Mass Effect 2 vs Mass Effect 3
The short answer
Mass Effect 2 is the better game; Mass Effect 3 is the better shooter. ME2's loyalty missions and suicide-mission structure are the series' high point. ME3 has sharper combat and the strongest individual moments, and an ending that overshadowed all of it.
What they have in common
Same Shepard, same squad, same imported save carrying your choices forward — and the Legendary Edition makes both easy to play.
Pick Mass Effect 2 for the best of the trilogy.
Recruiting a crew, earning their loyalty, and a finale where who lives depends on decisions you made twenty hours earlier. Still the best-structured BioWare game.
Pick Mass Effect 3 for the payoff and the combat.
Everything you did lands here, and the Tuchanka and Rannoch arcs are the best writing in the series. Play it with the extended cut and it holds up much better than its reputation.
Frequently asked questions
Should I play Mass Effect 2 or Mass Effect 3?
Mass Effect 2 is the better game; Mass Effect 3 is the better shooter. ME2's loyalty missions and suicide-mission structure are the series' high point. ME3 has sharper combat and the strongest individual moments, and an ending that overshadowed all of it.
What do Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 have in common?
Same Shepard, same squad, same imported save carrying your choices forward — and the Legendary Edition makes both easy to play.
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Buy This Game
* Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
More head-to-heads are on the comparisons page.
