When one talks about some of the greatest role-playing games ever made, it goes without saying that the Mass Effect series would be a major part of this conversation. While the series might’ve ended on a frustratingly low note, there’s no denying the fact that BioWare had created a rich, deep, and intricate sci-fi world that had enraptured fans from all over the globe.
Be it through the original versions or the Legendary Edition remasters, Commander Shepard’s story is always worth revisiting. Even Andromeda has plenty of positives. However, the wait for the franchise to produce something new could be very long, so here are some games like Mass Effect that fans can choose to play instead before this sci-fi epic finally makes its much-awaited return to the modern gaming market.
Updated September 23, 2024 by Mark Sammut: At the end of October, BioWare will release Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which could be a great option for Mass Effect fans. Obviously, the setting and combat will be largely different, but the franchises have always shared similar writing styles and progression.
In terms of non-BioWare games, September 2024 produced one project that might hit the spot, provided someone’s priority is combat rather than story. Star Wars Outlaws is also an OK shout, but it does not share too much in common with Mass Effect beyond being a sci-fi game with multiple planets and third-person shooter gameplay. Still, anyone who enjoys Star Wars and Ubisoft should check it out.
29 Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
An All-Out War Against An Overwhelming Threat
Space Marine 2 is pretty awesome and worth a recommendation for anyone craving a planet-hopping epic; that said, its strengths lie in different areas than the Mass Effect trilogy. BioWare’s franchise shines the brightest in its universe-building, character-writing, and player choice. Conversely, Space Marine 2‘s crowning achievements are its crunchy combat and co-op implementation. That’s not to say that Saber Interactive put together a terrible story, just that it is not the priority. The campaign tells a respectable tale over the span of about 10 hours, even finding the time to give its protagonist an arc; however, ultimately, it is just there to usher players from set piece to set piece, allowing them to demolish armies and armies of enemies along the way.
Still, Space Marine 2 is a blast that shares just enough elements with Mass Effect to warrant a mention. Both games feature team-based combat, with players being sidelined by two NPCs. Fortunately, the 2024 release supports co-op, allowing other users to take control instead of AI. Although only featuring three planets, Space Marine 2 still has quite a bit of variety, all the while demonstrating an impressive sense of scale through its environments. The campaign nails the fact that players are engaged in an overwhelming war against a threat of cosmic proportions.
28 Warframe
Free-To-Play MMO Sci-Fi Epic
Warframe has managed to remain relevant for nearly a decade, an impressive feat considering the game had a relatively rough launch. Digital Extremes’ sci-fi action RPG started life as a fun but repetitive shooter consisting of linear missions. Over the years, the free-to-play title has greatly expanded its scope, even introducing open areas that emphasize exploration. Nowadays, the game also offers far more options when it comes to builds.
Naturally, this sort of project tends to be a grind, and Warframe is no exception. While money can be spent to speed up progression, players who stick to the free version will not feel too restricted by their decision. More importantly, they can look forward to hundreds of hours of tight gameplay, slow but good storytelling, and a fair amount of customization options. Warframe even expands into open areas after its initial hours.
27 The Expanse: A Telltale Series
A Decent Gateway Into A Great Sci-Fi Universe
Admittedly, this recommendation is mostly driven by a desire to promote The Expanse as a whole rather than specifically the 2023 prequel game, which is largely a middle-of-the-road Telltale-style experience. That said, the latter is a respectable addition to the show (or books) that also serves as a serviceable introduction to this universe, requiring no prior knowledge to appreciate or consume. Now, as the title implies, The Expanse: A Telltale Series is primarily a graphic novel with light gameplay, player-driven choices, and episodic content. Compared to other Telltale outings, this effort is a touch more interactive, granting players some freedom to explore their immediate surroundings. While welcome, these changes are fairly minimal and do not result in a particularly different experience than A Wolf Among Us or The Walking Dead.
For people already familiar with The Expanse, this prequel follows Camina Drummer as she leads the Artemis crew on scavenger runs. The inciting incident involves them finding a valuable item, and the rest of the story focuses on that fallout. Drummer is, by far, the best part of the game, and her writing is consistent with the version that shows up in the Amazon Prime Video series. The Artemis’ crew is a bit underwhelming as they are not given enough screen time to shine, and the campaign is a bit too short. Still, the game touches upon Drummer’s relationship with her crewmates, along with the general politics that define this universe.
Honestly, if nothing else, just watch The Expanse.
26 Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet
An Anime Third-Person Shooter
OK, this recommendation comes with a big disclaimer that Fatal Bullet should only be considered if someone is a relatively big fan of the source material, Sword Art Online. There are plenty of games based on anime that can be enjoyed without familiarity with the series; SAO‘s adaptations are not usually among them since they expect players to have some connection to the characters already.
Still, if someone likes the franchise and wants an anime third-person shooter that also emphasizes team building, they are likely to have a good time with this 2018 release. Overall, Fatal Bullet is one of the better SAO games on the market, and its gameplay shares some similarities with Mass Effect. For one, players put together a 4-member party when they go on quests, each one filling conventional RPG roles. The combat blends gunplay and skills, both of which are executed reasonably well. Finally, the game dedicates a lot of time to socializing with the secondary characters, encouraging players to build their relationships with them.
25 Helldivers 2
Spreading Democracy Through The Cosmos, One Bullet At A Time
Helldivers 2 is a very different beast than Mass Effect, but the two games overlap in a few key areas. For one, they are both third-person shooters with campaigns that revolve around visiting different planets. As part of a 4-member squad, players will find themselves shooting down a plethora of enemies using an assortment of weapons, and co-op is a big part of Helldivers 2‘s core appeal (unlike Mass Effect).
Narratively, the games share almost nothing in common, except for generally strong writing. While BioWare’s franchise focuses on character development and telling an overarching plot with long-reaching consequences, Arrowhead’s game is a hilarious satire drenched in propaganda. Even though it does not prioritize its storytelling, Helldivers 2 has great world-building.
Ultimately, this 2024 release is for PS5 and PC owners who want an addictive co-op shooter with a lot of replay value. Gameplay-wise, Helldivers 2 is a blast, offering both enjoyable minute-to-minute action along with a plethora of exciting unlockables.
Very Similar Combat System
Few situations exist that allow for The Bureau: XCOM Declassified to be promoted ahead of the franchise’s mainline entries, but this is one of those rare scenarios. A spin-off to Firaxis’ turn-based tactical series, XCOM Declassified is a fairly typical third-person shooter, albeit one with a cool setting and some tactical elements. Set during the 1960s, the story finds America under siege by aliens, which naturally forces the eponymous Bureau to step up to take care of business.
The Bureau: XCOM Declassified shares quite a few things in common with Mass Effect, including squad-based combat that forces players to constantly command two partners during shootouts. While most of the campaign consists of linear levels, these sequences are spaced apart by interludes set within the Bureau’s headquarters, which acts as a hub area. Here, players can mingle with other characters, and there are even dialogue trees.
Just to temper expectations,
The Bureau: XCOM Declassified
does not handle these elements as well as
Mass Effect Andromeda
, let alone the original trilogy. Nevertheless, the game is fine.
23 Cyberpunk 2077
Stellar Storytelling & World-Building
Cyberpunk 2077‘s launch was a bit of a disaster, hurting the game’s reputation. CD Projekt Red’s title had plenty of problems on the PS4 and Xbox One, but it fared better on PC or current-gen hardware. The game has also come far since its debut, and it is now far better. A first-person shooter set in the detailed Night City, a futuristic urban hub dominated by corporations and overrun with violence, this RPG has a lot of positives, despite its technical issues.
Like Mass Effect, Cyberpunk 2077‘s story and world-building are its crowning achievements. Night City is packed with fascinating and well-written characters, memorable side content, and environmental storytelling. This is a universe that people can get lost in, immersed in the world’s vibrancy, sociopolitical undertones, and strangeness.
22 Lost Planet: Extreme Condition
Impressive Boss Battles
Lost Planet got off to such a promising start, only to fizzle out in the span of one console generation. While Lost Planet 2 is an enjoyable multiplayer-focused experience, anyone looking for a single-player package should check out the original game in the series. The third-person shooter takes place on a hostile, frozen planet overflowing with bug aliens that can reach sizes that allow them to tower over buildings.
While not lacking a story, Lost Planet is first and foremost about its gameplay, which does set it apart from BioWare’s trilogy. Thankfully, Capcom knows a thing or two about crafting addictive combat, and Lost Planet is far from an exception. The game contains a satisfying assortment of weapons and gadgets (along with a mech suit) that combine to create a varied and flexible battle system that offers a surprising amount of depth. The casual enemies are good fun, but Lost Planet comes alive during its boss battles.
21 Outriders
Fun Co-Op Third-Person Shooter
People Can Fly’s Outriders is a live-service game and a good mid-tier option. The third-person shooter launched in a somewhat rough state, but Outriders‘ gameplay was generally well-received, and it has only improved since the title’s launch. The shooter allows players to create a custom character in one of four classes: Devastator, Pyromancer, Technomancer, and Trickster. Along with skills to unlock, each of these classes has three sub-classes, freeing players to explore a wide range of builds.
Outriders‘ narrative doesn’t come close to replicating Mass Effect‘s magic, as it struggles to maintain momentum for extensive periods. However, the games’ customization and combat should feel right at home for fans of BioWare’s RPG classic.
20 Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines
Choices Matter
It might be starting to show its age a little now, but Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines still has more than enough about it to keep players engaged and entertained. It’s an exceedingly well-scripted game with an interesting cast who each have their own distinct personalities and motivations. Like the game’s visuals, the combat leaves a little to be desired when compared to modern titles, but those who can look past these minor blemishes will find a lot to love here.
When it comes to games with meaningful choices, few projects offer as many as this one. Most of these choices fall squarely into that morally gray wasteland that lies between good and evil and so, as a result, the game lacks a traditional morality system. That doesn’t make decisions any less important though and there’s nothing stopping players from making up their own minds about whether their choices are right or wrong.
19 Red Dead Redemption 2
Character-Driven Masterpiece
OK, this is a weird one. Red Dead Redemption 2 has almost nothing in common with Mass Effect; in fact, their settings are polar opposites. While both titles are third-person shooters, their systems only share some basic elements. Rockstar’s project is also a proper open-world, and it moves at a slower pace than any of the Mass Effect titles.
Despite all these differences, Red Dead Redemption 2 still seems like it’s cut from the same rare cloth as Mass Effect. They both tell gripping character-driven stories that focus on themes dealing with family, death, and responsibility. They both completely immerse players in their familiar but alien universes, taking them on lengthy journeys that linger in the mind long after the credits roll.
18 Binary Domain
Squad-Based Sci-Fi Action
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio might be primarily known for the Like a Dragon franchise, but the developer has quite a few other projects to its name. Binary Domain is a third-person shooter set in a world ravished by global warming that relies heavily on advanced robotics. The campaign follows a special task force created to support a law designed to keep humans and robots separate.
Binary Domain emphasizes teamwork as players will need to give orders to their AI partners. The player’s actions and performance determine the rest of the squad’s behavior toward them, which creates an interesting dynamic that influences the gameplay.
17 Anachronox
Dated But Impressive
Admittedly, the combat mechanics found in Anachronox are a lot closer to a JRPG than an action RPG like Mass Effect, but the game still deserves a mention on account of its brilliant storytelling and fascinating characters. It’s smart, it’s funny, and – best of all – it’s wonderfully unique. It’s certainly not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but what it does, it tends to do exceedingly well.
The game does have its shortcomings, however, particularly when it comes to locations and general exploration. Much of the story unfolds in dull and desolate environments which can at times distract from the amazing writing, although this is but a minor annoyance in the grand scheme of things. It’s hard not to like what Anachronox has to offer even despite its flaws and now-dated visuals.
16 Jade Empire
BioWare’s Passion Project
Much of the systems and mechanics found in the Mass Effect games can actually be traced back to one of BioWare’s earlier titles. Jade Empire was the studio’s first original role-playing IP and built upon much of the excellent work done developing the Knights of the Old Republic games.
The game features a fully fleshed-out morality system based on the one used in KOTOR and dialogue choices that are tied to the character’s moral alignment. It still looks okay, has a fantastic combat system, and features one of the best RPG storylines of its era. It perhaps falls a little short of those Mass Effect levels of excellence that the studio would later go on to achieve, but it isn’t too far behind.
15 Alpha Protocol
Rough But Worthwhile
Although BioWare did a fantastic job of making it feel as though every choice mattered throughout the Mass Effect trilogy, the team could learn a thing or two from the studio behind Alpha Protocol. Pretty much everything that the player does prompts some kind of reaction and although they might not all be life and death, they’re noticeable enough to make players think twice about every choice that they make.
The game certainly had its fair share of flaws at the time of its release and time hasn’t done it any favors in this respect. The graphics are still below par, many of the characters are still weak, and the overall story is nothing to write home about. Nonetheless, the nearly endless amount of minor choices that the player can make throughout the game quickly add up to make a major difference when it comes to both their sense of agency and their enjoyment. Those who like Mass Effect should love what Alpha Protocol has to offer.
14 The Outer Worlds
Planet-Hopping RPG With Clever Writing
Obsidian’s 2019 sci-fi shooter is traditionally compared to Fallout, but The Outer Worlds is also an easy recommendation for Mass Effect fans. Smartly written and witty, this RPG grants players a fair few creation choices that influence the protagonist’s personality and, consequently, how NPCs react to them. Combat-wise, The Outer Worlds is a relatively by-the-numbers first-person shooter, albeit one that emphasizes teamwork through its companions.
The Outer World‘s story is not quite as epic as Mass Effect, but it is nevertheless a fantastic first effort. In fact, the 2019 game is not all that dissimilar from 2007’s Mass Effect, and Obsidian has a rock-solid foundation to use for the sequel.
13 Vanquish
Intense Third-Person Shooter Action
While its gunplay is fine, Mass Effect‘s brilliance lies in its characters, world-building, relationships, and story; Conversely, Vanquish is all about gameplay. PlatinumGames took a break from hack and slash to craft a frantically-paced third-person shooter that demands players are always moving. The sci-fi game has a much steeper difficulty curve than BioWare’s franchise, and it is more than fantastic enough to justify the effort.
Rather than a game like Mass Effect, Vanquish should be treated as a companion piece that highlights a completely different side of the shooter genre. It is also relatively short, so players can blast through the campaign in between longer RPGs. Just be prepared for a punishingly difficult final boss.
12 Dead Space Remake
Horror In Space
While not scary, Mass Effect touches upon a few horror concepts; in fact, Reapers are a pretty great example of Lovecraftian monsters. Still, the games themselves are action RPGs and rarely try to terrify players. If someone wants that, they will need to turn to EA’s Dead Space. Visceral Games’ trilogy introduced the world to Necromorphs, terrifying cosmic terrors that are like a mix of zombies and Alien‘s Xenomorphs. In terms of gameplay and tone, Dead Space 2 and particularly 3 are closer to Mass Effect since they lean into action territory, and they are both fun (especially the second one).
Conversely, Dead Space is unquestionably a survival horror experience. Set predominantly in an abandoned spaceship, the story follows Isaac Clarke, a guy forced into a life-and-death situation that goes well beyond his area of expertise. 2023’s Dead Space remake retains the original’s vicious combat and nightmare-inducing atmosphere, all the while tweaking a few things to provide a fresh experience to franchise veterans.
11 Dragon Age: Origins
BioWare’s Fantasy RPG Masterpiece
It would be impossible to talk about games similar to Mass Effect without mentioning another series that blossomed along with BioWare’s sci-fi epic. Out of all the Dragon Age games, one can argue that Origins stays true to the core of the Mass Effect franchise… before BioWare lost its edge as a reputed gaming studio.
While the combat might be a bit too tactical for some, there’s no denying that Dragon Age: Origins has everything required to satisfy the most hardcore role-playing fanatics around.
10 Fallout: New Vegas
(Arguably) The Best 3D Fallout Game
Out of all the games in the Fallout series, it seems that New Vegas strikes the perfect balance between old-school decision-making and new-age gameplay practices. Although to be fair, players really need to mod this game to make the most of this experience.
People who are willing to go the extra mile for this title will be able to enjoy one of the greatest role-playing experiences around, where it genuinely feels like everything that the player does — whether it be a major story decision or something as simple as a minor stat boost — matters in the grand scheme of things.
