The original Mass Effect trilogy is widely considered a high point for the genre. BioWare masterfully combined compelling gameplay with a captivating story where player choices genuinely impacted the game world. Since Mass Effect 3, few games have successfully replicated that experience. While titles like The Outer Worlds are enjoyable, they haven’t quite lived up to Mass Effect‘s lasting influence. Thankfully, several upcoming games show promise and could potentially rival the Mass Effect series, even though they won’t have the advantage of a three-game narrative foundation.
Here are three upcoming sci-fi RPGs that might challenge Mass Effect.
3) Star Wars: Eclipse
It’s expected to be several years before Quantic Dream’s Star Wars: Eclipse is released. The game was revealed back in 2021, but we still don’t know when it will come out. It’s also important to note that the developer, and particularly its founder David Cage, has faced criticism and doesn’t have a universally positive reputation.
The idea of players crafting their own story within the Star Wars High Republic setting is really appealing to fans. Plus, the initial trailer looked fantastic. While details about the gameplay in Eclipse are still limited, it’s safe to say it won’t play like Mass Effect.
The main goal for Eclipse is to create a captivating story with choices that truly matter, letting players shape the fates of the characters. If the developers can deliver this alongside gameplay improvements over their previous titles, Star Wars fans might have something really exciting to anticipate in 2029.
2) The Expanse: Osiris Reborn
Owlcat Games, known for its role-playing games, is taking on a new challenge with Osiris Reborn. This game is set in the world of The Expanse and marks Owlcat’s first foray into the action genre, though they still plan to incorporate RPG elements.
Before creating Osiris Reborn, Owlcat Games developed two Pathfinder games and one game based on the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Currently, in addition to their work on the upcoming The Expanse game, they are also developing another project set in the Warhammer universe.
The team behind Osiris Reborn has proven they can make excellent role-playing games, and this one is particularly promising. It feels like a focused take on Mass Effect, featuring action-packed, third-person shooting, a story that changes based on your decisions, and complex companions. Owlcat Games is aiming high with this project, and initial impressions are very positive.
1) Exodus
Looking for a game to rival Mass Effect? Exodus could be it, thanks to the talented team behind it. This is the first game from Achetype Entertainment, a new studio founded in 2019 by James Ohlen, who previously led design on popular titles like Baldur’s Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the Republic, and Dragon Age: Origins.
Shortly after, Ohlen added experienced developers Chad Robertson and Drew Karpyshyn, who previously worked at BioWare. Karpyshyn is a key addition, as he led the writing for the first two Mass Effect games and KOTOR. He’s taking on the same role for Exodus, which means the game’s story is being crafted by a talented and familiar hand.
It’s understandable that there’s some uncertainty around Exodus since it’s the debut game from a new development team. While the people involved are experienced in this type of game, it’s always hard to predict how a new project will turn out. Thankfully, everything we’ve seen so far looks really good. Similar to Osiris Reborn, it offers exciting battles, helpful allies, and a huge galaxy to discover.
Player choices will be a major part of the game. While specific details are still under wraps, the developers have promised branching stories and multiple ways to experience the game. This will largely be achieved through a unique game mechanic called time dilation, which, if implemented well, could lead to some really interesting narratives.
Beyond the well-known developers and interesting concept, Exodus also features Matthew McConaughey. The popular actor will be voicing the character C.C. Orlev, bringing some celebrity appeal to this space adventure.
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2025-10-27 01:14