassin Leliana from Dragon Age: Inquisition. Back in her first appearance in Dragon Age: Origins, she was the most peppy, optimistic young woman you'll ever meet. When talking about the Warden as their romantic partner, it was like nothing else in the world mattered. Sure, she also still did a lot of sneaking and murdering, but let's not get bogged down in details.

Her way of flirting was as sweet and decent as one would expect from a woman raised so religiously. She would compliment your caretaker's hair and drop subtle hints, sometimes mocking them for not picking up on these subtle hints. But her beloved would remain foremost in her mind, always speaking with such adoration that never diminished, even a decade later when she became much more stoic.