Mass Effect cover
FranchiseMass EffectSeriesMass Effect

Mass Effect

Critic score4 critics
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First release
Nov 20, 2007
Genres
Role-playing (RPG), Shooter · Action, Science fiction, Romance
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Mass Effect is an action role-playing game set in the year 2183. The player takes the role of Commander Shepard, a customizable character who serves as Executive Officer aboard the SSV Normandy. After a routine mission goes wrong, Shepard assembles a squad and pursues a threat that escalates into a galaxy-wide conflict. The game features real-time squad-based combat where players choose companions and tactics suited to different enemy types, from biotic-wielding opponents to heavily armored machines. The game spans a large science fiction universe, with explorable locations ranging from the Citadel space station to alien homeworlds and remote outposts. Player decisions affect mission outcomes, crew relationships, and the overarching narrative across the trilogy.

Also known as Mass Effect 1, ME

Attributes

No Attributes added.

Details

Storyline, release dates, time to beat, age ratings, modes, links, keywords

Storyline
In the year 2183, Commander Shepard is sent to the human colony of Eden Prime to recover a Prothean beacon. The mission is disrupted by an attack from the synthetic Geth, led by Saren Arterius, a rogue Spectre agent. After making contact with the beacon and receiving a cryptic vision of destruction, Shepard is appointed the first human Spectre and tasked with hunting Saren across the galaxy. The investigation leads Shepard and a growing crew aboard the SSV Normandy through multiple worlds, uncovering a conspiracy tied to the Reapers, a highly advanced machine race believed to eradicate all organic civilizations on a 50,000-year cycle. Shepard must stop Saren before he can trigger their return.Read more

In the year 2183, Commander Shepard is sent to the human colony of Eden Prime to recover a Prothean beacon. The mission is disrupted by an attack from the synthetic Geth, led by Saren Arterius, a rogue Spectre agent. After making contact with the beacon and receiving a cryptic vision of destruction, Shepard is appointed the first human Spectre and tasked with hunting Saren across the galaxy. The investigation leads Shepard and a growing crew aboard the SSV Normandy through multiple worlds, uncovering a conspiracy tied to the Reapers, a highly advanced machine race believed to eradicate all organic civilizations on a 50,000-year cycle. Shepard must stop Saren before he can trigger their return.

Release dates
Xbox 360
Nov 20, 2007
PC (Microsoft Windows)
May 28, 2008
PlayStation 3
Dec 04, 2012
All 4 release dates
PlayStation 3
Dec 07, 2012
Time to beatIGDB · recorded
Main Story
16h
Main + Extras
30h
Completionist
49h
Game modes
Single player
Perspective
Third person
Keywords
aliens, soldier, military, permadeath, spaceship
… All 19, female protagonist, slavery, racism, over the shoulder, sexual content, party system, ea app, side quests, black market, real-time combat, mercenary, xbox one backwards compatibility, banter during gameplay, blamed for real life murders

At a Glance

Critic Score
89
Main Story (IGDB)
16h
Main + Extras (IGDB)
30h
Completionist (IGDB)
49h
OverviewHow it playsMediaCommunityBehind the gameRelated

Overview

Steam review summary

Steam users rate this Very Positive, 14,873 reviews in all languages, recorded 16 October 2026

Valve's summary of Steam user reviews. Valve counts only reviews from purchases on Steam, not key activations, and leaves out review periods it has marked as off-topic. It isn't part of the CritScore score.

Review summary: SteamSteam data provided via the Steam Web API (opens in a new tab)Not affiliated with Valve →

About storefront and compatibility information

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