Deal | $6 instead of $60 on Steam: Legendary RPG-shooter trilogy with all DLCs heavily discounted (50K+ reviews, 91% positive)
BioWare’s Mass Effect series is one of the most influential sci-fi franchises of the past few decades. It blends fast-paced shooter mechanics with rich role-playing elements, all centered around a deep, choice-driven narrative. Originally released between 2007 and 2012, the trilogy made a comeback in 2021 as the Legendary Edition, featuring updated graphics, faster load times and over 30 DLCs. The multiplayer mode from Mass Effect 3 isn’t included – this edition is strictly single-player.
At the core of the Mass Effect series is the story of Commander Shepard, who sets out to stop an ancient machine race known as the Reapers. The game is set in a future where humanity has joined a galactic federation of diverse alien species. Dialogue choices, moral decisions and a flexible karma system – Paragon or Renegade – not only shape individual missions but also influence the overarching storyline across all three games. Save files can be carried over from one installment to the next, allowing choices to have a lasting impact.
The evolution of the trilogy can be summed up in three games, each with its own distinct focus:
- Mass Effect 1 focuses on exploration and character development.
- Mass Effect 2 introduces more action and centers on recruiting a powerful team.
- Mass Effect 3 culminates in a large-scale war against the Reapers – shaped by all the decisions made in the previous games.
Reviews: Strong tech upgrade with small drawbacks
In a review by the German gaming magazine GamePro, Mass Effect Legendary Edition earned an impressive 90 out of 100. The remaster delivers a comprehensive visual and technical upgrade: character models, textures and environments have been clearly improved; controls – especially in the first game – have been modernized; and the HUD has been updated. With stable performance across all platforms, multiple graphics modes and a newly added photo mode, the remaster feels technically solid. Still, the series’ age shows. Level design remains largely linear, and the gameplay no longer aligns with today’s standards. The first game, in particular, suffers from weak AI, leading to odd behavior from both enemies and allies. Minor visual glitches – mainly related to lighting and character rendering – and a rare but serious bug when exiting the Mako also detract from the experience.
Since its re-release in 2021, Mass Effect Legendary Edition has received over 50,000 reviews on Steam, with 91% of them positive. On Metacritic, it holds a solid Metascore of 86. The lower User Score of 6.7 is largely due to the still-debated ending of Mass Effect 3, which continues to spark discussion years later.
90% discount on Steam
The Mass Effect Legendary Edition usually costs around $60 on Steam, but it's currently 90% off until July 10, bringing the price down to $6. If you miss this deal, there’s a good chance it will return. According to SteamDB, the remastered trilogy has been offered at this price more frequently in recent months – most recently in March 2025.
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.
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