Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is one of the most beloved and well-remembered Star Wars games. KOTOR expanded the Star Wars universe into a new era and provided a huge cast of companions to explore the galaxy with. Some of these companions have a unique story and side quest that can appear naturally during the course of the game. As the player progresses down each of their stories, they learn more about each character's history and identity.
Though the player does not have to engage with any of these plots to beat the game, doing so gives the player the chance to experience a far more compelling and rewarding story. Through assisting them in their own struggles, the player grows closer to their companions, turning the game from one about saving the galaxy into one about saving the people whose lives have been ravaged by war. While most of the companions in KOTOR have a storyline and side quest, only three are romanceable: Bastila, Carth, and Juhani.
Bastila Can Be Romanced by Any Male Character
Bastila Shan is a Jedi Sentinel and the first Jedi the player adds to their party. She was instrumental in the defeat of Darth Revan, and the attack on her cruiser above Taris sets the events of KOTOR into motion. Bastila is a hard-line Jedi and sticks close to the order's teachings. However, she also struggles to reconcile her desires with the Jedi Code.
Her story revolves around the player's growth as a Jedi and her emotional struggles. Romancing Bastila requires the player to take the mission the Jedi Council sent the two of them on seriously. She can be romanced regardless of alignment to the light or dark side of the Force but can only be romanced by a male character.
Carth Can Be Romanced by a Female Light Side Character
Carth Onasi is a soldier of the Old Republic and the first companion the player will meet after completing the tutorial. After escaping the Endar Spire, the player and Carth explore Taris to find Bastila. During their time on Taris, it becomes apparent that Carth has trust issues. He has been betrayed in the past and lost everything because of it.
Carth's story focuses on him learning to trust his new allies and moving on from the death of his family. To romance Carth, the player must be patient with his trust issues and provide comfort for the trauma of his loss. Carth can only be romanced if the player chooses to play as a female light side character.
Juhani Can Be Romanced by a Female Light Side Character
Juhani is a Cathar Jedi Sentinel. She is first encountered on Dantooine after she falls to the dark side and corrupts the Ancient Grove. If the player spares her and brings her back to the light side, she can join the party. She is a strong-willed and passionate Jedi who struggles with feelings of anger and resentment due to her hard life.
Juhani's story involves learning about how she became a Jedi and her fears of falling to the dark side again. To romance Juhani, the player needs to take an interest in the story of her life and learn how she became infatuated with the Jedi. Like Carth, Juhani can only be romanced by a female light side player character.
With a remake on its way, now is a great time to experience the original Knights of the Old Republic. Whether playing for the first time or returning to the game, KOTOR continues to offer one of the best Star Wars experiences outside of the films. While the romance plots are sparse compared to other games, they laid the foundation for later BioWare RPGs, most famously Mass Effect. Even though the KOTOR romances are light on content, they are still engaging stories and well worth experiencing today.