The best way to play the Mass Effect games in order is simple: Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, Mass Effect 3, then Mass Effect: Andromeda. For the main series, release order and story order are the same, and the easiest way to play the original trilogy is Mass Effect Legendary Edition.
Below you will find the full list, which version to buy, where Andromeda fits, the DLC worth your time and the mistakes new players make. Store and edition details were checked on official EA and Steam pages in October 2026.
Mass Effect games in order of release
- Mass Effect (2007): Commander Shepard hunts the rogue Spectre Saren and discovers the threat of the Reapers.
- Mass Effect 2 (2010): Shepard recruits a squad for a near-suicidal mission against the Collectors. Often called the best game in the series.
- Mass Effect 3 (2012): the Reaper invasion begins, and every choice from the first two games pays off.
- Mass Effect: Andromeda (2017): a new Pathfinder, a new crew and a new galaxy, with no Shepard.
- Mass Effect Legendary Edition (2021): a remaster of the first three games in one package, not a new story.
Two small mobile spin-offs, Mass Effect Galaxy and Mass Effect Infiltrator, also exist, but they are no longer sold and are not needed to follow the story.
Mass Effect timeline: the story order
The trilogy tells one continuous story, so the chronological order is the release order. Andromeda is the only twist: its colony ships leave the Milky Way around the time of Mass Effect 2 and arrive in the Andromeda galaxy roughly 600 years later. That makes it the last game on the timeline, and it does not spoil or depend on the ending of Mass Effect 3.
Which version to play: Mass Effect Legendary Edition
For almost everyone, the answer is Mass Effect Legendary Edition. According to EA, it includes the single-player content of all three games plus more than 40 DLC packs, remastered for 4K Ultra HD. It is sold on PC (Steam and the EA app), PlayStation and Xbox. The console version was released for PS4 and Xbox One and also runs on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Two things from the originals are missing: Mass Effect 3's online multiplayer and the Pinnacle Station DLC for the first game. Neither affects the main story.
Your choices carry over
This is the main reason to play in order. When you start Mass Effect 2, you can import your Shepard from the first game, and the same happens from 2 to 3. Characters who lived or died, romances and big decisions all follow you. Andromeda does not use imported saves.
Where Mass Effect: Andromeda fits, and should you play it?
Andromeda is a standalone story. You can play it without the trilogy, but it makes more sense afterward, because it assumes you know the Milky Way's species and history. It has the series' best combat movement and large open areas to explore, but a weaker story than the trilogy.
Our advice: finish the trilogy first, then treat Andromeda as an optional bonus if you want more Mass Effect. On Steam it is sold as the Deluxe Edition.
The DLC worth playing, and when
- Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker is the standout story DLC, best played in the second half of the game.
- Mass Effect 2: Arrival leads directly into Mass Effect 3. Play it before moving on to the third game.
- Mass Effect 3: From Ashes and Leviathan add a squadmate and important lore about the Reapers. Do them early to mid-game.
- Mass Effect 3: Citadel is a lighter farewell to the whole cast. Save it for just before the final mission.
All of these are already included in Legendary Edition, so there is nothing extra to buy.
Common mistakes when starting Mass Effect
- Skipping the first game. Its combat is the oldest, but Legendary Edition improves it, and it sets up characters and choices that matter later.
- Starting with Andromeda. It works on its own, but you lose the context that makes its world interesting.
- Rushing Mass Effect 2's final mission. Upgrading the Normandy and earning your squad's loyalty decide who survives.
- Starting a new character in each game. Importing your save is the whole point of the trilogy.
Mass Effect FAQ
Is there a new Mass Effect coming?
Not right now. In October 2026, BioWare announced it is closing and that early development on the next Mass Effect has ended. Read our report on EA closing BioWare for the details.
Do I need to play Andromeda to understand the trilogy?
No. The trilogy is complete on its own, and Andromeda tells a separate story.
Can I get the best ending without multiplayer?
Yes. In Legendary Edition, Mass Effect 3's war readiness system was rebalanced for single-player, so thorough play is enough. Looking for another long series to tackle next? See our guide to the Final Fantasy games in order.
