Like so many of the world's best video game franchises, the Mass Effect series stands out because there's nothing else quite like it. Naturally, there have been countless sci-fi RPGs, party-based action games, and choice-driven narrative games before and after the last Mass Effect game, but no release has captured the unique character and spirit of BioWare's space opera opus.
But there have been games that are likely to appeal to Mass Effect aficionados before and since Mass Effect Andromeda, and it's these that expectant Mass Effect 4 players might be interested in checking out. After all, Mass Effect is both a culmination of early RPG video games and a seminal release within the genre, so its DNA has seeped into the fabric of the industry, unlikely to ever truly dissipate. For anyone looking to experience any of Mass Effect's spiritual siblings, some options are better than others, especially as stopgaps between Andromeda and Mass Effect 4.
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Best Games to Play While Waiting for Mass Effect 4 To Release
- Baldur's Gate 3
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Dead Space 2
- Dragon Age: Inquisition
- Final Fantasy 7 Remake & Rebirth
- Greedfall
- Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- The Witcher 3
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Mass Effect may be in a league of its own, but there are definitely some games that draw direct and obvious inspiration from it. Unsurprisingly, BioWare's other leading RPG franchise, Dragon Age, has plenty in common with Mass Effect, despite their clear differences in gameplay and world-building. Dragon Age: Inquisition may be particularly suited Mass Effect fans, as it shares the latter's unique mix of real-time action and intimate, mature storytelling, more so than its predecessors and successor. Greedfall's developers have directly cited Dragon Age as an inspiration, but more than a bit of Mass Effect got mixed in with the recipe as well, while Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is almost like an honorary Mass Effect writ small. And of course, BioWare's early work, especially Knights of the Old Republic, is required reading for Mass Effect fans.
But anyone looking forward to Mass Effect 4 may have already played those games, and could be casting a wider net. In that case, other contemporary RPGs with strong writing and well-written characters, such as Clair Obscur, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and Final Fantasy Rebirth, could be just what the doctor ordered. There's a fairly wide spread of experiences in this category, with the Final Fantasy 7 remake games having a strong mix of real-time and strategic, abilities-and-squad-focused combat that might land well with fans of Mass Effect's unique gameplay flavor. Meanwhile, Like a Dragon, Clair Obscur, and Metaphor: Refantazio are turn-based games through-and-through, but their squad-based antics and lovable casts make them nice ME-chasers.
Closer to the other end of the gaming spectrum are very different, more action-oriented experiences, starting with CD Projekt Red's two most recent games, Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3. Though these games are open-world action-RPGs that lack the linear and party-focused nature of the Mass Effect series, they are nevertheless strong alternatives for those seeking more mature, sophisticated narratives with strong combat and progression systems to boot. Their decision-based storytelling, rich worldbuilding, and stellar environment design make them even more well-suited to Mass Effect fans.
Then there's the Dead Space series, published by EA during the same period that the games giant was pushing out the core Mass Effect trilogy. Interestingly enough, the two series share some minor visual and aesthetic elements, perhaps due to nothing more than the similarities of their time, but the parallels are nevertheless notable. While Dead Space is a traditional survival horror game, and Dead Space 3 is a bog-standard shooter, Dead Space 2 falls nicely in the middle, providing balanced gameplay that Mass Effect fans might want to explore.
Mass Effect: Andromeda
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 72 /100 Critics Rec: 40%
- Released
- March 1, 2017
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Violence
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Engine
- Frostbite 3
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Mass Effect
WHERE TO PLAY
Mass Effect: Andromeda travels deep into the Andromeda Galaxy, far beyond the Milky Way. There, you will lead our fight for a new home in hostile territory where we are the aliens. Take command as the Pathfinder, a leader of a squad of military-trained explorers, with deep progression and customization systems. This is the story of humanity’s next chapter, and your choices throughout the game will ultimately determine our survival in the Andromeda Galaxy. As you unfold the mysteries of the Andromeda Galaxy and the hope for humanity lies on your shoulders, you must ask yourself – how far will you go?
