What is the best game similar to Mass Effect?

The closest game to Mass Effect is Mass Effect 2, scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. They share 14 gameplay attributes, including deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and shooter. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.

What are the top games like Mass Effect?

The three closest games to Mass Effect are: 1. Mass Effect 2 (95/100, 14 shared attributes) 2. Deadpool (83/100, 10 shared attributes) 3. NieR (80/100, 12 shared attributes). All share Mass Effect's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 17 dimensions.

Is Deadpool similar to Mass Effect?

Yes, very much so — Deadpool scores 83/100 similarity to Mass Effect. They share 10 attributes, including deep RPG systems and action RPG combat. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.

What RPG games are similar to Mass Effect?

The best RPG games similar to Mass Effect are Mass Effect 2, Deadpool, NieR and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords. All share the RPG genre alongside other key Mass Effect attributes like deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and shooter.

How is similarity to Mass Effect calculated?

We compare Mass Effect against every game in our catalog using 17 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the Mass Effect experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.

50 Games like Mass Effect that you should try

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Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentUpdated May 19, 2026How this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

Mass Effect is hard to replace: few games combine deep RPG systems, strong narrative focus and open world exploration in quite the same way. We compared Mass Effect against over 6,700 titles across 17 gameplay attributes and found 50 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Mass Effect 2, Deadpool and NieR lead the list, with Mass Effect 2 reaching a 95/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Mass Effect special.

iRank86/ 100

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GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

Top games similar to Mass Effect

50 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Mass Effect. Each one has been evaluated across 17 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Mass Effect 2Closest overall match

iRank84

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiSpaceSkill TreeExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 78%· 342IGDB96· 9

Year 2010Dev BioWare · Electronic ArtsOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and shooter

≠ Where it differs: brings roguelike runs, while skipping open world exploration

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for Mass Effect.

Same studio: BioWare.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Progression100Visuals100Setting92

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeThird PersonMultiplayer

Steam👍 91%· 3.3KIGDB70· 13

Year 2013Dev High Moon Studios · ActivisionOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · PC

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and shooter

≠ Where it differs: brings fighting mechanics, dark, oppressive atmosphere and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping open world exploration

It predates Mass Effect by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Visuals100Game mode86Combat78Tone63

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Steam Xbox PS

#3NieRClosest on world

iRank69

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSci-FiHistoricalExplorationThird Person

IGDB69· 4

Year 2010Dev Cavia · Square EnixOn Xbox · PlayStation 3

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, shooter and third-person shooting

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, post-apocalyptic world and visual 2d, while skipping action RPG combat

It predates Mass Effect by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100World100Combat69Visuals65

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Xbox

#4Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith LordsClosest on combat

iRank88

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeTacticalNarrativeOpen WorldSci-FiSpaceExplorationSkill TreeThird Person

Steam👍 94%· 26KIGDB86· 6OC77· 22

Year 2004Dev Obsidian Entertainment · LucasArtsOn Linux · Android · PC

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy and visual first person, while skipping action RPG combat

It predates Mass Effect by 17 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100World100Progression100

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Steam GOG Xbox

#5Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

iRank90

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeTacticalNarrativeOpen WorldSci-FiSpaceExplorationSkill TreeThird Person

Steam👍 91%· 33KIGDB94· 9OC83· 34

Year 2003Dev BioWare · LucasArtsOn Android · PC · iOS

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings turn-based strategy, stealth mechanics and fantasy world, while skipping action RPG combat

Same studio: BioWare.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100World100Progression100Visuals100

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Steam GOG Xbox

#6Marvel's Spider-Man 2

iRank84

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSci-FiExplorationSkill TreeThird Person

Steam👍 82%· 38KIGDB82· 12OC88· 206

Year 2023Dev Insomniac Games · Sony Interactive EntertainmentOn PC · PS5

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings stealth mechanics, while skipping shooter

Where it drifts furthest from Mass Effect: combat.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100World100Progression100Visuals100

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloThird PersonFantasy

IGDB90· 4OC85· 142

Year 2022Dev PlatinumGames · NintendoOn Switch

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and shooter

≠ Where it differs: brings fantasy world, while skipping first-person shooting

The largest of the three by scale: kaiju summons fight alongside you and levels open up considerably. Core combat is as sharp as ever when the game lets you use it. That is the issue — demon sequences, side characters and setpiece variety cut into the moment-to-moment fighting, and the story is the weakest of the series.

Where it drifts furthest from Mass Effect: setting.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Setting0

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Nintendo

#8Elex

iRank67

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeTacticalNarrativeOpen WorldSci-FiHistoricalExplorationSkill TreeThird Person

Steam👍 74%· 19KIGDB60· 3OC61· 71

Year 2017Dev Piranha Bytes · THQ NordicOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: punishing difficulty, dark, oppressive atmosphere and fantasy world, while skipping action RPG combat

Where it drifts furthest from Mass Effect: setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for Mass Effect.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100World100Visuals100Progression92

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationSkill TreeThird Person

IGDB86· 16

Year 2012Dev Vigil Games · Spike ChunsoftOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with fantasy world and loot and gear systems, while skipping shooter

Where it drifts furthest from Mass Effect: setting.

It predates Mass Effect by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100World100Visuals100Progression81

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Nintendo

#10Maneater

iRank80

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 87%· 25KIGDB73· 14OC71· 168

Year 2020Dev Blindside Interactive · Deep SilverOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping shooter

You play the shark. Eat fish, wildlife and swimmers to evolve, upgrade your bite and hunt the hunters back, all narrated as a straight-faced wildlife documentary. The B-movie tone is the appeal and it commits to it. The recurring complaint is technical rather than creative: crashes, stutter and startup failures on modern Windows come up constantly, even from players who finished it.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals100Combat77Progression63

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Steam Epic Xbox

#11Yakuza 4

iRank80

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeOpen WorldExplorationSkill TreeThird Person

IGDB80· 6

Year 2010Dev Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios · SegaOn PlayStation 3

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with sports simulation, deep simulation and sandbox freedom, while skipping shooter

It predates Mass Effect by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Progression81Combat69World62

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#12Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

iRank85

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiThird Person

Steam👍 86%· 8.1KIGDB82· 9

Year 2010Dev Ninja Theory · Namco Bandai GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings precision platforming, puzzle design and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping shooter

Where it drifts furthest from Mass Effect: setting.

It predates Mass Effect by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Combat78Setting36

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Steam

#13Dragon Age: The Veilguard

iRank77

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloTacticalMeleeNarrativeSkill TreeThird Person

Steam👍 68%· 44KIGDB91· 7OC80· 155

Year 2024Dev BioWare · Electronic ArtsOn Xbox · PC · PS5

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: turn-based strategy, combat magic and fantasy world, while skipping shooter

Where it drifts furthest from Mass Effect: setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against very positive for Mass Effect.

Same studio: BioWare.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Combat82Progression71

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Steam Epic Xbox

#14Infamous 2

iRank85

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

IGDB85· 6

Year 2011Dev Sucker Punch Productions · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design, while skipping shooter

Open-world traversal built around electricity: you climb, grind rails and fight in the same continuous motion, and it rarely asks you to stop moving. Combat stays readable even when the screen fills up. The karma system is the weak part — choices are signposted as obviously good or evil, so the moral framing lands flatter than the moment-to-moment play.

It predates Mass Effect by 10 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals100Progression56

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#15Persona 4

iRank93

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeTacticalNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

IGDB93· 4

Year 2008Dev AtlusOn PlayStation 3

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: turn-based strategy, combat magic and fantasy world, while skipping action RPG combat

Where it drifts furthest from Mass Effect: setting.

It predates Mass Effect by 13 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100World100Visuals100Combat74

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Complete list of Mass Effect alternatives

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Mass Effect, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.

Bayonetta

Action RPG · Shooter

Oni

RPG · Action RPG

Stellar Blade

RPG · Action RPG

God of War

RPG · Action RPG

Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures

RPG · Action RPG

The Artful Escape

RPG · Puzzle

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series

RPG · Adventure

Heavenly Sword

RPG · Action RPG

The Amazing Spider-Man

RPG · Action RPG

Ninja Gaiden

RPG · Action RPG

Hi-Fi RUSH

RPG · Action RPG

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

RPG · Action RPG

Killer is Dead - Nightmare Edition

RPG · Action RPG

Zenless Zone Zero

RPG · Action RPG

Transformers: Devastation

RPG · Action RPG

STAR WARS: The Force Unleashed II

RPG · Action RPG

Starpoint Gemini 2

RPG · Simulation

Spider-Man 2

RPG · Action RPG

Gravity Rush

RPG · Adventure

NINJA GAIDEN 4

RPG · Action RPG

Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII

RPG · Shooter

Ultimate Spider-Man

RPG · Action RPG

Devil May Cry

RPG · Action RPG

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

RPG · Action RPG

Game of Thrones

RPG · Adventure

Ninja Gaiden II

RPG · Action RPG

TMNT

RPG · Action RPG

God of War II

RPG · Action RPG

God Hand

RPG · Action RPG

X3: Albion Prelude

RPG · Simulation

X3: Reunion

RPG · Simulation

Drakengard 3

RPG · Action RPG

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

RPG · Adventure

Asura's Wrath

RPG · Action RPG

Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro

RPG · Action RPG

Explore games similar to Mass Effect by category

Recent releases similar to Mass Effect

Newest titles in the list, for anyone who has already played the classics.

2025NINJA GAIDEN 4 2024Dragon Age: The Veilguard 2024Stellar Blade 2024Zenless Zone Zero

Rankings in the same genre

Best Third-Person Action RPGs Best Action RPGs Best RPG Games

Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Mass Effect?: The closest game to Mass Effect is Mass Effect 2, scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. They share 14 gameplay attributes, including deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and shooter. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Mass Effect?: The three closest games to Mass Effect are: 1. Mass Effect 2 (95/100, 14 shared attributes) 2. Deadpool (83/100, 10 shared attributes) 3. NieR (80/100, 12 shared attributes). All share Mass Effect's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 17 dimensions.
Is Deadpool similar to Mass Effect?: Yes, very much so — Deadpool scores 83/100 similarity to Mass Effect. They share 10 attributes, including deep RPG systems and action RPG combat. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What RPG games are similar to Mass Effect?: The best RPG games similar to Mass Effect are Mass Effect 2, Deadpool, NieR and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords. All share the RPG genre alongside other key Mass Effect attributes like deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and shooter.
How is similarity to Mass Effect calculated?: We compare Mass Effect against every game in our catalog using 17 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the Mass Effect experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.