Every Mass Effect Game, Ranked Worst to Best

As the name suggests, Mass Effect has significantly impacted the gaming world. This groundbreaking RPG series changed how choices are presented in conversations and proved that a continuing story across multiple games – where your progress carries over – is a valuable approach. While the series hasn’t always been perfect, its best moments rank among the greatest in gaming. Despite recent challenges for BioWare – including disappointing releases, Electronic Arts’ potential acquisition, and uncertainty surrounding *Mass Effect 5* – the studio has created some truly legendary games.

This ranks all the Mass Effect games from least to most enjoyable. While it doesn’t include the fantastic 2021 remaster, *Mass Effect: Legendary Edition*, it does consider how that version improved each game.

6) Mass Effect Galaxy

Despite sharing the name *Mass Effect Galaxy*, this game doesn’t feel much like a traditional *Mass Effect* experience. It’s a mobile shooter with a weak story and a character who barely resembles a familiar face from the series. While the writing is quick-witted, the limited voice acting doesn’t capture the heart and charm that fans love about the *Mass Effect* universe and its characters.

Honestly, playing *Galaxy* was a real pain. The controls were super awkward – everything was tilt-based, making it hard to even aim! Plus, I was constantly waiting for things to load, which just dragged the whole experience down. The graphics weren’t much to look at either, and the music and sound effects were pretty weak. It all felt like they just rushed this game out to make a quick buck, and it really shows. It’s a shame because the idea seemed cool, but the execution just wasn’t there, especially on this platform.

5) Mass Effect: Andromeda

Mass Effect: Andromeda is often cited as a particularly disappointing sequel, and a sign of trouble for the development studio. While the game features improved, fast-paced action with satisfying combos and movement, almost everything else falls flat. It’s not without *some* good qualities, but overall it’s a major letdown.

The biggest disappointment is *Andromeda*. It falls flat in almost every way, especially considering how strong the companion characters have been in previous games. The characters in this installment are bland and unmemorable, and the story itself is uninspired, lacking any real conflict or depth. The game world feels underdeveloped, introducing only a couple of new alien species and failing to capture the sense of discovery from the original game – a major oversight for a game focused on exploration. Combined with the numerous bugs that remained even after updates, *Andromeda* feels like a complete failure and raises serious concerns about the future of BioWare.

4) Mass Effect: Infiltrator

Mass Effect: Infiltrator is a mobile game that feels more like a traditional Mass Effect experience than its predecessor, Galaxy. It features a similar look and cover-based shooting mechanics to Mass Effect 3.

Despite some improvements, this game still falls short of being truly enjoyable. It largely removes the role-playing elements that define the series – things like meaningful choices, character progression, and team dynamics – and replaces them with simple shooting. While the shooting and power abilities are functional, they quickly become boring. The main character, Randall Ezno, is one-dimensional and doesn’t add much to a weak story. It’s better than some previous installments like *Galaxy* and avoids the major problems of *Andromeda*, but it’s still far from being one of the best games in the series.

3) Mass Effect

Although *Mass Effect* isn’t much higher ranked than *Infiltrator*, the difference in quality is significant. *Mass Effect* is a fantastic way to launch a new series. It might seem overwhelming at first, but the game quickly draws you into its world and establishes the central conflict. You’ll meet a memorable cast of characters – like Liara, Wrex, and Garrus – who are all compelling and represent their species well. These likeable characters are key to making the larger story so engaging, and it’s incredibly effective.

The overarching story presents fascinating challenges and creates a detailed, politically charged galaxy. While these conflicts become more prominent in later games, the way they’re introduced here really helps build a believable world. The shooting and vehicle sections aren’t perfect, but the *Legendary Edition* improved them, making them more playable. Even with these minor flaws, *Mass Effect* remains an impressive game, showcasing a level of skill and ambition rarely seen in a first installment of a series.

2) Mass Effect 3

Despite the criticism surrounding its ending, *Mass Effect 3* delivers a fantastic experience for the majority of its playtime. As the culmination of the trilogy, it expertly builds upon the storylines and emotional connections established in the previous games, creating a powerful sense of finality. Difficult decisions, such as resolving the conflicts surrounding the genophage and the Geth War, provide meaningful closure and highlight the incredibly high stakes throughout the campaign, pushing players to make the best possible choices.

BioWare drastically improved the shooting mechanics, turning what was initially a weak multiplayer mode into something genuinely enjoyable. With smoother cover, faster and more responsive gunfights, and more impactful sound design, players could finally experience Commander Shepard as the skilled soldier often shown in the game’s story scenes.

The downloadable chapter “From Ashes” initially received criticism for feeling disconnected from the main story when it was first released. However, since it’s now included in most copies of the game, that concern is less significant, and it’s clear that it’s a strong addition that hints at the quality of the DLC in *Mass Effect 3*. While *Omega* was good, *Leviathan* presents a compelling mystery that offers a new perspective on the Reapers, and *Citadel* provides a satisfying and emotional conclusion to the trilogy. *Mass Effect 3* essentially functions as one long ending, and while the final moments don’t always reach the incredibly high expectations set by the rest of the game, it still successfully ties up most of the story’s loose ends.

1) Mass Effect 2

Many consider *Mass Effect 2* to be an exceptional sequel, and for good reason. It starts with a shocking event – the death of Commander Shepard – and maintains a relentless pace throughout. Building on the strong foundation of the first game, *Mass Effect 2* raises the stakes with a larger, more dangerous enemy, creating a sense of urgency and heightened tension.

Importantly, *Mass Effect 2* still values the personal connections that made the original game special. The Loyalty Missions demonstrate this perfectly – they’re focused, individual quests that delve into each crew member’s history and prepare them for the challenging final mission. These missions feature both familiar characters from the first game and a wealth of new additions, all of whom live up to the quality BioWare established previously.

Mass Effect 2 improves on the original with more dynamic gameplay and excellent downloadable content. The combat feels smoother and more responsive, with satisfying shooting and ability use. The game’s best expansions – especially Overlord and Lair of the Shadow Broker – offer substantial, self-contained stories that connect back to the main plot. From beginning to end, Mass Effect 2 is a complete masterpiece and remains impressive even after more than 15 years.

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2025-10-09 19:58