One of Aloy's biggest challenges in Horizon Forbidden West is learning that she can't save the world alone. After being raised as an outcast, Aloy had to rely on herself for survival. She is hesitant to ask others for help, but throughout the title, Aloy slowly learns to trust her companions. By the end of the game, Aloy understands that she can't be a one-woman army and that she's stronger when she stands with her friends.
Relationships are a major theme in Horizon Forbidden West, both platonic and romantic. Aloy develops strong and personal relationships with each of her companions. A number of them are already in romantic relationships that help to flesh out the characters. Varl and Zo have a passionate relationship, Talanah spends most of the game chasing after a lost love, and even Aloy's newest companion, Alva, has a girlfriend waiting on her to return. If these characters can have complex and interesting romances, why shouldn't Aloy herself?
Should There Be Romance In Horizon?
Aloy would be far from the first action protagonist to dabble in romance. Video games have a long history with romantic relationships, both good and bad. Everyone knows the classic story of the hero rescuing the damsel in distress and then going on to live happily ever after. These types of stories tend to be overdone and often reduce the love interest into being a prize to be won or defended. In recent history, romance in video games has become a lot more nuanced and interesting.
Games like The Last of Us Part II do romance right. A huge part of that game is exploring Ellie's relationship with her girlfriend Dina while she's on her quest for vengeance. Both the protagonist and the love interest get to be full characters with a lot of depth and complexity. Ellie's romantic relationship allows the players to see aspects of her character they wouldn't get to experience otherwise.
The same could happen to Aloy if she were to have a love interest in the next game. Players would get to see how Aloy behaves when she's in love, and how she's react if that person was in danger. The addition of a romantic partner wouldn't even have to come out of nowhere. Towards the end of Forbidden West, it's revealed that Elisabet Sobeck, the woman Aloy was cloned from, had a romantic partner before the world ended. Adding real romance to Horizon could show players a whole new side to the pragmatic and headstrong Nora outcast.
Who Should Aloy's Love Interest Be?
If Aloy were to pursue romance in the next game, she's certainly not lacking in potential partners. Aloy has had a long list of suitors ever since the first game, and that list has only grown since then. It's easy to see why these characters have fallen for her. She's confident, smart and reliable. Aloy has a strong relationship with many of these characters, so there's plenty of room for romance to bloom.
At the very beginning of Forbidden West, Sun-King Avad asks Aloy to stay with him in Meridian in hopes of developing a relationship together. Aloy turns Avad down, but depending on the player's choice, there's still a chance for romance. A relationship with Avad would make Aloy not only the savior of the world, but the queen of the Carja. Talanah is another potential partner. Talanah took Aloy under her wing in the Hunters Lodge during the first game. Both women have helped each other a lot and have a wonderful friendship that could certainly evolve into something else.
Ever since Aloy helped Erend find his sister's killer, he has been starstruck by her. He lights up anytime he sees Aloy and does his best to spend as much time as he can with her. Erend has been one of Aloy's most loyal companions and is clearly very interested in her. Aloy could very easily return his feelings in the next game. Erend has proven that's he's willing to go to the ends of the world and back for Aloy, which makes him a top contender to be Aloy's love interest.
Is Romance Even Needed in Horizon?
So far, Aloy has rejected everyone that's shown interest in her, which could be a subtle sign from the developers that romance won't be happening in any future Horizon games. Aloy has used the constant threats to human life as an excuse to avoid romantic advances, but maybe there's more to it. Aloy may simply be uninterested in romance with anyone. At some point, it could be revealed that Aloy is asexual or aromantic, which would make her one of the few ace protagonists in video games.
Another possibility is that the developers have decided that romance would take away from Aloy's own story. Adding a love interest might sully Aloy's independence or distract from the larger story being told. Whether or not Aloy finds love in the next game, she will still have her companions to help her through any challenge.