Best Sci-Fi RPGs to Play After Mass Effect
If you’ve finished all six Mass Effect games (the original trilogy, Andromeda, and the Legendary Edition counts as one experience), the galaxy feels a bit empty. The top pick for your next journey is Starfield — it’s the only game that matches Mass Effect’s blend of ship travel, party-like companions, and a sprawling space setting, while giving you more freedom to build and explore. No other sci-fi RPG nails that same mix of narrative weight and open-galaxy sandbox.
What to Look For
When you’re coming off Mass Effect, a few things matter more than others:
- Character-driven story – You’re used to squadmates with arcs, loyalty missions, and romance. Look for games with a strong cast and dialogue choices that change outcomes.
- Meaningful choices – Mass Effect’s save import and branching endings set a high bar. Seek games where decisions ripple across the story.
- Sci-fi worldbuilding – You want a believable future: alien races, space travel, or a unique setting that feels lived-in.
- Combat and progression – Whether you prefer tactical pause (like the original) or action (like Andromeda), find a game that respects your playstyle.
- Exploration and atmosphere – The Citadel, the Normandy, the mystery of the Reapers – you want a game that makes you feel like you’re in a vast, mysterious universe.
Starfield – The Closest Spiritual Successor
Strengths: Starfield gives you a ship (the Frontier), a crew of companions with their own quests, and a galaxy of handcrafted and procedurally generated planets. The main story is less epic than Mass Effect’s, but the freedom to build outposts, pilot your ship, and pick between factions (like the UC Vanguard or the Crimson Fleet) offers a similar sense of agency. The dialogue system and background traits let you role-play a character with a past, much like Shepard’s service history.
Trade-offs: The writing is drier, and the companions aren’t as memorable as Garrus or Tali. Loading screens between planets can break immersion, and the procedural planets feel repetitive after a while.
Who it suits: If you loved the exploration and ship-to-ship feel of Mass Effect 1, and you’re okay with a slower, more sandboxy pace, Starfield is your next home.
The Outer Worlds – For the Witty Dialogue and Choices
Strengths: Obsidian’s space RPG is short (20-30 hours) but packed with sharp writing, satirical corporate dystopia, and a crew of eccentric companions (Parvati is a fan favorite). Your choices genuinely matter – you can talk your way out of the final boss, and every faction has its own agenda. The combat is solid, though not groundbreaking.
Trade-offs: It’s not a huge galaxy – you visit a handful of planets, and there’s no ship combat. The game is more like a “small but dense� experience compared to Mass Effect’s epic scope.
Who it suits: If you loved the dialogue wheel and moral dilemmas of Mass Effect but want a shorter, more focused story with a similar sense of humor, this is it.
KOTOR II (with Restored Content Mod) – For the Deepest Story
Strengths: Knights of the Old Republic II, set in the Star Wars universe, was made by the same studio (Obsidian) that did New Vegas. It deconstructs the Jedi/Sith dichotomy and features some of the best-written companions in RPG history (Kreia, Atton, Bao-Dur). The influence system lets you shape your party’s alignment, and the dialogue is dense with philosophy. The restored content mod (TSLRCM) fixes the rushed ending, making it a complete experience.
Trade-offs: The graphics are dated (2004), the combat is turn-based, and the game expects you to read a lot. Without the mod, the ending is broken.
Who it suits: If you’re a lore nerd who loved the codex entries and the moral gray areas of Mass Effect 2’s loyalty missions, this is your game.
Mass Effect: Andromeda – If You Want More of the Same (But Not Really)
Strengths: You’ve already played it, but if you’re looking for a reason to revisit, Andromeda has the best combat in the series – jetpack, dynamic powers, and more open-world exploration. The Tempest is a cozy ship, and the Angara are a decent new race. It’s the only game that literally continues the Mass Effect universe.
Trade-offs: The story is weaker, the companions are bland, and the facial animations are meme-worthy. It’s a step down in every narrative department.
Who it suits: If you want to stay in that universe and don’t mind a shallow story, or if you’re a completionist who wants to see every planet.
Cyberpunk 2077 – For the Cyberpunk Vibe and Character Customization
Strengths: After the 2.0 update and Phantom Liberty expansion, Cyberpunk 2077 is a different game. Night City is one of the most immersive sci-fi settings ever, with a dense, lived-in world. The main story is personal (V’s search for a cure), but the side content and romances (Panam, Judy) have that Mass Effect quality. The life paths give you a background that changes dialogue options, similar to Shepard’s history.
Trade-offs: It’s not a space game – no ship, no aliens. The choices are more about how you approach missions than branching endings (though there are multiple endings).
Who it suits: If you liked the “found family� aspect of the Normandy crew and want a grittier, more personal sci-fi story with high replayability.
GreedFall – For the Classic BioWare Feel on a Budget
Strengths: GreedFall is a colonial-era fantasy RPG, but it’s the closest thing to Mass Effect 1’s structure: you have a ship, a crew of companions with loyalty quests, and a central conflict between factions. The setting is unique (17th-century-inspired), and your choices affect the fate of the island. It’s made by a smaller studio (Spiders), so it’s rough around the edges, but it captures that “choose your party and go� rhythm.
Trade-offs: It’s fantasy, not sci-fi, and the combat is clunky. The graphics are last-gen, and the voice acting is hit-or-miss.
Who it suits: If you’re on a budget and want a BioWare-style experience without the AAA price tag, or if you’re okay with fantasy as a palate cleanser.
How to Choose
First, decide your budget. Starfield and Cyberpunk 2077 are full-price (though they go on sale often). The Outer Worlds and GreedFall are cheaper, especially used. KOTOR II is a few dollars on Steam, and Andromeda is often under $10.
Next, think about your playstyle. If you want a huge, open galaxy with ship building, Starfield is the only real option. If you want a tight, story-driven experience with memorable companions, The Outer Worlds or KOTOR II are better. If you want modern graphics and a dense city, Cyberpunk 2077. If you want to stay in the Mass Effect universe, Andromeda (but lower your expectations).
Common trade-offs: Starfield’s scale comes at the cost of narrative focus. The Outer Worlds is short but sweet. KOTOR II is old but deep. Cyberpunk 2077 is not a space game. Andromeda is a weak entry in a great series. GreedFall is a budget alternative that doesn’t quite hit the mark.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Starfield better than Mass Effect?
No – Mass Effect has a tighter story and better companions. Starfield is a sandbox, not a narrative epic. But it’s the closest in terms of space exploration and ship life.
Can I play KOTOR II without playing KOTOR I?
Yes, but you’ll miss some context. It’s recommended to play KOTOR I first, but II stands alone well enough.
Is Cyberpunk 2077 worth it after the updates?
Absolutely. The 2.0 update fixed most issues, and Phantom Liberty is a great expansion. It’s a different genre (cyberpunk) but a great RPG.
Which game has the best romance options?
Cyberpunk 2077 has the most intimate and well-written romances (Panam, Judy, Kerry, River). Starfield’s are more shallow. KOTOR II has a few, but they’re not the focus.
Are there any other space RPGs I missed?
You might also consider Elex (rough but ambitious), Outer Wilds (not an RPG, but amazing exploration), or The Technomancer (same studio as GreedFall, but weaker). For a more tactical option, Wasteland 3 is post-apocalyptic, but has party-based choices.
Will there be a Mass Effect 5?
BioWare is working on the next Mass Effect, but it’s likely years away. Meanwhile, these games can fill the void.
Bottom Line
If you want the closest thing to Mass Effect’s structure – ship, crew, choices, and a galaxy to explore – go with Starfield. If you want a shorter, sharper story with unforgettable companions, pick The Outer Worlds. If you’re a lore fan who doesn’t mind old graphics, KOTOR II is a masterpiece. And if you want a modern, dense cyberpunk world, Cyberpunk 2077 is your best bet. Each offers a piece of what made Mass Effect great, so choose based on which piece you miss most.
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