By Mass Effect 2 is commemorating its 15th anniversary today, January 26, 2025. Below, we reflect on its unique episodic format and how various developers have not taken up its legacy.
Most RPGs resemble narrative or sci-fi literature. The epic journeys of Final Fantasy X or Dragon Age: Origins feel akin to The Lord of the Rings or The Wheel of Time. Even open-world titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 depend on a structured sequence of events, with the alteration of routine being key to storytelling. Mass Effect 2 stands apart by modeling itself on a television season. I’m not the first to make this analogy, but after over fifteen years and numerous RPG offerings, ME2’s design continues to be remarkable. This format significantly contributed to ME2’s elevation within countless best-game rankings. It remains the most treasured installment of the series, surpassing its incomplete and contentious counterparts. However, without the thrill of experiencing it for the very first time, ME2 comes off more as a bold initial attempt at something new, rather than the pinnacle of its creation.
In essence, the lead character Shepard is assigned the task of gathering 12 team members for a “suicide mission.” Outside of some major quests, the bulk of ME2’s playtime is focused on recruiting these individuals and assisting them in resolving their personal dilemmas. The primary narrative of ME2 eventually becomes trivial within the trilogy’s greater storyline. Instead, the game’s collection of standalone missions takes center stage, making ME2 more character-driven than its peers. One could argue that Baldur’s Gate 3, with its three acts, or Dragon Age: Origins, with its hub areas, offer episodic structures. Yet, each mission in ME2 essentially functions as a television episode. Most are completely self-contained, and few revert back to the main storyline in any significant manner. They behave like individual episodes in a TV series. The game endeavors to adapt the long-term, routine-driven dynamics of classic Star Trek into a massive RPG.
In theory, this provides space for characters to relax, grow, and reveal their complexities and nuances. Often, it succeeds. The assassin Thane is a notable example—a stereotypical character transformed into a compelling figure through thoughtful writing and captivating alien elements.