For detailed information about this series, see: Mass Effect Wiki
Commander Shepard, as shown on the standard cover to Mass Effect 3.
Commander Shepard, as shown on the alternative cover to Mass Effect 3.
Mass Effect is a series of sci-fi video games created by Bioware and EA, also adapted into other media.
The first three main games in the series are action/RPG/FPS games starring Commander Shepard, a soldier whose gender, appearance, skills and pre-service history are all customizable by the player. The games also feature many choices for the player to make, that will influence the games' plot. While there is no canon version of the story in each game, or of Shepard's appearance and history, the character's most used appearance on the game's covers and promotional material is his default male appearance. Only for Mass Effect 3 alternative promotional material featuring a female Shepard was included.
To avoid having one canon version of the story, Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 feature a Save File Transfer system, allowing players to keep their choices from one game to its sequels, while derived works, such as minor games and comics, never star Shepard nor mention choice-sensible plot points from the games.
Video Games[]
Main Games[]
- Mass Effect (November 16th, 2007) for Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3
- Mass Effect 2 (January 26th, 2010) for Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3
- Mass Effect 3 (March 6th, 2012) for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, and Wii U
- Mass Effect: Andromeda (March 21st, 2017) for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Set centuries after Mass Effect 3 and in the distant Andromeda Galaxy, it stars new characters.
A fifth game was announced to be in development in 2020.
Minor Games[]
- Mass Effect Galaxy (June 22nd, 2009) for iOS. Serving as a prologue to Mass Effect 2.
- Mass Effect Infiltrator (March 6th, 2012) for iOS, Android, Blackberry 10, and Windows Phone. Set during the events of Mass Effect 3.
- Mass Effect 3: Datapad (March 12th, 2012) for iOS. A free app allowing players to check the status of the galaxy map in Mass Effect 3 and receive messages from characters.
- Mass Effect: Andromeda APEX HQ (March 15th, 2017) for iOS and Android. Companion app to Mass Effect: Andromeda multiplayer mode.
Compilations[]
- Mass Effect Trilogy (November 6th, 2012) for Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3. Including Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3, plus specific DLC depending on the version.
- Mass Effect Legendary Edition (May 14th, 2021) for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, with forward compatibility to Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. Collection including remastered editions of Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3, plus a large selection of DLC for the three games and the interactive comics Mass Effect: Genesis and Genesis 2.
Publications[]
Novels[]
- Mass Effect: Revelation (May 1st, 2007). A prequel to Mass Effect.
- Mass Effect: Ascension (July 29th, 2008). Set after the original game.
- Mass Effect: Retribution (July 27th, 2010). Set after Mass Effect 2.
- Mass Effect: Deception (January 31st, 2012). Set after Mass Effect: Retribution, but featuring notable continuity and character errors. A corrected edition was announced, but never released.
- Mass Effect: Andromeda - Nexus Uprising (March 21st, 2017). A prequel to Mass Effect Andromeda set in the Andromeda Galaxy.
- Mass Effect: Andromeda - Initiation (November 28th, 2017). A prequel to Mass Effect Andromeda set in the Milky Way.
- Mass Effect: Andromeda - Annihilation (November 6th, 2018). A prequel to Mass Effect Andromeda set during the journey to Andromeda.
Comics[]
- Mass Effect: Redemption (January 6th – April 7th, 2010). A four-issue series serving as a prequel to Mass Effect 2.
- Mass Effect: Incursion (June 21st, 2010). An 8-page online comic serving as the ending to Redemption and leading into Mass Effect 2.
- Mass Effect: Inquisition (October 26th, 2010). An 8-page online comic set after Mass Effect 2.
- Mass Effect: Evolution (January 19th - April 20th, 2011). A four-issue series serving as a prequel to the franchise.
- Mass Effect: Conviction (September 2011). An 8-page online comic set after Mass Effect 2.
- Mass Effect: Invasion (October 19th, 2011 - January 18th, 2012). A four-issue series set after Mass Effect 2.
- Mass Effect: Homeworlds (April 25th, 2012 - August 29th, 2012). A four-issue series with each issue focusing on a squad member from Mass Effect 3.
- Mass Effect: Blasto: Eternity Is Forever (November 7th, 2012). A single-issue comic focusing on Blasto, a fictional creature within Mass Effect's universe.
- Mass Effect: He Who Laughs Best (May 4th, 2013). A single-issue comic released for Free Comic Book Day 2013. It's set prior to the original game.
- Mass Effect: Foundation (July 24th, 2013 - July 23rd, 2014). A 13-issue series tying to Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3.
- Mass Effect: Discovery (May 24th, 2017 - October 25th, 2017). A 4-issue series tying to Mass Effect: Andromeda. A trade paperback collection of all issues was released on January 17th, 2018.
- Mass Effect: The Complete Comics (November 3rd, 2020), a collection of all comic series and one-shots released so far.
Two downloadable interactive comics were also released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. They serve as introduction for players who skipped previous games, allowing them to make important plot decisions and use them for Save File Transfer:
- Mass Effect: Genesis (January 18th, 2011), retelling the events of Mass Effect.
- Mass Effect: Genesis 2 (April 2nd, 2013), retelling the events of Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2.
Films[]
- Mass Effect: Paragon Lost (November 29th, 2012), an animated movie
Additionally there have been plans to produce a live-action movie based on the franchise, but they never came to fruition.
Attraction[]
- Mass Effect: New Earth (May 18th, 2016), opened at California's Great America.
Links to Other Series[]
Commercial link: Commander Shepard appears in the "Michael" commercial for PlayStation 3.
| Direction | Series | Date | Description | Type
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Spore | September 07, 2008 | There's a reference to Mass Effect in a Special Spore Strategy guide. |
3 |
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Sim | September 28, 2010 | Commander Shepard from Mass Effect is unlockable in MySims SkyHeroes. | 1 |
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The Big Bang Theory | October 13, 2011 | A Mass Effect 2 poster can be seen in the comic book store in the Big Bang Theory episode "The Russian Rocket Reaction". | 2 |
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Final Fantasy | December 15, 2011 | Commander Shepard armor from Mass Effect 3 is downloadable in Final Fantasy XIII-2. | 2 |
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FTL: Faster Than Light | September 14, 2012 | One of the randomised crew names can be Garrus, a reference to Mass Effect. (see details) |
3 |
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Dead Space | February 05, 2013 | Dead Space 3 includes a suit based on the N7 Armor from Mass Effect, with its description also mentioning Shepard as a fictional character. | 2 |
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Kingdoms of Amalur | March 06, 2013 | Mass Effect 3 features a downloadable armor and a downloadable weapon only accessed after downloading and playing the demo for Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. Play the Mass Effect 3 Demo to unlock An Armor and Weapon in Kingdoms of Amalur Reckoning. | 3 |
|
Battlefield | March 06, 2013 | Mass Effect 3 features a promotional character called "Battlefield 3 Soldier" with its armor based on the soldier from Battlefield 3; it's obtained by signing into the multiplayer using an Origin account linked to a Battlefield 3 Online Pass. | 2 |
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LittleBigPlanet | May 22, 2013 | Outfits based on Mass Effect characters are downloadable in LittleBigPlanet 2. | 2 |
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Henry Stickmin | May 27, 2013 | The power grid seen in Infiltrating the Airship is a reference to Mass Effect. | 3 |
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Minecraft | September 04, 2013 | Minecraft for Xbox 360 features official downloadable skins based on Mass Effect characters. |
2 |
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Ride Along | January 17, 2014 | A Mass Effect 3 poster can be seen in Ben's house. | 2 |
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Dragon Age | November 18, 2014 | A head of a krogan from Mass Effect can be found mounted on the wall in various places in Dragon Age Inquistion; an Orge from Dragon Age appears as a statue in Mass Effect 2 and the game also features a downloadable armor based on Dragon Age; there are other minor references to Mass Effect in the series. | 1 |
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Rock Band | March 15, 2017 | Mass Effect armor and other items appear as a DLC in Rock Band. | 1 |
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Plants vs. Zombies | March 21, 2017 | Plants vs Zombies toys appear in Mass Effect: Andromeda. | 2 |
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Apex Legends | May 14, 2021 | Charms of the Male and Female Shepard from Mass Effect could be obtained in Apex Legends for the release of Mass Effect Legendary Edition. | 2 |
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No Man's Sky | May 21, 2021 | The Normandy from Mass Effect can be found in No Man's Sky as part of a collaboration event. | 1 |
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Destiny (Bungie) | February 13, 2024 | Cosmetics based on Mass Effect appear in Destiny 2. | 2 |
