How to Play the Mass Effect Games in Order

It’s hard to believe that the first Mass Effect game came out nearly two decades ago, but it’s even harder to believe that the Mass Effect franchise is still going strong after all these years! Ever since the first Mass Effect game was released in 2007, BioWare has consistently released better and better Mass Effect games, which has greatly contributed to the franchise’s growing popularity. If you’re interested in playing the Mass Effect games but aren’t sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place!

If you saw the teaser trailer for Mass Effect 5 and want to play all of the previous games before the newest game comes out, then you’re in luck! There are some fans that like to argue about which Mass Effect games are the best for newbies, but there really is no better place to start than at the beginning. Use this list as a guide on how to play all of the Mass Effect games in order.

How to Play the Mass Effect Games in Order

Currently, there are four Mass Effect games that have been released, with a fifth one still in development. You can play these games in any order you want, but if you’re new to the franchise, you’ll want to play the Mass Effect games in this order:

Mass Effect (2007)

The first Mass Effect game was simply (yet aptly) titled “Mass Effect”; it came out all the way back in 2007 and is the first game in the series. This game was originally released on the Xbox 360 but is now additionally available on PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, and Android. In this game, you play as Lieutenant Commander Shepard, better known as Commander Shepard. Like with this game’s successors, your character (Commander Shepard) is fully customizable.

Mass Effect depicts a bleak yet intriguing distant future, in which humanity and numerous extraterrestrial civilizations have completely colonized the known universe. By using advanced technology that had been left behind by a sophisticated, elder race of aliens, humans and other beings were able to permanently settle into the stars; universal peace can never last long, however. In Mass Effect, you (Commander Shepard) must bring down an ancient race of hibernating alien machines to save the galaxy, which is, admittedly, a lot harder than it looks. If you think you have what it takes to bring down the Reapers, then get yourself a copy of Mass Effect as soon as possible!

Mass Effect 2 (2010)

Mass Effect 2 is (obviously) the second game in the Mass Effect series. This game came out in 2010 and is available on PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Mass Effect 2 is widely considered to be the most popular game in the entire series, and it’s easy to see why. Mass Effect 2 had twice as many companions as the first Mass Effect game, it had way more entertaining side quests, and the game’s main story kept you right at the edge of your seat the entire time. Additionally, even though there was a higher quantity of characters in Mass Effect 2, the quality of their design and their backstories didn’t diminish in the slightest (if anything, they were even more detailed than in the first game).

The story of Mass Effect 2 begins only two years after the ending of the first game, after the Reapers have been defeated. Just when Commander Shepard and their people thought they were finally safe, a new enemy appeared on the outskirts of the known universe. Commander Shepard (the player) soon discovers that this mysterious new threat is somehow abducting entire human colonies for an unknown, presumably sinister purpose. You’ll have to go up against a massive, unknown threat if you want to save the entire human race from extinction!

Mass Effect 3 (2012)

The third major installment of the Mass Effect franchise came in the form of Mass Effect 3 in 2012. This game marks the end of the Mass Effect trilogy and is available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, and Wii U. The Mass Effect trilogy is made up of Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3; it follows Commander Shepard and their heroic adventures in the Milky Way galaxy. Because Mass Effect 3 is the final game of the main trilogy, it is understandably one of the most highly anticipated games of the franchise. This game built on the story arcs of the previous two Mass Effect games and introduced a storyline that was somehow even better.

Related: How to Play the Dragon Age Games in Order

Mass Effect 3 is the final game that features Commander Shepard as the protagonist. In this final adventure into the Milky Way galaxy, Commander Shepard must once again go up against the Reapers to save not only the human race, but also the entire galaxy from extinction. Just when everyone thought the Reapers were gone for good, they reappear with a vengeance; and this time, they’re targeting Earth directly. If you couldn’t get enough of kicking Reaper-butt in the first Mass Effect game, you definitely need to get yourself a copy of Mass Effect 3!

Mass Effect: Andromeda (2017)

Mass Effect: Andromeda was released after Mass Effect 3, but is not affiliated with the Mass Effect trilogy. This game was released back in 2017 and is available on PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Rather than following the adventures of Commander Shepard like in the first three games, Mass Effect: Andromeda instead follows the story of Pathfinder Ryder, whose first name (Scott or Sara) depends on which gender is chosen during character customization. Because this game isn’t affiliated with the original trilogy, Mass Effect: Andromeda features new characters, new worlds, new conflicts, and, most importantly, a whole new story!

In Mass Effect: Andromeda, you play as Pathfinder Ryder, who has been tasked with locating new home worlds to ensure humanity’s survival. Finding a new home world for the entire human race is difficult enough, but there is another enemy afoot that threatens humanity’s survival: the Kett. The Kett are a race of antagonistic aliens not only set on the destruction of the human race, but also the entire Andromeda galaxy. Juggling humanity’s impending extinction and the Kett’s invasion may seem insurmountable, but nothing is impossible in Mass Effect! You don’t technically need to play the main trilogy (Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3) in order to play Mass Effect: Andromeda, but it’s highly recommended that you do.

Mass Effect 5 (TBD)

During The Game Awards in 2020, BioWare released a teaser trailer for a brand new Mass Effect game that’s currently still in development. This game doesn’t have a name or release date yet, but it’s rumored to be the next installment of the original Mass Effect trilogy. Very little is known about this upcoming game, but what we do know is that this game is going to be epic, so stay tuned with Gamer Journalist to get all of the latest updates regarding Mass Effect 5’s release!

If you liked playing the Mass Effect games, then you’ll love playing the Dragon Age games. The Dragon Age games were made by BioWare, just like the Mass Effect series, so you know they’re good. Check out Gamer Journalist’s Dragon Age guides if you’re interested in playing them while you wait for Mass Effect 5!