It’s been officially announced thatMass Effect:Legendary Editionwillrelease sometime in spring 2021.Even with many upcoming 2021 releases, this remastered collection is one of the year’s most anticipated games. The trilogy will have enhancements for next-gen consoles, and we couldn’t be more excited.
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TheMass Effecttrilogy raised the bar formodern RPGs (role-playing games).Immersive dialogue and tactical gameplay blend for a surreal gaming experience. Few games hold a candle to classicMass Effectgames, but here are some alternatives that might compare. In some cases, these games deserve a remaster of their own.
10Horizon Zero Dawn
When it was announcedHorizon Zero Dawnwas a role-playing game likeSkyrimandMass Effect,we were thrown for a loop. BothHorizon Zero DawnandMass Effecthavegame-changing dialogue choices,althoughMass Effecthas more impactful ones. Meanwhile, games likeHorizon Zero Dawnand itsexpansionThe Frozen Wildswill tide us over untilMass Effect:Legendary Editionreleases sometime in 2021.
9Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
TheAssassin’s Creedseries switched from the stealth genre to an ARPG (action role-playing game). Set during the Viking’s invasion of Britain, the game takes place during unrest in Europe. In 873 AD, the Brotherhood of Assassin’s and Templars still exist.
With dialogue options and many ARPG elements,Assassin’s Creed Valhallais a must-play.Including romance options, the game has many similarities to theMass Effecttrilogy, despite having a different setting.
8Mass Effect: Andromeda
TheMass Effecttrilogy is considered separate fromMass Effect: Andromeda.The trilogy takes place in the Milky Way Galaxy with Commander Shepard as the protagonist.Mass Effect: Andromedais set in the neighboring Andromeda galaxy with Pathfinder Ryder as the main protagonist.
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Mass: Effect Andromedadidn’t live up to the original games' hype, yet it did add several improving features. The combat was a step forward, but the character models and animations received mixed reviews.
7The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimwas released in the same yearthat theMass Effecttrilogy concluded. WhetherSkyrimwas a direct inspiration or if it was indirect, undoubtedly there was an influence. The game’s dialogue system and romance options might havetaken a page fromMass Effect.Mass Effect’sdeveloper,BioWare,created numerous RPGs, and a few of them likely influenced the storytelling ofThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
6Fallout 3
Bethesda Softworks hit the mark with the release ofFallout 3.This story-intensive game provides an unparalleled experience in gameplay. Concerning art direction, later games likeFallout 4andFallout: New Vegascome out on top. However,Fallout 3’s meaningful dialogue choices make it memorable. The game has a gripping main story from start to finish, seldom meandering off the path into a sea of meaningless side quests.
5Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
Star Warsfever crushed it in the movie box office, but some of the games weren’t as fortunate.Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lordswasn’t the best-selling game, yet it does have impactful RPG elements and dialogue choices reminiscent ofMass Effect. Both games let you pilot a ship across a galaxy while meeting new friends and acquaintances along the way.Mass Effectcame a few years afterStar Wars Knights Of The Old Republic II: The Sith Lords,yet it might not exist without it.
4Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegasusedoutsourced developers from Obsidian Entertainment rather than Bethesda Softworks. The result wasarguably the best game in franchise history.The main story revolves around a courier who is left for dead by a mobster named Benny. Your journey to retrieve the Platinum Chip delivery and confront the mobster is the focus of the game. Like anyFalloutandMass Effect, players can complete an abundance of side quests and upgrade their character.
3The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Earning acclaim across the board,The Witcher 3: Wild Huntis a must-experience RPG. According tothewitcher.com,this game is going to receive a next-gen upgrade. For now, players can experience the Xbox One X/PS4 Pro version’s awe-inspiring adventure.
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In comparison toMass Effect,The Witcher 3: Wild Huntis longer and more detailed; however,game-changing dialogue decisionscame fromMass Effectfirst.Mass Effecttakes place in a futuristic real-world setting, whereasThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunttakes place on an unnamed planet.
2The Outer Worlds
For a space adventure like the originalMass Effecttrilogy, few games are closely related toThe Outer Worlds.The Outer Worlds’development company,Obsidian Entertainment,has worked closely alongside BioWare on previous games. Both are recognized as juggernauts in the RPG genre. Rather than being handed intellectual property on a silver platter,The Outer Worldswas the first of its kind from Obsidian Entertainment. It’s also worth notingFallout’screators had a hand in developing and directingThe Outer Worlds.
1Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
AfterStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic’srelease, the role-playing game genre was never the same. It set a precedent for a game with fun gameplay, immersive dialogue, and interstellar travel all packed into a cohesive game. You can form romantic relationships—even if it’s with the enemy.
Taking place in a galaxy far, far away, the game heavily inspired the release ofMass Effect. It’s not hard to see the parallels betweenStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republicand theMass Effecttrilogy. The franchises bothcame from BioWare.
