Baldur's Gate 3's Anomen Romance: A Terrible and Amazing Experience
Baldur’s Gate 3 has revolutionized video game romances. The RPG game has some of the most unpredictable relationships I’ve ever experienced in games, and other studios would do well to follow BioWare’s example. We’ve already talked about how the first two Baldur’s Gate games introduced BioWare romance, but how does the Anomen romance in the first Baldur’s Gate hold up today?
Most BioWare romances are great, and they all started with Anomen in Baldur’s Gate. The first two games in the series are the only ones in which players can pursue a romantic relationship with one of the companions, and Anomen is the first BioWare boyfriend.
He’s not a good boyfriend. In fact, he’s a very bad boyfriend. I didn’t realize this until replaying him in Baldur’s Gate 3, but Anomen is a bad boy – arrogant and ignorant, embodying negative traits. He’s also the only choice for a male romance in the game. While other companions are interested in a relationship, their interest is mutually exclusive, and it’s strange that the game lacks diverse male romance options.
I can talk about the good parts of the Anomen romance for hours, but those moments are dwarfed by his incessant talking about himself. He talks about his beliefs and why he thinks the world is the way it is. He discusses his family and his childhood and his reasons for pursuing a romantic relationship with the player character. And while he’s not wrong, he talks about himself so much that I developed a strong dislike for him.
Despite my growing dislike for him, Anomen has agency. He’ll leave or attack you if you go against his beliefs, and he’ll tell you exactly what he thinks of you. He’s got a prickly personality and doesn’t change much over the course of the game. He doesn’t grow. He doesn’t learn. He’s just himself.
I find that quality refreshing. The BioWare romances I’ve experienced since Baldur’s Gate 2 have lacked major conflicts. The companions are agreeable, and there’s little to no pushback in the relationships. While relationships should be easy and agreeable, they’re also messy and require compromise.
The Anomen romance is not better or worse than other BioWare romances, but it offers a unique experience of empowerment and vulnerability. He’s a bad boy, and you have to put up with his nonsense. The BioWare romances that followed cast the player as the good guy, with the companion as the one in need of help. The companions are agreeable and always willing to listen to your problems.
The romances in Baldur’s Gate 3 follow a similar approach. The companions in BioWare’s latest are still individuals, retaining their individuality and beliefs. If you’re looking for a romance in Baldur’s Gate 3, I highly recommend giving Anomen a chance. He’s not a good boyfriend, but neither are you, and that’s what makes it work.
If you’re looking for more of my thoughts on the final Baldur’s Gate game, you can find some of my favorite Bhaalspawn abilities here, along with my thoughts on the new companions that join you in Talons of Nahsalavash. You can also read my review of the game to see how I felt about the final installment in the Baldur’s Gate series.
