I know it’s been a while since the heyday of Mass Effect, with over ten years since Mass Effect 3, but the series still feels like gaming royalty to me.
Which is why it’s all the more shocking to see it up for free with Prime Gaming as part of Prime Day. Not discounted, highlighted, or on a deal, but just totally free to nab a copy. It feels like a weird alternate universe where some of the best games I’ve played have ended up as a bonus freebie.
In reality, Mass Effect has faded from gaming culture after the troubles around Mass Effect: Andromeda, and that’s a shame – because the Mass Effect trilogy has some of the best storytelling in gaming. In fact, besides the hiccup at the end of Mass Effect 3, most of the complaints I have about the series have faded with time too, and left behind nothing but the favorite narrative moments and gameplay memories. Taken as a whole, the Mass Effect trilogy is a modern classic, and Commander Shepherd, Garrus, Wrex, Tali, and the rest deserve our respect and attention.
(Image credit: EA / Bioware)
If you’ve somehow missed out, let me run you through the hook for Mass Effect:
You are Commander Shepard, and Earth has only recently made it onto the bigger stage of a galaxy full of alien races. You’re a soldier with the human military, who has a shot at becoming an elite multi-species special forces operative – the first for humanity. Everything quickly becomes an absolute rat’s nest of danger and betrayal. You’re racing to save the galaxy while you make all kinds of cool alien friends along the way.
Mass Effect takes everything good about what Bioware can do and energizes it. The alien species and setting are deep and colorful, and the stories being told intertwine perfectly with all the hard work in the worldbuilding.
Convenience is a huge advantage of the Legendary Edition, since it pulls all three games into a single launcher, along with a tidy pile of additional content. And the improvements on top of that are substantial – from graphical tweaks and upgrades throughout the series (but especially in the first game) to the original entry getting a Mako that’s easier to control and a combat facelift.
In short, the Mass Effect trilogy is better than ever in Legendary Edition, and for today it’s free, somehow. So take my heartfelt advice, and don’t miss out any longer.
More Prime Day deals in the US
Alexa devices: Fire TV Sticks from $12 and moreAdidas: 50% off sneakers and sportswear Apple: Apple Watch 7 at cheapest price yetBack to school: backpacks and stationery discountsCell phones: $100 off the Google Pixel 6College essentials: bedding, decor and cleaning saleCooling: portable fans from $16.99Fashion: 66% off clothing, shoes and jewelryGroceries: up to 40% off coffee and food essentialsHeadphones: up to $125 off Sony headphones and earbudsHome: Levoit Air Purifier for $42.49Instant Pot: up to 29% offKindle: up to 50% off ereader bundlesKitchen: up to $120 off blenders, coffee makers and moreLaptops: $200 off 14-inch MacBook ProMattresses: $490 off Casper mattressesPS5: register for the next PS5 restockSecurity: Blink Home Security bundles from $44.99Smart home: Echo Show 5 smart display for $34.99Smartwatch: Amazon Halo View up to 55% offSpeakers: JBL portable speakers from $29.95Storage: up to 39% off Samsung SSDsTablets: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 – save up to $120TVs: Smart TVs from $89Vacuums: save on Shark, iRobot and Bissell
More Prime Day deals in the UK
Amazon devices: up to 65% off Echo Dot and Fire TV CubeAdidas: 30% off some sportswear and trainersApple: save up to £150 on iPads and Apple WatchesBack to school: backpacks and stationery from £1.50Beauty: save on Rimmel, Revlon, Olay, and more top brandsCoffee machines: starting at just £19 with up to 60% offCheap Fire tablets: Amazon Fire tablets starting at £34.99Dental: 57% off Oral-B and Philips electric toothbrushesFashion: 40% off Vans, Hugo Boss, Wrangler, and other brandsFire TV Stick: lowest price yet on all modelsGroceries: £10 off your first three grocery shopsGrooming & hair care: 60% off Philips, Remmington shavers & straightenersHeadphones: Sony and Bose headphones at lowest-ever pricesKindle: 25% off Kindle ereader bundlesLaptops: 15% off Microsoft, Huawei, Acer, and Asus laptopsPhones: Google Pixel 6 lowest ever price, OnePlus, MotorolaPS5: Dualsense deals, plus savings on leading gamesSecurity: £180 off Ring Home Security bundlesSmart home: £144 off Ring and Echo bundlesSmartwatch: up to 50% off Garmin watches and trackersTablets: 41% off Samsung, Lenovo, and Huawei tabletsTools: 49% off some Bosch tools and garden itemsTVs: 4K TVs starting at just £199 with half-price dealsVacuums: 35% off Shark cordless vacsXbox: Xbox Series X in stock for £449
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