The video game industry has a major advantage that other industries do not have when it comes to storytelling. Unlike these other media, video games allow players to be participants. To shape the narrative with their choices and actions, and this is seen best in role-playing games. This doesn’t mean every RPG will be successful, as balancing meaningful player choices with a story that adapts to these choices is difficult. That said, there is a series that not only pulled this off, but did so three times. This series remains one of the most iconic and legendary in gaming to this day.
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Mass Effect and its two sequels are regarded as some of BioWare’s best work. They are some of the most influential RPGs in the modern era. The story and player-driven choices remain a standard that many games and series are compared against, even with its controversial ending. Aside from this, the series is known for its deep characters, branching choices, and galaxy-spanning narrative.
The Story That Made Players Feel Like Heroes—and Villains
At its heart, the Mass Effect trilogy wasn’t just about saving the galaxy from the Reapers. It was about the ownership of a story that spanned three games and hundreds of hours. From the very first conversation to the controversial finale, players shaped the games through their choices. I remember spending ages deliberating over choices like going back to save the Normandy in Mass Effect 2 or deciding between Ashley and Kaiden. Choices like these and more still haunt me to this day, showing the lasting impact the story has.
These choices and the story as a whole weren’t just good or evil, but shades of morality. I often wavered between Paragon and Renegade as I considered diplomacy, loyalty, and sacrifice throughout all three games. Commander Shepard was the conduit of these choices, acting as the series’ blank slate and protagonist. The choices I’d make as the legendary captain of the Normandy would affect across the galaxy, big and small.
The sweeping space saga that revolved around Commander Shepard. The first game set the stage, introducing the political and cultural complexities of a diverse galaxy. Mass Effect 2 would go on to intensify these teams and lead to my favorite aspect of the trilogy: assembling a team of memorable characters. But Mass Effect 3 would ultimately fail not just me, but the fan base as a whole.
At the end of the third game, all the choices players made were effectively narrowed down into a similar set of options. The tone and outcomes were only slightly different, leading to massive disappointment as years of decisions came down to a simplified choice. And the choices were all pretty awful ends for the series, especially considering how good it was. BioWare was eventually pressured by fans to release an “Extended Cut” that added additional context and epilogues to provide the closure fans demanded.
Characters Who Became Family
One of the greatest aspects of the Mass Effect trilogy is its characters. Commander Shepard was shaped by the player and made them feel more immersed in the world, but the characters are the world’s beating heart and brought it to life. Garrus Vakarian, Liara T’Soni, Miranda Lawson, and my personal favorite, Tali’Zorah, are all iconic characters in the series. BioWare added so much depth and personality to them that it felt they had been pulled from real life and scanned into the games.
The entire cast is memorable and was more than just sidekicks. Their stories were layered with goals, fears, and more. Friendships and romance were beside tests and betrayals that made them more than just a squad working together. Throughout all three games, these relationships were built or dismantled, adding some of the most intense emotional weight in gaming.
This is why so many choices I made hurt. Sending characters on dangerous missions, determining who lived or died, and even deciding who I wanted for a romantic partner was agonizing. Every survival and loss stayed with me long after the credits rolled. Few RPGs have managed to capture the power that the Mass Effect trilogy instilled in its characters and narratives surrounding them.
A Legacy That Still Shapes RPGs
Despite the series’ conclusion, the Mass Effect trilogy remains one of the most influential RPG series of all time. Its impact and legacy can be seen across the industry. Many mechanics introduced or refined are used in other games, such as dialogue wheels, branching moral paths, and squad-based loyalty systems. However, while other developers have borrowed from or implemented some form of these, few have achieved the same lasting success.
Fifteen years later, this sprawling, interconnected saga continues to resonate with players today. The Mass Effect Legendary Edition brought each title to modern audiences and gave the series a second life, one that Mass Effect Andromeda did not. BioWare demonstrated the heights RPG storytelling could reach, and I, along with other fans, have been chasing this high ever since. One day, another series will manage to weave player choice, characters, and consequences together across multiple games, but for now, the Mass Effect trilogy remains undefeated.
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