Mass Effect was a landmark series – not just for BioWare, but gaming as a whole. Its unique blend of shooting, RPG elements, rich storytelling, and fun, engaging characters, coupled with detailed and expansive background lore, resulted in an epic space opera saga that only Star Wars can rival in scope.
The series was riding high right up until the controversial ending of Mass Effect 3. But this was nothing compared to the next (and as of now – last) entry in the franchise – the universally panned Mass Effect: Andromeda.
Top 5 Games Like Mass Effect
Gamers all around the world are still lamenting the fall of their beloved science fiction ARPG, and while no game can completely fill the hole created by its absence.
These are some of the games like Mass Effect you can play to remind yourself why you love space, aliens, action, romance, and comradery.
#1 The Best Survival Horror Mass Effect-like – Dead Space 1 (2008)
On the surface, comparing these two games can seem like a bit of a stretch. After all, one is a lively ARPG, and the other one a nightmare-fueled survival horror.
But Mass Effect is no stranger to horror. Just take the Husks, cybernetic “zombies” and one of the first enemies you will encounter, and their gruesome appearance and method of creation. Across the series, many levels and creatures have been horrific. Of course, even then – the atmosphere is never as tense as it is in Dead Space, a game that is all about the horror experience.
Gameplay
Dead Space was – and remains – a highly innovative and influential game series, especially the first part. Instead of relying on tired old horror cliches, it introduced many elements that we now take for granted.
First of all, it challenged our preconceptions of alien biology and our instincts as gamers – how we’ve been conditioned by countless similar games to always aim for the head or torso. Necromorphs, the enemies in the game, are the result of an extraterrestrial infection that recombines and mutates human corpses into terrifying abominations. Instead of shooting them in the head – which will typically do nothing but temporarily slow and faze them – the only way to put them down for good is to take out their many limbs.
Luckily for us, we’re armed with the perfect arsenal for this messy work. Most of the weapons in the game are made up of repurposed mining equipment, which does a fine job of dismembering all the creepy crawlies that want nothing more than to add us to their infected biomass. Every weapon is useful, deadly, and they all come with a secondary fire mode.
Graphics
In spite of its age, Dead Space 1 still looks far better than it has a right to. This is mostly down to two reasons – fantastic art direction and great use of lighting. Even in the graphics department, Dead Space continues to innovate – it doesn’t feature a traditional HUD (heads-up display) but opts to provide all the necessary visual information (ammo, health, etc.) on the suit of the player character. This not only allows us to see a much greater portion of the screen that would otherwise be obscure but organically ties into the sci-fi nature of the setting.
Other visual effects are also well done and greatly contribute to the oppressive atmosphere, and the ever-present gore never comes off as gratuitous or tiresome.
Story
Set in the distant future aboard the mining vessel USG Ishimura, the player controls Isaac Clarke, an engineer who has to fight off the encroaching alien infestation and find a way to save himself and the scant few remaining survivors.
During the course of the game, Isaac will have to travel all across the starship and solve various puzzles – some of which involve zero-gravity environments that he can maneuver in using magnetic boots.
The sound in the game is also very well done, so it’s highly recommended that you play with a quality gaming headset to fully immerse yourself in the game.
Overall Review/Final Thoughts
Dead Space takes all the scariest and most tense moments of the Mass Effect saga and pushes them up to 11. It is a survival horror shooter of the finest caliber, an experience that will stick in your mind long after you’ve finished playing it.
Dead Space 2 and 3 are also well worth playing. They are different experiences that do a lot of things in their own distinct ways – for good or bad. But Dead Space 1 is, without a doubt, the best part of the series – its apex and a golden standard for horror shooters to this day.
#2 The Best Star Wars Mass Effect-like – Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (2004)
The first game developed by acclaimed studio Obsidian Entertainment, KoTOR2 is the sequel to BioWare’s very own KoTOR1. It takes everything good about the first game – the setting, the ruleset, the philosophical musings about the nature of the Force, the vivid characters – and improves upon it tenfold.
It remains not just one of the best Star Wars games that were ever made, but also one of the best-written RPGs of all time.
Gameplay
The gameplay is mostly unchanged from KoTOR1 – the fights are RTWP (real-time with pause), play out similarly to Baldur’s Gate (one of our best PC games), and you lead your main character with an optional two additional companions.
Every gameplay system from the first part is expanded upon here – there are more weapons, more Force powers, companions, crafting and customization options, choices to be made in quests and their ramifications.
Your companions will teach you new skills, and the game even has different companion options depending on your main character’s gender and whether you favor the light or dark side of the Force. All in all, it will take you several playthroughs to see all the available content and its many variations.
Graphics
The graphics are pretty much the same as they were in KoTOR1 – not surprising considering that they both use the exact same engine and came out only a year apart. But even though the graphics are typical of the sixth generation console – blocky and with low-resolution textures, they do a decent enough job of invoking the look and feel of Star Wars. The silver lining is that you won’t be needed a top-of-the-line gaming PC to run KoTOR. Instead, a budget gaming rig will do just fine.
This is helped in no small part by a phenomenal soundtrack that manages to at once be instantly recognizable as something out of Star Wars, without ripping off John Williams. It is musical work that stands on its own and covers a wide range of emotions – at times sorrowful, appropriately epic at others, there isn’t a single track on it that is not memorable in some way.
Story
Penned by Chris Avellone, KoTOR2’s story is where the game really shines (and puts all the new Star Wars movies to shame). It accomplishes this by realizing how the entire concept of the Force is inherently a bit silly and constraining, but at the same time is still something that is, in the context of the Star Wars universe, important and serious – and should be treated as such.
This gives the story a deep intellectual and philosophical flare, with characters that will espouse or reject the dogmatic teachings of the Jedi and Sith. The main character, called the Exile, is a former Jedi who has long since given up on the Force – something that is thought to be impossible. Circumstances thrust him/her into yet another looming conflict and, pun intended, force them to once again take up the Force.
What ensues is a planet-hopping trip that will take you to the furthest corners of the Galaxy, in a tale that will forever change the foundation of the Star Wars franchise (or at least it did, until Disney declared it non-canon).
Overall Review/Final Thoughts
Even if you are not a fan of Star Wars, Knights of the Old Republic 2 – The Sith Lords is a game that is worth playing. If for no other reason than to see what can be done with a franchise if you approach it with respect and understanding.
It showcases how there’s room to explore the themes of any setting, even ones that have seemingly run out of relevant things to say, discuss, and examine.
When KoTOR2 was initially released, it was in a half-finished state and plagued with bugs and other issues. Fortunately for us, a group of dedicated modders has restored all of this missing content, and now the game is no longer a flawed masterpiece – but a regular one.
#3 The Best Fantasy Mass Effect-like – Jade Empire (2005)
Before Mass Effect, BioWare had a strange and charming outing to a different kind of fantasy than the one they were normally accustomed to. Instead of a European-inspired high fantasy full of dragons and magic, they instead made a brand new world that was based on Asian mythologies and folklore – specifically those of China, Korea, and Japan.
This time we would trade in our blasters and bows, our fireballs and biotic powers, for a kung-fu martial arts extravaganza.
Gameplay
Following roughly the same gameplay style that BioWare has stuck to – with a few minor exceptions – since KoTOR1, Jade Empire is a third-person action RPG where we directly control a central character and engage in real-time combat, solve quests, and interact with a host of NPCs, some friendly, some hostile.
What’s different this time around is that the combat is a lot more hands-on – quite literally. Instead of giving an order to your character and waiting for them to execute it, you directly control your character – a Spirit Monk – in a fast-paced combat system that is built around a plethora of styles and combos.
Different enemies require different styles and strategies – so, for example, a style that is deadly to humans opponents will be entirely ineffective when used on spirits.
Graphics
Compared to KoTOR1, BioWare’s previous game, Jade Empire looks somewhat better. The colors are more vibrant, the characters can express a wider range of emotions on their faces and are not as blocky.
The most striking thing about JE is its attention to detail when it comes to East Asian architecture, clothes, weapons, as well as the design of the various spirits and demons you will encounter in the game. Even in comparison to newer games, Jade Empire sticks out because of its setting – which isn’t often explored in Western games. The Special Edition for the PC that came out in 2007 has upgraded graphics and looks wonderful on an HD gaming monitor.
Story
A combination of tropes from wuxia, samurai movies, and Eastern mysticism, the Jade Empire’s secrets slowly reveal themselves as you play it. At first, you may be taken aback by the seemingly-alien setting that is a mish-mash of just about every Far East legend and cliche you’ve ever heard of, but the story takes great reverence to present it to you in a manner that is both comprehensive and compelling.
One of the biggest stands out in the game is its morality system. You can choose to follow the way of the Open Palm or the way of the Closed Fist. You may think that these are stereotypical good and evil paths, but they are much more involved. The Open Palm is about altruism, but solving all of the people’s problems can leave them inadequate and weak to face their own challenges. On the other hand, the Closed Fist is about taking your problems head-on, but this can consequently mean that violence is the answer to every problem you face.
According to your choices, you and your companions will change and adopt different outlooks – and sometimes have even more drastic ramifications to their personas. Speaking of characters, they are the usual band of BioWare misfits, the same larger-than-life personalities they have always excelled at writing.
Overall Review/Final Thoughts
Unfortunately, Jade Empire didn’t sell well enough to warrant a sequel. Every few months, there are rumors that BioWare is working on a sequel, but these invariably turn out not to be true.
Even though the odds of a sequel are slim, we will always have the original Jade Empire – a game that influenced Mass Effect in more ways than one. It is a true gem from a bygone era when even developers of BioWare’s stature could afford to take a risk or two and make something fresh and unprecedented.
#4 The Best Spy Game Mass Effect-like – Alpha Protocol (2010)
Out of all the games on this list, Alpha Protocol is probably the most unusual one. A game that plays out like you are watching a first-class piece of spy fiction – such as one of Tom Clancy’s novels – and is one of the finest examples of interconnected choice and consequence that’s ever been presented in a video game. At times, it feels like you are playing an interactive CYOA (choose your own adventure) with hundreds of possible permutations.
Gameplay
As a super-secret cover agent, you have a wide range of skills and approaches at your disposal. The game is modeled around the three JB’s – James Bond, Jack Bauer, and Jason Bourne. Each of them is characterized by a different attitude and methods. Bauer is all about the direct, aggressive approach, Bond is the epitome of a suave and charming ladies man, while Bourne personifies cold, calculating professionalism.
Your choices in dialogues – which strives for realism, so you will have to make a decision in seconds, just like in an actual real-life conversation – will determine how characters feel about you. In a departure from similar games where it’s always in your best interests to be pals with everyone, here it can pay off to purposefully piss off someone – if they despise you enough, it can, for example, lead them to let their guard down and directly confront you.
Graphics
Taking full advantage of its contemporary and realistic setting, Alpha Protocol sees the player character, in typical secret agent fashion, visit locales all around the world – both exotic and urban.
Some of the places that you can visit include Rome, Taipei, and Moscow. The order in which you visit these cities also influences the story. The interactions between characters are the best part, so when you are not sneaking, shooting, or hacking your way through a level, you will have the option to head slam an uncooperative character, execute them, or battle a 1980s-obsessed Russian mobster.
Story
You play as Michael Thornton, the newest member of Alpha Protocol – a top-secret black ops agency. During your first mission, you uncover what looks to be a vast corporate conspiracy and that your own agency is compromised from within. Thornton’s only recourse is to go rogue and operate outside the jurisdiction (and protection) of his former agency.
The story is rife with espionage ingredients – covert ops, assassinations, double and triple agents, failsafe contingencies, and just about every spy character archetype there is, from the iconic femme fatale to the unhinged merc for hire. Your decisions, even seemingly inconsequential ones as reading intel files about certain characters, will open up (and close off) many pathways within the game. As a result, Alpha Protocol has massive replayability potential.
Overall Review/Final Thoughts
It’s no wonder that Alpha Protocol ended up as a cult classic. While its gameplay can often feel clunky, and it still has some unfortunate bugs that haven’t been patched out, it is a game that is still unparalleled when it comes to story branching, reactivity, and sheer ambition.
If more games today sought to break the mold and try out new and crazy ideas as much as Alpha Protocol did, gaming would be a far more dynamic pastime.
#5 The Best Supernatural Mass Effect-like – Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines (2004)
The swan song of developer Troika Games (ironically and perhaps fittingly, their third game), VTMB is another cult classic that was marred by technical issues and other unfortunate circumstances upon its release.
Once again, modding comes to the rescue and today we can play this wonderful treasure as it was intended – thanks to the unofficial fan patch. It comes in two flavors – the basic and Patch Plus. For purists, the basic is the way to go, but if you want to experience VTMB in all its demented glory, then the Patch Plus is the way to go.
Gameplay
In VTMB, you take on the role of a freshly-made vampire – commonly known as a fledgling. The world you inhabit is dark and cruel (so the setting is appropriately called the World of Darkness) and you’ve just been unwittingly turned into an undead abomination.
There are many perks to being a vampire – enhanced strength and speed, rapid healing, all sorts of vampiric powers. But it also comes at a price – you will never again see the light of the sun, you will watch all of your loved ones die from old age and withering disease, and, worst of all, you eternally hunger for the blood of the living.
You have a choice of seven possible vampire clans that you can play as. All the major vampire archetypes are available – the animalistic Gangrel, Dracula-like aristocrats Ventrue, the Nosferatu, as deformed as their movie namesake, incomparably beautiful Toreador, the angry, punk-style Brujah, blood mages Tremere, or the insane Malkavians (which offer a completely unique way to play the game – similar to the low intelligence playthroughs of Fallout and Arcanum).
This will not only impact dialogues and what abilities you have at your disposal but will also make some characters love or despise you according to their preferences. The style of play for two of the clans is also completely different from the other ones – the deranged Malkavians will hear prophetic voices and speak in a way that highlights their dementedness, and the Nosferatu can’t show their faces to mortal civilians and will have to skulk around sewers to avoid detection.
Graphics
Made in Half-Life’s Source engine, VTMB has one of the best facial expressions in videogames. Even today, many games struggle to depict a fraction of the nuance that VTMB’s characters can easily express. Only recently has The Witcher 3 been able to surpass it with its own depiction of lifelike characters.
The voice acting and music are right up there with the animation. Some of the best VAs in the business – such as John DiMaggio, who voiced Futurama’s Bender – have lent their vocal performances to the game, and it shows. The music is made up of an eclectic mix of dance music, gothic metal, and rock, with tracks from well-known bands like Ministry, Tiamat, and Lacuna Coil.
Story
In the World of Darkness, there is always a monster that is bigger, scarier, and more powerful than you. For vampires, who have to abide by the ancient rules of blood, this is even more pronounced. As Smiling Jack, your mentor, says – politics is the real killer here.
You start out the game as a literal nobody, your vampire sire getting killed right at the beginning, leaving you without the most important resources for any fledgling – alliances, and guidance. Vampire elders will try (and most often than not – succeed) in manipulating and coercing you into doing their bidding. But, like any good RPG, in time you will be able to make up your own mind as to who to trust and ally with.
As is typical for a Troika game, the writing is top-notch and the story is full of unexpected twists, turns, and revelations.
Overall Review/Final Thoughts
There’s a good reason why the highly-anticipated VTMB2 is on our list of best RPGs – the pedigree that VTMB carries with it, not to mention the return of several key people who worked on the original (such as lead writer and designer Brian Mitsoda).
All but guarantees that the sequel will be just as good (hopefully even better, bet let’s not get too ahead of ourselves) as the first game.
Final Words
No game today can really match the Mass Effect experience in full. But these five games like Mass Effect all excel in different areas that made ME such a great game – Dead Space with its horror and shooting, KoTOR2 for the rich lore, Jade Empire for the camaraderie, Alpha Protocol with a fully-developed lead character that can be as forgiving or as hard as Commander Shepard, and VTMB – for the sheer power you can wield. In their own unique ways, all of them are just as good as ME, and definitely worth a playthrough or two (or more).