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For a first playthrough, play Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3 in that order, then move on to Mass Effect: Andromeda if you want another adventure in the series. Mass Effect Legendary Edition is the simplest way to play the Shepard trilogy and most of its DLC in one package. Treat Andromeda as a separate Ryder-led story, not as the next chapter of Shepard’s trilogy.
This guide separates the game order from the DLC order, explains the one important Legendary Edition exception, and gives you a practical route whether you are buying the collection or already own the classic releases. The goal is a spoiler-light sequence that preserves continuity without forcing every optional mission into an unnecessarily rigid checklist.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhat order should I play the Mass Effect games in?
Follow the release-era story sequence for the original trilogy: Mass Effect, then Mass Effect 2, then Mass Effect 3. Play Mass Effect: Andromeda afterward if you want to continue with a different protagonist and adventure. This order preserves the trilogy’s narrative continuity and gives newcomers a clear route through the series.
- Mass Effect: Meet Commander Shepard, the setting, and the factions and choices that form the foundation for the sequels.
- Mass Effect 2: Continue directly from the first game, keeping the trilogy’s sequence intact.
- Mass Effect 3: Finish Shepard’s trilogy before moving to the separate Andromeda story.
- Mass Effect: Andromeda: Play as a follow-up adventure after the trilogy, rather than slotting it between Shepard’s games.
For a first run through the trilogy, Legendary Edition groups the three remastered games together. The official EA product information identifies it as a collection of the trilogy; EA catalogs Andromeda separately. This is a recommendation for the clearest first-time progression, not a rule that makes playing Andromeda first impossible.
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A simple first-playthrough plan
If you want the shortest possible answer, buy or install Legendary Edition, complete its games in menu order from Mass Effect through Mass Effect 3, and use the DLC placements below as you reach them. When the Shepard story is complete, decide whether you want a separate Ryder-led campaign in Andromeda. You do not need to alternate between the two products, and you should not insert Andromeda between the trilogy games.
Starting with the first game also gives the later games the right context. Shepard, the major factions, and the consequences of early decisions are introduced there, while the sequels are designed as continuations rather than unrelated entries. Finishing the trilogy in sequence keeps that progression readable even if you take breaks between games.
Should I play Andromeda before or after the trilogy?
After the trilogy is the cleanest route if you are new to the series. Andromeda is a separate adventure with a different protagonist, Ryder, rather than a fourth installment in Shepard’s story.
That distinction matters when choosing what to play next. If you want the continuous Shepard arc, stay with the first three games. If you have finished them and want another setting and lead character, Andromeda is the next game in this recommended order. BioWare and EA list it separately from Legendary Edition. EA announced a North American release date of March 21, 2017, and a European release beginning March 23, 2017.
There is no requirement to complete the original games before launching Andromeda. Someone interested specifically in Ryder’s story can start there, but that choice changes the experience: you will be learning a different corner of the setting without first following Shepard’s complete arc. For a first introduction, the trilogy-first route avoids confusing a separate series branch with the main Shepard sequence.
Think of the decision in terms of scope. Legendary Edition is the convenient home for three connected games and their included add-ons. Andromeda is the follow-up purchase for a new lead and adventure, not a replacement for those three games and not a source of additional Shepard missions.
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When should I play the Mass Effect DLC?
Use the story position, not simply the order in which add-ons appear in a menu. Some DLC can be started at different points, and exact mission triggers can vary with edition and game progress; the placements below are intended to keep story additions in context and avoid putting bridge content in the wrong place.
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Optional content is easiest to manage if you treat it in three groups. Early expansions should be played while the relevant game still has most of its campaign ahead; mid-game missions fit once the crew and base situation are established; late or bridge content belongs after the main arc has created the context it assumes. You can still complete side missions in another order, but this approach minimizes abrupt transitions.
Mass Effect
- Bring Down the Sky: Play once the Normandy and galaxy exploration are available, but before Ilos, the first game’s endgame. It is the meaningful Mass Effect story expansion included in Legendary Edition. Completing it before the endgame keeps its story from arriving after the campaign has already reached its closing stretch.
- Pinnacle Station: Treat this as optional, combat-focused classic DLC, not as a guaranteed part of Legendary Edition. See the inclusion caveat below before assuming it is available in your edition.
Do not postpone every Mass Effect add-on until the last available moment. The useful checkpoint for Bring Down the Sky is simply “after exploration opens, before Ilos”; you can handle it during the broader middle of the game rather than interrupting the finale. Pinnacle Station has a different role: it is a classic combat-focused addition, so its placement is less important to the trilogy’s narrative than the availability question.
Mass Effect 2
- Zaeed — The Price of Revenge and Kasumi — Stolen Memory: Fit these into the recruitment and loyalty phase, once their missions are available. Their natural home is the period in which Shepard is building the team, not a post-campaign cleanup session.
- Firewalker, Normandy Crash Site, and equipment packs: Use these as optional middle-of-game content rather than holding every add-on until the end. They can supplement the campaign while you are already moving through the galaxy and managing the Normandy.
- Overlord: Play during the middle portion of the game, after the crew and Normandy are established. At that point, the expansion feels like a substantial detour from an established campaign instead of an introduction before the central situation is in place.
- Lair of the Shadow Broker: Save it for late in the campaign, after Shepard has assembled a substantial team and before the transition to Mass Effect 3. Its late placement gives the preceding recruitment and loyalty phase room to breathe while still keeping the expansion connected to the end of Mass Effect 2.
- Arrival: Play after the main Mass Effect 2 campaign. It works best as the bridge into Mass Effect 3, not as an early side mission. Treat it as the final Mass Effect 2 stop before beginning the third game.
A practical sequence is to recruit and develop the squad, add Zaeed and Kasumi as they unlock, use Firewalker or the Normandy Crash Site during the middle portion, then complete Overlord. Once the campaign is nearing its conclusion and the team is substantial, play Lair of the Shadow Broker. Finish the main campaign, then use Arrival as your handoff into Mass Effect 3. This is a pacing recommendation, not a claim that every save file unlocks missions at exactly those moments.
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- From Ashes: Play early, after the opening sequence makes it available, so its character and lore can inform more of the campaign. Leaving it until the final missions means much of its added context arrives too late to shape the rest of your run.
- Omega: Play after the Citadel coup, during the middle portion of the game. Its position is clearer once the coup has occurred; starting it before that point places it ahead of the relevant campaign transition.
- Leviathan: Play in the middle-to-late part of the campaign and complete it before the final assault. It can be started in pieces; finishing before the endgame keeps its added lore in context. If you begin the investigation and return to other missions, make sure the full expansion is complete before committing to the final stretch.
- Citadel: Save this for late in the game, after the core squad and major relationships are established, but before Priority: Cerberus Headquarters. That mission is the relevant point of no return in the mission-order reference. Placing Citadel late lets its character-focused material draw on a developed squad while avoiding the final sequence.
- Extended Cut: This is included in the Legendary Edition Mass Effect 3 content, so it is not a separate purchase decision for owners of that edition.
For a clean Mass Effect 3 rhythm, complete From Ashes early, wait until after the Citadel coup for Omega, work through Leviathan before the final assault, and reserve Citadel for the late campaign before Priority: Cerberus Headquarters. This keeps the early character and lore material available for most of the game and protects the late expansion from being stranded after the point of no return.
What does Mass Effect Legendary Edition include?
EA describes Mass Effect Legendary Edition as a remastered collection of the Shepard trilogy. EA’s 2021 launch materials describe it as including more than 40 DLC items across the three games, including story content, weapons, armor, and promotional packs.
The official Xbox and Steam inclusion lists name major story expansions such as Bring Down the Sky, Lair of the Shadow Broker, Arrival, From Ashes, Extended Cut, Leviathan, Omega, and Citadel, along with equipment and promotional packs. In practical terms, the edition consolidates the trilogy and most of its associated DLC, rather than requiring separate purchases of the original three games and each listed add-on.
The “more than 40” figure covers a broad mixture of content. It includes substantial story expansions as well as weapons, armor, equipment, and promotional packs, so it should not be read as more than 40 full campaigns. The useful buying point is that the named story additions and a large amount of accessory content are collected with the remastered trilogy.
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EA’s support information identifies Legendary Edition for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC through the EA app or Steam. Storefront availability can change, so check the relevant official listing for your region and platform before buying. The collection is the most convenient route when you want all three Shepard games in one purchase instead of assembling classic releases and add-ons separately.
Is Pinnacle Station included in Mass Effect Legendary Edition?
Do not assume that it is. EA lists Pinnacle Station on its classic-game DLC page, but it does not appear in the official Xbox or Steam Legendary Edition included-content lists.
That makes it the notable exception to the collection’s broad DLC coverage. If you are choosing Legendary Edition for the trilogy, expect the named story expansions and other listed DLC, but do not count on Pinnacle Station being part of the package. It is better understood as a separate classic-edition consideration.
This caveat matters most to players comparing a remastered collection with the original releases. “More than 40 DLC items” does not mean every classic add-on is present, and the absence of Pinnacle Station from the official Xbox and Steam inclusion lists is the reason to verify the edition rather than relying on a broad marketing summary. If that combat-focused classic DLC is essential to you, investigate the classic release separately; if your priority is the connected story, Legendary Edition still covers the major listed narrative expansions.
Which play route makes the most sense for me?
The right route depends on whether your priority is the connected Shepard story, convenience, or a different protagonist. For most newcomers, the trilogy-first route avoids confusing the separate Andromeda arc with the original sequence.
| Route | Best fit | Continuity and DLC | Platform information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legendary Edition, then Andromeda | First-time players who want the clearest progression | Packages the remastered Shepard trilogy and more than 40 DLC items according to EA’s 2021 launch materials; Pinnacle Station is not shown in the official included-content lists. | EA lists PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via the EA app or Steam. |
| Classic trilogy games, then Andromeda | Players who already have or specifically want the original releases | Preserves the Shepard trilogy sequence, but the DLC and package details depend on the classic releases; EA lists Pinnacle Station as classic-game DLC. | Not stated here for the classic releases. |
| Andromeda as a separate adventure | Players specifically seeking the Ryder-led story | It is cataloged separately from Legendary Edition and is not a continuation of Shepard’s trilogy. | Check EA’s or the relevant storefront’s listing for current regional availability. |
The strongest reason to choose Legendary Edition is convenience: one collection for three remastered games and most of their DLC. The strongest reason to choose the original releases is that you specifically want the classic versions or classic DLC not shown in the collection listings. Choose Andromeda for a separate lead character and setting, not as a substitute for the Shepard trilogy.
Choosing by priority
- Want the connected story? Start with Mass Effect in Legendary Edition, continue through Mass Effect 2, and finish Mass Effect 3 before considering anything else.
- Want the easiest purchase? Use Legendary Edition, which consolidates the trilogy and the major listed DLC instead of making you track multiple original games and add-ons.
- Want the classic release or Pinnacle Station? Compare the classic editions separately. Do not assume the remastered collection contains that specific DLC.
- Want a new protagonist? Choose Andromeda after the trilogy, understanding that it is a separate Ryder-led adventure.
How this order is chosen
The sequence follows the documented play-order reference and the way EA and BioWare separate the products: the three-game remastered collection for Shepard’s trilogy, followed by a standalone Andromeda adventure. DLC placement follows its narrative role: early additions before the main story closes, mid-game content while the relevant crew and setting are established, and bridge or late-campaign material where it fits the transition or endgame.
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This approach prioritizes story continuity and clear progression over forcing every optional add-on into a single rigid mission checklist. Because triggers can depend on edition and campaign progress, use the placement guidance as a spoiler-light sequence rather than a promise that every mission will unlock at precisely the same moment in every version.
It also separates “included” from “available.” EA’s launch description of more than 40 DLC items and the Xbox and Steam lists cover the major story expansions and numerous equipment or promotional packs, but the lists do not show Pinnacle Station. Likewise, Andromeda is available as its own game rather than as a fourth disc or chapter inside Legendary Edition. Keeping those distinctions clear prevents the most common buying and ordering mistakes.
If you take only one practical rule from the guide, make it this: finish each game’s core story before moving to the next game, and place the DLC according to the checkpoints above. Start Andromeda only after deciding that you want a separate adventure, not because it belongs between Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
When did Mass Effect: Andromeda come out?
EA announced a North American release date of March 21, 2017, followed by a European release beginning March 23, 2017. Availability on a particular storefront today can differ by region.
Is Mass Effect Legendary Edition available on PC?
Yes. EA identifies PC as a platform for the collection through the EA app or Steam, alongside PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Check the official storefront listing for current regional availability.
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Does starting with Andromeda make the trilogy harder to follow?
The recommended order is about keeping the Shepard trilogy’s continuity together, not about a requirement that players must complete it first. EA and BioWare catalog Andromeda separately, so it is best approached as its own Ryder-led adventure.
What order should I play the Mass Effect games in?
Play Mass Effect, then Mass Effect 2, then Mass Effect 3. After finishing the Shepard trilogy, play Mass Effect: Andromeda as a separate follow-up if you want another protagonist and setting.
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When should I play Bring Down the Sky?
Start it after the Normandy and galaxy exploration are available, but before Mass Effect reaches Ilos and its endgame. It is included in Legendary Edition.
When should I play Arrival?
Play Arrival after the main Mass Effect 2 campaign. It works best as the bridge from Mass Effect 2 into Mass Effect 3, rather than as an early side mission.
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When should I play From Ashes and Citadel?
Play From Ashes early in Mass Effect 3, after the opening sequence makes it available. Save Citadel for late in the campaign, after the core squad and relationships are established but before Priority: Cerberus Headquarters.
Does Legendary Edition include all the DLC?
It includes more than 40 DLC items according to EA’s 2021 launch materials, including major story expansions, weapons, armor, equipment, and promotional packs. However, Pinnacle Station is not shown in the official Xbox or Steam included-content lists, so do not assume it is part of the collection.
Do I need to play the original games before Andromeda?
No. You can start Andromeda independently, but the clearest first-time route is to complete the Shepard trilogy first and then treat Andromeda as a separate Ryder-led adventure.
Is Pinnacle Station included in Mass Effect Legendary Edition?
Do not count on it. EA lists Pinnacle Station as classic-game DLC, while the official Xbox and Steam Legendary Edition inclusion lists do not name it.
The Bottom Line
Best first-play order: Mass Effect → Mass Effect 2 → Mass Effect 3 in Legendary Edition, with the DLC placed at the story checkpoints above. Then play Mass Effect: Andromeda as a separate Ryder-led follow-up. The collection includes more than 40 DLC items and the major listed story expansions, but Pinnacle Station is the notable classic-DLC exception, so verify that separately.
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