Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Mass Effect Legendary Edition brings together all three entries of the original trilogy about Commander Shepard and their fight against an alien threat called the Reapers into a single package with graphically and mechanically updated versions of each game. The collection includes nearly all of the additionally released content, so the player experiences the entire sprawling story—from the first game, through the politically charged second entry, to the epic conclusion of the third game—as one continuous experience. The combat system of the first game has been noticeably refined toward smoother shooting, while the narrative, the decisions that carry over into later entries, and building relationships with the crew remain at the heart of the series. The collection also includes most of the supplementary content released over the years, including expansions that deepen the side characters and their fates.

On Xbox Series X and S, the edition runs at a higher resolution and frame rate than the original versions, with shorter loading times that ease transitions between planets and missions. The cinematic score and dialogue voice acting remain among the series' strongest elements, and in remastered form they stand out even more thanks to an improved audio mix that comes through even better on modern surround sound systems. Legendary Edition was received as a nearly ideal way to experience the entire trilogy for the first time or all over again, praised especially for its sensitive unification of visual quality across the individual games, though the collection does not include the third game's competitive multiplayer mode.

The edition confirms why the Mass Effect trilogy is still considered one of the pinnacles of sci-fi storytelling in video games, thanks to its complex world, unforgettable Normandy crew members, and the impact of player decisions across the entire saga. For new players, it's an ideal entry point; for veterans, a reason to relive Shepard's story in its best available form.

Why play it: For new players, it's an ideal entry point into one of the pinnacles of sci-fi storytelling in video games; for veterans, a reason to relive Shepard's story in its best available form.