i am probably not saying anything new, but i've had hades on my mind, specifically the way the relationship with Dusa progresses and culminates.
Been trying to figure out why the simple thing of her deciding in the end "actually, i am not attracted to you like that, i want to be friends :]" made me so Happy. i think i kinda cracked it?
whenever a game looks me in the eye and asks what character i want to get romantically invested in i mostly just shrug and pick whomewher seems to be the most Interesting as just. a character. and usually in a game, the "romance progress bar" is pretty directly tied to the "character arc progress". it will probably let you learn a bit about their deal but at some point you will have to unlock, like, special hearts with them or whatever. and that means you are in romance territory.
And I Never Actually Want That. i want to experience their arc with them and reach an understanding and even just. have More Conversations With Them (All the conversations! actually! i hate feeling like i am missing something!) , but the romantic context of it is just not something i enjoy. it always comes with so many weird strings and expectations attached. (can you believe it took this bitch 6 years to conclude that it's aromantic?)
idk i think it would be nice to have a relationship sim with just. actually fully platonic relationship dynamics. that don't include having to choose to stop in the middle of the arc or dating them (i am looking directly at stardew valley)
maybe that exists, i wouldn't know, i am not Entrenched in the genre