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.
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 more
- Adidas: 50% off sneakers and sportswear
- Apple: Apple Watch 7 at cheapest price yet
- Back to school: backpacks and stationery discounts
- Cell phones: $100 off the Google Pixel 6
- College essentials: bedding, decor and cleaning sale
- Cooling: portable fans from $16.99
- Fashion: 66% off clothing, shoes and jewelry
- Groceries: up to 40% off coffee and food essentials
- Headphones: up to $125 off Sony headphones and earbuds
- Home: Levoit Air Purifier for $42.49
- Instant Pot: up to 29% off
- Kindle: up to 50% off ereader bundles
- Kitchen: up to $120 off blenders, coffee makers and more
- Laptops: $200 off 14-inch MacBook Pro
- Mattresses: $490 off Casper mattresses
- PS5: register for the next PS5 restock
- Security: Blink Home Security bundles from $44.99
- Smart home: Echo Show 5 smart display for $34.99
- Smartwatch: Amazon Halo View up to 55% off
- Speakers: JBL portable speakers from $29.95
- Storage: up to 39% off Samsung SSDs
- Tablets: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 - save up to $120
- TVs: Smart TVs from $89
- Vacuums: save on Shark, iRobot and Bissell
More Prime Day deals in the UK
- Amazon devices: up to 65% off Echo Dot and Fire TV Cube
- Adidas: 30% off some sportswear and trainers
- Apple: save up to £150 on iPads and Apple Watches
- Back to school: backpacks and stationery from £1.50
- Beauty: save on Rimmel, Revlon, Olay, and more top brands
- Coffee machines: starting at just £19 with up to 60% off
- Cheap Fire tablets: Amazon Fire tablets starting at £34.99
- Dental: 57% off Oral-B and Philips electric toothbrushes
- Fashion: 40% off Vans, Hugo Boss, Wrangler, and other brands
- Fire TV Stick: lowest price yet on all models
- Groceries: £10 off your first three grocery shops
- Grooming & hair care: 60% off Philips, Remmington shavers & straighteners
- Headphones: Sony and Bose headphones at lowest-ever prices
- Kindle: 25% off Kindle ereader bundles
- Laptops: 15% off Microsoft, Huawei, Acer, and Asus laptops
- Phones: Google Pixel 6 lowest ever price, OnePlus, Motorola
- PS5: Dualsense deals, plus savings on leading games
- Security: £180 off Ring Home Security bundles
- Smart home: £144 off Ring and Echo bundles
- Smartwatch: up to 50% off Garmin watches and trackers
- Tablets: 41% off Samsung, Lenovo, and Huawei tablets
- Tools: 49% off some Bosch tools and garden items
- TVs: 4K TVs starting at just £199 with half-price deals
- Vacuums: 35% off Shark cordless vacs
- Xbox: Xbox Series X in stock for £449
