Let’s be real for a second. If you’re playing an Odyssey run, you aren’t just there to kick Persians off cliffs or hunt down a shadowy cult. You're there for the drama. You want the messiness. Assassin's Creed Odyssey romance is a weird, sprawling system that somehow feels both incredibly meaningful and totally throwaway depending on who you decide to flirt with. It’s not like The Witcher or Mass Effect where you pick one person and settle down for a digital domestic life. It’s Ancient Greece. It’s chaotic.
People often complain that the romance options in this game feel shallow. They aren’t entirely wrong, but they're usually missing the point of how Ubisoft structured the Kassandra/Alexios experience. The game doesn't want you to find a "soulmate" in the traditional RPG sense. It wants you to live a life. That means one-night stands in Mykonos, tragic flings with doctors, and that one incredibly awkward encounter with an elderly woman that everyone remembers for all the wrong reasons.
The Problem with Modern RPG "Ship" Culture
We’ve been trained by BioWare to expect a romance arc that lasts sixty hours. You talk to them after every mission, you give them a gift, and eventually, you get a cutscene. Assassin's Creed Odyssey throws that out the window. Most of your flings are regional. You meet someone, solve their local crisis, flirt a bit, and move on.
Is it "deep"? Not always. But it fits the nomadic life of a Misthios. You’re a mercenary. You’ve got a boat and a bird and a very long list of people who want you dead. Staying in one place to water plants with a spouse doesn’t make sense for the character. The Assassin's Creed Odyssey romance system reflects the transient nature of the Peloponnesian War.
Take Lykaon, for example. He’s the doctor in Phokis. His questline is heavy—it’s about family trauma and the burden of the Oracle’s prophecies. If you choose to romance him, it feels tender. It feels like a brief respite from the blood and the sand. Then you leave. You go to Athens. You meet Alkibiades, who is... well, he’s Alkibiades. The tonal shift is jarring, and honestly, that’s why it works.
Who Are the Best Romance Options? (And Who to Avoid)
If you're looking for the "best" experience, you have to be picky. Not all NPCs are created equal. Some are just there for a quick punchline, while others actually change the vibe of your ending or your ship's crew.
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Kyra and Thaletas (The Silver Islands)
This is widely considered the gold standard for romance in the game. It’s a literal love triangle set against a rebellion on Delos and Mykonos. You can side with Kyra (the rebel leader) or Thaletas (the Spartan commander). If you play your cards right, it’s a tragic, beautiful story about duty versus passion. If you play them wrong, it ends in a literal bloodbath. It’s one of the few times the game forces you to deal with the consequences of your flirting.Alkibiades
He is a recurring character, and he’s ridiculous. Every time you see him, he’s in some state of undress or involved in a scandal. Romancing him doesn't offer deep emotional resonance, but it offers some of the funniest writing in the game. It’s pure hedonism.Daphnae
This one is for the completionists. You meet her at the Temple of Artemis, and she sends you on a hunt for legendary beasts. It’s a long, arduous process. The payoff? It’s bittersweet. It’s one of the few romances that feels earned because of the sheer amount of work you put into it.Auxesia
Just... do the quest. It’s called "Age is Just a Number." You’ll find her in Phokis. It’s a short, hilarious quest about a woman with a husband who can't keep up with her "needs." It’s the perfect example of the game’s irreverent sense of humor.
Does Your Choice of Protagonist Change the Romance?
Technically, no. Whether you play as Kassandra or Alexios, the dialogue options and the NPCs available for romance remain exactly the same. However, the vibe changes significantly.
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Kassandra is often cited by fans and critics (and even the official canon) as the superior protagonist. Her voice acting, provided by Melissanthi Mahut, has a nuance that makes the romantic subplots feel more grounded. When she flirts, it feels like she’s in control. When Alexios flirts, it can sometimes feel a bit "brawny-guy-in-a-rom-com."
There is a weird tension in how the world reacts to you. In the historical context, Ancient Greece had very different views on sexuality than we do now, but the game opts for a "player-sexual" approach. Everyone is an option regardless of your gender. It’s less about historical accuracy and more about player freedom. Some people find that immersion-breaking, but honestly, in a game where you can jump off Mount Olympus and take zero fall damage, a little flexibility in the dating pool isn't the biggest leap of faith.
The Controversy of the "Legacy of the First Blade" DLC
We can’t talk about Assassin's Creed Odyssey romance without mentioning the massive controversy surrounding the Legacy of the First Blade DLC.
In the main game, you can play your character as straight, gay, bi, or completely asexual. You have total agency. Then the DLC arrived and forced the player into a heterosexual relationship to produce an heir. The backlash was swift and massive. Fans felt betrayed because the "Odyssey" they had built—one where their Kassandra was a lesbian icon, for example—was suddenly rewritten by the developers.
Ubisoft eventually patched the game to make the romantic aspect of that relationship feel more like a "biological necessity" if the player chose, but the scars remain. It’s a fascinatng case study in how RPG players view their characters. We don't just play them; we inhabit them. When a developer takes away that agency, it feels personal.
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Tips for a Better Romantic Run
- Don't rush the "Heart" icons. Just because the option is there doesn't mean you should click it immediately. Sometimes, building a rapport through regular dialogue first makes the eventual romance feel less like a transaction.
- Pay attention to the background. In the Kyra/Thaletas arc, the things you do outside of the dialogue—like destroying supplies or killing certain captains—will dictate if your lover actually survives the questline.
- Check your ship. Some of your former flames can be recruited as Lieutenants. There’s nothing quite like sailing across the Aegean with your ex-girlfriend standing five feet away from you while you hunt pirates.
- The "Gift" Quests. Some NPCs require specific items. Don't sell everything in your inventory immediately. If a quest giver mentions a specific flower or a sentimental object, hang onto it.
The Actionable Truth About Your Odyssey
If you want the most satisfying romantic experience in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, stop treating it like a checklist. Don't try to sleep with everyone just because the game lets you. Focus on the regional stories.
Start with the Silver Islands (Mykonos and Delos). It is the most robust narrative arc in the game. It has stakes. It has a beginning, middle, and a potentially devastating end.
Once you finish that, head to Phokis and engage with Lykaon. Contrast those two experiences—the fiery, political passion of Kyra versus the quiet, somber duty of Lykaon. That’s where the game actually shines. It’s not in the generic "fade to black" scenes, but in the moments right before and after.
The beauty of the system is that it’s your story. You can be the heartbreaker of the Mediterranean, or you can be the lonely mercenary who only has time for their eagle. Just remember: in the world of the Misthios, every choice has a price, and sometimes that price is a very awkward conversation on a boat.
Go to the Silver Islands first. Seriously. It’s the best writing in the game, and if you miss it, you've missed the soul of the romance system.