Mass Effect: Andromeda

Mass Effect: Andromeda took players into an entirely new galaxy, far from the known trilogy about Shepard, and offered a story about colonization as Pathfinder Ryder. The game builds on an action-RPG system with a collection of abilities combining biotics, tech, and combat upgrades, and the player could freely switch between them without being locked into a strict character class — a marked change compared to previous entries. Exploring planets took place largely aboard the wheeled Nomad vehicle, with more open environments offering side quests, resource gathering, and outpost building as part of the main storyline about finding a new home for humanity.

On Xbox One the game ran technically solidly, though the launch was marred by criticism of facial animations and some technical issues, which later patches significantly improved. The music score carried on the series' ambient sci-fi style, and the atmosphere of space exploration worked well, even though the story and characters didn't reach the quality of the original trilogy. Contemporary reception was mixed, with critics praising the combat system and the sheer amount of content but faulting the dialogue writing and technical bugs, which led to the cancellation of planned sequels and a long hiatus for the brand. Today the game is viewed more favorably, as a solid, if imperfect, expansion of the Mass Effect universe with a generous amount of content for genre fans and an open, endlessly explorable universe full of planets.

The package also included a cooperative multiplayer mode called APEX, in which a squad of four players completed missions against waves of enemies while gradually unlocking new characters, weapons, and gear, giving the Xbox One version an unexpectedly long lifespan even after finishing the campaign. The combat system also introduced, for the first time in the series, active dodges and short bursts of flight powered by back-mounted thrusters, making firefights feel snappier and more vertical than in previous entries. Even years later, Andromeda remains an interesting detour for fans of the sci-fi RPG genre who are looking for dozens of hours of content and a welcoming entry point into the Mass Effect universe even without knowledge of the previous trilogy.

Why play it: For sci-fi RPG fans looking for dozens of hours of content, snappier combat with dodges and thrusters, and the cooperative APEX mode, Andromeda offers a welcoming entry point into the Mass Effect universe even without knowing the trilogy.