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Mass Effect

21 Games with a sci-fi setting like Mass Effect that you should try

Games like Mass Effect · Find similar →

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

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GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG
Tags
NarrativeSolo
Year 2007Dev BioWare

Quick answer

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

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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 16 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.

1

Mass Effect 2

95
NGL84
Mass Effect 2
Closest overall match
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiSpaceSkill TreeExplorationThird Person
Year 2010Dev BioWare · Electronic ArtsOn PlayStation 3 · PC

Matches like this one are rare: it meets Mass Effect on genre, combat and game mode. To that it adds skill tree progression and a third-person camera.

Same studio: BioWare.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Setting100Progression100
2

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

67
NGL88
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords
Closest on world
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSci-FiSpaceExplorationSkill TreeThird Person
Year 2004Dev Obsidian Entertainment · LucasArtsOn Linux · Android · PC

Matches like this one are rare: it meets Mass Effect on genre, game mode and tone. To that it adds a third-person camera and a sci-fi setting. They part company on visuals and combat: this one brings tactical combat and a first-person view.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Setting100World100Progression100
3

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

65
NGL90
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSci-FiSpaceExplorationSkill TreeThird Person
Year 2003Dev BioWare · LucasArtsOn Android · PC · iOS

Matches like this one are rare: it meets Mass Effect on genre, game mode and tone. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on combat: this one brings stealth mechanics.

Same studio: BioWare.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100World100Progression100Visuals100
4

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series

61
NGL79
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiSpaceThird Person
Year 2017Dev Telltale GamesOn PS4 · Android · PC

Matches like this one are rare: it meets Mass Effect on genre, combat and game mode. Both also lean on a third-person camera and single-player focus. What it adds of its own: puzzle design.

Released 10 years after Mass Effect.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Setting100Visuals100
5

X3: Albion Prelude

54
NGL68
X3: Albion Prelude
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMeleeOpen WorldSpaceSci-FiExplorationThird Person
Year 2005Dev EgosoftPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

What brings it close to Mass Effect is open world exploration, melee combat and a space setting, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to a third-person camera and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is progression and world: a sandbox world and resource management.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Setting100Visuals64World41
6

X3: Reunion

54
NGL68
X3: Reunion
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMeleeOpen WorldSpaceSci-FiExplorationThird Person
Year 2005Dev EgosoftPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

If Mass Effect worked for you because of open world exploration, melee combat and a space setting, the same is here. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in progression and world — its own ground is a sandbox world and resource management.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Setting100Visuals64World41
7

NieR

77
NGL69
NieR
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSci-FiExplorationThird Person
Year 2010Dev Cavia · Square EnixOn Xbox · PlayStation 3

It shares the essentials of what Mass Effect does: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is post-apocalyptic world and 2D presentation.

Released 3 years after Mass Effect.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100World100Progression68
8

Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls

77
NGL78
Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiThird Person
Year 2015Dev Spike ChunsoftOn PS4 · PC

It shares the essentials of what Mass Effect does: strong narrative focus, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. The common ground extends to a third-person camera and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is setting and tone: dark, oppressive atmosphere and an anime aesthetic.

Released 8 years after Mass Effect.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Tone64Setting32
9

Marvel's Spider-Man 2

69
NGL84
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSci-FiExplorationSkill TreeThird Person
Year 2023Dev Insomniac Games · Sony Interactive EntertainmentOn PC · PS5

Matches like this one are rare: it meets Mass Effect on genre, game mode and tone. The common ground extends to skill tree progression and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is combat and setting: stealth mechanics.

Released 16 years after Mass Effect.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100World100Progression100Visuals100
10

Oni

64
NGL70
Oni
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloSci-FiThird PersonPost-ApocalypticCyberpunk
Year 2001Dev Rockstar Toronto · Rockstar GamesOn PC · Mac

Held in common with Mass Effect: a sci-fi setting, single-player focus and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is setting: post-apocalyptic world.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Setting42
11

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

64
NGL85
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiThird Person
Year 2010Dev Ninja Theory · Namco Bandai GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PC

If Mass Effect worked for you because of strong narrative focus, melee combat and a sci-fi setting, the same is here. Both also lean on a third-person camera and single-player focus. The distance is in setting — its own ground is post-apocalyptic world.

Released 3 years after Mass Effect.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Setting42
12

STAR WARS: The Force Unleashed II

61
NGL63
STAR WARS: The Force Unleashed II
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMeleeSci-FiThird PersonFantasy
Year 2010Dev Aspyr Media · Disney InteractivePlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

If Mass Effect worked for you because of melee combat, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus, the same is here. Both also lean on a third-person camera. The distance is in setting — its own ground is fantasy world.

Released 3 years after Mass Effect.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Setting53
13

Cloudpunk

60
NGL80
Cloudpunk
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSci-FiExplorationThird Person
Year 2020Dev ION LANDSOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

What brings it close to Mass Effect is strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to a third-person camera and a sci-fi setting. Where the two diverge is setting: a cyberpunk setting.

Released 13 years after Mass Effect.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100World100Visuals73Tone72
14

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

60
NGL72
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloSci-FiSkill TreeThird PersonLoot
Year 2009Dev Amaze Entertainment · Activision

On paper it is what Mass Effect is — a sci-fi setting, single-player focus and skill tree progression — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds a third-person camera. They part company on progression and setting: this one brings loot and gear systems.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Setting63Progression52
15

The Artful Escape

60
NGL87
The Artful Escape
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiExplorationThird Person
Year 2021Dev Beethoven & Dinosaur · Annapurna InteractiveOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

What brings it close to Mass Effect is strong narrative focus, melee combat and a sci-fi setting, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on visuals and setting: this one brings 2D presentation.

Released 14 years after Mass Effect.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Progression69Setting67

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Explore games similar to Mass Effect by category

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Rankings in the same genre

Sometimes what you want is not a Mass Effect look-alike but simply the best Third-Person Action RPGs there are. That is what these rankings are for: no comparison to anything, just the highest-rated games. And if you feel like widening the net, the RPG Games ranking is a good way to run into something you were not expecting.