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.
There are no games exactly like Mass Effect, as the original trilogy is one of a kind (or, well, three of a kind). So, we are mainly focusing on games that can scratch a similar itch.
Updated November 17, 2025 by Mark Sammut: While we hope that day comes to pass, a new Mass Effect seems to be a long way off by this point. Consequently, you might want to check out a few games similar to Mass Effect, just to help pass the time. It helps that these titles are generally great, too.
Gears Of War (Entire Franchise)
The Perfect Cover-Based Shooter Video Games
Gears of War: Reloaded
- Released
- August 26, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- The Coalition
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action, Third-Person Shooter, War & Military
- The Definitive Cover-Based Shooter
- Story Pits Humanity Against An Overwhelming Threat
- While Not Offering Any Customization, The Characters Are Still Fantastic
Gears of War basically reshaped third-person shooters upon its release, cementing cover-based gameplay as a prominent sub-genre. While there have been many attempts to claim the throne, the Xbox franchise is arguably still the standard, and the games hold up incredibly well.
Great Games Where Your Decisions Truly Matter
The following games stand out for forcing players to make tough decisions that can drastically change the story.
Narratively, Gears of War does not offer Mass Effect's choices, complexity, or freedom; however, the linear series is nevertheless capable of telling a gripping and emotional story. Gameplay-wise, Gears of War knocks it out of the park in nearly every area, and all the main games are, at least, good. All the Gears games are, at the bare minimum, good, and the original trilogy is just straight-up great. We highlighted Gears of War: Reloaded above, but only because it is the latest version of the original game.
The Outer Worlds 2
Obsidian's World-Hopping Sci-Fi Adventure With Dialogue As Good As Mass Effect
The Outer Worlds 2
- Released
- October 29, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
Obsidian's The Outer Worlds games are very clearly inspired by Bethesda's Fallout formula, which is not a bad thing since they execute these ideas well. Mass Effect fans should prioritize these games over something like Fallout: New Vegas, just because they are sci-fi epics that involve traveling to different worlds. While they don't take themselves as seriously as BioWare's trilogy, The Outer Worlds still showcases Obsidian's talent for crafting great dialogue and banter, so the storytelling is different but not necessarily worse.
Although the first entry is solid enough, The Outer Worlds 2 improves upon its predecessor in pretty much every way, providing a far more enjoyable overall experience. The first-person gunplay is not amazing by any stretch of the imagination, but it is solid enough to never get in the way. Also, you can play The Outer Worlds 2 in third-person if you prefer that option.
Control
Unique Setting & Addictive Combat
Control
- Released
- August 27, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Remedy Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Action, Third-Person Shooter, Supernatural
- Great Gameplay That Blends Supernatural Abilities With Third-Person Gunplay
- FBC Is A Fanscinating Setting Filled With Interesting One-Off Stories
While lacking Mass Effect's far-reaching space exploration or team-building social element, Control offers great gameplay and an avalanche of interesting ideas and stories. The game is set in the Federal Bureau of Control building, which is a place where the government monitors strange phenomena that go beyond human comprehension. Jesse heads into the headquarters in search of her brother, only to find the FBC in chaos due to the arrival of the Hiss. Within this building, reality is breaking apart.
Control's main narrative is nothing too special, but the game shines in its more self-contained side stories that deal with specific phenomena. Gameplay-wise, Remedy knocks it out of the park by blending third-person gunplay and satisfying powers. In some ways, Control plays like a third-person Arkane release. A sequel is in development, too.
Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy
Comedic But Still Epic Galaxy-Trotting Adventure Game With Some Player Choices
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
- Released
- October 26, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Eidos Montreal
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
- A Planet-Hopping Space Opera
- Lovable Characters
- Squad-Based Real-Time Combat (Not Great, But Not Far Removed From ME)
After the disappointing Marvel's Avengers, expectations for Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy were not high; fortunately, Eidos-Montréal more than managed to exceed them. A single-player experience, the game finds the Guardians accidentally triggering a disastrous event while hunting a unique beast. Before long, the ragtag group of "heroes" are forced to take on a powerful cult that plans to brainwash the entire galaxy, a threat that can rival Mass Effect's Reapers in scope.
Guardians of the Galaxy features a lengthy campaign that takes players to multiple planets and introduces them to a fantastic roster of NPCs. The 2021 game's main selling points are its story and characters, both of which are top quality. The Guardians are all fully developed beings who bounce off each other beautifully, and every member gets multiple moments in the spotlight. The voice acting is also stellar.
If there is one area that tends to get criticism, it would have to be the combat system. Guardians of the Galaxy's only playable character is Star-Lord, who uses his blasters during battles; however, he can utilize the other Guardians' abilities as well, which is not that different from Mass Effect's squad-based action.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
A Third-Person Shooter Set In A Rich Universe And Featuring A Focus On Teamwork
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II
- Released
- September 9, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Saber Interactive
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Hack and Slash
- Large-Scale Presentation
- Team-Based Combat
- Decent Story
- Co-Op
- Not An RPG
- Story Is Ultimately Secondary
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.
Space Marine 2: Beginner Mistakes To Avoid
Some untold tips will be essential to the survival of every new Ultramarine in Space Marine 2 to ensure victory over the evils of the galaxy.
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.
While it can be intimidating to jump into an IP like Warhammer 40K, Space Marine 2 takes steps to welcome new players.
Warframe
Great Free MMO Alternative To Mass Effect (With Even Better Gameplay)
Warframe
- Released
- March 25, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Digital Extremes
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Switch
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
- Fantastic Gameplay That Blends Melee & Ranged Combat
- Pretty Deep Lore, & A Lot Of It
- Story Is Not Often The Focus
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.
The Expanse: A Telltale Series
A Video Game Gateway Into A Great Sci-Fi Universe
The Expanse: A Telltale Series
- Released
- July 27, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Deck Nine, Telltale Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Graphic Adventure
- More Interactive Than Most Telltale Games
- Good Writing And Great Voice Acting
- The Expanse Universe Is Fantastic
- Gameplay-Wise, Not Similar To Mass Effect
- The Game Is Just Fine
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.
Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet
An Anime Third-Person Shooter
Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet
- Released
- February 23, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Dimps
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Third-Person Shooter
- Focus On Team Synergy
- RPG Elements
- Passable Gunplay
- Only For Fans Of The Source Material
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.
Returnal
An Addictive Sci-Fi Third-Person Shooter That Offers A Different Type Of Experience To Mass Effect
Returnal
- Released
- April 30, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Housemarque
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
- Great Gameplay
- Character-Driven Story
- Impressive Visuals
- Very Different Structure Than Mass Effect
- Not An RPG
Returnal is phenomenal. Housemarque's jump to full 3D proved to be a massive success, producing one of the best PS5 games that is an easy recommendation for anyone craving a third-person shooter or a roguelike. The 2021 release does not share all that much in common with Mass Effect, so this is primarily for those who want another sci-fi epic that is ambitious in scope and execution. Selene is an astronaut who becomes trapped in a time loop on an alien planet, and she must complete six biomes to escape. As is typical for roguelikes, death means going back to the start, although the story progresses through defeat, and there is a checkpoint about halfway through the campaign.
Returnal: 6 Overpowered Builds
To make surviving a run at Returnal a little easier, try equipping one of these powerful builds.
During each run, Selene can pick up or buy items and new weapons, so she is always getting stronger during a run. Initially, Returnal is extremely difficult, and most players are likely to spend a good 10 hours in the first three biomes. However, the game arguably becomes easier as it goes along, especially since it is easy to become overpowered during the second half of the campaign.
Helldivers 2
Maybe The Best Co-Op Third-Person Shooter Game
Helldivers 2
- Released
- February 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
- Great Third-Person Gunplay
- Somewhat Similar Themes
- Group-Based Missions
- Story Can Feel Non-Existent
Helldivers 2 is a very different beast from 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.