Mass Effect: A Perfect Trilogy?
- bnk983
- Dec 13, 2025
- 2 min read
Mass Effect has been claimed by many fans to be the perfect trilogy-obviously excluding the fourth installment of the franchise, Mass Effect: Andromeda. But why? What makes those first three games perfect for so many? Gamers are known to be divided in their opinions on games, but have been abnormally unanimous about these. There are three key characteristics that are responsible for this adoration: story, characters, and gameplay mechanics.
Story
The overarching premise of the first three games is interconnected and has massive stakes. The fate of entire galaxies is under threat from some unknown entities called Reapers, and you, along with your ragtag team, are the only ones working to stop them. Their interconnection makes the worlds and characters so much more nostalgic and deepens the audience’s attachment to the characters because they get to experience them over the course of multiple games instead of just one. This means that when a character or familiar environment gets killed/destroyed, it hurts and affects the players even more. By the end of the trilogy, the player takes the destruction personally and feels a sense of urgency to resolve the conflict of the game. It almost feels real. The end is bittersweet. You’ve saved everyone, but at what cost? It’s over now. You must grieve, in a way, your own character's story that has come to completion.
Characters
The diverse cast of characters in this trilogy are some of the best written in any game. There are many that cross over through all three games. Some die. Some can be romanced. There are some you start out hating, but over time, you come to love and mourn when they’re gone (if they die). With the exception of Jacob Taylor (who I despise), all of the characters are nuanced with beautifully intricate backstories and personalities that make the games vibrant, fun, and enjoyable. They add flavor. Their interpersonal dynamics help make the team feel realistic and relatable. They make the player invest more in the plot and are an essential part of the games.
Gameplay mechanics
Basically, the games are just fun to play. The original Mass Effect game was difficult to get through (at least for me), but with the Legendary Edition remastering of the games, they are fantastic. Gameplay is a large reason people replay them. They are fast-paced action RPGs, and biotic abilities make the gameplay interesting and unique. Players can choose a number of interesting styles, which is great for roleplaying as well as the actual gameplay. Having multiple options increases the replayability of the games as well.
The Mass Effect trilogy is considered by most to be perfect due to the high-stakes storylines, compelling characters, and fun gameplay. While the gaming community and fans might not always agree on which characters are the best, which choices you should make, or paragon vs renegade, we all agree that these games are phenomenal and will give players a life-changing experience once completed.
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