I know it won’t appeal to everyone, but I’ve been constantly thinking about The Expanse: Osiris Reborn. I’m not usually a fan of The Expanse – though I’m not ruling it out completely – and that might be why I enjoyed the preview so much. I wasn’t comparing it to the books or the show, so I could just experience it. More importantly, playing that short preview reminded me of what many consider gaming’s best trilogy, and it holds up incredibly well even now.
It’s clear that The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is heavily inspired by BioWare’s original Mass Effect trilogy, which is why I recently played through the Mass Effect Legendary Edition again – even though I’ve finished those games many times over the years. I wanted to revisit the series ever since the remastered trilogy came out in 2021, and I was really craving that type of sci-fi RPG experience. Plus, Mass Effect Legendary Edition is holding me over until The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is released next year. If you’re excited about Owlcat Games’ upcoming The Expanse adventure, I highly recommend playing (or replaying) the original Mass Effect trilogy.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn Is the Closest Thing to Mass Effect Since Mass Effect
I finished playing Mass Effect 3 back in 2012 and have been searching for a game that captures the same magic ever since. Unfortunately, nothing has quite measured up. Mass Effect Andromeda came the closest in 2017, but it felt overly complicated and lacked direction, and I struggled to even complete it. I quickly grew tired of repeating the same actions on different planets. It wasn’t until a year later that I finally finished a second attempt, but it wasn’t a particularly memorable experience. Since then, I’ve mostly put the Mass Effect series behind me – until now.
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Simply put, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn captures the same feeling as Mass Effect, much like Mass Effect itself. It shares a similar atmosphere, sound, visual style, and even gameplay. While that might sound unoriginal, I think it’s actually a good thing. Many of us are craving a new experience that evokes the same emotions as the original Mass Effect, and if that means a game borrows heavily from it, I’m all for it. Andromeda attempted to change the formula but didn’t quite succeed, so Osiris Reborn‘s return to the core elements, with a few improvements, feels like the right approach.
In my initial preview, I noted that The Expanse: Osiris Reborn immediately captures the feel of Mass Effect without being a copy. After playing about 90 minutes, it surprisingly feels more like the original Mass Effect trilogy than Andromeda did, which eases my worry that no other developer could recreate that experience. While I’ve only played a small part of the game and could be proven wrong later, I’m optimistic that Osiris Reborn is the game Mass Effect fans have been hoping for.
Although Andromeda attempted to improve the existing system, it didn’t work out as planned. Returning to a simpler, more refined approach with Osiris Reborn could be the better option.
This game feels a lot like a modern take on Mass Effect. It successfully creates a similar immersive atmosphere, with background sounds like news reports and conversations that make you feel like you’re really in space. The story details revealed through dialogue are also engaging and well-developed, just like in the original Mass Effect trilogy. The combat is straightforward – similar to the first Mass Effect games – and while it’s not the main focus, it’s at least a little more challenging.
What really makes Osiris Reborn stand out, in my view, is its characters – something it absolutely had to get right to live up to Mass Effect. Even the characters who weren’t part of my core team were engaging; I genuinely enjoyed every conversation and learning their stories. I’m surprised some people aren’t impressed with the voice acting, because to me, it sounds just as good as the performances in Mass Effect – it really feels like the same actors and recording style.
Why the Mass Effect Trilogy Is Worth a Replay Today
This isn’t about trying to appeal to fans of The Expanse. Instead, it’s meant to remind you why the original Mass Effect trilogy – or the Mass Effect Legendary Edition – is still worth playing. No matter how much gaming technology improves, nothing can replace the impact of Shepard’s story. While the first Mass Effect feels a bit outdated now, and even Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 show their age in some areas, the trilogy remains compelling because of its strong characters, immersive world, and the way it makes you feel part of it all.
Many games since the release of Mass Effect 3 in 2012 have tried and failed to capture the same magic. While numerous RPGs boast larger worlds, improved combat, and greater customization options, few have succeeded in making a team, a spaceship, and a galactic setting feel so intimately connected. The Mass Effect series’ ship, the Normandy, felt special because of its crew, and those characters resonated with players because BioWare developed them as more than just characters who handed out quests. People connected with characters like Garrus, Tali, Liara, Wrex, Joker, Anderson, Mordin, and Legion, and they were a major reason the trilogy was so successful.
The enduring appeal of the Mass Effect trilogy isn’t about how good it looks or plays, but how it makes you feel. It creates a believable crew of characters you genuinely enjoy spending time with. Even knowing what will happen, it’s rewarding to start a new game, reconnect with those characters, and see how your choices impact the story over all three games. That strong sense of continuity is uncommon, and it’s a major reason why other sci-fi RPGs haven’t quite measured up to Mass Effect.
No matter how much games change or improve technologically, nothing can compare to the powerful story BioWare created with the character of Shepard.
Playing The Expanse: Osiris Reborn got me thinking about the Mass Effect trilogy again, and revisiting Mass Effect reminded me why it’s still considered a benchmark for other games. What makes Mass Effect so good is that it creates a vast galaxy, but keeps the focus on the characters and their stories. If Osiris Reborn can achieve a similar emotional connection, it could be truly great. For now, Mass Effect Legendary Edition remains the best way to experience why the trilogy is so highly regarded, and it’s a perfect way to get excited for what comes next.
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2026-05-11 22:05