Mass Effect: Andromeda received a mixed-to-average critical reception, not a universal failure verdict. Metacritic’s main listing gives it a 71 from 61 critic reviews; the platform pages differ, and the reviews point to a recognizable trade-off: combat and exploration drew praise, while technical problems, uneven writing, and repetitive tasks held the game back.
What is the review consensus?
Metacritic’s main Mass Effect: Andromeda listing reports a 71 Metascore from 61 critic reviews and labels the reception “Mixed or Average.” That score is an aggregate, not a verdict shared by every outlet or a prediction of whether a particular player will enjoy the game. Metacritic’s main critic-review page is the reference for that 61-review figure.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Mass Effect Andromeda (Xbox One) | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Mass Effect Andromeda - PlayStation 4 (Renewed) | $11.28 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Mass Effect Andromeda - Xbox One | $8.87 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Mass Effect Andromeda - Xbox One (Renewed) | $9.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Mass Effect: Initiation (Mass Effect: Andromeda) | $7.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The PS4 critic-review page also reports a 71, but its review set is different: 67 reviews, broken down there as 30 positive, 30 mixed, and one negative. The differing review counts are a useful reminder to identify the page and platform when quoting an aggregate rather than treating every displayed score as the same statistic. Metacritic’s PS4 critic-review page provides that platform-specific count.
How do the platform scores compare?
Metacritic’s platform listings show modest variation. These are platform-specific snapshots from listings accessed in 2026; scores and review counts can change if the aggregator updates its database.
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- Mass Effect: Andromeda takes players to the Andromeda galaxy, far beyond the Milky Way. There, players will lead our fight for a new home in hostile territory as the Pathfinder - a leader of military-trained explorers. This is the story of humanity’s next chapter, and player choices throughout the game will ultimately determine our survival.
- Play as the Pathfinder - a leader of a squad of military-trained explorers - with deep progression and customisation systems. This is the story of humanity’s next chapter, and player choices throughout the game will ultimately determine our survival in the Andromeda Galaxy.
- As you unfold the mysteries of the Andromeda Galaxy and the hope for humanity lies on your shoulders - You must ask yourself... How far will you go?
| Platform | Metascore | Context |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 4 | 71 | 67 critic reviews on the PS4 critic page |
| PC | 72 | Platform-specific listing |
| Xbox One | 76 | Platform-specific listing |
Platform scores summarize the reviews in each listing; they do not establish that one version is technically superior or that every reviewer tested the same conditions. The original release was for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. BioWare developed the game, and Electronic Arts published it. It launched on March 21, 2017. Metacritic’s critic listings contain the platform aggregates; GameSpot’s game listing identifies the release and platforms.
What did critics like?
Combat and exploration
Combat was a recurring strength in positive reviews, alongside the sense of scale and the chance to explore a new region of the Mass Effect universe. COGconnected’s review, scored 88, judged the combat and stronger story moments enough to outweigh technical missteps and awkward scenes. That is one outlet’s assessment, not a consensus score. Metacritic’s review page reproduces the review excerpt and score.
Rank #2
- Chart your own course in a dangerous new galaxy. Unravel the mysteries of the Andromeda galaxy as you discover rich, alien worlds in the search for humanity's new home
- Battle like never before. New additions like destructible environments, boosted jumps for added verticality, and all-new weapons and Biotics make combat more thrilling than ever
- With amazing weapons, powers and tech, and much more flexible skill and weapon progression tree-you can replicate your play style to make you unstoppable against new, powerful alien enemies
Memorable characters and story moments
Some critics found characters and individual narrative beats engaging even when they had reservations about the overall storytelling. IGN Spain’s review excerpt, reproduced on Metacritic, captures the qualified praise: “Mass Effect: Andromeda is a great game, but it’s far from a perfect one.” The line is a critic’s judgment, not an official statement from BioWare. Metacritic’s PS4 critic page reproduces the excerpt.
What were the main criticisms?
Technical problems and presentation
Technical issues featured in both positive and negative reviews, though they did not lead every critic to the same conclusion. LaPS4’s 90-point review praised the game’s scale and the prospect of many enjoyable hours while acknowledging technical problems. More critical excerpts on Metacritic also cite technical trouble as a reason the experience fell short. Metacritic’s main critic page collects these differing review excerpts.
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Rank #3
- Chart your own course in a dangerous new galaxy. Unravel the mysteries of the Andromeda galaxy as you discover rich, alien worlds in the search for humanity's new home
- Battle like never before. New additions like destructible environments, boosted jumps for added verticality, and all-new weapons and Biotics make combat more thrilling than ever
- With amazing weapons, powers and tech, and much more flexible skill and weapon progression tree-you can replicate your play style to make you unstoppable against new, powerful alien enemies
Uneven dialogue and storytelling
Writing and dialogue were another fault line. The Telegraph excerpt on Metacritic praises combat but criticizes the writing and dialogue, reflecting a broader reservation that the story does not maintain the same quality throughout. The issue matters especially for players who value character conversations and narrative choices as much as action.
Repetition and comparisons with the trilogy
Repetitive tasks and stretches of tedium limited the game’s appeal for some reviewers; a Game Revolution excerpt reproduced by Metacritic cites repetition alongside technical problems. Other criticisms measure Andromeda against the original trilogy, whose established characters and story arcs set high expectations. That comparison is part of the reception, but it does not mean the game is simply a continuation of those earlier stories.
Rank #4
- Chart your own course in a dangerous new galaxy. Unravel the mysteries of the Andromeda galaxy as you discover rich, alien worlds in the search for humanity's new home
- Battle like never before. New additions like destructible environments, boosted jumps for added verticality, and all-new weapons and Biotics make combat more thrilling than ever
- With amazing weapons, powers and tech, and much more flexible skill and weapon progression tree-you can replicate your play style to make you unstoppable against new, powerful alien enemies
Were the reviews based on the launch version?
Andromeda launched on March 21, 2017, and BioWare issued fixes afterward. The distinction matters: launch-era criticism cannot automatically be treated as an assessment of every later version, but the existence of patches does not prove that every reported issue was resolved.
BioWare’s March 21, 2017 Patch 1.04 and Early Access notes describe “general performance improvements and bug fixes.” They list changes addressing a launch black screen, multiplayer audio, cinematic and character-interaction issues, quest rewards and tracking, and other problems. The notes establish that concrete issues were addressed; they do not say that every technical or design criticism disappeared.
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How should you read the individual scores?
An aggregate smooths together reviews with different priorities. A single outlet’s score can better show how a particular critic weighed combat, exploration, story, and polish. For example, GameSpot’s own review score was 6, while its listing displayed a Metacritic score of 71. Those numbers represent distinct judgments: GameSpot’s rating and the aggregator’s combined critic result. GameSpot’s review is the source for its score.
- If fluid combat and exploration matter most to you, the positive reviews’ strongest points may carry more weight.
- If polished presentation, consistently strong dialogue, or tightly varied quests are essential, the recurring criticisms deserve closer attention.
- If you are comparing platform scores, check the specific listing and review count rather than assuming the platform aggregates are interchangeable.
In short, critics generally saw a sizable science-fiction RPG with worthwhile strengths and clear rough edges. The mixed aggregate describes that split; it cannot decide whether the balance works for you.
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