When one talks about some of the greatest role-playing games ever made, it goes without saying that theMass Effectseries 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 theLegendary Editionremasters, Commander Shepard’s story is always worth revisiting. EvenAndromedahas plenty of positives. However, the wait for the franchise to produce something new could be very long, so here are somegames likeMass Effectthat fans can choose to play instead before this sci-fi epic finally makes its much-awaited return to the modern gaming market.
Updated July 17, 2025 by Mark Sammut:It will probably be a long while until a new Mass Effect materializes, assuming another entry does eventually find its way to store shelves. In the meantime, fans might want to look elsewhere to try and get their fill of third-person shooter goodness. Honestly, there are not all that manygames similar to Mass Effect, so two fairly different titles have been added that warrant a mention. Click below to jump directly to these new additions.
Space Marine 2is pretty awesome and worth a recommendation for anyone craving a planet-hopping epic; that said, its strengths lie in different areas than theMass Effecttrilogy. 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.
Still,Space Marine 2is a blast that shares just enough elements withMass Effectto 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 2still 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 likeWarhammer 40K,Space Marine 2takes steps to welcome new players.
Warframehas 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, andWarframeis 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.Warframeeven expands into open areas after its initial hours.
Admittedly, this recommendation is mostly driven by a desire to promoteThe Expanseas 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 Seriesis 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 thanA Wolf Among UsorThe Walking Dead.
For people already familiar withThe 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 watchThe Expanse.
OK, this recommendation comes with a big disclaimer thatFatal Bulletshould 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 Bulletis one of the betterSAOgames on the market, and its gameplay shares some similarities withMass 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.
Garnering quite a bit of criticism at launch,The Order: 1886was a fairly big flop on the PS4, at least in terms of reviews. While a hard sell as a full-price title, Ready at Dawn’s project is frequently on sale for under $10 nowadays, making it far easier to recommend as a decent third-person shooter that can keep someone entertained for a weekend. Most people will probably not get much more than 5 hours out of the campaign, but they should at least be enjoyable, if not spectacular.
Besides its visuals, which still look good roughly a decade later,The Order: 1886’s best feature is its setting, which takes place in a steampunk version of London during the 19th century. Players step into the shoes of knights who are monster hunters, which is a fantastic premise that really should have amounted to way more than just a single short game. Still, for what it is,The Order: 1886is fine.
Returnalis 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 ora roguelike. The 2021 release does not share all that much in common withMass 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.
During each run, Selene can pick up or buy items and new weapons, so she is always getting stronger during a run. Initially,Returnalis 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 2is a very different beast thanMass 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 ofHelldivers 2’s core appeal (unlikeMass 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 2has 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 2is a blast, offering both enjoyable minute-to-minute action along with a plethora of exciting unlockables.
Few situations exist that allow forThe Bureau: XCOM Declassifiedto be promoted ahead of the franchise’s mainline entries, but this is one of those rare scenarios. A spin-off to Firaxis' turn-based tactical series,XCOM Declassifiedis a fairly typical third-person shooter, albeit one with a cool setting and some tactical elements. Set during the 1960s, the story finds America under siege by aliens, which naturally forces the eponymous Bureau to step up to take care of business.
The Bureau: XCOM Declassifiedshares quite a few things in common withMass Effect, including squad-based combat that forces players to constantly command two partners during shootouts. While most of the campaign consists of linear levels, these sequences are spaced apart by interludes set within the Bureau’s headquarters, which acts as a hub area. Here, players can mingle with other characters, and there are even dialogue trees.
Just to temper expectations,The Bureau: XCOM Declassifieddoes not handle these elements as well asMass Effect Andromeda, let alone the original trilogy. Nevertheless, the game is fine.
Cyberpunk 2077’s launch was a bit of a disaster, hurting the game’s reputation. CD Projekt Red’s title had plenty of problems on the PS4 and Xbox One, but it fared better on PC or current-gen hardware. The game has also come far since its debut, and it is now far better. A first-person shooter set in the detailed Night City, a futuristic urban hub dominated by corporations and overrun with violence, this RPG has a lot of positives, despite its technical issues.
LikeMass Effect,Cyberpunk 2077’s story and world-buildingare its crowning achievements. Night City is packed with fascinating and well-written characters, memorable side content, and environmental storytelling. This is a universe that people can get lost in, immersed in the world’s vibrancy, sociopolitical undertones, and strangeness.
Lost Planetgot off to such a promising start, only tofizzle out in the span of one console generation. WhileLost Planet 2is an enjoyable multiplayer-focused experience, anyone looking for a single-player package should check out the original game in the series. The third-person shooter takes place on a hostile, frozen planet overflowing with bug aliens that can reach sizes that allow them to tower over buildings.
While not lacking a story,Lost Planetis first and foremost about its gameplay, which does set it apart from BioWare’s trilogy. Thankfully, Capcom knows a thing or two about crafting addictive combat, andLost Planetis far from an exception. The game contains a satisfying assortment of weapons and gadgets (along with a mech suit) that combine to create a varied and flexible battle system that offers a surprising amount of depth. The casual enemies are good fun, butLost Planetcomes alive during its boss battles.
