History Franchise / MassEffect

# ''VideoGame/MassEffectAndromeda'' was released in March 2017 for UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/XBoxOne, and PC. Set around the same time as ''Mass Effect 2'', the "Andromeda Initiative" was a colonization program to travel to the nearest galaxy, Andromeda. [[PlanetSpaceship City-sized starships]] full of {{Human Popsicle}}s (not to mention ones for asari, salarians, turians and krogan) go on a 600-year journey. (Because the game is essentially an {{interquel}}, [=BioWare=] were able to avoid CuttingOffTheBranches of the trilogy's MultipleEndings.) The player assumes the role of Scott or Sara Ryder, HalfIdenticalTwins who take on a leadership position within the Initiative when their ship arrives in 2819 and things go FromBadToWorse. The game places emphasis on the WideOpenSandbox which [=BioWare=] had intended to implement during the original trilogy, abandoning the [[{{Railroading}} highly-linear maps]] and [[ButThouMust narrative focus]] that replaced it.

''Mass Effect: Legendary Edition'', a 4K remaster of the original trilogy containing all three games and all of their single player DLC, has been announced for a Spring 2021 release for PC, UsefulNotes/XBoxOne, and UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, with forward compatibility and enhancements for UsefulNotes/XBoxSeriesX and UsefulNotes/PlayStation5.

''VideoGame/MassEffectLegendaryEdition'', a 4K remaster of the original trilogy containing all three games and all of their single player DLC, has been announced for a Spring 2021 release for PC, UsefulNotes/XBoxOne, and UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, with forward compatibility and enhancements for UsefulNotes/XBoxSeriesX and UsefulNotes/PlayStation5.

''Mass Effect: Legendary Edition'', a 4K remaster of the original trilogy containing all three games and all of their single player DLC, has been announced for a Spring 2021 release for PC, UsefulNotes/XBoxOne, and UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, with forward compatibility and enhancements for UsefulNotes/XBoxSeriesX and UsefulNotes/PlayStation5.

''VideoGame/MassEffectLegendaryEdition'', a 4K remaster of the original trilogy containing all three games and all of their single player DLC, has been announced for a Spring 2021 release for PC, UsefulNotes/XBoxOne, and UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, with forward compatibility and enhancements for UsefulNotes/XBoxSeriesX and UsefulNotes/PlayStation5.

''Mass Effect: Legendary Edition'', a 4K remaster of the original trilogy containing all three games and all of their single player DLC, has been announced for a Spring 2021 release for PC, UsefulNotes/XBoxOne, and UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, with forward compatibility and enhancements for UsefulNotes/XBoxSeriesX and UsefulNotes/PlayStation5.

''Mass Effect: Legendary Edition'', A 4K remaster of the original trilogy containing all three games and all of their single player DLC, has been announced for a Spring 2021 release for PC, UsefulNotes/XBoxOne, and UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, with forwards compatibility and enhancements for UsefulNotes/XBoxSeriesX and UsefulNotes/PlayStation5.

The series makes heavy use of a large number of science fiction tropes. Nearly every aspect of the setting has been thoroughly thought out, with hefty amounts of technical, cultural, and historical background data provided by an EncyclopediaExposita. (Amongst other things, [[TaxanomicTermConfusion the names of alien races]] ''are not capitalized''--the way "human" isn't.) It manages to be simultaneously a {{reconstruction}} of the SpaceOpera, a highly plausible setting ranking quite high on the MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness (the eponymous mass effect is the setting's OneBigLie), and a LovecraftLite CosmicHorrorStory in the form of the Reapers.

The series makes heavy use of a large number of science fiction tropes. Nearly every aspect of the setting has been thoroughly thought out, with hefty amounts of technical, cultural, and historical background data provided by an EncyclopediaExposita. (Amongst other things, the names of alien races ''are not capitalized''--the way "human" isn't.) It manages to be simultaneously a {{reconstruction}} of the SpaceOpera, a highly plausible setting ranking quite high on the MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness (the eponymous mass effect is the setting's OneBigLie), and a LovecraftLite CosmicHorrorStory in the form of the Reapers.

# ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'' was released for the Xbox 360 in November 2007 and PC in May[=/=]June 2008. The UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 version was released in late 2012 as part of the ''Mass Effect Trilogy'', and as a standalone digital download for the UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork. Taking place in 2183, it introduces the main character, System Alliance officer Lt.Cmdr. Shepard, and the beginning of that character's journey to become the first human Spectre, an elite soldier given full support of [[TheFederation the Citadel races]] to operate carte blanche in their interest. Shepard's first mission is to track down a rogue Spectre, Saren, and unravel his connection to the mysterious [[EldritchAbomination Reapers]], ancient beings that are only known as the ones who wiped out the [[{{Precursors}} Protheans]] 50,000 years ago. Shepard is aided by a [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits diverse band of companions]], as well as by the technology left behind by the Protheans.
# ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' was released for the Xbox 360 and PC in 2010, and for [=PlayStation=] 3 in January 2011. In the prologue, shortly after the first game Shepard and their crew are brutally attacked by the enigmatic alien species, the Collectors, and Shepard is seemingly killed. After a two-year TimeSkip covered by the opening credits, it takes up in 2185 where [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters the militant/terrorist human group]] called Cerberus has [[WeCanRebuildHim revived Shepard]] and tasked them to investigate the Collectors, who have been [[AlienAbduction abducting entire human colonies]] for unclear reasons but believed to be a new front for a Reaper invasion. Shepard's association with Cerberus strains their relationship with both the Alliance and their previous allies, so they turn to [[RecruitingTheCriminal the seedier side of the galaxy]] for a new team to face the Collectors. The gameplay shifted dramatically into something much more linear: instead of the first game's third-person-RPG-with-shooting WideOpenSandbox, it had more clearly stated levels built around [[TakeCover cover-based shooting]]; vehicle travel was dropped entirely (excluding a DLC mission); and weapon types was restricted by class.
# ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' was released on all three platforms in early March 2012, with a UsefulNotes/WiiU port being released at the console's launch in November 2012. It leads to the ultimate fear: the Reapers invade the Milky Way in the year 2186 and Earth is among the first to be overwhelmed. Shepard has reunited with the Alliance and retrieved blueprints for [[ForgottenSuperweapon a potential machine to defeat the Reapers]] they call "The Crucible." To retake Earth, and more importantly survive the Reaper invasion, Shepard must form a new team and unite the races of the galaxy to fight back and commit resources to the Crucible. It continued to refine the gameplay standard set by the second game, increasing movement and combat actions as well as weapon customization to the point that Creator/BioWare felt confident including a CoOpMultiplayer mode.
# ''VideoGame/MassEffectAndromeda'' was released in March 2017 for UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/XBoxOne, and PC. Set around the same time as ''Mass Effect 2'', the "Andromeda Initiative" was a colonization program to travel to the nearest galaxy, Andromeda. [[PlanetSpaceship City-sized starships]] full of {{Human Popsicle}}s (not to mention ones for asari, salarians, turians and krogan) go on a 600-year journey. This allows the game to essentially function as an {{interquel}} to the original trilogy, whilst simultaneously insulating it from the effects of the third game's world-changing conclusion, [[MultipleEndings whichever it may be]]. The player assumes the role of Scott or Sara Ryder, HalfIdenticalTwins who take on a leadership position within the Initiative when their ship arrives in 2819 and things go FromBadToWorse. The game places emphasis on the WideOpenSandbox which [=BioWare=] had intended to implement during the original trilogy, abandoning the [[{{Railroading}} highly-linear maps]] and [[ButThouMust narrative focus]] that replaced it.

And these link up with the other theme of the franchise: [[ContinuityPorn continuity porn]], the [[ButterflyOfDoom butterfly of doom]] and the [[OldSaveBonus old save bonus]]. There are plenty of [=NPC=]s you can interact with, and depending on your choices they could even die over the course of the game. If they don't, they will almost certainly appear in the next game (where, possibly, they can be killed this round). ''Mass Effect'' has hundreds of named characters, and the list of ones who don't re-appear in the next game is a ''lot'' shorter than the list of those who do; this creates a sense of not only a living, breathing universe, but the feeling that you, Commander Shepard, have some significance within it. And these are just the casual choices -- what about the ones where you decide the fates of entire sentient species? Players of the franchise are known to run two or more saved games, playing and re-playing to see how their choices impact the galaxy.

The series takes place in the near future. Mars turned out to have an outpost of the franchise's {{Precursors}}, the "Protheans," which yielded up advanced technology, including "[[AppliedPhlebotinum element zero]]," a substance that can be used to alter the mass of anything near it. By utilizing this "[[TitleDrop mass effect]]," mankind was able to develop fancy new technologies like personal DeflectorShields, FasterThanLightTravel and ArtificialGravity. Amongst the stars, humans found themselves to be just one sentient species amongst an entire panoply of civilization: the [[OneGenderRace mono-gendered]] [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe asari]], the amphibian-descended [[AwesomenessByAnalysis salarians]], the [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy militant]] [[BirdPeople turians]], the [[HeavilyArmoredMook hard-to-hurt]] [[TurtlePower krogan]], and more.

The series makes heavy use of a large number of science fiction tropes. Nearly every aspect of the setting has been thoroughly thought out, with hefty amounts of technical, cultural, and historical background data provided by an EncyclopediaExposita. (Amongst other things, the names of alien races ''are not capitalized''--[[DumbassHasAPoint the way "human" isn't]].) It manages to be simultaneously a {{reconstruction}} of the SpaceOpera, a highly plausible setting ranking quite high on the MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness (the eponymous mass effect is the setting's OneBigLie), and a LovecraftLite CosmicHorrorStory in the form of the Reapers.

# ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'' was released for the Xbox 360 in November 2007 and PC in May[=/=]June 2008. The UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 version was released in late 2012 as part of the ''Mass Effect Trilogy'', and as a standalone digital download for the UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork. Taking place in 2183, it introduces the main character, System Alliance officer Lt.Cmdr. Shepard, and the beginning of that character's journey to become the first human Spectre, an elite soldier given full support of [[TheFederation the Citadel races]] to operate carte blanche in their interest. Shepard's first mission is to track down a rogue Spectre, Saren, and unravel his connection to the mysterious Reapers, alien {{Eldritch Abomination}}s known only as the ones who wiped out the [[{{Precursors}} Protheans]] 50,000 years ago. Shepard is aided by a [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits diverse band of companions]], as well as by the technology left behind by the Protheans.

There are also two {{iOS}} games, titled ''Mass Effect: Galaxy'' and ''[[VideoGame/MassEffectInfiltrator Mass Effect: Infiltrator]]'', respectively, as well as ''Mass Effect: Datapad'', a companion app for ''Mass Effect 3''. An anime movie, ''[[Anime/MassEffectParagonLost Mass Effect: Paragon Lost]]'' was released on November 28, 2012.

# ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' was released for the Xbox 360 and PC in 2010, and for [=PlayStation=] 3 in January 2011. In the prologue, shortly after the first game Shepard and their crew are brutally attacked by the enigmatic alien species, the Collectors, and Shepard is seemingly killed. After a two-year TimeSkip covered by the opening credits, it takes up in 2185 where [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters the militant/terrorist human group]] called Cerberus has [[WeCanRebuildHim revived Shepard]] and tasked them to investigate the Collectors, who have been [[AlienAbduction abducting entire human colonies]] for unclear reasons but believed to be a new front for a Reaper invasion. Shepard's association with Cerberus strains their relationship with both the Alliance and their previous allies, so they turn to [[RecruitingTheCriminal the seedier side of the galaxy]] for a new team to face the Collectors. The gameplay shifted dramatically into something much more streamlined, instead of the first game having an open world third-person-RPG-with-shooting it had more clearly stated levels built around [[TakeCover cover-based shooting]], vehicle travel was dropped entirely (excluding a DLC mission) and weapon types was restricted by class.
# ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' was released on all three platforms in early March 2012, with a UsefulNotes/WiiU port being released at the console's launch in November 2012. It leads to the ultimate fear: the Reapers invade the Milky Way in the year 2186 and Earth is among the first to be overwhelmed. Shepard has reunited with the Alliance and retrieved blueprints for [[ForgottenSuperweapon a potential machine to defeat the Reapers]] they call "The Crucible." To retake Earth, and more importantly survive the Reaper invasion, Shepard must form a new team and unite the races of the galaxy to fight back and commit resources to the Crucible. It continued to refine the gameplay, increasing movement and combat actions as well as weapon customization to the point that Creator/BioWare felt confident including a CoOpMultiplayer mode.

Shepard, in true [=BioWare=] fashion, is customizable across the board, from gender to family background to previous military experience. The sequels allow you to [[OldSaveBonus transfer your personal Shepard, with the same appearance, background and choices]]. The Ryders are somewhat less customizeable -- they will always be fraternal twins, so the player cannot change their gender -- but everything else is available for tweaking; in fact, the two do not even have to look like each other.

The franchise is primarily a [=RPG=], with third person shooter combat. The games combine the [[RegeneratingHealth regenerating shields]] and integrated vehicle sections of ''{{Franchise/Halo}}'', the stop-and-pop cover mechanics of ''[[VideoGame/GearsOfWar Gears of War]]'' and [[WideOpenSandbox wide open sandbox]] exploration elements as you fly around the galaxy in your CoolStarship, the ''Normandy''. Shooting took on a completely new dimension in the first game, however, as firearms were not limited by clip size and ammo {{cap}} but rather by refire rate; the remaining games in the series have returned to a much more traditional firearms experience. [[RPGElements RPG elements]] are present in the form of a [[ClassAndLevelSystem class and level system]] for you and your party members, in addition to new guns and armor, while outside of combat you are able to influence the story in a lot of ways, and even transfer your story decisions to the next game. Gameplay elements, and their revisions for the sequels, saw a [[BrokenBase mixed reception]].

* Sentinel: The Tech/Biotic combo. In the second game, they got their signature power, Tech Armor, which: doubles shields but also cooldowns, staggers nearby enemies when depleted, and lets the Sentinel alternate between frontal assault (when it's on) and support spellcasting (when it's not).
* Infiltrator: The Tech/Combat hybrid has a variety of debuffs and offensive abilities. In the second game they got their signature abilities: an InvisibilityCloak and a BulletTime that activates automatically when they use the scope on their SniperRifle.
* Vanguard: The Biotic/Combat class. Formerly bland, the second game gave them the signature power "[[FoeTossingCharge Biotic Charge]]", a FlashStep cannonball move that also recharges their shields. This encourages them to [[ICanStillFight stay in the fight]].
* Explorer: Introduced in ''VideoGame/MassEffectAndromeda'', this class is a hybrid of all three affinities due to the gameplay altering the Classes into "Profiles" with identical names and purposes. As you level up you can do a freeform selection of any power from Combat, Tech and Biotics however you see fit. The Profiles offer bonuses independent of how your points are allocated. The ultimate JackOfAllStats, it also guarantees a MasterOfNone. The Explorer Profile specifically is designed to keep you mobile anticipating you to be a FragileSpeedster.

# ''VideoGame/MassEffectAndromeda'' was released in March 2017 for UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/XBoxOne, and PC. Set around the same time as ''Mass Effect 2'', the "Andromeda Initiative" was a colonization program to travel to the nearest galaxy, Andromeda. [[PlanetSpaceship City-sized starships]] full of {{Human Popsicle}}s (not to mention ones for asari, salarians, turians and krogan) go on a 600-year journey. This allows the game to essentially function as an {{interquel}} to the original trilogy, whilst simultaneously insulating it from the effects of the third game's world-changing conclusion, [[MultipleEndings whichever it may be]]. The player assumes the role of Scott or Sara Ryder, HalfIdenticalTwins who take on a leadership position within the Initiative when their ship arrives in 2819 and things go FromBadToWorse. The gameplay was changed to reflect the emphasis on exploration and travel, largely eliminating the [[{{railroading}} highly linear maps]] in the second and third games.

* ''[[Literature/MassEffectAnnihilation Annihilation]]'' (TBR June 26, 2018)

[[/index]]

Shepard, in true [=BioWare=] fashion, is customizable across the board, from gender to family background to previous military experience. A distinguished military officer, Shepard is selected to become the first human Spectre, an elite group of galactic peacekeepers given carte blanche to go about their job as they see fit. Unfortunately, nothing about the review process goes as planned, and Shepard is soon thrust into a life-or-death struggle with Saren Arterius, a rogue Spectre, who plans to seize control of the galactic capital with the help of an immense warship named Sovereign and an army of robotic [[MechaMooks Geth]]. The Ryders are somewhat less customizeable -- they will always be fraternal twins, so the player cannot change their gender -- but everything else is available for tweaking; in fact, the two do not even have to look like each other.

The classes presented to you are divided up between three affinities: [[FighterMageThief Combat, Tech and Biotic]]. Combat classes have abilities based on amplifying their weapons and [[BulletTime own reflexes]] to make them more vicious in combat. Tech classes counter the opponents' technology (jamming their weapons, overloading their shields, sending out attack drones) and hacking {{mecha mook}}s to attack their own. Biotic classes project the eponymous mass effect with their own bodies, giving them [[MindOverMatter mind over matter]] powers that are based on warping space and gravity and providing [[DeflectorShields biotic barriers]]. Shepard can choose one of three specialized classes for maximum effectiveness in one style, or one of the three hybrid classes, [[NecessaryDrawback sacrificing the full range of options and abilities of either class type]] for maximum flexibility. Your own team tends to be an eclectic mix of all three and you are only allowed to take two members with you on any given mission, so choosing which ones would be helpful for the circumstances is vital. Because gameplay evolved quite a bit over the course of the trilogy, it's hard to pin down just how the classes work, but here's a brief overview:

# ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'' was released for the Xbox 360 in November 2007 and PC in May[=/=]June 2008. The UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 version was released in late 2012 as part of the ''Mass Effect Trilogy'', and as a standalone digital download for the UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork. Taking place in 2183, it introduces the main character, System Alliance officer Lt.Cmdr. Shepard, and the beginning of that character's journey to become the first Spectre, an elite soldier given full support of [[TheFederation the Citadel races]] to operate carte blanche in their interest. Shepard's first mission is to track down a rogue Spectre, Saren, and unravel his connection to the mysterious Reapers, alien {{Eldritch Abomination}}s known only as the ones who wiped out the [[{{Precursors}} Protheans]] 50,000 years ago. Shepard is aided by a [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits diverse band of companions]], as well as by the technology left behind by the Protheans.

* ''[[Literature/MassEffectInitiation Initiation]]'' (TBR November 28, 2017)

Shepard, in true [=BioWare=] fashion, is customizable across the board, from gender to family background to previous military experience. A distinguished military officer, Shepard is selected to become the first human Spectre, an elite group of galactic peacekeepers given carte blanche to go about their job as they see fit. Unfortunately, nothing about the review process goes as planned, and Shepard is soon thrust into a life-or-death struggle with Saren Arterius, a rogue Spectre, who plans to seize control of the galactic capital with the help of an immense warship named Sovereign and an army of robotic [[MechaMooks Geth]]. The Ryders are somewhat less customizeable -- the player cannot choose names or genders for them -- but everything else is available for tweaking; in fact, the two do not even have to look like each other.

The series takes place in the near future. Mars turned out to have an outpost of the franchise's {{Precursors}}, the "Protheans," which yielded up advanced technology, including "[[AppliedPhlebotinum element zero]]," a substance that can be used to alter the mass of anything near it. By utilizing this "[[TitleDrop mass effect]]," mankind was able develop fancy new technologies like personal DeflectorShields, FasterThanLightTravel and ArtificialGravity. Amongst the stars, humans found themselves to be just one sentient species amongst an entire panoply of civilization: the [[OneGenderRace mono-gendered]] [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe asari]], the amphibian-descended [[AwesomenessByAnalysis salarians]], the [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy militant]] [[BirdPeople turians]], the [[HeavilyArmoredMook hard-to-hurt]] [[TurtlePower krogan]], and more.

# ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' was released for the Xbox 360 and PC in 2010, and for [=PlayStation=] 3 in January 2011. In the prologue, shortly after the first game Shepard and his crew is brutally attacked by the enigmatic alien species, the Collectors, and Shepard is seemingly killed. After a two-year TimeSkip covered by the opening credits, it takes up in 2185 where [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters the militant/terrorist human group]] called Cerberus has [[WeCanRebuildHim revived Shepard]] and tasked them to investigate the Collectors, who have been [[AlienAbduction abducting entire human colonies]] for unclear reasons but believed to be a new front for a Reaper invasion. Shepard's association with Cerberus strains their relationship with both the Alliance and their previous allies, but turns to [[RecruitingTheCriminal the seedier side of the galaxy]] for a new team to face the Collectors. The gameplay shifted dramatically into something much more streamlined, instead of the first game having an open world third-person-RPG-with-shooting it had more clearly stated levels built around [[TakeCover cover-based shooting]], vehicle travel was dropped entirely (excepting a DLC mission) and weapon types was restricted by class.
# ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' was released on all three platforms in early March 2012, with a UsefulNotes/WiiU port being released at the console's launch in November 2012. It leads to the ultimate fear, the Reapers invade the Milky Way in the year 2186, Earth is among the first to be overwhelmed. Shepard has reunited with the Alliance and retrieve blueprints for [[ForgottenSuperweapon a potential machine to defeat the Reapers]] they call "The Crucible." To retake Earth, let alone survive the Reaper invasion, Shepard must form a new team and unite the races of the galaxy to fight back and commit resources to the Crucible. It continued to refine the gameplay, increasing movement and combat actions as well as weapon customization to the point that Creator/BioWare felt confident including a CoOpMultiplayer mode.
# ''VideoGame/MassEffectAndromeda'' was released in March 2017 for UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/XBoxOne, and PC. Set around the same time as ''Mass Effect 2'' the "Andromeda Initiative" was a colonization program to travel to the nearest galaxy, Andromeda. [[PlanetSpaceship City-sized starships]] full of {{Human Popsicle}}s (not to mention ones for asari, salarians, turians and krogan) go on a 600-year journey. This allows the game to essentially function as an {{interquel}} to the original trilogy, whilst simultaneously insulating it from the effects of the third game's world-changing conclusion, [[MultipleEndings whichever it may be]]. The player assumes the role of Scott or Sara Ryder, HalfIdenticalTwins who take on a leadership position within the Initiative when their ship arrives in 2819 and things go FromBadToWorse. The gameplay was changed to reflect the emphasis on exploration and travel, largely eliminating the [[{{railroading}} highly linear maps]] in the second and third games.

# ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'' was released for the Xbox 360 in November 2007 and PC in May[=/=]June 2008. The UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 version was released in late 2012 as part of the ''Mass Effect Trilogy'', and as a standalone digital download for the UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork. Taking place in 2183, it introduces the main character, System Alliance officer Lt.Cmdr. Shepard, and the beginning of that character's journey to become the first Spectre, an elite soldier given full support of [[TheFederation the Citadel races]] to act on their behalf. His mission is to track down a rogue Spectre Saren, and unravel his connection to the mysterious Reapers, alien {{Eldritch Abomination}}s known only as the ones who wiped out the [[{{Precursors}} Protheans]] 50,000 years ago. Shepard is aided by a [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits diverse band of companions]], as well as by the technology left behind by the Protheans.
# ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' was released for the Xbox 360 and PC in 2010, and for [=PlayStation=] 3 in January 2011. In the prologue, shortly after the first game Shepard and his crew is brutally attacked by the enigmatic alien species, the Collectors, and Shepard is seemingly killed. After a two-year TimeSkip covered by the opening credits, it takes up in 2185 where [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters the militant/terrorist human group]] called Cerberus has [[WeCanRebuildHim revived Shepard]] and tasked him to investigate the Collectors, who have been [[AlienAbduction abducting entire human colonies]] for unclear reasons but believed to be a new front for a Reaper invasion. Shepard's association with Cerberus strains his relationship with both the Alliance and much of his previous team, but he turns to [[RecruitingTheCriminal the seedier side of the galaxy]] for a new team to face the Collectors. The gameplay shifted dramatically into something much more streamlined, instead of the first game having an open world third-person-RPG-with-shooting it had more clearly stated levels built around [[TakeCover cover-based shooting]], vehicle travel was dropped entirely (excepting a DLC mission) and weapon types was restricted by class.

# ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' was released for the Xbox 360 and PC in 2010, and for [=PlayStation=] 3 in January 2011. In the prologue, shortly after the first game Shepard and his crew is brutally attacked by the enigmatic alien species, the Collectors, and Shepard is seemingly killed. After a two-year TimeSkip covered by the opening credits, it takes up in 2185 where [[[[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters the militant/terrorist human group]] called Cerberus has [[WeCanRebuildHim revived Shepard]] and tasked him to investigate the Collectors, who have been [[AlienAbduction abducting entire human colonies]] for unclear reasons but believed to be a new front for a Reaper invasion. Shepard's association with Cerberus strains his relationship with both the Alliance and much of his previous team, but he turns to [[RecruitingTheCriminal the seedier side of the galaxy]] for a new team to face the Collectors. The gameplay shifted dramatically into something much more streamlined, instead of the first game having an open world third-person-RPG-with-shooting it had more clearly stated levels built around [[TakeCover cover-based shooting]], vehicle travel was dropped entirely (excepting a DLC mission) and weapon types was restricted by class.

# ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'' was released for the Xbox 360 in November 2007 and PC in May[=/=]June 2008. The UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 version was released in late 2012 as part of the ''Mass Effect Trilogy'', and as a standalone digital download for the UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork. Taking place in 2183, it introduces the main character, Lt.Cmdr. Shepard, and the beginning of that character's journey to stop the Reapers, a race of alien {{Eldritch Abomination}}s that sweep through the Milky Way galaxy every 50,000 years to destroy all sentient life. Shepard is aided by a [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits diverse band of companions]], as well as by the technology left behind by the Reapers' latest victims, the [[{{Precursors}} Protheans]].
# ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' was released for the Xbox 360 and PC in 2010, and for [=PlayStation=] 3 in January 2011. After a two-year TimeSkip largely covered by the opening credits, it takes place in 2185 and centers on Shepard's attempts to stop an alien species, the Collectors, who are working for the Reapers to [[AlienAbduction abduct]] entire human colonies for initially-unclear purposes. It shifted the gameplay engine from an indecisive third-person-RPG-with-shooting to a streamlined [[TakeCover cover-based shooter]]. The game was also somewhat controversial for its story decisions, in which Shepard gets [[{{Railroading}} railroaded]] into helping Cerberus, a group of [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters militant]] pro-human [[FantasticRacism space racists]] led by The Illusive Man.
# ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' was released on all three platforms in early March 2012, with a UsefulNotes/WiiU port being released at the console's launch in November 2012. It concludes the trilogy by having the Reapers invade in the year 2186, with Shepard attempting to forge alliances left and right to stop them. It refined the gameplay further, to the point that Creator/BioWare felt confident in introducing a CoOpMultiplayer mode, but featured an ''[[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment extremely]]'' controversial ending.
# ''VideoGame/MassEffectAndromeda'' was released in March 2017 for UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/XBoxOne, and PC. The "Andromeda Initiative" is a multi-species effort to colonize the nearest galaxy over, sending starships full of {{Human Popsicle}}s (not to mention asari, salarians, turians and krogan) on a 600-year journey. This allows the game to essentially function as an {{interquel}} to ''Mass Effect 2'' (the Initiative's starships depart during that two-year TimeSkip), whilst simultaneously insulating it from the effects of the third game's extremely controversial ending. The player assumes the role of Scott or Sara Ryder, HalfIdenticalTwins who take on a leadership position within the Initiative when their ship arrives in 2819 and things go FromBadToWorse. The gameplay was further built on, but the game had a ''[[ExecutiveMeddling very]]'' TroubledProduction, [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement and after it was released the game's controversial aspects outnumbered the non-controversial ones across the board (including some of the gameplay)]].

# ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'' Was released for the Xbox 360 in November 2007 and PC in May[=/=]June 2008. The UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 version was released in late 2012 as part of the ''Mass Effect Trilogy'', and as a standalone digital download for the UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork. Taking place in 2183, it introduces the main character, Lt. Cmdr. Shepard, and the beginning of that character's journey to stop The Reapers, a race of alien {{Eldritch Abomination}}s that sweep through the Milky Way Galaxy every 50,000 years to destroy all sentient life. Shepard is aided by a diverse band of companions, as well as technology left behind by the Protheans, who were the Reapers' last victims.
# ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' was released for the Xbox 360 and PC in 2010, and for [=PlayStation=] 3 in January 2011. After a two-year TimeSkip largely covered by the opening credits, it takes place in 2185 and centers on Shepard's attempts to stop an alien species, the Collectors, who are working for the Reapers. It shifted the gameplay engine from an indecisive third-person-RPG-with-shooting to a streamlined [[TakeCover cover-based shooter]]. It was somewhat controversial for its story decisions, in which Shepard gets [[{{Railroading}} Railroaded]] into helping Cerberus, a group of [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters militant]] pro-human [[FantasticRacism space racists]] led by The Illusive Man.
# ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' was released on all 3 platforms on in early March 2012, with a UsefulNotes/WiiU port being released at the console's launch in November 2012. It concludes the trilogy by having the Reapers invade in the year 2186, with Shepard attempting to forge alliances left and right to stop them. It refined the gameplay further, to the point that Creator/BioWare felt confident in introducing a CoOpMultiplayer mode, but featured an ''[[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment extremely]]'' controversial ending.
# ''VideoGame/MassEffectAndromeda'' was released in March 2017 for UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/XBoxOne and PC. The "Andromeda Initiative" is a multi-species effort to colonize the nearest galaxy over, sending starships full of {{Human Popsicle}}s (not to mention asari, salarians, turians and krogan) on a 600-year journey. This allows the game to essentially function as an {{interquel}} to ''Mass Effect 2'' (the Initiative's starships depart during that two-year TimeSkip), whilst simultaneously insulating it from the effects of that extremely controversial ending. The player takes on the role of Scott or Sara Ryder, HalfIdenticalTwins who take on a leadership position within the Initiative when their ship arrives in 2819 and things go FromBadToWorse. The gameplay was further built on, but the game had a ''[[ExecutiveMeddling very]]'' TroubledProduction, [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement and after it was released the game's controversial aspects outnumbered the non-controversial ones across the board (including some of the gameplay)]].

# ''VideoGame/MassEffectAndromeda'' was released in March 2017 for UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/XBoxOne and PC. The "Andromeda Initiative" is a multi-species effort to colonize the nearest galaxy over, sending starships full of {{Human Popsicle}}s (not to mention asari, salarians, turians and krogan) on a 600-year journey. This allows the game to essentially function as an {{interquel}} to ''Mass Effect 2'' (the Initiative's starships depart during that two-year TimeSkip), whilst simultaneously insulating it from the effects of that extremely controversial ending. The player takes on the role of Scott or Sara Ryder, HalfIdenticalTwins who take on a leadership position within the Initiative when their ship arrives in 2819 and things go FromBadToWorse. The gameplay was further built on, but the game had a ''[[ExecutiveMeddling very]]'' [[TroubledProduction troubled production]], [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement and after it was released the game's controversial aspects outnumbered the non-controversial ones across the board (including some of the gameplay)]].