FOTH is a free Choose-Your-Own-Adventure style Visual Novel fan project featuring 8 characters for Aloy to romance! Built using Ren'py. Available now on PC & Mac via itch.io! More info can be found under the tag #foth:FAQs
We are very happy to present to you: Focus on the Heart - A Visual Novel Fangame!
💘 A game made by fans, for fans.💘
Focus on the Heart is a CYOA-style Visual Novel fangame project featuring 8 characters for Aloy to romance! This game is the combined community efforts of 40+ fans, with unique art styles for every character route, narratives crafted with love, and smooches for all.
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A Horizon Visual Novel Fan Project
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💜Focus on the Heart is NOW AVAILABLE to download FOR FREE at the above link on itch.io!
💜FOR PC & MAC
💜Please follow the instructions HERE to download the game and unpack the files
💜You can watch the trailer HERE
💜If you want to tag our socials with your hype, please use #FOTHreact and #FOTHcharactername (i.e. #FOTHErend, #FOTHTalanah, etc.) for the respective routes to prevent spoilers for other players.
We wish you happy playing, and thank you very much for your support!! 💘
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
Hi, all. I started playing the wonderful fangame Focus on the Heart made by the lovely folks at Cauldron Heart. Who you can find here: Focus on the Heart.
Please check them out and if you want play the game too!
Though if you'd like to follow me along on my journey through the game, please check out my first vod on youtube. It will show my first playthrough on Seyka's route.
And thank you to @focusontheheart and @nerd-artist for the beautiful react images.
It is unclear why you dislike Avad or why he causes such hostility that you didn't even include him in this list. In any case, your project does not command my respect, as it is obvious that fans of a certain character are unwelcome here.
Let’s clear this up! Avad is not disliked. There has been no hostility from Focus On the Heart surrounding his character or a potential romance with Aloy. He was never “blocked” from being a romance path and he would have been a welcome addition.
As is clearly stated in many of our social media posts, and has been reiterated by many of our creators, this project was entirely volunteer. The ships that are part of this game exist because teams of writers and artists stepped up and put in the time and work to bring them into being.
There were no volunteers for Avad. If there had been enough to put together a writer & artist team, he would have been included.
Hi it's me again the person who wanted to stream the game. Sorry it took so long but I wanted to let you know that I plan to stream the game next week on Saturday on my twitch at Nixiebeanz. My schedule is on my channel.
Amazing! Thanks for letting us know!
We love to hear about streams and the experience players have with our little fangame.
Please see Nixiebeanz’s schedule for streaming dates and times!
Hello, I'm looking on ich.io for your game and I can't find it, did you get hit by the nonsense or am I not looking well enough? (it looks amazing from the tumblr stuff!)
Hi there! Focus On the Heart is not searchable on itch.io, but we do have a direct link to download from there in our pinned post!
How do I let all or the amazing people behind this game know how much I appreciate them and am in aw of their writing, art, and extra for those who put it all together ? I’m making my husband play the horizon series just so we can talk about Focus on the Heart
Thank you, thank you, thank you! We’re so happy people are still discovering and playing our game, and choosing their own adventure in love for our beloved huntress!
Hi, first congrats to finishing the game, it's so cool. Also, I just re-discovered y'all, and I am so excited to play. How do y'all feel about someone streaming the game?
Hi there! Firstly, thank you! It was a huge endeavour and we are all thrilled it’s as loved as it is.
We consider it an honour when someone streams our game! Please let us know where people can watch and we’d be happy to boost.
Under the cut, please find the complete ending guide to reach the romantic ending in Erend's route, including descriptions from route writers behind the decision. Please note that during gameplay, answers may appear in a different order than indicated.
Friendly banter with a choice! Aloy offering up a choice to fly with her rather than telling Erend that he’s going to fly with her gives him the chance to speak his mind about his concerns and fears. It shows that she’s willing to take into consideration his feelings.
Praise, not just gratitude. Erend’s confidence is seen as pretty much rock-bottom in the game itself. Here, the goal was to show that Aloy was not only grateful for his aid, but wanted to also provide him some praise for using his diplomatic skills to get them out of the situation.
Curiosity about his past! Showing a degree of curiosity in Erend’s past gives Aloy the chance to learn more about him. It shows a willingness to listen to him, especially in an emotionally charged moment.
Showing confidence in her decision in a challenging moment. Aloy is given time to reflect on the past events on the Burning Shores. This shows Erend that she also has a past with a fling, though brief as it was, while also demonstrating that she’s finally beginning to open herself up to the prospect of letting people close.
Inclusion, not control! This particular scene was done with the focus of making this feel like a joint effort. It includes Erend in keeping an eye out for traps or other hazards, not just treating him like he’s a detriment to have with her.
Sincerity in his company. Aloy showing sincerity that he’s there, not just as part of a team. The aim to express she’s happy that he’s there, and that she would rather have no one else.
Working together! With the Rockbreaker, this choice is a callback to when she and Erend both traveled to First Forge to deal with Asera. It is meant to show the closeness that the two have developed with all the missions they’ve had together, and not Aloy taking charge and acting more like a commander.
Mindless physical contact. Aloy making the decision to hug Erend again rather than changing the subject or spending time considering the situation shows that, without thought, her first and only interest is Erend’s safety, and the relief she feels that he’s alive and okay.
No assumptions, simply reassurances. Aloy doesn’t just assume that Erend will be with her to see this through, nor does she step back from the action. She’s determined to see this through together with him, treating him like a companion, not just an asset she can use when necessary.
True shows of affection. Aloy reinforces his feelings, not just thanking him for a kindness, and not simply comforting him. She’s willing to open herself up to her feelings, and display them for him to see as well.
We hope you enjoyed your journey through the romantic Erend route! Now that you know how to best get a smooch, try to mix and match other options to get different endings as well! Note: the Erend route has five different endings, depending on your overall progress and final checkpoint response. If you reached the romantic epilogue, we encourage you to give it another look, and really… Focus.
Under the cut, please find the complete ending guide to reach the romantic ending in Alva's route, including descriptions from route writers behind the decision. Please note that during gameplay, answers may appear in a different order than indicated.
Honesty is critical in poly relationships, so it was important to start with that theme immediately, and while the other two choices are still very true—the framing of those is slightly more "negative". The idea here being that Aloy recognizing she is and can, in fact, be overwhelmed—shows more self-awareness of her own emotions and flaws. It was also important to show how these two might connect over shared experiences vis-a-vis siblings.
You know what's better than just yammering on and making assumptions? Inviting other people in and listening to their insights. Probably a good thing to have in a relationship. Probably.
We really wanted to emphasize the idea of a "third option" whenever we could. Given this story is poly in nature, there's no need for really anything to be a binary choice. We also did our best to sprinkle in hints early on that Alva is resenting how she is sometimes aggrandized as a Diviner, to show that Aloy (and you the player) listens and respects Alva as an equal.
As important as it is to support your partner, it's equally important to call out unhealthy behaviors. Alva's been taking the phrase "be gay, do crimes" to new and astonishing heights post-Burning Shores, and should be addressed. But how you provide that feedback has as much an impact as the content itself. This option is direct, without being judgemental (after all, what is risk to someone who crossed the ocean into the unknown?).
We saw the other two options here as just different ways for Aloy to circumvent confronting what's really bothering her. It isn't that Old World knowledge can't "spark joy" anymore—the problem is the drive to uncover the secrets of the past has become much more utilitarian. Her motivations are grand world-saving endeavors, leaving little time to stop and appreciate the little things let alone herself.
We can dance, we can dance, everybody look at your hands! (This one is probably pretty self explanatory.)
We can sometimes have unrealistic expectations around our (or a partner's) ability to parse emotions. A pressure to immediately know oneself. But it's okay to need time to process things—just be honest about it. For what it's worth, were this not an interactive game, Aloy saying, "Shit" (and nothing more) would probably be the most on-brand response.
Once again, honesty is the name of the game. While all of the other options are true, the admission of fear is just…more true. It also calls back and resolves the previous flashpoint in which Aloy wasn't able/ready to answer Alva's question.
One of Aloy's best characteristics is how utterly willing and capable she is at calling people out on their bullshit. This option forces Clag to confront not only his behavior, but Aloy's by proxy.
So obviously a big theme throughout this route was communication. The other two options here are either too dismissive or too presumptive, while the correct option to talk about it first is…just right. At least in the context of this route. None of what is said here should be taken as relationship advice.
We hope you enjoyed your journey through the romantic Alva route! Now that you know how to best get a smooch, try to mix and match other options to get different endings as well! If you reached the romantic epilogue, we encourage you to give it another look, and really… Focus.
Under the cut, please find the complete ending guide to reach the romantic ending in Talanah's route, including descriptions from route writers behind the decision. Please note that during gameplay, answers may appear in a different order than indicated.
This is an important initial callback for these two. Even if Aloy’s response after the selection seems harsh, it’s the correct one! While they have somewhat of an awkward reunion, this aspect of their bond is still a meaningful touchpoint and an important reminder for them both.
Banter time! We see some of Aloy’s most enthusiastic and truly carefree moments whenever she’s hunting machines with Talanah. Talanah matches her energy effortlessly, leading to the comfort and familiarity of fighting together. This is how they relate, and this is what has opened the door for more.
The reasoning behind this selection is multifaceted. First, it involves Aloy articulating her emotional experience with Seyka to someone other than Varl—and, in doing so, evaluating in real-time how she feels about it now. Second, Talanah would value her candor about the situation—even if it might not be what she herself wanted to hear. Aloy’s response here leaves nothing to doubt and nothing hidden or minimized.
Another exercise in vulnerability. It would be one thing for Aloy to speak of the physical pain of her injury, as in the neutral response. It’s another thing entirely to speak of the lingering mental anguish. Talanah, at her core, cares. Deeply. And Aloy trusting her with her fears, giving them a new emotional ground on which to connect, marks a monumental step in their relationship.
While Talanah’s self-chastisement prior to this checkpoint isn’t exactly unwarranted, it’s not all the way correct, either. Aloy hearing her genuine remorse and responding based on the whole no-nonsense truth—that actions and inactions and doubts from both of them led to their parting of ways in the Forbidden West—would mean more to her than platitudes or righteous anger.
Breaking into new domains of vulnerability is a theme here, isn’t it? There’s something to be said about telling someone the story of your life. At this point, Aloy hasn’t had to actually do that for anyone. Choosing to tell Talanah everything in her own words is an endeavor in both openness and terrifying freedom. It means trust and it means being seen wholly, bare. And Talanah has always only wanted to see.
Referencing Talanah’s gift was pretty much a shoe-in for this path. Particularly the line about it being displayed directly outside of Aloy’s bedroom door at the Base. (It’s true. Go check!)
It’s all about the tension. It’s all about the yearning. It’s all about Aloy allowing herself to simply be in a moment, for once, and welcome the comfort the sight of Talanah brings after the dream from which she just woke. (It’s definitely all about the yearning. And almost, almost kissing. We considered going for it. In some other world, that version exists. Director’s cut.)
This might have been the one that tricked you. Probably thought about the inherent intimacy of tandem riding—the close contact, hands on hips, chin on shoulder, the tight grip—and you’re certainly far from incorrect! But the Sunhawk deserves to fly her own Sunwing and would take the challenge head-on. It’s another mark of Aloy’s trust in her abilities.
Points for being nice to Milu. Talanah cares a lot for that little sprout.
Letting Milu take the last shot on the Stormbird lends evidence to Aloy’s growing patience with others and her willingness to encourage them for encouragement’s sake alone—something Talanah would absolutely notice and appreciate as a teacher herself.
We hope you enjoyed your journey through the romantic Talanah route! Now that you know how to best get a smooch, try the other options to get different endings as well! If you reached the romantic epilogue, we encourage you to give it another look, and really… Focus.
Under the cut, please find the complete ending guide to reach the romantic ending in Nil's route, including descriptions from route writers behind the decision. Please note that during gameplay, answers may appear in a different order than indicated.
This question kicked off one of the most important aspects of the Nil route - Aloy’s willingness to see Nil as a partner and to work as a team. The best choice here is for her to offer to come alongside him, not to show him how to do it better or just watch him figure it out on his own, but to meet him where he’s at and work together with him. Aloy asking instead of telling (like she would in the “suggest a fix” option) also highlights her own growth by trying to be better at connecting with people instead of immediately trying to fix a problem.
This question comes after Aloy finds out about the lingering Eclipse presence in the West that Nil is hunting down and we went pretty subtle with this one. Ostensibly, all of these are good choices, and this question really hits the most at what Aloy’s focus is on at this moment and that’s where we put the emphasis. Tracking them down is very mission oriented and somewhat detached from Nil, whereas mentioning that it may be dangerous for him to do this alone is more empathetic but also puts doubt in his abilities despite him having proven himself a very capable warrior in the past. Saying that it sounds like a challenge may seem more lighthearted, but that’s what it’s supposed to be: Aloy acknowledging that they’re both extremely competent and that she would be willing to join him in another of their ventures together, which have always presented a challenge in one way or another.
Aloy and Nil coming across the first pair of Eclipse is an extremely important moment in their journey and we did get tricky with these options because of that. Once again, this is meant to highlight how Aloy approaches their partnership and teamwork, but most importantly this is meant for her to give Nil the choice in how he wants to proceed without taking over. Both of them are leaders, but we’ve seen Aloy struggle to give her trust to others and we’ve also seen through her eyes as Nil goes through his own journey. Offering to take care of the Eclipse without him implies that that she knows he’s not dueling or really killing anymore and she can take care of them if he doesn’t want to, but it also takes that choice away from him, especially after he started this mission on his own, knowing that he would be fighting and killing Eclipse soldiers. Offering to take them since she needs to practice, on the other hand, cheapens the mission they’re on in one way and also cheapens the act of taking the life of another; for all that Nil called it “sport” in HZD, we also know that death is intrinsically tied to him and that taking a step away from that in HFW was a huge step for him so making light of that isn’t something he would like her doing. Offering to let him take care of them allows for his choice in the matter, letting him set his own boundaries and also give him the chance to offer her the choice to team up again, which he does.
At this point, Nil is telling Aloy about his childhood and being drafted into the Sun-King’s army at a very young age. The options we gave almost mirror the canon choices of heart-fist-brain, where one is empathetic, one is a little more strong-handed, and the last is an observation. Saying it sounds like a difficult childhood is Aloy being empathetic, but it doesn’t quite cross the boundary between them where she opens up. Saying that our pasts make us stronger, while perhaps true, is more callous and almost dismisses the horror of what he is revealing to her. Drawing the parallel between them with her own early childhood highlights both their similarities and their differences, at once both commiserating with him but also claiming her own choice in her journey that he didn’t have. In this way, aloy opens up to him about herself without dismissing his own struggles, and also internally realizes a little bit more about why he’s so macabre now when that’s how he was raised.
This question about Nil’s whittling hobby was meant to gauge how Aloy feels about Nil, and whether she’s more concerned about him being a threat or curious about him and his story. Saying it seems like a good thing for him implies that she’s focusing the most on him using it as a coping mechanism to keep from being a danger to himself or others which, while true, shouldn’t be what she focuses on above him as a person. Asking if he has any carvings she can see is more positive and shows her curiosity, but it doesn’t get to the heart of him the way that the last option does. Asking him how he learned to carve indicates that she wants to know more about him and his past, about why he does things, tapping both into Aloy’s innate curiosity and her connection to Nil. It is an open-ended question from her, encouraging Nil to reveal more about himself because she wants to know.
Since Nil is one of the recurring characters that was not brought into the know in HFW, we thought this moment was a really important one for their relationship. Aloy has often been forced to share her story in one way or another, so choosing to let someone in of her volition was a big choice and how she decides to do that is vital. Saying that she doesn’t want to burden him means that she doesn’t think he’s strong enough to either understand or carry the weight of it, lessening his own strength and insulting him. Choosing to say that she’s not ready to tell him means that telling him is either a burden on her or that she doesn’t fully trust him, neither of which bode well for their relationship. Telling him that he’s been in the dark for long enough is an acknowledgement of the fact that she does trust him and that she’s giving in to her own need for connection and support from those she cares about.
While Aloy is opening up about her HFW companions to Nil, we give players the choice for her to open up more or less. This one was mostly context clues: both of the other options are more vague and the wording is less open to questions, almost dismissive in the “they’re a good group” option. That one in particular may also come off to Nil that he wasn’t good enough to be included in her cadre, whether or not she meant that. Saying that there was someone else is more specific and it naturally invites the “who and what happened” question that gives Aloy the space to open up about Varl and how his loss scarred her. This could have also been referring to Seyka, but because of Nil’s connection to life and death, we wanted to tap into her grief and vulnerability over Varl’s fate.
This choice comes after Aloy almost thought she watched Nil die, that she had lost another person and failed them the way she did Varl, which means she’s shaken and trying to hide it. Waiting for him to speak seems like it leaves space for him to take the lead, but it also means Aloy is likely retreating into her own head and not opening up to him. Telling him to move faster next time can be playful, but it’s also the same kind of censure a superior gives to a subordinate, not necessarily to a partner. Apologizing about his face paint while she tends to his wound lightens the mood a little, but it also acknowledges that she’s stripping him of one of the many masks he’s donned the same way that she’s been vulnerable with him during the past day. She’s seen his face before, but masks can be shields and he’s facing down a villain from his past, so she’s letting him know that she sees what he was doing and is sorry for taking that away from him even as she’s trying to help him.
After watching Nil get hit, Aloy has a flashback to her harrowing encounter with the Kraakspike, causing her to freeze and we know now that Nil noticed and he calls her out for it. Aloy can choose to make a joke of it (“surprised to see you get hit for once”), cut herself off from support and almost censuring herself for her weakness (“yes, but it won’t happen again”), or she can admit that she’s not always hyper-competent and open up about her horrible experience and how that’s affected in the past few months.
This question is meant to call back to the emphasis on teamwork and trust in each other’s skills. Choosing to mirror Nil and take the grasses to the left while he takes the grasses to the right indicates that she trusts him to take care of himself and that section of guards while she does the same on her side. Following Nil, while it keeps them together, makes the process take a bit longer and doesn’t necessarily play to the fact that they’re both extremely skilled warriors. Creating a distraction, on the other hand, is never a way they fought together in the past and deviates from that comfortable partnership they would have fostered in the bandit camps of HZD, and would therefore confuse Nil and throw them off balance.
This is the more intense - and hopefully easier - version of Q2, even though the answer at surface level doesn’t match offering Nil the initial choice with the first Eclipse soldiers. Does Aloy try to take everything onto her own shoulders to spare him and thereby underestimate his strength? Does she let him shoulder the burden of killing his old tormentor and guide alone? Or does she offer to do this together, facing down his past as partners and sharing the weight of his struggle the same way he would do for her? In the bandit camps, what they were doing was honorable but Nil wasn’t in a good place and Aloy didn’t fully trust him yet. After his own growth and her finally starting to let others in, they’re both in a better place where their partnership can flourish and they’ll fight together better than ever when they’re facing down an enemy who will only cause more death and destruction if they let him go.
And here we come to the crux of their partnership. Choosing to say that Nil is a soldier shrinks him down to only his former role and the weapon he was molded to be initially against his will, overlooking his own struggle to become more than that since he was released from prison. Saying “we need you” is much better, but that infers that it’s not personal, that they need him in the war against Nemesis as another ally and that’s all. Aloy saying “I need you” makes it intensely personal, acknowledging that he is important to her and that she wants more from their relationship than chance meetings on the road or another ally to throw into the upcoming battles. This is Aloy asking for more from him in the hopes that he’ll meet her halfway…and if you played your cards right, he will!
We hope you enjoyed your journey through the romantic Nil route! Now that you know how to best get a smooch, try to mix and match other options to get different endings as well! Note: the Nil route has seven endings and we did emotionally damage ourselves writing several of them. If you reached the romantic epilogue, we encourage you to give it another look, and really… Focus.
Under the cut, please find the complete ending guide to reach the romantic ending in Seyka's route, including descriptions from route writers behind the decision. Please note that during gameplay, answers may appear in a different order than indicated.
This starting point was a great chance to show Aloy both knowing what's important to Seyka and displaying her inherent compassion for others. There's a lot going on, but in this moment, she's taking time to pause, seek out, and check on the emotional well-being of both an important part of Seyka's life, and a person who was hurt, betrayed, and needed assurance.
This was to introduce a bit of a curveball early on, but it also happened to tie in to lore behind this path's exclusive machine, the Dreadmaw; by this point, Aloy's heard a bit about where it likes to dwell and hunt, and she'll definitely see that heading towards deeper waters can be the path to peril... but also progress.
Besides saving the world, so much of Aloy's emotional journey in HFW was having to internalize the fact that she doesn't have to go at this alone, and doesn't have to be indestructible to be amazing. We wanted to see her put that into action, to be okay with being hurt, and be okay with accepting help from someone she's opened her heart to. And we see Seyka as someone who values that vulnerability, that trust.
By this point in Aloy’s reunion with Seyka, there should be a lingering sense of tension, of unfinished business. No one can pinpoint why just yet, but there are a lot of contenders: Seyka’s concern with the machine, Aloy once again dealing with feelings she hasn’t let herself embrace much before, etc. One thing is clear, though, from all the chatter among the Quen: this machine is a huge threat that Seyka is determined to neutralize. So, by taking initiative and addressing this important topic, Aloy shows Seyka she’s paid attention to her concerns and knows her goal.
In the past, Aloy’s had to deal with learning all these life-changing truths about the world, figuring out how to share revelations others might not understand or want to hear, or just charging ahead to get her next task done. Meanwhile, Seyka’s dealt with Quen leadership that can find out all this information, but decides to pick and choose what to share with a select few. So to best proceed with the relationship at this moment, Aloy should propose she uses her Focus to figure out this puzzle. It’s also an instance of choosing to spend a moment doing something almost carefree; for this moment, neither of their lives have to be solely dedicated to facing peril.
Because of her tragic banishment since birth, Aloy has for so long walked the path of life alone. Though we know how badly she wanted friendship, of course we’ve seen her insist on doing things by herself. So to best proceed with the relationship here, Aloy should hunt with Seyka, which accomplishes a lot: it once again displays Aloy’s trust in Seyka and it shows Aloy is still willing to let someone help - and is happy to spend time with another.
This machine is a looming threat over the Quen, Seyka, and Aloy from the start, and putting a name to it was another way of making it all the more real and tangible target for both of them. This moment also lets them, as a couple, put their mark on this moment in machine history. Them going through and trying to name it also gave us a rare opportunity for innocent fun and outright humor.
For so much of her journey, Aloy takes a practical approach that’s also seen her leave her own party, avoid help like it’s the (Faro) Plague, and try and keep an arm’s length distance after being hurt for so long. But here, she’s proposing an idea to have the Sunwing be their alarm in case of other machines so that she can rest with Seyka. The with is the big part. A lot of their reunion is colored by unfinished business and the sense of the two circling each other in wait.
Aloy, despite all that she has learned under Rost's tutelage, never developed a true appreciation for intimacy. It has been a work in progress; her group of close and trusted friends are a testament to that. However, when faced with newfound feelings toward Seyka, and she finds herself in such close proximity to her, Aloy grapples with an impulse to express physical affections. This decision to stay by Seyka’s side marks a huge step for Aloy: allowing herself to push past the reflexive desire to remove herself from the touch of another human being and just… Be. Exist in the presence of another.
Sharing information - transparency - is such a big overarching theme for this romance, and for both Aloy and Seyka, when exploring their arcs. For Seyka, she's coming from leadership that treats information, the truth, as something that must be controlled, that cannot be given to everyone, that nobody has a right to the truth. We see hints of her being apologetic when she doesn't adhere to Quen laws, but she also recognizes the power of knowing. Meanwhile, Aloy has to make a big step any time she chooses to tell anyone about anything - the state of the world, her plans, her feelings. So, in this checkpoint it's important that she not avoid answering, but finally confront the truth head on. For her and for Seyka. There's bravery in that.
Leaving, even temporarily, without a goodbye or any attempt to tie up loose ends, is a behavior that Aloy is all too familiar with. It was never intentional; the fate of the world as everyone knew it rested on her shoulders, a weight that has never left her… But that has never truly lessened the pain or hurt those left behind can feel. This flashpoint gives Aloy the chance to end that cycle of behavior. To say what needs to be said instead of letting it fade into obscurity. Seyka needs honesty. She deserves it.
We hope you enjoyed your journey through the romantic Seyka route! Now that you know how to best get a smooch, try to mix and match other options to get different endings as well! If you reached the romantic epilogue, we encourage you to give it another look, and really… Focus.
Under the cut, please find the complete ending guide to reach the romantic ending in Drakka's route, including descriptions from route writers behind the decision. Please note that during gameplay, answers may appear in a different order than indicated.
We wanted to launch off their semi-playful banter from the start. Calling back to “the way of the desert” brushes off the growth he’s tried to achieve, whereas stating that it’s noble does acknowledge his change, but de-personalizes the exchange. Drakka takes his leadership seriously, but he’s shown to be open to change inspired by Aloy, so this is what that answer is referencing.
We know Aloy has a hard time letting people in, whether it was Varl, Zo, or even Beta. Here, she’s still a little guarded, but she’s also grown a lot and is now giving Drakka a choice of if he wants to know her secrets. He knows she has a lot of them, after all. Telling him he wouldn’t understand is like saying he’s shallow and deliberately keeping him in the dark; while saying her stories are complicated isn’t necessarily underestimating his capacity to understand, it is Aloy remaining closed off.
While we did have a bit of fun with this one, we also wanted a romantically-inclined Aloy to meet Drakka where he’s at, instead of always the other way around. He does have the ability in canon to flirt with her with his, “So… you think maybe I could fly away with you?” line, so this is Aloy rising to that level of playfulness. Changing her mind entirely is Aloy backing off from a particular challenge, whereas simply referencing his spikes keeps things too casual.
Sensing his apprehension and knowing he can’t swim, this is Aloy taking his comfort into consideration. The biggest difference between this choice and “Don’t move” is Aloy indicating in the romantic path that she’s including Drakka in her plans, and isn’t just going to figure everything out for him. Forcing him to swim, on the other hand, completely takes all of Drakka’s agency away and puts him in danger.
This one is tricky, but it shows that Aloy is taking Drakka’s words and ideas seriously. She isn’t dismissing them or insulting them. Aloy is acknowledging that the situation is complicated, but Drakka has put in a respectable amount of thought to his plans. She isn’t giving him a semi-backhanded compliment with “Not the worst idea,” nor is she doubting the plans entirely as in, “Are you sure that’s enough?”
This is also on the trickier side, but it’s not an admonishment or adding insult to injury by asking what he was thinking. She also isn’t trying to diffuse the situation with bad humour. Aloy is telling Drakka to calm down because he can trust that she’s got him.
Once again, this is a choice of how vulnerable Aloy is willing to be—from not at all (“I’ve moved on”) to only a little (“I… got hurt”) to trusting him with an unseen side of herself. Here, Aloy is expressing a certain level of exposure and openness to Drakka, and letting him see a side of her she doesn’t often show others—or herself. By admitting that she was so close to dying, she’s also admitting that she was afraid in a very intimate and human moment.
This option again fits the pattern of Aloy playing with Drakka when the situation calls for it. She’s not questioning his intelligence (“You know what fishing is?”) or experience (“You don’t swim, but you fish?”). She’s become comfortable being cheeky with him, and Drakka responds well to flirtation.
One of Drakka’s canon quest lines involves him wanting to prove himself as Commander and look good for the Desert Clan, which Aloy admonishes. After, he mentions trying to live up to her example, which is what we expanded on in this route. By saying that his plan will “make him look good,” Aloy is dismissing his personal growth and showing she still thinks of him as the hothead she first met. Stating that he’s doing what’s best isn’t wrong, but is more logical than personal. This option has Aloy recognising that he’s grown and offering heartfelt and personal praise, rather than going back to what she thinks is most important to him.
After their adventure in the ruins, this option shows that Aloy does care about Drakka, but also trusts his judgment. They’ve fought together numerous times now, twice already against Thunderjaws, and he’s a proven hunter. While none of the options are “wrong,” the other two disregard his abilities and judgement to various degrees. He’s not reckless or in distress, and she’s counting on him to take care of himself while coming around to the fact that she cares about what happens to him.
In the final flashpoint, that trust comes full circle. Aloy can either bark orders at Drakka, or try to “save” him, or acknowledge the fact that he’s able to handle the machine. Aloy knows Drakka has her back in combat and that he’s fully capable of handling the Thunderjaw without her, so she can take her eyes off them to find her weapon once more. They’ve come a long way in their blossoming friendship to something more, and Aloy is ready to open her heart to make room for Drakka.
We hope you enjoyed your journey through the romantic Drakka route! Now that you know how to best get a smooch, try to mix and match other options to get different endings as well! If you reached the romantic epilogue, we encourage you to give it another look, and really… Focus.
Under the cut, please find the complete ending guide to reach the romantic ending in Kotallo's route, including descriptions from route writers behind the decision. Please note that during gameplay, answers may appear in a different order than indicated.
We wanted to capture Aloy being more open, right from the start. She’s always quick to assist almost anyone, but she’s offering an opening to Kotallo to ask her for help, even if, maybe, it’s not entirely needed.
This was simply about honesty. The conversations they’ve had since they met have been sometimes difficult, but generally quite honest. She could deflect, but she knows she can trust Kotallo, be open with him, as he’s been with her.
Again, about honesty but also finding common ground. Their experiences aren’t identical, but there’s familiarity and allows for understanding and opening up. Aloy is learning she needs to offer a bit of herself as well and this is a chance to do so.
What’s the point in having shared history if you can’t tease each other about it? It’s really about Aloy taking a moment to slow down, to enjoy and share the memory and joke about possibilities, specifically with Kotallo.
Aloy is used to leading, to always being in charge. But Aloy has also learned that it’s ok to trust others, to know they are capable. In this moment, Kotallo has more knowledge, and she wants to show she respects that, and him.
Aloy needed to be honest, and it was important to acknowledge Seyka and the part she played in helping Aloy grow. But, also to have Aloy thinking about what is ahead of her, now that she’s opening up—and what she might want going forward.
There’s a time Aloy would have been dismissive of the Tenakth culture, or not really bothered to understand. But she’s learned a lot in her time with everyone at the Base and is beginning to understand what is being offered to her, so it’s important to acknowledge that and what it means to her.
Aloy’s reached a point where she realises that sometimes it’s not about what she might say, but being there, offering support. This isn’t something platitudes can help, but having someone beside you can be enough.
While helping him with his paint seems obvious, Aloy has grown enough to realise this isn’t something she should assume. She needs to respect his choices as much as he respects hers. Part of setting up a balance between them.
This was about Aloy noticing Kotallo, and the changes he’s gone through. It allows them both to acknowledge that, and the part she played in this. And what it means to her to see the person he’s become.
After all they’ve been through, talked about and shared during their trip, it was simply about Aloy trusting in Kotallo and letting him closer, opening up a bit more. It’s also an indicator that a romantically-inclined Aloy is more open to physical touch, and even wants it.
We hope you enjoyed your journey through the romantic Kotallo route! Now that you know how to best get a smooch, try the other options to get different endings as well! If you reached the romantic epilogue, we encourage you to give it another look, and really… Focus.
Under the cut, please find the complete ending guide to reach the romantic ending in Petra's route, including descriptions from route writers behind the decision. Please note that during gameplay, answers may appear in a different order than indicated.
We all know Aloy’s always busy with endless tasks, but this answer shows she’s willing to spend some time with her favorite engineer and Oseram civic leader (not that she’s at a point to outright say that yet).
While these answers were similar, this is the answer that isn’t focused only on Aloy figuring it out on her own. It’s a more open-ended wistfulness that shows the events of Burning Shores left her more open to how she interacts with people.
This answer shows that Aloy wants Petra to come with her as an equal, rather than just grudgingly accepting her along or bringing her with as a sidekick.
This is a pretty straightforward one. Aloy wants to give Petra a way to keep up the flirting even when they’re apart.
Aloy knows Petra is an independent soul, so instead of putting her in a situation that takes away her control (riding on the same Charger), she offers to start slow so that Petra can become more comfortable with riding on her own.
Petra’s an engineer with a love of invention. This option shows that Aloy wants to make sure Petra understands how to use the Focus fully, rather than just as a tool to call her or follow a trail.
Aloy knows Petra is worried about her friends, and wants to comfort her before they get back on their Chargers to follow the trail.
The Grand Canyon presents a stunning view, but this answer shows that while Aloy wants to spend time just enjoying their surroundings, she knows that it isn’t the time right now with Petra’s friends still unaccounted for.
This option is the one where Aloy doesn’t brush aside Petra’s worry. Aloy’s told her the dangers of the last damaged and lightning-creating machine she’d dealt with, so Petra is understandably worried, and Aloy shouldn’t ignore that.
While Petra is back waiting for Aloy, this fight needs to be done carefully, as we all know how easy it is to damage parts in the middle of the fight (…Frostclaw sac webbing, looking at you).
We all know that Aloy is a loot-hoarder, but this time she’s got Petra and friends waiting for her. Because of this she’s gonna make the ultimate sacrifice and grab only the part that’s needed.
We hope you enjoyed your journey through the romantic Petra route! Now that you know how to best get a smooch, try to mix and match other options to get different endings as well! If you reached the romantic epilogue, we encourage you to give it another look, and really… Focus.
Hi! Any tips for running FOTH on Steam Deck (Lutris/Wine doesn't seem to work)? Or, plans for/possibility of a Linux release?
Someone figured it out how to extract the files and run it on Linux! You can find out from this ask here!
That being said, there was a Twitter user who mentioned getting it to work on Steam deck. However, I searched as much as I could and couldn’t find that post, unfortunately. — Didi
If there is anyone else who has experience getting these games to work in Steam deck, we’d be happy to hear from you!
FYI - it's not advertised as so, but the game is actually playable on Linux. If you download the Windows .exe and extract it there's a Shell Script (.sh) in the home directory that users can Run in Terminal to play the game. However, all of the uncompiled renpy (.rpy) scripts are visible, not sure if that's included in a regular download of the game on a Mac or Windows machine.
Ah that's good to know, thank you!
For anyone looking for a Linux release, please see the above for a guide!
