Are romances necessary to enjoy the game?

Romance is optional of course. But I find added romantic contexts made me feel more invested into the game, like a personalized story. 

When I first start MEA, I don't feel like I care about the available romances on the ship. My first Sara is a professional and it didn't make sense for her to fraternize with anyone in her crew. Although I do notice Jaal giving her the mooning eyes but that wasn't enough. By the time I went to Kadara, she kinda fell hard for Reyes. I also like how the arc works; and how the crew ask if she likes him and everyone was worried about Reyes being a dishonest person and etc. He even made a comment on how she got bad taste in men but I like that he's layered. One of the Angara also mentioned about his crush on her which is really nice and the interrupt kiss is uber cute. Either way, the romance is really short, which is reason enough for many to invalidate him but he's the only one I considered Sara to develop feelings and still retain both independence. When SAM asked about her relationship, I like that she's a bit insecure since the romance is quite casual and she wanted him to feel the same way with her.

And honestly, the trilogy made more sense with Kaidan and Shepard together. Their relationship isn't like everyone else, it sits and develop within the main stories, expanding the narrative and adding a lot of depth. From the beginning of the game where you see Joker and Kaidan at the cockpit, to Eden Prime, losing Jenkins, the beacon, Virmire, Ashley, Ilos in ME1. Normandy being destroyed, Shepard's death, Cerberus and Horizon in ME2. Vancouver, Mars, Citadel and Earth in ME3. Without the romance context, all of these felt empty to me, there's no secondary motivation especially for Shepard. I also like that The Illusive Man tried hard to sabotage their relationship. Also the romance humanized her to a degree that she is not just your avatar Commander Shepard. Some of Shepard's best moments was inside their romance. I particularly like the small animation gestures they had, as if they can't stand not touching each other and that she was precious to him. Some people like the stoic macho Shepard who bang everything they see, but because of Kaidan, I have that Shepard who was the loveliest girl in the trilogy who secretly love to cook, love being taken out to dinner dates, who wouldn't just sit back and watch the galaxy burn but would rise up and face the impossible.