Phantom Liberty’s Biggest Miss: Top 10 NPCs We Wish We Could Romance

You know that feeling when you finish a masterpiece DLC, and despite all the awesome new guns, gigs, and gut-wrenching story twists, there’s this tiny voice in the back of your head screaming: “But wait… I couldn’t kiss ANY of these fascinating new characters?!” 😩 That’s me, right now, in the year 2026, still replaying Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty and still salty that CD Projekt Red didn’t slide even one romance option into Dogtown’s rainy, neon-drenched streets.

I mean, come on! The base game taught us that relationship-building is where the real cyber-heart lies – from Panam’s dusty campfire talks to Judy’s vulnerable braindance sessions. So when the spy-thriller expansion dropped with this explosive, layered storyline, I naturally expected at least one new person to spend some tender moments with in between bullets and betrayals. Was that too much to ask? Apparently so. 😤

But let’s not dwell on what could’ve been without giving proper tribute to the ones that got away. Here are my top 10 NPCs from Phantom Liberty that I would’ve absolutely romanced, no questions asked – if only the devs had let us.

---

10. Aurore & Aymeric Cassel – The Deadly Twin Netrunners

Let’s kick things off with a duo that screamed potential. Aurore and Aymeric Cassel are twin netrunners who pop up during that mind-bending “I’ve Seen That Face Before” quest with Solomon Reed. Right away, these two ooze charisma. Aurore’s the loud, flashy one firing off sass like smart bullets, while Aymeric hangs back, all brooding and quiet – but with eyes that could sell you a dangerous fantasy in seconds. Morally? Sketchy as hell. They’d betray their own grandmother for a mountain of eddies. But isn’t that, like, half the fun in Night City? We keep falling for the red flags! 🚩

What stings is how abruptly their story ends. No extra screentime, no chance to dig into whatever weird sibling dynamic (or separate romance paths!) they could’ve offered. Imagine a storyline where you get tangled with Aurore’s reckless ambitions and Aymeric’s silent protectiveness, maybe even having to choose between them? That would’ve been peak cyberpunk drama. Instead, we just get heartbreak. Missed opportunity, choom.

---

9. David Walker – Tommie’s Dad (Yeah, That Guy)

Now hear me out on this one – David Walker barely gets five minutes of face time, but those five minutes made me think… what if? He’s just “Tommie’s Dad” from the “Talent Academy” side gig, where V uncovers some shady Biotechnica sports program stuff. After the whole mess, you can chat with David, and his reaction is… odd. He’s more crushed that his kid won’t be a future star athlete than about the actual danger Tommie was in. Not exactly a glowing endorsement for Father of the Year, right?

But in a world where almost everyone is either a merc, a corpo, or a scammer, a regular parent with messy priorities feels refreshingly real. Romancing him could’ve opened up a quieter, domestic side of Night City – imagine V struggling to connect with someone whose whole life revolves around his kid. It’s not flashy, but it would’ve been different. And let’s be honest: I just wanted to see if V could redeem the guy or make him an even bigger disaster. 🎢

---

8. Ronald “Typhoon” Malone – The Junk Vendor With a Heart of Gold

This guy. THIS GUY. 🌪️ Ronald is just a humble junk vendor near Capitan Caliente that you have to interrogate during “Lucretia My Reflection,” but from the moment he opens his mouth, I was hooked. In a district where everyone’s either paranoid, psychotic, or plotting your death, Ronald is… cheerful? Hopeful? Like a ray of sun that wandered into a warzone. He seems to genuinely get how the world works but refuses to let it crush his spirits.

Would a romance with a street vendor be the most epic thing ever? No, but it could’ve been the coziest. Late-night talks over scrap cyberware, bonding over survival tips, maybe a heartfelt side quest where you help him chase some long-lost dream. The game needs more characters who aren’t steeped in FIA intrigue – sometimes you just want to date someone who will sell you a smile along with a rusty cyberarm. 🤖💕

---

7. The Robot Bartender – Nobody Puts Literal Poetry in a Side NPC Without Consequences

Okay, I know what you’re thinking. “A robot? Really?” But please, just listen. This nameless mechanical mixologist at Alex’s bar, The Moth, drops one of the coldest (and most cultured) lines in the entire DLC. When V asks how someone like them ended up here, the robot quotes The Transformation of Daphne into a Laurel by the ancient Roman poet Ovid. Yep, you read that right. An AI bartender reciting classical mythology about metamorphosis and sorrow. I literally paused the game and whispered “marry me” to my monitor.

In a cyberpunk world where souls are digitized and bodies chrome-plated, falling for a construct feels almost inevitable. A romance with the Robot Bartender could’ve explored themes of consciousness, love beyond flesh, and whether poetry can really bloom inside cold steel. Plus, imagine having a partner who mixes you the perfect drink every time after a deadly gig. Perfection. 🍸

---

6. Mr. Hands – The Fixer Who Finally Got a Face (and My Attention)

Before Phantom Liberty, Mr. Hands was just a voice on a holo-call, a shadowy fixer waving jobs your way. But in the DLC, he got a full-on makeover: new voice, new personality, actual presence. And boy, did I start paying attention. He’s mysterious, impeccably dressed, and clearly pulling strings on levels we barely understand. Admittedly, romancing your fixer is probably a terrible career move… but when has V ever made safe choices?

A romance arc with Mr. Hands would’ve been all about trust and power dynamics. Can you build a genuine connection with someone whose business deal could backstab you next? Imagine candlelit dinners where every word is a coded negotiation, slow dances that double as information trades. It’s the kind of dangerous elegance that Night City does best. I’d risk it all for those impeccably tailored suits, tbh. 🕵️‍♂️

---

5. Lina Malina – The Braindance Star With a Twist

Ah, Lina Malina. The braindance icon you “rescue” in the “Dazed and Confused” side mission, only to find out she’s not exactly the damsel in distress. Lina’s a self-serving diva who manipulates situations to her advantage, and I kinda respect that grind? She’s a celebrity in a world that chews up nobodies, and she’s playing the game to survive. Romancing a famous BD star would’ve added a whole new flavor to V’s story – imagine the public scandal, the paparazzi chases, the ego clashes, maybe even some studio conspiracies.

A temporary fling (or a full-on romance depending on choices) with Lina could’ve been wildly entertaining. Would you become her corpo accessory, or would you go rogue together, trashing the studios that exploit her? Either way, the drama would be delicious. 🍿

---

4. Alena “Alex” Xenakis – The Undercover Actress Who Deserved More

Alex is the beauty with brains (and serious combat skills) working deep undercover in Dogtown. She once dreamed of being a braindance starlet, but ended up using her acting chops for the Federal Intelligence Agency instead. Throughout the main story, she’s a reliable ally – helpful, composed, but with this melancholic undertone that suggests she’s given up more of herself than anyone knows.

Romancing Alex could’ve been about rediscovering dreams together. Maybe V helps her remember who she was before the FIA rewired her life. Shared moments in her bar, The Moth, late-night conversations about lost futures, and eventually a choice: stay in the shadows or break free together. She’s got that perfect mix of vulnerability and badassery that makes a romance truly memorable. 💔

---

3. President Rosalind Myers – Because Why Not Shoot for the Stars?

I know, I know – romancing the president of the NUSA sounds utterly ridiculous. But hear me out! V literally saves Myers from a fiery crash, then hides out with her in a crumbling apartment, swapping tension-filled glances and survival strategy. That’s like, the perfect fanfic setup. Sure, the political power gap is astronomical, and the relationship would probably be a disaster of epic proportions, but opposites attract, right?

A fling or even a complicated alliance-turned-romance could’ve added a wild layer to the story. Imagine dealing with Secret Service agents, sneaking out of the White House (or whatever it’s called in 2077), and trying to balance saving the country with a very personal connection. It’s soap opera level drama, and I am 100% here for it in a world as over-the-top as Cyberpunk. 🇺🇸💋

---

2. Songbird – The One That Hurts the Most

No spoilers, I promise, but if you’ve played Phantom Liberty, you know why Songbird’s absence from the romance list stings like a fresh neural burn. She’s central to the entire plot, a netrunning prodigy with a past so tangled and tragic you just want to wrap her in a blanket and protect her from the world – even though she’s arguably more dangerous than half the things hunting you. The two of you go through hell together, sharing vulnerabilities and secrets that would form the perfect bedrock for a romance.

Instead, we’re left with a deep platonic bond that feels like it should be more. I can’t tell you how many moments I thought “kiss her, you fool” while V just stood there. Songbird would’ve been the perfect romantic counterpart to the DLC’s spy-thriller tone – tragic, intense, and possibly doomed. It’s the biggest “what if” in Phantom Liberty, and I will never get over it. 😭

---

1. Solomon Reed – The Idris Elba-Shaped Hole in Our Cyber-Hearts

And here we are, at the top of the “please let me love you” list. Solomon Reed. Played by. Freaking. Idris. Elba. 🎤⬇️ How did CDPR have this man’s voice, his motion-captured charisma, his whole James Bond energy in the game and NOT let V romance him?! Reed is the ultimate spy – composed, lethal, loyal to a fault, with layers of trauma and duty that practically beg for a soft touch. Every conversation with him crackles with unspoken tension. You can feel the history bleeding through his silences.

A romance with Reed could’ve been the crown jewel of Phantom Liberty. A slow-burn, trust-built-over-missions kind of love, culminating in a choice between your own survival and staying by his side under impossible circumstances. I would’ve thrown every other romance option out the window for a chance to have him look at V the way he looks at an unsolvable mission – with weary hope. But no, we’re just coworkers. *sigh*

---

So there you have it – ten Dogtown darlings I’d romance in a heartbeat if CDPR ever decides to patch in a “love update” (hey, a girl can dream even in 2026). Phantom Liberty is still a phenomenal expansion, but the lack of new romance options remains its one glaring neon flaw. And honestly? I think my V deserves a spy-boyfriend or a presidential fling. Doesn’t yours?