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Mass Effect

2007 BioWare Role-playing Updated 25 Jul 2026

Mass Effect is a 2007 role-playing game developed by BioWare, launching one of the most influential science-fiction series in gaming. Players command Commander Shepard aboard the starship Normandy, uniting a diverse crew to stop an ancient machine threat, the Reapers, looming over the galaxy.

The game fused third-person shooting with deep conversation systems, where a branching dialogue wheel and a morality scale of Paragon and Renegade choices shaped relationships and outcomes. Squad members like Garrus, Wrex, and Liara could be recruited, equipped, and romanced, while biotic powers added tactical layers to combat. Its cinematic presentation, memorable characters, and richly detailed universe of alien species and codex lore set a new standard for interactive storytelling and player agency.

Mass Effect spawned a celebrated trilogy renowned for carrying player decisions across games, so that saves imported into later entries. The original and its sequels were later bundled into a remastered collection with visual and gameplay improvements, making it easy to start the saga on modern hardware.

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