Mass Effect

21 Games with a sci-fi setting 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.

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We filtered the 50 games similar to Mass Effect down to the 21 that fit the “Sci-Fi” category. Mass Effect 2, NieR and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Mass Effect.

iRank86/ 100

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GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

Tags

NarrativeSolo

Year 2021Dev BioWare

Stores

Steam ↗Epic ↗

Quick answer

Within the “Sci-Fi” category, the closest game to Mass Effect is Mass Effect 2 — scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. NieR and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords follow close behind.

#1Mass Effect 295 #2NieR80 #3Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords74 #4Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic71 #5Elex71

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The best games with a sci-fi setting like Mass Effect

21 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

95

Mass Effect 2

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

Steam Epic Xbox

#2NieRClosest on world

80

NieR

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

#3Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith LordsClosest on combat

74

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords

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

#4Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

71

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

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

71

Elex

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

#6Starpoint Gemini 2

62

Starpoint Gemini 2

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeTacticalNarrativeOpen WorldSpaceSci-FiExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 70%· 4.1KRAWG👍 19%· 102MC70IGDB73· 3OC68· 15

Year 2014Dev Little Green Men Games · Iceberg InteractivePlaytime ~3hOn PC · Xbox

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, strong narrative focus and open world exploration

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and turn-based strategy, while skipping action RPG combat

In Starpoint Gemini 2, you assume the role of a starship captain in the distant future. Set in the open world of Gemini system, the game continues the original Starpoint Gemini. The player controls a single vessel that can be used not only for battle but also for many other missions.

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

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Setting92World63

#7Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series

60

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiSpaceThird Person

Steam👍 87%· 1.8KIGDB69· 5OC71· 19

Year 2017Dev Telltale GamesOn PS4 · Android · PC

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

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, while skipping action RPG combat

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Setting91Combat69

#8X3: Albion Prelude

53

X3: Albion Prelude

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeOpen WorldSpaceSci-FiExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 72%· 727RAWG👍 57%· 51MC71IGDB70· 1

Year 2005Dev EgosoftPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, open world exploration and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world, while skipping action RPG combat

X3: Reunion is the third game in the X series of futuristic space exploration simulators. It is set in the X-Universe, a science fiction world that includes over 100 interconnected star systems. ###Plot The game continues the plot of its predecessor X2: The Threat and follows the same protagonist, Julian Gardna, a space pilot from the year 2935.

Where it drifts furthest from Mass Effect: progression.

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

It predates Mass Effect by 16 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Setting92Combat66Visuals62World54

53

X3: Reunion

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeOpen WorldSpaceSci-FiExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 72%· 727RAWG👍 57%· 51MC71IGDB70· 1

Year 2005Dev EgosoftPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, open world exploration and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world, while skipping action RPG combat

X3: Reunion is the third game in the X series of futuristic space exploration simulators. It is set in the X-Universe, a science fiction world that includes over 100 interconnected star systems. ###Plot The game continues the plot of its predecessor X2: The Threat and follows the same protagonist, Julian Gardna, a space pilot from the year 2935.

Where it drifts furthest from Mass Effect: progression.

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

It predates Mass Effect by 16 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Setting92Combat66Visuals62World54

#10Marvel's Spider-Man 2

70

Marvel's Spider-Man 2

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

#11Oni

66

Oni

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloSci-FiThird PersonPost-ApocalypticCyberpunk

IGDB70· 1

Year 2001Dev Rockstar Toronto · Rockstar GamesOn PC · Mac

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

≠ Stands apart with post-apocalyptic world and setting cyberpunk, while skipping adventure storytelling

Where it drifts furthest from Mass Effect: setting.

It predates Mass Effect by 20 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Setting35

#12Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

64

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

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

#13X-Men Origins: Wolverine

61

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloSci-FiSkill TreeThird PersonLoot

IGDB72

Year 2009Dev Amaze Entertainment · Activision

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

≠ Its own twist: loot and gear systems, while skipping shooter

It predates Mass Effect by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Progression55Setting50

#14Stellar Blade

61

Stellar Blade

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloSci-FiSkill TreeThird PersonPost-Apocalyptic

Steam👍 94%· 87KIGDB86· 8OC81· 168

Year 2024Dev SHIFT UP · Sony Interactive EntertainmentOn PC · PS5

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

≠ Stands apart with post-apocalyptic world and loot and gear systems, while skipping shooter

Where it drifts furthest from Mass Effect: setting.

Released 3 years after Mass Effect.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Progression55Setting42

#15STAR WARS: The Force Unleashed II

61

STAR WARS: The Force Unleashed II

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeSci-FiThird PersonFantasy

Steam👍 63%· 7.8KRAWG👍 66%· 573MC59IGDB65· 5

Year 2010Dev Aspyr Media · Disney InteractivePlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

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

≠ Stands apart with fantasy world, while skipping shooter

STAR WARS: The Force Unleashed II is a third person action/adventure video game with elements of platforming. It is a sequel to STAR WARS: The Force Unleashed released in 2008.

Where it drifts furthest from Mass Effect: setting.

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

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

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Combat78Setting44

Complete list of games with a sci-fi setting like Mass Effect

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.

Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII

Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII

RPG · Shooter

Spider-Man 2

Spider-Man 2

RPG · Action RPG

TMNT

TMNT

RPG · Action RPG

Zenless Zone Zero

Zenless Zone Zero

RPG · Action RPG

The Artful Escape

The Artful Escape

RPG · Puzzle

Transformers: Devastation

Transformers: Devastation

RPG · Action RPG

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Rankings in the same genre

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