Into The Depths Romance Guide: Building Bonds in the Depths

Understanding Romance in Into The Depths

Romance in Into The Depths is a subtle but rewarding system woven into the colony simulation. While your primary goal is survival and expansion, the bonds you form with your settlers can significantly impact morale, productivity, and even unlock unique story events. Unlike traditional dating sims, romance here is tied to the Roguelite progression—each new run offers a chance to deepen connections with different characters you recruit.

Affection is measured through an invisible affinity system. Characters you interact with frequently, assign to shared tasks, or save from danger will gradually open up. The key is consistency: a single grand gesture matters less than daily positive interactions. Pay attention to dialogue cues; characters will hint at their preferences and personal histories.

How to Increase Affinity

There are several reliable methods to raise a character's affinity in Into The Depths. The most straightforward is through direct interaction. When you click on a settler, you have the option to "Chat," "Gift," or "Assign." Chatting consumes a small amount of time but provides a modest affinity boost. Gifting is more effective but requires items.

Gifts fall into three categories: Trinkets, Resources, and Artifacts. Trinkets are common finds from early caverns and are universally appreciated. Resources, like rare ores or food, are preferred by characters with specific traits. Artifacts, found in deeper biomes, provide the largest boosts but are scarce. Experiment to discover each character's favorite.

Assigning a character to a role they enjoy—for example, a miner to the excavation team—grants passive affinity over time. Conversely, forcing them into disliked jobs will slowly erode their opinion. Check their character sheet for preferred tasks.

Special Romance Events and Triggers

Once affinity reaches a certain threshold, unique events can trigger. These are often tied to specific locations or milestones. For example, discovering a hot spring in the Fungal Caverns may prompt a relaxing scene with a high-affinity companion. Similarly, surviving a major boss encounter together can unlock a heartfelt conversation back at base.

These events are marked by a special dialogue icon and often present a choice. Your response here is critical: a supportive answer can lock in a romance path, while a dismissive one may close it permanently for that run. Save before these moments if you are aiming for a specific outcome.

Romance and Colony Management

A romanced pair of settlers gains a "Bonded" status. This provides a permanent morale buff to both, and they will work more efficiently when assigned to the same building or nearby tasks. They may also produce unique "Heirloom" items over time, which can be used for powerful upgrades or traded for rare currency.

However, be cautious. If one bonded character dies, the other suffers a severe morale penalty that can trigger a "Grief" state, reducing their productivity and potentially causing them to leave the colony. Protect your pairs, especially during deep expeditions. You can manage this by keeping bonded characters on safer, base-related duties.

List of Known Romanceable Characters

While the full roster depends on your run, certain character types consistently appear with romance potential. These include the Scribe, who values knowledge and rare books; the Chef, who appreciates exotic ingredients; and the Scout, who is drawn to explorers who share their daring nature.

Here is a quick checklist for identifying potential partners:

• They initiate conversation outside of work hours.
• They request specific items from your expeditions.
• They defend you during colony disputes.
• They offer to accompany you on dangerous dives.

Consequences and Endings

Successfully romancing a character can influence the ending of your run. In the final descent, a bonded partner may join you for the ultimate confrontation, providing unique dialogue and combat bonuses. Some endings are only achievable with a specific romance active.

If you fail to maintain the relationship—through neglect or poor choices—the character may break off the bond. This results in a permanent debuff for that run. In the context of the Roguelite system, however, affinity progress partially carries over through "Memories," making subsequent attempts easier. For more on progression, see the progression system guide.