The Mass Effect series has become one of the best gaming franchises ever made.
The story, customization, and graphics combined made something I don’t think has been achieved again, since.
You could play some Mass Effect and quite literally be lost for hours, sometimes days in the story that lets you take full control.
Now, finding games that will compare in the slightest has been hard, really hard.
That’s why this list has taken so long for me to release.
I want to start by saying that these games are not Mass Effect clones, if you wanted that you could just play Mass Effect, these games instead share similarities with Mass Effect.
From deep stories, similar game mechanics, customization and more.
These games are going to give you something new to enjoy while keeping it in the same format as Mass Effect.
Before you start I want to let you know I’ve priced checked all of the games on this list on the 18th March 2025 and found the cheapest online prices for them.
Anyway, let’s get this started.
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic
The Star Wars Knights of the old republic is the first place I’d recommend you start when looking for a game like Mass Effect.
The story, gameplay and overall game mechanics are built similar to Mass Effect.
Now this game was released in 2003, so it’s got a lot of age, but that shouldn’t stop you from checking it out and giving it a shot, especially if you enjoy Star Wars.
Fallout
What Fallout (games similar to Fallout) lacks in graphic/design similarities to Mass Effect it makes up for in story and customization.
If you want a single player game that will suck you in, give you options, allow you to take full control then Fallout is the game for you.
Fallout gives you control over the story, you can create a base, protect yourself and customize yourself in a world that’s constantly trying to kill you.
Borderlands
Borderlands (games like Borderlands) is an FPS RPG hybride.
With Borderlands you get the best of both worlds, you get the awesome First person camera, with the grinding/reward system of an RPG.
Borderlands was first released in 2009, but with add-ons, mods and cartoon style graphics this game has managed to keep up and is still 100% worth a playthrough.
Dead Space
If I had to pick just one then Dead Space would probably be my first go to after Mass Effect.
It’s dark, twisted, story rich and takes a strong nerve to play.
Dead Space is far scarier than Mass Effect and in a way, it reminds me of a space version of Resident Evil, with a little Mass Effect added into the mix.
You have Sci-fi, Horror, Aliens and space and don’t even get me started on the third-person controls that make everything 100x scarier.
Skyrim
I probably don’t need to spend too much time explaining Skyrim as I imagine you’ve already played it.
If you haven’t already played Skyrim and enjoy story-rich, open world games with grinding, customization and lots of horse riding then YOU MUST PLAY IT!
Skyrim is part of the elder scrolls series and has been one of the most played games of all time.
This game captured games like World of Warcraft and put it perfectly into a third-person/first-person experience, something that I don’t think any other game has achieved.
With the help of mods, you will have no problem updating the game to a more modern feel, so there are no excuses not to give Skyrim a shot.
You can check out these alternatives to Skyrim right here.
BioShock
BioShock is a bit of a wildcard.
Why is it on this list?
I asked on Reddit for some extra ideas and multiple people recommended BioShock after playing Mass Effect.
BioShock is a first-person shooter created by 2k games and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
The world, the story, the game mechanics and the way each game is completely different, from being at the bottom of the ocean to flying across the sky to cloud cities.
If you haven’t you should totally take a look at the whole collection of games (infinity is my personal favorite).
Dragon Age
Dragon Age is created by BioWare the same company that created Mass Effect.
It’s a dark fantasy game set in a medieval scene, with similarities to both Mass Effect and Skyrim.
The way Dragon age (games similar to Dragons Age) sucks you into the character you play is wonderful, the story is gripping and it’s one of the greatest RPG fantasy games I’ve ever played.
You have control of the story, it has multiple endings and can easily be played 2-3 times.
Osiris
You crash land on a planet and it’s up to you to build a colony, battling others, while trying to stay survive on a planet that doesn’t want you there.
Oriris is still in early access, it’s open world and if played with friends it can become one of the best building/survival games.
The negative reviews have hit this game hard, but the game developers are fixing lots of the issues, so check the reviews.
As a side note: This game is 100x better with a friend.
The Witcher
The Witcher is a game based on a series of books written by Andrzej Sapkowski.
The story in this game is like no other and once you mix it with the blissful graphics, impeccable voice acting and beautiful open world you have a totally immersive experience.
This isn’t just a game that will speak to people who love Mass Effect, it’s a game that needs to be played by anyone who likes RPG and story-rich games, to say this is a masterpiece is an understatement.
I started by playing number 3 and then went back and replayed all the others, it’s like a game version of your favorite Netflix show.
You don’t get 150,000 reviews and still have a 10/10 rating on Steam without being incredible.
Plus, they’re now releasing a Netflix season of The Witcher.
Jade Empire
Is another game made by BioWare (the company that made Mass Effect) and you can feel the early versions of Mass Effect shining through this game.
You’re dropped into the role of an aspiring martial artist and your choices inside this story-rich RPG will all have a dramatic effect on where you go in the story.
Customize your character, grind and gain skills and play through this mystical universe as you complete the story mode.
Destiny
I’m surprised the Destiny series isn’t mentioned more in comparisons to Mass Effect.
I’d say Destiny is like a more polished version of Mass Effect with a load more grinding and multiplayer.
Destiny is an online-only game in first person, there are lots of things to explore and this game really comes to life when you add friends/use your mic to meet friends.
Just be warned, this game is highly addictive and takes a lot of grinding.
You can check out these addictive games just like Destiny.
Deus Ex
Deus Ex is an action role-play game based in first-person.
Deus Ex has been a pinnacle in gaming for many years and it got even better with Human Revolution, which blends stealth, Si-Fi, Cyberpunk and pure action altogether.
It has a Deep story, amazing gameplay mechanics and some seriously fun futuristic graphics.
Which One Of These Games Is Most Like Mass Effect?
Start with Fallout, the story, RPG elements and pure freedom remind me of Mass Effect and I feel like it’s one of the games that will replace Mass Effect for you.
Next, I’d say you must play The Witcher, the story, open world and pure beauty of this game will satisfy any story-loving gamers.
Finally, I’d recommend Destiny, if you want to ditch the single player and move on to playing with friends Destiny is the best way to do it. Lots of addictive gameplay, grinding, and raids that will take over your life.
So, I didn’t want to fill this list with Mass Effect clones, as someone who has searched for clones I always found them unplayable and usually quite badly made, so instead I tested lots of games, asked people on Reddit and found the games others used to replace Mass Effect.
This list is a little different, but trust me if you enjoy Mass Effect these games will be right up your street.
If you have any games that I missed leave them in the comments below and I’ll add them to the list.
I hope you have an awesome day and remember if you have any questions leave them in the comments.