Mass Effect is a science fiction media franchise set in the 22nd century, developed by the Canadian video game company BioWare. Composed of multi-platform video games and associated media, the core of the franchise is an eponymous trilogy of action role-playing third-person shooter video games, released between 2007 and 2012, which follow Commander Shepard's mission to save the galaxy from a race of mechanical beings known as the Reapers. A fourth main series game, Mass Effect: Andromeda, was released in 2017. The Mass Effect franchise also includes three mobile games, each with a different gameplay style; seven novels, some written by BioWare writers and some by science fiction authors; four art books; ten comic book series or mini-comics and their anthologies; a coloring book; an animated film; a 3D theme park ride; and eleven soundtrack albums or singles.
The video games have had high sales, with the last major game of the original trilogy, Mass Effect 3, shipping over 3.5 million copies in its first week of release. Reception of other media in the franchise has been mixed: the comics, such as Mass Effect: Redemption, have been praised for their writing, and novels such as Mass Effect: Revelation have been recommended to fans of the games; but Mass Effect: Deception was derided as inconsistent with the main trilogy. The first part of the franchise—the first game—was published in 2007, while the latest game was published in 2017 and the latest piece of media in 2018.
Video games
Main series
Mobile games
Companion apps
Printed media
Books + TitleRelease dateISBNMedia typeRef. Mass Effect: Revelation May 1, 2007 Novelization Written by Drew Karpyshyn Published by Del Rey Books A prequel story to Mass Effect The Art of Mass Effect November 20, 2007 Concept art Edited by Fernando Bueno Published by Prima Games Concept art and BioWare commentary on Mass Effect Mass Effect: Ascension July 29, 2008 Novelization Written by Drew Karpyshyn Published by Del Rey Books A sequel story to Mass Effect Mass Effect: Retribution July 27, 2010 Novelization Written by Drew Karpyshyn Published by Del Rey Books A sequel story to Mass Effect 2 Mass Effect: Deception January 31, 2012 Novelization Written by William C. Dietz Published by Del Rey Books A sequel story to Mass Effect: Retribution The Art of the Mass Effect Universe February 8, 2012 Concept art Written by Casey Hudson and Derek Watts Artwork by BioWare Published by Dark Horse Comics Concept art and BioWare commentary on the Mass Effect game trilogy Mass Effect: The Poster Collection August 12, 2015 Concept art Artwork by BioWare Published by Dark Horse Comics Concept art, with each page detachable for use as a poster Mass Effect - Andromeda: Nexus Uprising March 21, 2017 Tie-in book to Mass Effect: Andromeda Written by Jason M. Hough and K. C. Alexander Published by Titan Books A prequel story to Mass Effect: Andromeda Mass Effect Adult Coloring Book March 1, 2017 Coloring book Artwork by Juann Cabal, Ron Chan, Gabriel Guzman, Andres Ponce, and Martin Tunica Published by Dark Horse Comics Adult coloring book, including images from the original trilogy and Mass Effect: Andromeda The Art of Mass Effect: Andromeda March 21, 2017 Concept art Artwork by Bioware Published by Dark Horse Comics Concept art from Mass Effect: Andromeda Mass Effect - Andromeda: Annihilation November 6, 2017 Tie-in book to Mass Effect: Andromeda Written by Catherynne M. Valente Published by Titan Books A prequel story to Mass Effect: Andromeda Mass Effect - Andromeda: Initiation November 28, 2017 Tie-in book to Mass Effect: Andromeda Written by N. K. Jemisin and Mac Walters Published by Titan Books A prequel story to Mass Effect: Andromeda The Art of the Mass Effect Trilogy: Expanded Edition February 23, 2021 Concept art Artwork by BioWare Published by Dark Horse Comics Concept art and commentary on the original trilogy and its DLC
Comics + TitleRelease date(s)Media typeRef. Mass Effect: Redemption January 6, 2010—April 7, 2010 Comic book series Written by Mac Walters and John Jackson Miller, art by Omar Francia Published by Dark Horse Comics A four-part mini-series set shortly before Mass Effect 2 featuring Liara T'Soni Released as a single book by Dark Horse Comics on June 9, 2010 () Mass Effect: Incursion June 21, 2010 Mini-comic Written by Mac Walters, art by Eduardo Francisco Published by Dark Horse Comics for free online An eight-page mini-comic set shortly before Mass Effect 2 featuring Aria T'Loak Mass Effect: Inquisition October 24, 2010 Mini-comic Written by Mac Walters, art by Jean Diaz Published by Dark Horse Comics for free online An eight-page mini-comic set shortly after Mass Effect 2 featuring Armando-Owen Bailey Mass Effect: Evolution January 19, 2011—April 20, 2011 Comic book series Written by Mac Walters and John Jackson Miller, art by Omar Francia Published by Dark Horse Comics A four-part mini-series prequel story to Mass Effect featuring Jack Harper (Illusive Man) Released as a single book by Dark Horse Comics on September 21, 2011 () Mass Effect: Conviction September 1, 2011 Mini-comic Written by Mac Walters, art by Eduardo Francisco Published by Dark Horse Comics for free digitally through select retailers A ten-page mini-comic set before Mass Effect 3 featuring James Vega Mass Effect: Invasion October 19, 2011—January 18, 2012 Comic book series Written by Mac Walters and John Jackson Miller, art by Omar Francia Published by Dark Horse Comics A four-part mini-series set after Mass Effect 2 featuring Aria T'Loak Released as a single book by Dark Horse Comics on April 18, 2012 () Mass Effect: Homeworlds April 25, 2012—August 29, 2012 Comic book series Written by Mac Walters, art by Eduardo Francisco Published by Dark Horse Comics A four-part mini-series with each issue featuring backstory for a different Mass Effect 3 character Released as a single book by Dark Horse Comics on November 7, 2012 () Mass Effect: Blasto - Eternity is Forever November 7, 2012 Mini-comic Written by Mac Walters, art by Omar Francia Published by Dark Horse Comics A fourteen-page mini-comic featuring Blasto, a fictional character featured in media inside the Mass Effect games Mass Effect: He Who Laughs Best May 4, 2013 Mini-comic Written by Mac Walters, art by Garry Brown Published by Dark Horse Comics as one section of their 2013 Free Comic Book Day comic A ten-page mini-comic set before Mass Effect featuring Jeff "Joker" Moreau Mass Effect Library Edition Volume 1 May 15, 2013 Anthology Written by Mac Walters, John Jackson Miller, Jeremy Barlow, Patrick Weekes, John Dombrow, and Sylvia Feketekuty Art by Omar Francia, Eduardo Francisco, Chris Staggs, Garry Brown, and Jean Diaz Published by Dark Horse Comics () An anthology collection of almost all the comics to date, as well as several short stories Includes Redemption, Incursion, Inquisition, Evolution, Conviction, Invasion, and Homeworlds Republished as Mass Effect Omnibus Volume 1 on November 16, 2016 () Mass Effect: Foundation July 24, 2013—July 23, 2014 Comic book series Written by Mac Walters (1–13) and Jeremy Barlow (11–13), art by Omar Francia (1), Tony Parker (2–4, 8–13), Matthew Clark (5, 6), and Garry Brown (7) Published by Dark Horse Comics A thirteen-part series with each issue featuring side events and perspectives to the main Mass Effect trilogy Collected into three books by Dark Horse Comics, released on February 5, 2014 (), June 4, 2014 (), and November 5, 2014 () Mass Effect Library Edition Volume 2 May 6, 2015 Anthology Written by Mac Walters and Jeremy Barlow Art by Omar Francia, Tony Parker, Garry Brown, and Benjamin Carre Published by Dark Horse Comics () An anthology collection of comics since the first Library Edition anthology, plus additional artwork Includes Foundation, He Who Laughs Best, and Blasto - Eternity is Forever Republished as Mass Effect Omnibus Volume 2 on February 8, 2017 () Mass Effect: Discovery May 24, 2017—October 25, 2017 Comic book series Written by Jeremy Barlow and John Dombrow, art by Gabriel Guzman Published by Dark Horse Comics A four-part mini-series set around the events of Mass Effect: Andromeda Released as a single book by Dark Horse Comics on January 17, 2018 () Mass Effect: The Complete Comics October 21, 2020 Anthology Published by Dark Horse Comics () Collects all Mass Effect comics released to date including Redemption, Evolution, Invasion, Homeworlds, Foundation, Discovery, Incursion, Inquisition, Conviction, He Who Laughs Best, and Blasto - Eternity is Forever
Soundtracks + TitleRelease dateRelease typeRef. Mass Effect: Original Soundtrack November 20, 2007 AlbumComposed by Jack Wall, Sam Hulick, Richard Jacques, and David Kates Published by Sumthing Distribution 37 tracks on a single disc with a duration of 1:15:56 Mass Effect 2: Original Video Game Score January 19, 2010 AlbumComposed by Jack Wall, Sam Hulick, David Kates, Jimmy Hinson, Brian DiDomenico Published by Electronic Arts 27 tracks on two discs with a duration of 2:55:59 Mass Effect 2: Atmospheric September 7, 2010 Mini-album (digital only)Composed by Jack Wall Published by Electronic Arts 9 tracks with a duration of 20:45 Mass Effect 2: Combat October 5, 2010 Mini-album (digital only)Composed by Jack Wall Published by Electronic Arts 14 tracks with a duration of 33:48 Mass Effect 2: Kasumi's Stolen Memory November 30, 2010 Mini-album (digital only)Composed by Sacha Dikiciyan and Cris Velasco Published by Electronic Arts 4 tracks with a duration of 10:21 Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker December 14, 2010 Mini-album (digital only)Composed by Chris Lennertz Published by Electronic Arts 7 tracks with a duration of 12:33 Mass Effect 2: Overlord December 14, 2010 Mini-album (digital only)Composed by Chris Lennertz Published by Electronic Arts 4 tracks with a duration of 6:30 Mass Effect 3: Original Soundtrack April 24, 2012 AlbumComposed by Sam Hulick, Clint Mansell, Chris Lennertz, Cris Velasco, Sascha Dikiciyan, and Faunts Published by Electronic Arts 23 tracks on a single disc with a duration of 1:03:24 Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut August 12, 2012 Mini-album (digital only)Composed by Sam Hulick and Clint Mansell Published by Electronic Arts 7 tracks with a duration of 16:57 Mass Effect: Paragon Lost Original Motion Picture Score November 13, 2012 AlbumComposed by Joshua Mosley and David Kates Published by Funimation 27 tracks on a single disc with a duration of 1:09:28 Mass Effect 3: Citadel August 8, 2013 Mini-album (digital only)Composed by Sam Hulick, Cris Velasco, and Sascha Dikiciyan Published by Electronic Arts 20 tracks with a duration of 31:05 Mass Effect Trilogy Vinyl Soundtrack November 29, 2016 Box setBox set of selections from the Mass Effect 1, 2, and 3 soundtracks, as well as a bonus LP of songs Published by Electronic Arts Approximately 50 tracks on four vinyl records Mass Effect: Andromeda Original Score March 24, 2017 Album (digital only)Composed by John Paesano Published by Electronic Arts 18 tracks with a duration of 1:01:50
Other Film + TitleRelease dateMedia type Mass Effect: Paragon Lost November 29, 2012 AnimationWritten by Henry Gilroy and directed by Atsushi Takeuchi Animated by Production I.G Produced by BioWare, Funimation, and T.O Entertainment Animated film set before Mass Effect 2 Released in select theaters on November 29, 2012, via digital download on Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, and iTunes on December 14, 2012, and on DVD and Blu-ray on December 28, 2012 Amusement park + TitleRelease dateMedia type Mass Effect: New Earth May 18, 2016 Theatrical amusement park rideDesigned by 3D Live with help from Halon Entertainment, Cedar Fair, and Bioware 4½-minute, 80-person ride at California's Great America amusement park Features a 3D film along with motion seats and physical sensations
Board game + TitleRelease dateMedia type Mass Effect: The Board Game - Priority: Hagalaz October 2024 Board gameDeveloped by Eric Lang and Calvin Wong Tze Loon