The galaxy can be a vast and lonely place, especially when Commander Shepard is trying to save the Milky Way. It is essential to build a strong squad and form close bonds if everyone is to survive the suicide mission. Sometimes, feelings develop, and there is more than a friendship at stake between the hero and their teammate. In Mass Effect 2, there are multiple choices, all of which are interested in a full romantic relationship with the galactic hero.
However, that doesn't necessarily mean Shepard should pursue these relationships. After all, not everyone is worth the Commander's time, and it's fine to reject the advances of some potential romances if players are interested in characters with more fleshed-out romantic interactions. That being said, this decision is bound to be a subjective one, and some players are going to enjoy a deeper bond with certain characters over others. It helps that Mass Effect 2's writing is so good that most of the game's romance options will be engaging no matter what.
Updated October 13, 2023 by Ritwik Mitra: Mass Effect 2 is one of the greatest video games ever made, with this bombastic adventure having one of the greatest intros and endings in gaming history. Commander Shepard's story is a joy to uncover firsthand, and the improvements made to the combat were also lauded. The story was riveting, with the Illusive Man being one of the most mysterious and engaging antagonists in gaming history. Mass Effect 2 also features many romantic options that both male and female Shepard can interact with to make their adventure feel more personal and engaging. However, there's no denying that some of Mass Effect 2's romance options feel more fleshed-out and engaging their others.
Every Mass Effect 2 Squad Member, Ranked
In BioWare's Mass Effect 2, Commander Shepard can recruit plenty of characters. How do the game's squad members rank?10 Morinth
Morinth is one of the more interesting characters in Mass Effect 2. Her status as a dreaded Ardat-Yakshi means that players will need to hunt her down as a part of Samara's loyalty mission. However, if the player is going down the Renegade path, then they can choose Morinth over Samara instead. This leads to a situation where Shepard can agree to sleep with Morinth...only to die during this tryst, since Morinth can drain the life force of the people she sleeps with.
It's a fitting end given how foolish this decision is. Players are aware of the fact that Morinth kills everyone she engages in amorous activities with. Those who decide to ignore this fact just to enjoy what they assume to be a hot and steamy scene will be justly punished, with one of the more creative Game Over screens in the game. Players can just reload a save they made before making this decision, but it's a decent way to surprise the player who expected things to go differently for some reason.
9 Jacob Taylor
Jacob is not god's gift to women. Exclusive to a female Shepard, Taylor is one persistent guy. The Commander will need to refuse his advances multiple times before he will get the hint. In a sense, his persistence is flattering, but that is where it ends. There are very few redeeming qualities for Jacob. Moreover, the romance itself feels empty and artificial. It is hard to form any sort of meaningful bond, thanks to Jacob's non-existent personality.
It's telling that the best thing about romancing Jacob is the talk that Mordin feels he has to give the Commander, who is an infinitely more interesting character than this charisma vacuum. To top it off, should Shepard feel inclined to provide Taylor with a chance, they could well regret that decision in Mass Effect 3. As a result, most players are better off ignoring him to focus on the more interesting characters.
8 Kelly Chambers
The Normandy SR-2 features a new character who serves as the yeoman of the ship. Kelly Chambers is fairly unremarkable for the most part, serving as a by-the-numbers crew member whom Shepard can occasionally flirt with. Even the scene where she and Shepard share a personal moment doesn't really have anything noteworthy to mention. It's just a boring romantic option for players who might have exhausted all their other options.
That being said, the player can still feel bad if they take too long to trigger the Suicide mission after the Collectors kidnap the Normandy's crew. Waiting too long will lead to Kelly being turned into organic matter in front of their eyes, which makes for a horrifying sight. Regardless of a player's personal feelings towards Kelly, no one deserves this horrible fate.
7 Samara
To be fair, Samara doesn't really have a scene where she consummates her romance with Shepard. However, the sheer tenderness of their romantic encounters makes her one of Mass Effect 2's best romances, simply because of how these moments are perfectly in line with her character and her motives.
Samara won't even give Shepard the opportunity to declare his interest if he's strayed down a dark path. However, if the commander aligns himself with Paragon virtues and doesn't stop showing his interest in Samara, then the two almost share a kiss...before the Justicar's values end up conflicting with her feelings. Persistent players who love Samara with all their hearts need to wait for the third game in the series before this romance finally sees the light of day.
6 Liara T'Soni
Most people consider Liara T'Soni one of the best characters across the three games. This Asari scientist features an attractive personality and a unique background that endears her to players in no time. She's easily the best romance option in the first game, and makes an appearance in the third game as a main member of the party once again. While her presence isn't all that prominent in the second game, the Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC allows players to engage in a high-stakes mission with her once again.
It's an entertaining adventure that lets players engage in a bit of romance with the blue Asari once again. This particular rendezvous is exclusive to the DLC and doesn't really play into the base game, where players can still choose a romantic partner from their current party members before the Suicide Mission if they wish. The low stakes of this romance are the only reason why romancing Liara and no one else isn't the smartest decision in Mass Effect 2.
5 Thane Krios
An interesting choice, Thane Krios is a romance option for a female commander. As a Drell, Thane makes for an intriguing companion, regardless of whether Shepard takes him to bed. However, being a great conversationalist doesn't necessarily make Krios a great romance. But make no mistake, he is leaps and bounds ahead of Jacob.
Unfortunately, what could have made for a sweet relationship is marred by circumstances surrounding Thane. But, he could be worth a go for any Shepard that has a particular interest in Drells, or aliens in general. His deep and poignant character makes him a fascinating character to choose as a romance option, but Shepard should be ready to shed tears during the events of The Citadel DLC in Mass Effect 3 if they go through with this.
4 Tali'Zorah vas Neema
The people have spoken. Fans of the first game asked for a romance with Tali, and BioWare granted their wish. Frankly, Bioware did a fantastic job with the relationships in Mass Effect 2 and Tali finds herself in fourth through no fault of her own. The Quarian is a great character and can make for one of the best romances in Mass Effect 2.
10 Major Changes Mass Effect: Legendary Edition Is Making
Mass Effect Legendary Edition is the best opportunity for new and old fans to see the story from the beginning. Here are some of the major changes.However, Tali happens to be outshined by the remaining few choices. The Commander has known Tali since their run-in with the Geth, therefore, there is a solid foundation of friendship to build upon. It's a joy to watch, but Tali's character growth is not quite as drastic as other male Shepard romances.
3 Garrus Vakarian
Much like Tali, Mass Effect fans worldwide asked for the chance to woo their favorite Turian. As such, Garrus Vakarian also became a romanceable companion in Mass Effect 2. However, this alien is only interested in a female commander.
Garrus is quite the awkward charmer. It was both fun and surprising to see him fall to mush when trying to show Shepard that he cares. His romance is undoubtedly worth pursuing and arguably one of the best Mass Effect 2 romances for a female Shepard. However, having already met and gotten to know Garrus, there are not too many layers left to peel back. Thus, the romance has less depth than the remaining two. Though make no mistake, the Turian certainly deserves the time of day.
2 Jack
It was disappointing to discover that BioWare changed Jack's sexuality. It would have been great if she was kept pansexual and an option for both genders.
However, this does not take away from the raw emotion that can be felt in one of ME2's best romances. Being with Jack is a wild ride, yet it is very rewarding. The psychotic biotic has a tragic backstory, one that explains her harsh behavior. Yet, as the game goes on, the connection grows. Jack shows a part of herself that nobody expected. As with multiple entries on this list, players can continue Jack's romance in Mass Effect 3.
1 Miranda Lawson
Miss Lawson was quite the shocker. Many hated the Cerberus operative upon first meeting her, and with good reason. She was so cold that it felt as though the Normandy was a flying freezer. She clearly couldn't stand the Commander, even if she had to respect his abilities.
But the more Shepard gets to know Miranda, the more apparent it becomes that they can melt the icy exterior. While Miranda's backstory is not as awful as Jack's, she still struggles in other ways Over the course of the game, she opens up and grows, thanks largely to the growing bond with Shepard. There are some touching moments to be had with Lawson, even if her romance scene doesn't make a lot of sense.